Author Topic: Orphan figure and Old West pocket money questions (Read 1189 times)

mweaver · « **on:** February 25, 2024, 06:01:21 PM »

Howdie from deep South Texas, y'all. In a month or so I am going to be running our Friday Night regulars through a Deadlands campaign that is going to be reasonably heavily minis and terrain based. Deadlands is a "Weird West" setting, but neither my current questions relate to the weirdness, so I thought this section might be a better place to post than Gothic Horror.

The first question concerns a miniature for an important NPC the group will meet early on: an orphan girl, c. 12 to 14 years old. I have the Flying Frog orphan from the Shadows of Brimstone game:

[img][https://media.miniaturemarket.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/F/F/FFP07H03-3.jpg/img]

But (1) my wife used her for a character in a campaign a few years back, and I hate to reuse her for an NPC, and (2) this character should not be packing a fire arm.

Reaper makes this nice set:

https://images.reapermini.com/4/50334_p_1_ks.jpg

I like the little girls, although she is a bit younger looking...but again, no pistol wanted. I might try a conversion if necessary, but I HATE wrist to hand joins, especially on metal figures (Reaper warns it is a multi-part kit, so the pistol hand may be separate anyway).

I have been mooching around, but not found anything else. I suspect many of you are much more familiar with Western (and Victorian) lines and might know of figures I have missed. I have looked at Knuckleduster and Wargames Foundry as well as Reaper. The PC figures and many of the supporting cast miniatures are from Black Scorpion and companies that make somewhat larger figures, so an adult woman from a smaller range (like the old Foundry Western figures) might work, if not too adulty-looking.

The second question is not mini-related, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask: Neotacha has been running us through a fantasy campaign where she used metal coins for us to track our all-too-limited wealth, and the players have been really enjoying it. Again, my internet mooching skills are letting me down, as I can find a vast number of fantasy coin options, and pirate coins... but nothing that would really lend itself to a Old West game. Cardboard coins/bills etc. would be fine - doesn't need to be fancy metal coins.

All help appreciated!

-Michael

ithoriel · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2024, 06:38:03 PM »

Would numbered poker chips do for money? These are £9.99 for 100 chips, 20 of each denomination, for example.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZOWUBNK-Denomination-Learning-Counters-Counting/dp/B0CFPXPH56/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1V92L7HBSGUI5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.81V5O-MQ6iNkUJf7GTOwwT8o3UYzVl_a-GcHwkp__NgsRump-hD7p4svlAXTaqCkCRCTVRd_J6IajHJnThyT-0CtAdeeuWQiHeVMXjfdxwMTH69_NXJtPWwd6454nzNidOZUEzSgwJyVU_LkOBzjlOs22agiYmMyA4I7aQX4hftw82mIgd2lqt0sMYhwP2gPwNyP2xSJfi1IMwyFM9xwiXT5KRVw_499qtWdyuI2JRPUHfbQqWr0K4jXjN13U2nN3Zo76htCivuYoisZe1Ok0KKE0wpWLWF_QK838mReSjw.Og4Ymyx5eW5pl_HSwKjx6tqfE6UTfvkLtZh7MOzY6Wo&dib_tag=se&keywords=poker+chips&qid=1708885928&sprefix=poker+chips%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-5

Can't help with the figures though, sorry.

Will Bailie · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2024, 06:50:26 PM »

Sounds like a job for Bad Squiddo! https://badsquiddogames.com/shop#!/Bad-Squiddo-Miniatures/c/20887901 I poked around but didn't see an exact match - girls were either younger than 13-14, or armed. But you might find someone there that fits the bill.

Likewise, Pulp Figures has a little girl in this set https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/85 but she is more like 5-6 years old. Student investigators may need some conversion before fitting into the western setting
https://pulpfigures.com/products/view/292

Empress Miniatures has a Mattie Ross, but she is carrying around that Colt Dragoon!
https://www.empressminiatures.com/mattie-ross-3212-p.asp

Cory · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2024, 07:15:09 PM »

For currency in old west games, I use a mix of real indian head pennies bought in bulk, iron pyrite nuggets to use as gold nuggets, and replica paper currency done by using images from the internet and printed at home. Also a bunch of replica brothel tokens and wooden nickels.

mweaver · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2024, 08:49:33 PM »

Thanks. The poker chips could certainly work, ithoriel. Deadlands/Savage Worlds uses chips for "bennies" already. Your approach is intriguing, Cory. One of our players is a coin collector, so I should probably hit him up for ideas as well. Printing fake bills for them to hang onto could be fun.

Hadn't thought to check Bad Squiddo, Will. Didn't see anyone for the orphan, but did see some other figs I will be wanting sometime down the road! The Mattie Ross figure is tempting - remove the pistol and give her... something? Age looks right, and I like there is a foot and mounted version. The party started in a "Space 1889" Savage Worlds campaign, so Steam Punk but no magic. I am now shoving the same party into Deadlands - still steampunk, but now with strong supernatural/horror elements. I think they are really going to need someone with magic healing powers, hence our mysterious orphan who attaches herself to the party. I could try giving Mattie a cross, but I don't want them guessing her nature too early.

-Michael

mweaver · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2024, 08:54:15 PM »

Anyone know how tall the Empress Wild Bunch figures run?

https://www.empressminiatures.com/civilians-1-2741-p.asp

The woman in the cowboy hat might work with the belted pistol removed (easy conversion) - especially if she is shorter than Black Scorpion-sized figures (which is not hard to do!).

-Michael

ithoriel · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2024, 10:47:18 PM »

Hasslefree Miniatures have Alyx (Rock Chick, Wizard or Misunderstood) at £5 plus VAT & postage. One body but 3 left and three right arms

https://hfminis.co.uk/product/alyx-rock-chick-wizard-misunderstood/

mweaver · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2024, 11:40:29 PM »

Thanks, ithoriel. That is another interesting possibility. She certainly seems to come with attitude!

-Michael

MikeLance · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2024, 12:55:38 AM »

Possible Victorian orphans...

* Eureka Miniatures » 28mm » Civilians and Vignettes » 100CIV04 »
Victorian urchin girl

https://www.eurekamin.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=87_126_138&products_id=1770

* Sally 4th Miniatures / Second Star to the Right / Darling children and dog

https://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/product/darling-children-and-dog/

* Westwind / Vampire Wars / Circus Of Death / GHD0008 - The Kid Victims (Victorian Children)

https://www.westwindproductions.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=70_103&product_id=323

- Mike

ithoriel · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2024, 02:09:22 AM »

Quote from: mweaver on February 25, 2024, 11:40:29 PM

Thanks, ithoriel. That is another interesting possibility. She certainly seems to come with attitude!

-Michael

I reckoned a copy of Black's Medical Dictionary in one hand and the wand painted as a thermometer in the other .... "Say, Aah!"

Though Black's was first published in 1906 so perhaps a shade anachronistic!

mweaver · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2024, 04:22:38 AM »

Thanks Mike. Most of those kids look a little younger than this character would be, but while I have a fair few adults to populate the towns they will be visiting, there are relatively few kids that fit into a Western town, so thanks for bringing those packs to my attention. I especially like the Sally 4th Peter Pan figures, but all look promising.

ithoriel, I was thinking a book would be good.

Since my previous post I dug out my box of the female gunfighter multi-part plastic kit by Great Escape Games (Gunfighters II) and I am going to try an assembly for this kid. The figures are on the smaller side, which will help (although the scale of the player character minis in this campaign is not remotely consistent).

-Michael