Warlord Epic Pike and Shot

[ulverston]

Hi,

Could someone please let me know what size a single figure strip of infantry is please from the Warlord Epic range? I'm rather hoping around 40mm as I have never got over the DBR set of rules.... I have ordered a sprue but would like to know in advance.

Anyone else used them for DBR?

Thanks

[has.been]

I am planning to use the Ancients for a similar thing with DBA, BUT,
I plan to use '28mm bases (i.e. 60mm frontage), just filling the base with
small scale figures.
I feel sure you could do similar with the Pike & Shot.

[Norm]

The supplied bases are 60mm, but the actual figure strips are 55mm. There is potential to cut the figure strips down, but not everyone will be happy with the brutality of breaking a solid line of shoulder to shoulder figures.

Should you choose to attempt it, use plastic sprue cutters and clip the base right through on both sides the figure at the point that you want to snap. Then start to bend the strip back and forth to break the joint where the figures join.

The question you now have is how to tidy up that rough breakage. one youtuber uses a small sausage of green stuff type material and creates a new arm. I tend to just smooth it down with a craft knife and paint over it - to my eyes the 3 foot rule pretty much makes it disappear at this scale.

If you want to see how another YouTuber ‘recrafts’ SOME of his strips from Hannibal, have a look at this video (link below), the warband have been cut in parts, but not in others, I don’t think it can be done universally to all strips … especially on things like over lapping shields etc.

I did it to some Prussian napoleonics as a test, but they were subsequently sold, but there is a picture on one of my blog posts (about half way down the post)

Link to my cut down prussians

https://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2022/07/epic-building-army-in-day.html

Link to YouTuber video

https://youtu.be/JTA9yWCD5R0?si=4Y_iAGd4zOALS0u8

[anevilgiraffe]

Could you do a pressmold of the natural end of the strip and use that to neaten up the cut strip?

[ulverston]

Thanks for the replies chaps, I will watch the vids tonight. I suppose the easiest way would indeed be to use the 60mm frontage. Epic seems to be the easiest way back into large scale gaming for myself. Wargames Atlantic have released some Samurai and who knows with the rate of their releases DBA/R may well be making a come back! Thanks again for the assistance I am relieved that others are seeing the potential for this scale to be used for different rulesets.

[fred]

The big downside of the Warlord Epic figures is that they are in a unique scale. And the strips are not the most handy width to use elsewhere. But you do get a lot of figures for your money.

I’d have a look at Kallistra or Pendraken figures as well if you are thinking of this sort of size of figure.

The WGA Samurai have a few different strip sizes but the widest is 5 figures on a 30-35mm base. Do note that the WGA is a lot smaller than Warlord, and a little bigger than Pendraken.

[Norm]

I think too much is made of Warlord Games using a unique scale. The question of compatibility crops up with virtually every manufacturer and we are most blessed when said manufacturer has a range wide enough that we are not reliant on other manufacturers.

What is more the issue for Epic compatibility is that the infantry figures are ranked so tightly shoulder to shoulder that is hard to get a similar ‘look’ from other manufacturers.

I am fine with Epic, I like plastic and the availability range is fine for me, but it won’t be for others. Epic is just part of the ‘something for everyone’ that this hobby gives us.

I would agree that for DBx just staying with the simplicity of using the warlord Games standard strip and base size would be an easier path to choose and leaves you free to buy into some second hand armies asI think most owners of Epic will have gone down the 60mm route..

[Norm]

Could you do a pressmold of the natural end of the strip and use that to neaten up the cut strip?

while you are painting Epic and the strip is close to your eye, all that detail is there and seems to matter. It is very easy to get drawn in as though you are painting a 28mm figure. Once on the table, the detail just disappears and so there is a learning curve on just how much of these figures actually need to be painted and which parts need strong contrast to make them pop at normal viewing ranges.

when your break one of these bases, the tear is very obvious because the stress of the plastic break makes that bit of plastic stand out, it is sort of whitish against the normal colour of the plastic, but once the primer goes on and it equalises those differences, it is pretty much a non-issue.

The digital photography that we see here is a cruel medium, showing up every defect, the MK I eyeball is much kinder :-)

[ulverston]

Thanks for the help Guys. I have ordered a couple of sprues of the Epic ECW to see what they look like once painted and based. I used to love DBA as I usually play solo and it was a great game for that. I wish Warlord all the best with the Epic range as the more that gets released the more potential toys I can use. Whilst the company will never make a fortune from myself I will be following and supporting it in my own fashion.

[Radar]

Whilst Warlord Epic appear to be a unique size, they aren't. The ACW Epic were pitched somewhere between 10mm and 15mm, the oft bandied around figure is 13.5mm. The P&S Epic are very clearly 'true 15mm'. If you want the evidence see here: foot figures https://www.keepyourpowderdry.co.uk/2024/04/which-figures-part-2a-size-matters-foot.html , cavalry https://www.keepyourpowderdry.co.uk/2024/04/which-figures-part-3a-size-matters-horse.html

Cutting the foot strips in half? I tried, gave up. Life is too short. I have seen it done successfully, so it is possible.

[scotty]

As Radar says, they are true 15mm scale. I've mixed in figures from Peter Pig, Steel Fist and Alternative Armies in the cavalry and commanded shot. They mix in fine

[ulverston]

Well I have begun painting... its oddly quick and difficult at the same time! I usually paint 28mm so its a big (or is that small?) change. I have left the strips intact and just put them on a 60mm frontage which looks fine. In all a pike and shot unit will have 80 figures in it which I could only dream of "back in the day". Once the first unit is complete I will try a few cavalry and then some artillery, if it looks OK from there I may start an army.... thanks for the help guys

[has.been]

I look forward to seeing your work.