Italian Medieval Buildings pt2

[Sirolf]

I don't know how many have actually seen the wonderful work that Lorenzo from Manorhouse Workshop is doing in preparation for his next Indiegogo campaign. He is creating a highly detailed and modular XVth century Italian town with playable interiors. This is a link to his webpage: http://manorhouseworkshopmindstalkers.wordpress.com/

[cuchulain23]

That looks absolutely amazing.

[FramFramson]

The buildings look great and the modularity seems to be excellent. The main problem was that the last campaign had a very high cost of entry.

Not that big, nicely-made terrain items aren't costly to produce, but I'm just not sure if KS/IGG pre-orders will be the best way for them to move forward with the project.

[Sardoo]

Loving all of it but especially the water wheel! Very versatile.

[Elbows]

That stuff is beautiful, but a seasoned game like me is pretty quick to assume it's well and truly beyond any budget I have. 

Simply gorgeous stuff though, really grand.

[Paul]

 those are lovely buildings! 

[Suber]

I'm in love with these buildings. Everything Manorhouse Wokshop produces is simply stunning.

[Captain Blood]

I've been watching Manorhouse Workshop for several years now, and think everything they do is quite superb.

Unfortunately, it's all very distinctively Italian (or perhaps Mediterranean) in character - so not really suitable for North / Central medieval Europe 

Not that I blame Lorenzo in the least for making beautiful buildings portraying an earlier period of his own national culture. I think it's brilliant stuff.

But I suspect it does rather limit his market. Not just for, say, people playing Wars of the Roses or Hundred Years War, but also, I suspect, for legions of Warhammer fans, who would probably want a less distinctively Italian vibe for their Brettonnians, Empire, or whatever...

But if I was going to invest seriously in the Italian Wars (as opposed to making up a few plastic Milanese mercenaries), I would definitely splash out on some of Manorhouse's product... 

[Hammers]

These are fucking good... I'd love to field a condottieri army and burn it to the ground.

[pocoloco]

If I would get those, I think missus would make me move into those buildings 

They do look great... WHFB players could use them for Tilean or Border Princes right away and why not southern provinces of Empire.

[OSHIROmodels]

I like these as well, a lot of thought has gone into them 

They could be suitable for GoT as well you know Richard 

cheers

James

[Sirolf]

Unfortunately, it's all very distinctively Italian (or perhaps Mediterranean) in character - so not really suitable for North / Central medieval Europe  

Not that I blame Lorenzo in the least for making beautiful buildings portraying an earlier period of his own national culture. I think it's brilliant stuff.

But I suspect it does rather limit his market. Not just for, say, people playing Wars of the Roses or Hundred Years War, but also, I suspect, for legions of Warhammer fans, who would probably want a less distinctively Italian vibe for their Brettonnians, Empire, or whatever...

That's definitely true Captain, but there are dozens of companies that produce northern european buildings out there, and almost none that makes southern european ones. The only mediterranean buildings you find are usually related to spanish napoleonic campaigns, but never medieval Italy, so manorhouse is covering a huge gap in the industry.
The only reason why that could be limiting, is because most wargame players are from northern-europe (England and France), and therefore the WOR and the HYW are very popular, despite being only some of the several conflicts of late-medieval Europe.
I think that if more Italians and Spaniards would get into wargames, his market would definitely increase, since Italy is a very interesting place to portray in a battlefield. It was the most urbanized and technologically advanced country at the time, and with so much diversity in terms of weaponry and costumes, it's too bad it doesn't get that much attention

[von Lucky]

From little things big things grow.

I think these are beautiful pieces, which will (hopefully) spur others to step up to this level.

[maniachouse]

That's definitely true Captain, but there are dozens of companies that produce northern european buildings out there, and almost none that makes southern european ones. The only mediterranean buildings you find are usually related to spanish napoleonic campaigns, but never medieval Italy, so manorhouse is covering a huge gap in the industry.
The only reason why that could be limiting, is because most wargame players are from northern-europe (England and France), and therefore the WOR and the HYW are very popular, despite being only some of the several conflicts of late-medieval Europe.
I think that if more Italians and Spaniards would get into wargames, his market would definitely increase, since Italy is a very interesting place to portray in a battlefield. It was the most urbanized and technologically advanced country at the time, and with so much diversity in terms of weaponry and costumes, it's too bad it doesn't get that much attention

Hi to all. I'm Lorenzo, thanks for your comments about my items.

I totally agree with the thought of sirolf.
of buildings in the North European-style, the market is full of them.
Fortunately for me , the Italian medieval style is  missing, and like very much to the rest the world.

again thanks, Lorenzo

[Captain Blood]

Sirolf and Lorenzo. I wasn't criticising your choice to make these beautiful buildings, portraying a beautiful Italianate setting.
I was just saying that I think the market for this setting is quite limited.

I totally agree with the thought of sirolf.
of buildings in the North European-style, the market is full of them.

Actually, I don't think that's right.
Yes, there are lots of standalone buildings in the late medieval half-timbered style, in resin and plastic, from several manufacturers. Conflix, Grand Manner, PMC, and many more.

Then you have individual or modular 'stone-built' buildings, like those from my good friend Jens at Pardulon, or from the excellent Tabletop World.
But I'm afraid, beautiful as these models are, they do not look like realistic medieval buildings. They have the exaggerated fantasy styling of Games Workshop.

But castle-style / walled town complexes, like the beautiful layouts showcased by Manorhouse? No. I don't think so.

There's the Hudson & Allen castle, which is rather nice but very expensive considering it's made of soft foam and has very soft detail too.
Plus (I think I'm right in saying) it's only available from the USA at considerable additional shipping and customs expense.

Apart from that, there's the Games Workshop mighty fortress, which is basically a glorified toy castle. Not at all realistic.

I think, Lorenzo, if you were to apply your excellent design skills to a more generic 'central' European castle/fortified town complex, you would find there would be a very good market for it. I've certainly been looking for something like that for several years - and nobody makes one.