Miniature gaming

[roxie rudi]

Thank you very, very much Lady Smith but I wish my photographic skills were better.
The main reason that I have posted the pics is hopefully to encourage more figs getting shown because I am an absolute nut for figure gaming so if anyone feels like showing their figs please feel free.

[Lady Smith]

Don't worry my photographic skills aren't all that good either

I haven't painted anything for a long time as I don't play anymore.  I do have some favourites though.

Repainted MageKnight figure.  She was intended to ride in a chariot drawn by a winged Pegasus which I haven't completed yet.




Tiny fairy character.  She usually was played as a Mage with my Wood Elves.


A trial figure I put together for a possible Fey/Sprite army.  It's a little hard to see from this angle but she's holding a bow.


UnDead Tomb Queen I entirely scratchbuilt using sculpting putty.  Like a fool I sold her which i regret.


Gristel the Lighfingered my Goblin Warchief,  The first wargaming figure I ever sculpted.

[roxie rudi]

WOW!!! Great figs! Make me want to play right now! I especially love the intricate work on the fairy mage and the character of the Goblin chief.
I have never even seen Mage Knight, let alone played it. I am more familiar with historicals and sci fi but I have a nice Dark Elf WFB army.

[Lady Smith]

Thanks Roxie   Most of my MageKnight figures ended up being converted for Warhammer as I couldn't find anyone who wanted to play the game with me.

More figures.  These are pretty much the last ones I painted.  I was having problems with hand-eye co-ordination as well as problems with my eyesight.

Warhammer 5th edition spear Elves I have lots of these as well as other 4th and 5th edition Elves which I prefer over the later figures.


Heavily modded and customised Mage/Cleric.  She's made from parts from around 4 donor figures as well as sculpting putty.



Mantic games Sisterhood chariot crew.  A lightweight chariot hauled by big cats. Another did not complete model (sigh)

[roxie rudi]

Ooooh noooo! I have to start playing around with my figs now! The bug is biting! I have just seen a true collection! I love the elves but I am more intrigued by the more unusual Mantic Figures.
I am tech ignorant but I will try to photograph and post more of my figs tomorrow, particularly some of my Dark Elves.
I can see that you are a true lover of your figs which, to me, is a wondrous thing and I feel very complimented that you are showing these pieces of an artistic love that you have. My Dark Elves range from 4th edition WFB to I  think 8th edition but among my gaming friends GW is not currently being enjoyed much.
Unfortunately it is VERY early in the morning (it's dark still) and I'm tired but seeing your characterful and beautiful collection I shall fall asleep dreaming of fantasy battles.

Ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Lady Smith]

Thanks Roxanne   I was always more of a painter and model maker than a gamer and as my health improves I may go back to working on my model figures again just for the pure fun of creating them.  I think Games Workshop has really messed things up because their model figures are expensive and their constant rule changes which often do little to improve things during game play and with every edition require investment in new models has driven fantasy wargamers away from their products in droves.

Mantic Games has a range of inexpensive fantasy figures and a good set of rules for their battle system that they have committed to maintaining without constant unnecessary upgrade editions.  They also have a policy where they welcome model figures by any makers at their tournaments; - something that GW doesn't do.  Mantic also make their basic rules available for free on-line.  I've got a Mantic Elf army still on the sprues that I haven't done anything with yet.  Most probably because something I do not lack for is High Elf and Wood Elf model figures. 
When my son  was younger he had a Dark Elf army and when he came to visit during the holidays we would spend hours together playing 5th edition Warhammer.  Between us we had decided that whatever rule changes GW made we would stick with the 5th edition rules, but we did use the 6th edition magic system.  My son was a very clever player and would often be the winner in our games, - except for one glorious game where my Halfling (Hobbit) army soundly defeated his Dark Elves which was something he didn't expect at all.

