@markw: You find a much more in depth review on my blog, where my reasoning is outlined in detail. I only posted the conclusion here for people with little time.
@Mithridates: I decided to pin the heads and close any gaps with greenstuff. I think this is a necessity with any hybrid sets. You coudl also use epoxy glue, that should do the trick. I do not own the Carthaginian metal command yet, is the difference in size appreciable or inside human tolerances?
Yankeepedlar01: I agree, all a reviewer can do is to make sure he or she explains his/her reasoning well and I hope I did this. In addition the pictures will tell you if you personally like the sculpting etc. Just as a good historian one should always crosscheck references and not rely on one review only. I will actually add an "Other Reviews" section to my review, so that people can compare.
@Hu Rhu: Thank you for adding your view to the thread. As
yankeepedlar01 says reviews have an element of opinion in them and cannot be entirely objective. However, I feel it is necessary to add some notes on my blog about my preferences to make the rating system more transparent. I shall do so in due course.
I would still like to reply to your points, but please keep in mind that this reflects my opinion and does not aim to discredit you, rather I would like to put my review in a proper context.
Static Poses:I agree that the plastics are more static than the metals. I feel that metals can have more undercuts etc. without the need to have multipart sprues etc. I do not say plastics cannot be dynamic, as evidenced by GW. I think the legionaries represent well advancing troops that get ready for battle. I subscribe to the idea Queseda (2006, 6ff.) elaborates on that Roman maniples did not fight in neatly dressed rectangular ranks, but rather
“in dense ‘clouds’ … this formation is still a recognizable one, keeping a strict unit and sub-unit system, and using the all-important standards as focal points. … This is also not a dense skirmish line, but a battle line, although its centurions would not be much concerned with keeping regular ranks once fighting started, but just with having men grouped round their standards and ready to expand and compress their ranks” (Quesada,2006, 7).I feel here the dynamic metal poses fit in well, while more static poses would be in the back awaiting battle. I also think that missiles like pila were exchanged for a much longer time than only the initial moments before battlelines met (cf. the collection of sources in Zhmodikov, 2000, 68-70 and Quesada, 2006, 3-4). Here again it makes sense to not have all legionaries throw their pila at the same time.
Bottom line is that in my opinion (and that is what history is all about, educated guesses
) the poses available reflect my idea of ancient warfare well. However, I did deduct some points for the lack of utility of some poses like the kneeling Triarius.
Depicting HastatiGiven that Princeps, Hastati and Triarii had almost the same equipment and Hastati and Principes looked possibly very similar, I rather see the problem in not being able to depict many Triarii, as mentioned in the review.
Command PacksSeperate command can be good for some and an inconvenience for others. If you get an army deal you do get command.
Sculpting styleFor me the miniatures look natural, there is no arguing about this as it comes down to personal tastes and viewing habits. Here the review is entirely subjective. You can pose the heads, but you may need to pin them and use some greenstuff. This is an extra step and can be inconvenient.
I agree that another throwing pose would have been good with pectoral or chainmail.
Velites Cloak The cloak fits very well in one position, any other position, say the cloak falling down the back would require greenstuff surgery. I did it with a Frostgrave conversion, but again, it is inconvenient. This is relfected in the 60% conversion potential grade.
Veteran SetOffering a head conversion set for Hannibal's veterans is not a solution for huge amounts of troops, but works for one or two units. Agema is comparatively small and I can understand the reasoning behind the conversion set. I understand there will be entirely new boxes soon.
VictrixGood to read that you were able to mix and match, as I was not sure if they would work. Victrix sets are excellent and I will get some Iberians myself.
I think I would rate Victrix similar to Agema, but potentially higher given the scope and conversion potential of the range. I personally do not prefer their slightly 'chunkier' look, but that is again my personal preference.
References:
Quesada, F. S. (2006a). Not so different: individual fighting techniques and small unit tactics of Roman and Iberian armies. In: P. François, P. Moret & S. Péré-Noguès (Eds.), L’Hellénisation en Méditerranée Occidentale au temps des guerres puniques. Actes du Colloque International de Toulouse, 31 mars-2 avril 2005, Pallas, 70 (pp. 245-263).
Zhmodikov, A. (2000). Roman Republican Heavy Infantrymen in Battle (IV-II Centuries B.C.). Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, 49.1, 67-78.
28 March 2014, 07:34:57 PM
