Miniature Brands For Historical, Sci-Fi, And Fantasy Wargaming
Choosing the right miniatures for your wargaming adventures can be an exciting but sometimes overwhelming task. With a plethora of brands offering figures for historical, sci-fi, and fantasy settings, it's essential to find those that not only fit your aesthetic preferences but also align with your budget and the specific rulesets you enjoy. This article will delve into some of the most popular and reputable miniature brands across these genres, helping you make informed decisions for your next wargaming project.
Historical Miniatures: From Ancient Greece to Modern Warfare
Historical miniatures offer a vast playground for wargamers, spanning millennia of conflicts and cultures. From the phalanxes of ancient Greece to the battlefields of World War II, the options are seemingly endless. When diving into historical wargaming, the quality, accuracy, and scale of the miniatures are crucial considerations. Many historical wargamers are passionate about recreating historical battles with as much fidelity as possible, making the choice of miniature brand a significant one.
Several brands stand out in the historical miniatures arena. Warlord Games is a prominent name, particularly known for their extensive ranges in popular historical periods like World War II, Pike and Shotte, and the Napoleonic Wars. Their miniatures are often praised for their detail and affordability, making them a great entry point for newcomers to historical wargaming. Warlord Games also produces miniatures for ancient conflicts, including Romans and Greeks, catering to a wide spectrum of historical interests. The quality of Warlord Games miniatures strikes a balance between detail and ease of assembly, which is a bonus for those who may not have extensive experience in miniature assembly and painting.
Perry Miniatures is another highly regarded brand, specializing in exquisitely detailed figures, primarily covering the Napoleonic era, the Wars of the Roses, and various colonial conflicts. Their miniatures are often lauded for their historical accuracy and dynamic poses, making them a favorite among serious historical wargamers. Perry Miniatures’ commitment to historical detail is evident in their meticulous sculpting and research, ensuring that their figures accurately represent the uniforms, weapons, and equipment of the period. While their range may be more focused than Warlord Games, the depth of detail and historical accuracy they offer is unparalleled.
Victrix Limited offers a compelling range of plastic miniatures, focusing on ancient and Napoleonic periods. Known for their high-quality sculpts and versatile kits, Victrix miniatures provide excellent value for money, allowing you to build large armies without breaking the bank. The plastic material used by Victrix is also highly receptive to paint, making them a joy to work with for hobbyists of all skill levels. The modularity of their kits, with options for different weapon configurations and poses, allows for a high degree of customization, which is particularly appealing to wargamers who want to create unique and characterful units.
For those interested in specific historical periods, other brands may also be worth exploring. For example, Gripping Beast is well-regarded for its Dark Ages and Viking ranges, while Fireforge Games offers excellent options for medieval conflicts. These niche brands often provide a level of specialization and detail that may not be found in larger, more generalist miniature companies. When choosing a brand, consider the scale of the miniatures as well. Common scales for historical wargaming include 28mm, 15mm, and 10mm, with 28mm being the most popular. The scale you choose will often depend on the ruleset you plan to use and your personal preference for detail and the visual impact of your armies. Ultimately, the best brand for you will depend on your specific historical interests, budget, and desired level of detail and accuracy.
Sci-Fi Miniatures: Exploring the Grim Darkness of the Far Future
Sci-fi miniatures transport wargamers to futuristic battlefields, where advanced technology and interstellar conflicts reign supreme. This genre offers a diverse array of settings, from gritty cyberpunk dystopias to sprawling space operas, each with its unique aesthetic and lore. When selecting sci-fi miniatures, consider the game systems you're interested in, as some brands are closely tied to specific rulesets, while others offer more generic figures that can be used across various games.
Games Workshop, with its flagship game Warhammer 40,000, is arguably the most dominant force in sci-fi miniatures. Warhammer 40,000 boasts a rich and immersive universe, filled with iconic factions like the Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar. Games Workshop miniatures are known for their intricate detail and dynamic poses, but they also come with a higher price tag compared to some other brands. The quality of Games Workshop miniatures is undeniable, and their extensive range allows for a huge amount of variety in army building. However, the complexity of assembly and painting can be daunting for beginners, and the cost can be a barrier for some.
Beyond Games Workshop, several other brands offer compelling sci-fi miniatures. Privateer Press, the creators of Warmachine and Hordes, also have a sci-fi counterpart in Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika. Warcaster features a unique setting and highly detailed miniatures, offering a different aesthetic from Warhammer 40,000. The miniatures in Warcaster are known for their intricate designs and high-quality casting, making them a favorite among hobbyists who appreciate detailed models. The game system itself is also quite different from Warhammer 40,000, focusing on a more streamlined and tactical gameplay experience.