I did have thoughts of putting together a Mantic Basilean Sisterhood army and I've got a box of unassembled figures that I made a start on before I gave up in frustration.  I may come back to them again sometime.
(Not my models by the way, these are Mantic's own display Sisterhood figures)


I've always been a fantasy wargamer as I don't really like playing historical or modern warfare games.  I have played some Ancients games as either Sarmatians or Persians back when I was involved with a club, but I sold all my Ancients stuff a while ago.

[roxie rudi]

Hi Lady Smith, morning to you! Yes I thoroughly agree with you about GW and their latest approach to Fantasy Battles is terrible. Not only is it another reason to have to purchase more Citadel figs it has "dumbed down" the rules by an unbelieveable degree. This is all a pity because ever since I was a schoolboy in my earliest teens I have loved Citadel miniatures because I believe they are the best figs anywhere.
Wow lovely display figs but I don't know if Mantic are available to gamers where I live, which is Sydney, Australia. I might be wrong and I willingly stand to be corrected on this BUT MOST OF ALL I HOPE THAT YOU START FEELING BETTER. My heart is here for my sister!
Basilean? Does that have anything to do with either a king or a leader's capitoline building(s)? It's just that "basileus" in ancient Greek (or is it Latin? I've forgotten which) means a king while basileum means a capitol building, like the White House might be called. I think.
Halflings defeating Dark Elves boo hoo, sob sob! This makes me sad but thoughts of Persians and Sarmatians make feel happy again. Ancients are my absolute fave game, bar none! I love Dark Age games and am currently building a Post Roman/Sub Roman British (or Welsh) army in 28mm.
I hope you start being healthy again Lady Smith. Your sisters love you.

Bye, ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[LJP]

Those look great roxxi. Heroclix got me into tabletop gaming evee

[roxie rudi]

Here's some 28mm Elves and Eldar and some 15mm Ancients, painted by me. Merely loving all the current minis being posted! Just thought I'd add some!

http://imgur.com/a/35XwI

[Lady Smith]

Wonderful to see your 5th edition Dark Elves Roxanne.  I think those older metal minis are far better than what GW is trying to sell these days.  I like your 15mm Ancients too.  When GW did the LotR minis I started to collect Rohan minis because I liked that whole Dark Ages/Iron Age feel they had about them.  But then the last thing I needed was to collect figures for yet another ruleset when I had nobody to play against.  I still have them all in a box somewhere.

[roxie rudi]

Hi Lady Smith! Since seeing your figs I asked around the peeps I game with and found that Mantic does quite a few things that I hadn't realised. One guy I know is using some very nice Mantic Skeletons for a skirmish game called Frostgrave that has just been released. Nice game, reminiscent of Mordheim but more focus on magic and magicians! Sorry I was wrong about Mantic's availability where I live. And I find out they're great now!
That's certainly a problem when collecting something new! ANOTHER range....it still needs to be painted....gamers still need to meet up....space to keep them still needs to be found....it goes on and on, especially when you already have faves that need work.
Yes the Rohirrim are fantastic! They are a Saxon/Goth hybrid of Tolkien's! I love them!

[Lady Smith]

I really like what Mantic is doing, - offering a fantasy gaming ruleset with an interesting background history to go with it AND miniature figures which are actually affordable.  GW used to do that, - so what went wrong?

One of my favourite minis in my collection.


The Elf in the middle has a broken spear blade which was like that when I purchased the mini second hand.


Old Glory Elves.  Very different to GW Elves, but at the time I purchased them stunningly cheaper than GW and they are metal.  Not the best picture my camera was on the way out so i was using my scanner.


A custom mod on a figure I'd already stolen the head from for another conversion.  She's holding aloft a 5th edition rulebook with a big Roman numeral 'V' on the cover. My protest over the change by GW to 6th edition rules which I didn't like much.


Swordmasters.  I didn't paint these, they were a lucky find.

[Lady Smith]

Wargaming with printed paper figures was something I did fairly often as it was a way to try out a different army at little cost.  It also made it easy to carry a large army with you when travelling.

