So, anyhow, in chatting with David, he was kind enough to offer up some samples of the Druid's Children line. This was incredibly nice of him and I eagerly accepted. I've had the minis for a week or so now and have been looking them over, trying to figure out how to paint them, but I figured a brief review of the figures I received would be the least I could do.
The five figures I received included an otter, rabbit, mouse, shrew, and squirrel. First off, these figures measure from 12-18mm in size and the animals are not true to scale with one another but do share distinctive size differences with larger animals being relatively bigger than smaller ones.
The detailing is crisp and the features on all the animals' faces are spot on. I particularly like the shrew with his cap riding low on his eyes. Of the five animals I received two are armed with boys (squirrel and otter), two with spear (rabbit and mouse) and the shrew is armed with sword and shield.
All of these figures are very evocative and conjure up the likes of Narnia or Redwall. The line includes a wide range of animals with a variety of weapons. So far, only "heroes" have been released and include moles, hedgehogs, badgers, rabbits, shrews, mice, otters and squirrels. Enemies will include rats, weasels, pine martins, foxes and even a wolverine. Pictures of the current line and previews of upcoming releases can be seen at the company's site.
I will definitely be picking up more. In fact, my oldest daughter (age 9) and I are working on a skirmish-level wargame system to use with them, though we may just end up modding and existing system.
Hope you enjoy,
-Eli
[Special thanks to David at Splintered Light Miniatures for allowing me to use the pics off of his site for this review. I would have presented pics of the minis I received, but they really do look as good as they do in the pics at his site.]
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Those are very charming! Too bad for me, I'm not a 15mm fan! Although, since these are small animals, perhaps they would mix well with my 28mm people.
ReplyDeleteYou know, the box art was illustrated by Andrea, creator of Song of Blades and Heroes: it's hobby synergy!
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYou will be pleased to here that I had considered this and these charming fellows scale up nicely as small animal companions for your 28mm fantasy heroes.
-Eli
In the three hours since I last posted I have decided that I must have these! They look like they will be fun to paint. I'm a sucker for animal models, although usually they don't have clothes and weapons.
ReplyDeleteHave you played SBH? It's simple and fun, so I think it would be a good choice for your daughter. I think my own daughter would like playing a game with these!
P.S. Congrats on getting these promotional models! I've chit-chatted quite a bit with a number of mini manufacturer owners, and no one has ever offered me a sample!
Awesome!
ReplyDeleteThey really are hard to resist and David has some great ideas for future expansions.
I have not played SBH, but isn't that the same company that does Mutants and Death Ray Guns? I have MDRG but I haven't played it yet. I hadn't considered their system for the game with my forest friends.
As for getting the samples, David offered them early in the coorrespondence, so I can really claim little credit there. He's just a great guy to deal with.
-Eli
Yes, one in the same. I just saw on the SBH Yahoo group that he is producing a supplement specifically for these Splintered Light Miniatures:
ReplyDeletehttp://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/songofblades/
That is cool news. I am still a bit shaky on the rules, especially the activation system.
ReplyDelete-Eli
These are really cool! I came across their website a couple of months ago. I really like the mice! I thought about doing an anthropomorphic mouse character to replace halflings, for Swords & Wizardry. These will do nicely!
ReplyDeleteAre those Firefly inspired models on their front page?
AK,
ReplyDeleteLast I checked they were not listed outside of the Future Products section. I know that GZG also has the entire crew done in 15mm, including an alternate sculpt for "Mal" and "Jane".
-Eli
I weakened a week back and made use of the 20% sale (ends this month people!) to buy all that was available - in the email exchange they told me about the forthcoming releases so my $60 order quickly went over $100!! :-)
ReplyDeleteEli if you haven't (or your daughter hasn't) read Redwall you must, these figures are perfect for Redwall games...
I have several of the Redwall books, but not the entire series. My daughter does love animal-based fiction, but usually the non-anthro sort. She tried reading one before she was such an advanced reader and I think some of Jaques' wording may have off-put her.
ReplyDeleteI am encouraging her to try them again now that she's a better reader. Also check out Mistmantle which is about a squirrel with a sword..;)
-Eli
I have several of the Redwall books, but not the entire series. My daughter does love animal-based fiction, but usually the non-anthro sort. She tried reading one before she was such an advanced reader and I think some of Jaques' wording may have off-put her.
ReplyDeleteI am encouraging her to try them again now that she's a better reader. Also check out Mistmantle which is about a squirrel with a sword..;)
-Eli
If you paint up some of the miniatures and then name them after characters from the books... :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to get these first five painted up, first.
ReplyDelete-Eli
These are really nice for 15mm, i agree. For 25mm, you might check out Steve Jackson Games' Warehouse 23. They have the old Gray Cat Castings "Off the Wall Armies." These include medieval rabbits, Highland badgers (my favorites, adn I have quite a few somewhere around in dire need of a better paint job), Roman wolves, Ottoman otters, snakes, and fish.
ReplyDeletewww.sjgames.com
These guys need a moose miniature. Not Bullwinkle-cartoony, but a serious anthropomorphic moose. Or an elk. that would be really cool too.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I said "serious anthropomorphic moose." Gamers.
J,
ReplyDeleteI would say that to call these guys 15mm figs is a bit unfair. I have placed them along side some of my Reaper, Copplestone, Artizan, Alternative Armies minis and they make perfect little animal companions for the 28mm set.
The details hold up against the 28mm figs and there is a bulk to them that really keeps them from looking out of place against the 28mm figs. Maybe I'll try to snap some side-by-sides.
As for hoofed beasts, I am not sure if David plans for any. I had mentioned larger beasties but currently the largest beast in the line is a Wolverine. I know he has mentioned adding some birds if the line catches on. I am personally pushing for a few shifty looking Magpies.
-Eli
Yup SL is a very cool company in my book.
ReplyDelete:)
Michael