As you may know, if your a regular reader, I am slowly assembling a collection of monsters to use in D&D. I've already done kobolds, goblins and hobgoblins, and have some nice Reaper Bones gnolls, ogres and bugbears in progress. However, I've struggled to find appropriate orc minis for D&D.
When I'm building a collection of D&D monsters I like them to fit the Monster Manual description, or represent the monster as I've altered them. Correct depiction of equipment is important, as it gives the players visual clues, such as whether it has high strength or dexterity, which in turn might suggest tactics. A poorly armoured creature that is hard to hit likely has a high dexterity, thus spells and effects that give it a dexterity save are probably not the best option.
It's also important that the miniatures be either already in my collection, or easily obtainable.
Finally, I'm a big fan of both the old WotC prepaints and Reaper bones, simply because of the durability of the figures when dumped in a box at the end of a session. Hard plastic minis are great for wargaming where they are to some extent protected by their bases (especially if unit based), and I tend to take more care over the storage and transport of my armies, but the roleplaying minis get a fair few knocks. Metal minis are pretty much out of the running for this reason. I'll use metal for characters, where they might be better looked after (they have their own section of my D&D minis carry box), but for ordinary monsters, generally I avoid it.
I've looked at using Mantic's orcs, of which I have a load, unsurprisingly. I've got even more of the Lord of the Rings orcs from GW. I got the big collection of orcs in Reaper's first Bones kickstarter, and have also bought a few of the smaller orcs they also did in 'Bonesium'. Finally, I have a fair selection of the WotC prepaints, in the various different designs (some truly horrible) that they experimented with over the years.
Taking each one in turn, the Mantic orcs are nice, but seem over armoured for the description in the monster manual (hide armour, battle axe and javelin). They do have the right weapons, but I'd have to lose the shields. Also being hard plastic, they lack the durability I ideally want.
The Lord of the Rings orcs are also nice, and have a pleasing variety to them. Some of them have heavier armour than I would like, and I'd have to do a lot of weapon swaps, and again, they are hard plastic, so less sturdy than I am looking for. Proof of this is that my box of Mordor has a lot of orcs with half bows or no swords or spear ends.
The two Reaper orc types have issues with equipment. The smaller ones have either sword, spear or bow, and are too well armoured. They also look a bit skinny and feeble for how I imagine orcs. the larger ones are too big, approaching ogre size, though I don't mind my orcs being big. They have a lot of metal plates or mail for armour, though the plates could be leather (and the Reaper Learn to Paint Kit does exactly this).
The WotC orcs have a lot of variety, but the first design they did, (way back in 2003) has a fairly chunky orc with a scimitar (which they tended to use back in 3rd edition days). It wears a strange collection of straps, plates that could be leather or metal with studs, and has fine plaited hair.
I approached the WotC orc as a 'least worst' choice, though it has since grown on me. It needs a bit of work to fit how I want it to look. The scimitar is replaced with an axe, and although I have plenty of spare axes, such as from Mantic orcs or dwarves, I went for something a little more elaborate with the axe from the Mantic salamanders. This is pinned into place where the scimitar was cut off. The mini also has an empty scabbard, which I carefully cut off, apart from the top part and belt on my test model. I had ideas of adding a pouch from green stuff, or perhaps repurposing it to hold javelins. In the end I decided to leave it as it was on later models and simply add some wire javelins so it looks like a sort of big quiver (is there a special name for a javelin quiver?)
I'm now at the stage of having four ordinary orcs finished and am working on a few more plus some 'specials'. That should give me enough for any encounter, but just to make life difficult for myself, for the next adventure I need a handful of orcs that are recognizably orcs, but look different.
Of course, once the adventurers have finished, I might need the following, another WotC prepaint with scimitar swapped for an axe.
When I'm building a collection of D&D monsters I like them to fit the Monster Manual description, or represent the monster as I've altered them. Correct depiction of equipment is important, as it gives the players visual clues, such as whether it has high strength or dexterity, which in turn might suggest tactics. A poorly armoured creature that is hard to hit likely has a high dexterity, thus spells and effects that give it a dexterity save are probably not the best option.
It's also important that the miniatures be either already in my collection, or easily obtainable.