The figures on the left are from my own artwork, the chariot on the right was specially created for me by a skilled graphic artist who sells a range of paper wargaming figures.


Some of my own Elves.



Paper armies let you experiment with different units at little cost.

[roxie rudi]

Wow Lady Smith, you are a true gamer. As true as any I would ever be likely to meet and I have been using figs since Citadel miniatues were sold in plastic baggies that catered for D&D and the sci-fi RPG "Traveller."

The gaming part of your soul is precious! HUGE RESPECT for you Lady Smith! Your posts really rock me! And Elves are very cool, I have always thought so.

No matter GW's corporate silliness there seems like there will always be figure manufacturers for true gamers like yourself Lady Smith and for that I will always be grateful cos' I LOVE gaming, painting and collecting figures too!

Ciao bella gamer,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Moomin]

Beautiful miniatures Lady Smith and Roxie! Such a cool thread 

The Mantic Basilean Sisterhood army were painted at my studio. Not by me though, but a very lovely and talented friend.

[roxie rudi]

Hey Moomin, it's great that you like this thread! And thanks for the great words!

I only wish that I had the lighting skills etc for the photography necessary to bring some justice to my figure painting abilities. Especially after seeing some of LadySmith's wonderful collection which is making me feel like a stuffy old historical nerd who doesn't scratch-build much. And also especially because a professional figure painter, like yourself, can see and appraise what I  have painted.
Anyway I honestly appreciate your praise Moomin.

Ciao bella (and you are 'multa bella' in your pic Moomin),
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Moomin]

Thank you for the kind words Roxie I wasn't going to post any f my stuff, but you gals have inspired me  I hear you Roxie, picture taking is really hard. Just remember I had a studio to take these pics. Quality varies for how much the client payed

[roxie rudi]

Moomin, all I can say is FANTASTIC figs! And thanks for posting them, this thread is certainly becoming a miniature gamer's paradise now.
Ohhh, I love that Imperial Swordsman. I might even be a "historicals" geek and call him a beautifully painted Landsknecht (a later Renaissance soldier for those less geeky than myself).
I am also intrigued by the unusual colour scheme for the undead character, who looks to me like a uniquely painted Tomb Kings warrior. Not only are your painting skills wonderful but they also possess character!
A gamer says thank you Moomin.

Ciao bella,
xoxo,
Roxanne.

[Lady Smith]

Beautiful miniature figures Moomin.  Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us.  I always found it encouraging seeing the work of a skilled miniature figure painter.  It would make me pause to consider how I might improve my own painting.
By the way I wondered who had painted the Mantic Basilean Sisterhood army, - and now I know.  If any model figures could prod me back into painting again those would be the ones.



Ral Partha she-Centaur.



Old Glory Elf riders much converted and customised.




These little feral she-Centaurs are quite tiny for 28mm figures.  I can't remember the make, but I did quite a bit of customising on them with sculpting putty and gave them shields and extra weapons .

[roxie rudi]

Lady Smith and Moomin I am overwhelmed by your figures AND your obvious love of painting. If more of the world's people could learn to put so much of their soul's thoughts and care into figure painting we would be living in a much more bearable place. Of course this can be said of any (and all) beautifully presented artworks....oh well....

Your profile pic Lady Smith BLOWS ME AWAY! How cool! How dedicated!

WOW guys! I mean.....wow WOW guys!

I'm pretty certain I have some historical figs by Old Glory (Seven Years War Hanoverians I seem to remember) and I can only assume it's the same Old Glory that has made your cool Elves Lady Smith. As another aside I looove your she-centaur, especially because I have always had love and respect for Ral Partha figs. Do they still make them? I really, really hope so! They once made these great sci-fi figs that I used to drool (forgive me) over.

Thanks again Moomin for taking this thread seriously. I honestly appreciate it!

Ciao,
xoxo,
Roxanne.