Pocket Warmaster

[Mr. Average]

I personally am super into Fantastic Battles these days, but for some people at the Club, nothing by Warmaster will do. So behold my solution: Pocket Warmaster. Literally. I figure I can get about 1000 points worth in a 3”x4” steel mint tin. I’m using extra stands from my Fantastic Battles armies – waste not want not as they say. Bases are exactly 10mm x 20mm, and I’m making custom rulers at 1/2cm scale. Not bad so far.

Oh and the bases are magnetized so they will adhere quite well to a steel shim for group maneuvers, while still coming apart into stands for different formation actions.

[Tony S]

They look lovely!  As Warmaster is supposed to be a large scale battle, yours will certainly look the part.

Who makes them?  They are 3mm, yes?  Is there enough variety in that scale to cover all the Warmaster armies?

[ian pillay]

Nothing a average about you Mr Average that is simply awesome. Can’t wait to see the rest!

Tally-Ho! Check out my blog at…..
http://steelcitywargaming.wordpress.com/

[Mr. Average]

Tony S wrote:

They look lovely! As Warmaster is supposed to be a large scale battle, yours will certainly look the part. Who makes them? They are 3mm, yes? Is there enough variety in that scale to cover all the Warmaster armies?

They’re made by Microworld Games in the USA. And the range is pretty extensive. I typically mount them in 1” square “regiments” for Fantastic Battles but I always seem to have a few strips left over. So I took them and some bases I had left from another project and it was just perfect.

The Microworld line seems to have if not every unit from Warmaster, a reasonable proxy. He even sent me some Dwarf Dirigibles from his fantasy naval line to stand in as Gyrocopters. He has Dwarves, Elves, Dark Elves, Orcs and Goblins so far, and I think he’s also bringing out Imperial Humans soon-ish, possibly also Undead. It’s a great line – available in the UK via Etsy I believe.

[Mr. Average]

ian pillay wrote:

Nothing a average about you Mr Average that is simply awesome. Can’t wait to see the rest!

You’re too kind, truly. I’m doing Orcs next. Who better to fight the elves after all.

[Wouter Wolput]

I have been wanting to do the same thing, though I am waiting for undead to be released.

Yours look incredible, great job.

[Mr. Average]

Wouter Wolput wrote:

I have been wanting to do the same thing, though I am waiting for undead to be released. Yours look incredible, great job.

Oh my LORD yes, I so want the 3mm Undead! I think they’re due in a Kickstarter this year?

[Deleted User]

I’m doing my best to not get into 3mm fantasy. I’ll watch your 3mm Warmaster for inspiration.

[Mr. Average]

Don’t resist. Join us! Even if only to support Microworld- an independent creator with such a unique vision deserves our support. And it’s not expensive to break in.

[Darkest Star Games]

Because of all of these great 3mm posts and the Strength and Honor stuff I went ahead and threw some cash at PicoArmor for some Germanic and Brit types.  I’m not sure if I should say “thanks” or not… ;D

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[Jim Webster]

They do look impressive!

https://jimssfnovelsandwargamerules.wordpress.com/

[Mr. Average]

Darkest Star Games wrote:

Because of all of these great 3mm posts and the Strength and Honor stuff I went ahead and threw some cash at PicoArmor for some Germanic and Brit types. I’m not sure if I should say “thanks” or not… ;D

You won’t regret it. It’s a “bonus scale.” You don’t have to halt any other projects to enjoy it, and it makes the most of a limited budget.

[Darkest Star Games]

Mr. Average wrote:

You don’t have to halt any other projects to enjoy it

Says you!  😀  I have such a back log of unfinished projects.  That Ma.K game is still on-going, slowly (only 3 battles so far, will write up soon, also need more appropriate NSW trees) and I can’t wait to get back to building a 3mm Vietnam valley table (but that also has to wait for a little more room in the garage) as well as 15mm.

These will be used in a low-fantasy RPG campaign with some pretty large battles, very Dark Ages in style but with less complex structures of patronage.  Trick will be to make the troops looks like somewhat unruly hordes while also being somewhat modular warbands.  Looking forwards to experimenting!

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[Thaddeus Blanchette]

Seconding Mr. Average’s ringing endorsement of Microworld’s 3mm line. They are cheap and beautiful, as well as being quick an easy to paint.

We get slapped around, but we have a good time!

[Tony Hughes]

While I can happily agree with most of what is said above I can’t see them as ‘cheap’. By the time shipping is added and then they get caught for the import taxes they are pretty expensive compared to OO & Magister Militum 3mm ranges.

