I'm thinking about working on a Ruffians army using orc captains stats for extra "boss" ruffians and absolutely don't want to pay GW retail for such crappy stat models. Anyone know of any reasonably priced alternatives?

In addition to the GW minis (Ruffians and some Dunland Wildman), I am using some Black Tree Design Saxon peasants (archers, slingers, hand weapons including some conversions for whips), some Old Glory Revolting peasants with sticks and stones (rough casts, but cheap), and a smattering of old Ral Partha / Grenadier thieves including a half-orc or two. Mithril and Ebob make some Breelanders that are also suitable.

For Heroes in addition to Sharkey, I plan to use the Wildman chieftain stats and am using the GW Ruffian with the jug and four large 30MM Black Rose Bandit minis as warband captains (Rustler with whip, highwayman with quarterstaff, Thug with cudgel, & outlaw with crossbow). I even found a Lotho from Mithril to be the Boss (at least until Worm eats him).

I don't know if these approach is cheaper, but it allows me to field a 70+ ruffian force without a lot of miniature duplication.

Lost Pict

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Lost Pict

http://sfdfsfd.wordpress.com/

For a cheap, plastic alternative I'd point you towards the Wargames Factory Ancient German Warband, Viking Bondi, or Saxon Fyrd.

Any of those should be fine, and the only difference between the Saxons and the Vikings is a couple of head options, some teardrop shields, and a Draco standard. The detail is a bit shallower than GW figures, but you can't beat the price - for 1.33x the price you get 6x as many figures.

EDIT: oops, messed up the urls, fixed.

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Well, that's my 2 cents.

I use the plastic Corsairs of umbar to be:

Ruffians
Wildmen of Dunland
Normal Dunlendings
Mercinaries

I think the corsairs are an excellent box set that can be proxied for so many things.

danger: Some severe Threadomancy, but still useful I think

I too have been looking to build up my force of Ruffians for use in WotR (10 point companies of bowmen... come on!)

In addition to my 21 or so metals I picked up a box of the recently released Gripping Beast 'Dark Age Warriors' and even hunting about picked up a box of 40 models (in a summer sale) delivered for 16 Quid.

Of course these arn't as detailed as the GW minis, but a re a lot closer than Ancient Germans, and Ancient celts (Which I use more for Men of carn Dum)

The Gripping Beast Minis come in 8 sprues of 5 models with a range of options for weapons and heads. They are simply clad in rough woollen clothes but these suit Ruffians (more than any other box I've seen). A few conversions to add some bows.. leave off the shields... and voila 5 companies of Ruffians for less than 10 Men of Dale!

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A second Edition for The War of the Ring:http://wessexcodex.wordpress.com

Taking the War in Middle earth to a new level!

Why not use the old Wildman Chieftain stats for the Captain?

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"the same as a duck you must be made of wood"

At this point that project has been dropped since I've gone back to school and I am not even doing that particular tournament anymore.

I got utterly slammed on the main local forum for my area for even thinking about using non GW models to represent grunt ruffians. I apparently also fell afoul of an anti-horde sentiment post Adepticon.

I've also since sold or am planning on selling all but my Hobbits, Dwarves, Harad/Umbar and Sauron + Ringwraiths.

Anti-horde sentiment? Is this people insisting on small scale games only or is it more prescriptive?

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Published ebooks:
Instrument of the Empire
A Note of Defiance
Phantom Ships, Ghost Flotilla
More to come!

Here was my solution to the dearth of Ruffians:

http://sfdfsfd.wordpress.com/2013/03/06 ... 06mar2013/

and here is the AAR involving their Scouring:

http://sfdfsfd.wordpress.com/2013/03/12 ... 08mar2013/

Lost Pict

I'm making some Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors that will see double-duty as ruffians or Wildmen:



http://wargamingwithbarks.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/viking-warriors-wip.html

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http://wargamingwithbarks.blogspot.com

Here are my Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors ready to cause mayhem upon the battlefields of Middle Earth as Sharkey's Ruffians:



I will add them to a WIP post in another forum here with some more pics, but here at least you can see them trayed up (WotR) style.

More details on the conversions in the WIP, but they all have bows or clubs, or axes (and a couple with swords only). And a white hand imprinted on the tunic for that Isengard feel

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A second Edition for The War of the Ring:http://wessexcodex.wordpress.com

Taking the War in Middle earth to a new level!

gorgeous models...

Look spot on for the job

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My Miniatures Blog (covering LOTR/Terminator/Doctor Who/Warpath and more!):
http://cruciumgiger.blogspot.co.uk/

Nice work! Those guys really look the part. Shame mine all have shields, since I did them up for SAGA, but in a pinch I think they would still work OK.

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Well, that's my 2 cents.