Corvus Belli, the company behind Infinity, offers a range of miniatures known for their sleek, futuristic designs and dynamic poses. Infinity is a skirmish-level game, focusing on small squads of highly trained operatives, and the miniatures reflect this with their emphasis on action and movement. Corvus Belli miniatures are often made of metal, which allows for fine detail but can also be more challenging to assemble and paint compared to plastic miniatures. The Infinity universe is also quite unique, drawing inspiration from anime and manga, giving it a distinct visual style.
Mantic Games provides a more budget-friendly option with its Warpath universe, offering miniatures that are compatible with various sci-fi rulesets. Mantic miniatures are generally made of plastic and are designed to be easy to assemble and paint, making them a good choice for beginners or those looking to build large armies on a budget. While the level of detail may not be quite as high as some of the other brands mentioned, Mantic Games offers excellent value for money and a wide range of units and vehicles.
When choosing sci-fi miniatures, consider the aesthetic you prefer, the game systems you want to play, and your budget. Some brands, like Games Workshop, are closely tied to their own rulesets, while others offer miniatures that can be used in a variety of games. The level of detail, material (plastic vs. metal), and ease of assembly are also important factors to consider. Whether you're drawn to the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000 or the sleek futurism of Infinity, there's a sci-fi miniature brand out there to suit your tastes.
Fantasy Miniatures: Swords, Sorcery, and Epic Battles
Fantasy miniatures open the door to worlds of magic, mythical creatures, and heroic quests. From high fantasy settings reminiscent of Tolkien's Middle-earth to grimdark realms filled with gritty realism, the fantasy genre offers a diverse range of options for wargamers. Like historical and sci-fi miniatures, the choice of brand often depends on the specific game systems you enjoy and your aesthetic preferences.
Games Workshop also has a significant presence in the fantasy miniatures market with its Warhammer Age of Sigmar game. Age of Sigmar features a high-fantasy setting with epic battles between gods and mortals, and the miniatures are known for their dynamic poses and intricate details. Similar to Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar miniatures are typically more expensive than those from other brands, but the quality and variety of the range are undeniable. The game system itself is also quite different from the older Warhammer Fantasy Battles, with a focus on faster-paced and more cinematic gameplay.
Privateer Press, in addition to its sci-fi offerings, also has a strong presence in the fantasy genre with its Warmachine and Hordes games. Warmachine is set in the Iron Kingdoms, a steampunk-infused fantasy world, while Hordes focuses on more primal and monstrous factions. Privateer Press miniatures are known for their intricate designs and high-quality casting, making them a favorite among hobbyists who appreciate detailed models. The Warmachine and Hordes universe is rich and complex, with a wide range of factions and characters to choose from.
Mantic Games provides a compelling option for fantasy wargamers with its Kings of War system. Kings of War is a mass battle game, focusing on large armies clashing on the battlefield, and Mantic miniatures are designed to be affordable and easy to assemble, making them ideal for building large forces. Mantic also offers a wide range of fantasy miniatures, including elves, dwarves, orcs, and undead, covering many of the classic fantasy archetypes. The Kings of War ruleset is known for its simplicity and accessibility, making it a good choice for players who want to focus on tactical gameplay rather than complex rules.
Warlord Games, primarily known for its historical miniatures, also offers a fantasy range called Pike & Shotte: Epic Battles, which allows players to recreate historical battles in a fantasy setting. This range includes miniatures for various fantasy races, such as elves, dwarves, and goblins, and is designed to be compatible with the Pike & Shotte historical ruleset. This provides a unique blend of historical and fantasy wargaming, allowing players to use their historical knowledge in a fantastical context.
Beyond these major brands, numerous other companies offer excellent fantasy miniatures. For example, Reaper Miniatures is well-known for its Bones line, which provides affordable plastic miniatures in a wide range of fantasy genres. North Star Military Figures offers a variety of miniatures for games like Oathmark, a fantasy mass battle game. When choosing fantasy miniatures, consider the setting you prefer, the game systems you want to play, and your budget. The level of detail, material, and ease of assembly are also important factors to keep in mind. Whether you're drawn to the epic scale of Age of Sigmar or the gritty realism of Kings of War, there's a fantasy miniature brand out there to suit your tastes.
Conclusion
Choosing the right miniature brands for your historical, sci-fi, and fantasy wargaming needs is a personal decision that depends on a variety of factors. Consider your budget, preferred aesthetic, the game systems you want to play, and your level of experience with miniature assembly and painting. Explore the offerings of different brands, read reviews, and, if possible, examine miniatures in person before making a purchase. With a little research and careful consideration, you can find the perfect miniatures to bring your wargaming visions to life, whether you're commanding legions of Roman soldiers, leading a squad of space marines, or casting spells with a powerful wizard. The world of wargaming is vast and varied, and the right miniatures can make all the difference in creating an immersive and enjoyable experience.
