If you're a bit of an old school fantasy nut, then you'd be very familiar with the idea of the questing party. Usually led by a wizard or a mage of some sort, these rag-tag parties head out on a quest to find a magic ring, stop a skeleton army from rising from the grave, rescue a princess or destroy a huge orbiting battle station... maybe not the last bit, but that's the general idea!
While other companies are intent on making large armies for you to collect, the nice people at Osprey Games and North Star Miniatures have decided to go a little smaller and concentrate on these small questing parties, with their Wizard and Apprentice, Specialist Soldier and Bestiary sets to compliment the Frostgrave game which revolves around these wizards and questing parties looking for artifacts in the frozen ruins of an ancient city. You play the wizard who, along with his Apprentice, can hire a dozen or so mercenaries to provide the much needed muscle to any quest - and that's where we pick up the story with the Frostgrave Soldiers Boxed Set.
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While other companies are intent on making large armies for you to collect, the nice people at Osprey Games and North Star Miniatures have decided to go a little smaller and concentrate on these small questing parties, with their Wizard and Apprentice, Specialist Soldier and Bestiary sets to compliment the Frostgrave game which revolves around these wizards and questing parties looking for artifacts in the frozen ruins of an ancient city. You play the wizard who, along with his Apprentice, can hire a dozen or so mercenaries to provide the much needed muscle to any quest - and that's where we pick up the story with the Frostgrave Soldiers Boxed Set.
+ + More After The Jump + +
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The Frostgrave Soldiers Boxed Set contains enough parts for 20 soldiers/ mercenaries/ thugs all moulded in plastic for your gluing and conversion edification!. The box is pretty sturdy with some really lovely paint jobs on the back and some classic TSR/ Dragonlance-looking artwork on the front.
Inside you get four identical sprues and two sprues of bases. All pretty standard stuff.. and then you see how much they have actually packed onto these sprues (below)!
Swords, axes, pouches, more heads than a banjo convention, and the five bodies. In a way it's shame the torsos weren't separate, but if you have to sacrifice that for the amount of weapons options - run with it!
Swords, axes, pouches, more heads than a banjo convention, and the five bodies. In a way it's shame the torsos weren't separate, but if you have to sacrifice that for the amount of weapons options - run with it!
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The heads are all nicely moulded with different either a helmet or soft cap depending on the current fashion trends of the time (and can I just say - not one pair of puffy pants or sleeves in sight! Thank God!)
The accessories also make sense with ropes and packs and lantern abounding. Someone in this team was obviously a big fan of the Fantasy archetypes of the 80s!
The accessories also make sense with ropes and packs and lantern abounding. Someone in this team was obviously a big fan of the Fantasy archetypes of the 80s!
Here is the breakdown of the weapons included (above), and remember you get this x 4 for the four sprues.
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Some of my favourite little pieces are the crossbow arms which are just so cool, that rather cruel looking dagger and the flaming torch! Every band of thugs and adventurers needs a flaming torch!
The afore-mentioned packs, rope and... bagpipe (?). Yes I know it's a sack!
The five bodies are all quite unique and not all facing one way!! The clothing is layers, as adventurers would have, so lots of room for old heraldry and clashing colours!
Does anyone else think it's weird that the figures are on bases and they come with bases?
Maybe it's something to do with the game mechanics...?
Does anyone else think it's weird that the figures are on bases and they come with bases?
Maybe it's something to do with the game mechanics...?
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As well as the extra gear, there is also plenty of detail and gear moulded onto the miniatures themselves, from pouches to rope, it's all there.
It is interesting to see the lack of armour! These may be soldiers, but they aren't soldiers who would go into a pitched battle. These would be grizzled veterans who've seen campaigns and have enough skill at arms to not be covered in armour. It's quite a nice change actually!
It is interesting to see the lack of armour! These may be soldiers, but they aren't soldiers who would go into a pitched battle. These would be grizzled veterans who've seen campaigns and have enough skill at arms to not be covered in armour. It's quite a nice change actually!
Verdict
I have been looking at these guys for a while now, even at pre-order stage, and I'm so glad I got them. There is so much room for personality and individual characters in this box.
If you're into Fantasy or even the old D&D or TSR/ Dragonlance stuff, you will be very pleased!
I picked mine up from a place called War and Peace Games who had them in stock and for a good price! In fact the price is especially good if you compare them to the major miniature companies who would charge highly for a box of 20 anything these days!
I'd recommend these wholeheartedly!
If you're into Fantasy or even the old D&D or TSR/ Dragonlance stuff, you will be very pleased!
I picked mine up from a place called War and Peace Games who had them in stock and for a good price! In fact the price is especially good if you compare them to the major miniature companies who would charge highly for a box of 20 anything these days!
I'd recommend these wholeheartedly!
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