Finally, I'm a big fan of both the old WotC prepaints and Reaper bones, simply because of the durability of the figures when dumped in a box at the end of a session. Hard plastic minis are great for wargaming where they are to some extent protected by their bases (especially if unit based), and I tend to take more care over the storage and transport of my armies, but the roleplaying minis get a fair few knocks. Metal minis are pretty much out of the running for this reason. I'll use metal for characters, where they might be better looked after (they have their own section of my D&D minis carry box), but for ordinary monsters, generally I avoid it.
I've looked at using Mantic's orcs, of which I have a load, unsurprisingly. I've got even more of the Lord of the Rings orcs from GW. I got the big collection of orcs in Reaper's first Bones kickstarter, and have also bought a few of the smaller orcs they also did in 'Bonesium'. Finally, I have a fair selection of the WotC prepaints, in the various different designs (some truly horrible) that they experimented with over the years.
Taking each one in turn, the Mantic orcs are nice, but seem over armoured for the description in the monster manual (hide armour, battle axe and javelin). They do have the right weapons, but I'd have to lose the shields. Also being hard plastic, they lack the durability I ideally want.
Mantic orc from my Vanguard orcs. Too heavily armoured (and hard plastic)
The Lord of the Rings orcs are also nice, and have a pleasing variety to them. Some of them have heavier armour than I would like, and I'd have to do a lot of weapon swaps, and again, they are hard plastic, so less sturdy than I am looking for. Proof of this is that my box of Mordor has a lot of orcs with half bows or no swords or spear ends.
LotR orc from my Battle Games in Middle Earth armies
The two Reaper orc types have issues with equipment. The smaller ones have either sword, spear or bow, and are too well armoured. They also look a bit skinny and feeble for how I imagine orcs. the larger ones are too big, approaching ogre size, though I don't mind my orcs being big. They have a lot of metal plates or mail for armour, though the plates could be leather (and the Reaper Learn to Paint Kit does exactly this).
Small Reaper orc
Large Reaper orc
The WotC orcs have a lot of variety, but the first design they did, (way back in 2003) has a fairly chunky orc with a scimitar (which they tended to use back in 3rd edition days). It wears a strange collection of straps, plates that could be leather or metal with studs, and has fine plaited hair.
WotC prepainted orc
I approached the WotC orc as a 'least worst' choice, though it has since grown on me. It needs a bit of work to fit how I want it to look. The scimitar is replaced with an axe, and although I have plenty of spare axes, such as from Mantic orcs or dwarves, I went for something a little more elaborate with the axe from the Mantic salamanders. This is pinned into place where the scimitar was cut off. The mini also has an empty scabbard, which I carefully cut off, apart from the top part and belt on my test model. I had ideas of adding a pouch from green stuff, or perhaps repurposing it to hold javelins. In the end I decided to leave it as it was on later models and simply add some wire javelins so it looks like a sort of big quiver (is there a special name for a javelin quiver?)
Repainted and re-equipped WotC orc
I'm now at the stage of having four ordinary orcs finished and am working on a few more plus some 'specials'. That should give me enough for any encounter, but just to make life difficult for myself, for the next adventure I need a handful of orcs that are recognizably orcs, but look different.
Of course, once the adventurers have finished, I might need the following, another WotC prepaint with scimitar swapped for an axe.
WotC prepainted orc skeleton
If you think I might have missed any potential orcs, bearing in mind the conditions above, please let me know in the comments.
Orcsome stuff! Are there any Orcs in the Pathfinder minis range (as stocked by Travelling Man) that would of use?
ReplyDeleteThere are, but i am not a fan of the sculpts. I suppose I should get a pack just to add to this post?
DeleteI've considered Merlin's comment above, and i've looked more closely at both the Nolzur's Unpainted Minis (designed for D&D) and the Deep Cuts Minis (for pathfinder). Both made by Wizkidz.
ReplyDeleteI have some of both these ranges (indeed, Torin the half orc barbarian is one such). To get some idea of the equipment load and style I googled images.
The Nolzur's orcs have fearsome axes, though one is wearing mail armour. I found an image of some painted next to some of the large Reaper Bones orcs and they are similar sizes, so to big really for my needs, plus I don't like the mail armour.
The Deepe cut orcs have either an axe or two swords. They have suitably little armour, but strangely small heads.
I think I'm better off sticking with the WotC ones above, if only I had a few more. I do have some nice variants for some of the different types, and I might change a spear carrying orc to have an axe, expect another post if I manage this.