I don’t do much fantasy at all but do have a few 6mm armies, including Microworld figures. Do really like the Dwarf cannon though.

My current 3mm project is WSS using mostly MagMil figures. Even though I’m an experienced 2mm painter I found their cavalry slow to paint – but it does look good once done. Only the artillery & generals to do now and I can gat a game in with them.

Tony of TTT

 

[Mr. Average]

Well, alas, we can’t be held responsible for international customs and shipping regulations. If wiser heads would get the US and UK to agree on a free trade pact, we’d be in better shape. But enough of that. Suffice it to say, for those of us in the Americas, it’s extremely economical. And for those of our friends in other countries, in Europe etc., we feel for you, because these miniatures are really, really good.

However Magister Militum makes a great line as well and that shows the point about the utility of the scale independent of manufacturer!

[Mike]

Microworld has an Etsy store for UK purchases.
I am assuming that works out cheaper than direct?

[Tony Hughes]

I don’t know about that Mike. The shipping is still the same ($14 ?) but it might not be subject to import charges, I haven’t been able to keep up with these new regulations. I didn’t see anything on the Etsy site that said that though. The Microworld site does say it is only for orders up to $135 (or it might have been £135) so that implies it is going to be subject to import taxes as that is the limit before special import procedures apply.

Shipping is actually not that bad, considering how small they are I suppose that is as it should be but not all US suppliers seem to be able to find cheap ways to send small things.

The MW packs are about the same contents as the OO packs but would be more than double their UK price, even if bought in quantity, once the extra shipping & fees were added. If they were a UK company I might have got a few samples out of interest but I’m not likely to use any significant numbers of any size of fantasy figure, I just love tiny figures !!!

 

 

[Paul]

Please can I ask where you got the bases from ? Thanks

[Andrew Beasley]

Tony Hughes wrote:

While I can happily agree with most of what is said above I can’t see them as ‘cheap’. By the time shipping is added and then they get caught for the import taxes they are pretty expensive compared to OO & Magister Militum 3mm ranges…

This is one range that needs to be locally cast or 3D printed – a single pack works out at £1 a strip inc postage so a ‘buy-paint’ build plan would have to be a bulk buy for me to minimise post and customs. At that point I just know they would end up in the (reduced) lead pile 🙁

[Mr. Average]

Paul wrote:

Please can I ask where you got the bases from ? Thanks

They’re custom 10mm x 20mm x 1/16” lasercut plywood from Litko Game Accessories.

[Microworld Steve]

It is actually cheaper to order through my Etsy store than it ever was to order from my store directly, as the VAT is collected up front, hence no extra surcharges.

As with anything, it depends on how much you buy.  For example, I just had a UK customer order a mixed goblin and orc force of 7 packs.  Models were 34.65, shipping 12.53, VAT 9.44 for a total of 56.62 gbp.  About 112 20mm strips at 50 pence each.  Definitely more expensive than Magister Militum though.

Great looking project!

[ian pillay]

Microworld Steve wrote:

It is actually cheaper to order through my Etsy store than it ever was to order from my store directly, as the VAT is collected up front, hence no extra surcharges. As with anything, it depends on how much you buy. For example, I just had a UK customer order a mixed goblin and orc force of 7 packs. Models were 34.65, shipping 12.53, VAT 9.44 for a total of 56.62 gbp. About 112 20mm strips at 50 pence each. Definitely more expensive than Magister Militum though. Great looking project!

That kind of honesty is what makes choosing where to spend my money easier. Once payday arrives I will be placing an order through the Etsy shop for sure.

Tally-Ho! Check out my blog at…..
http://steelcitywargaming.wordpress.com/

[Wouter Wolput]

Microworld Steve wrote:

It is actually cheaper to order through my Etsy store than it ever was to order from my store directly, as the VAT is collected up front, hence no extra surcharges. As with anything, it depends on how much you buy. For example, I just had a UK customer order a mixed goblin and orc force of 7 packs. Models were 34.65, shipping 12.53, VAT 9.44 for a total of 56.62 gbp. About 112 20mm strips at 50 pence each. Definitely more expensive than Magister Militum though. Great looking project!

You know, this post and topic has pushed me over the line to place an order for some 3mm dwarves and orks. They were in my basket for a long time as I prefer humans and undead, nevertheless I decided to go ahead and made the tough choice between goblins and orks.

For me, shipping is going to be expensive anyway, whether it comes from the US or the UK.

[Thaddeus Blanchette]

My problem is that whatever basing scheme Mat comes up with, I immediately want to copy. :/

We get slapped around, but we have a good time!

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