Crusader and Saracen line

[FierceKitty]

Some praying sons of the Prophet would be very welcome as bagage elements.

[Jagger]

I would like the Muslim religious figures as well.  Actually a group pack to form a Muslim camp with camels and tents would be nice as well.

Although really I would like to see the early crusades period finished with Turks and Byzantines added to the Fatamids and early crusaders.  The Fatamids are almost done except the Ghulams.  I think you can do just about any early crusader using the Norman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking ranges.

The Turks really don't need many different troop types-horse archers, cavalry with mail and lance, cavalry with mail, lance and bow, foot infantry with bow and javelins.  The ghulam, dependent on how designed, might serve as both Fatamid and Turkish ghulam.

The Byzantines would be a bit more tricky with their variety of mercenaries.  Some of the late Romans would work perfectly well as Byzantines.  Their horse archers work fine as Cumans, Alans, Pechegnegs and even Skythikons.  The unarmored militia can be used for a variety of Balkan medium/light infantry-shields are oval though.  I don't have the slingers but the archers can be used for Byzantine bow, IMO.  I thought I could use the armored infantry and cavalry but the helmets and shields aren't right.  The cavalry helmets have face guards but in general several problems vs the early crusades byzantine.  Plus the shields are large oval instead of kite shield or round.  The armored infantry also has the face guards and some have the crest.  So in general, the late romans work for early crusades byzantines if you use the unarmored figures rather than the armored figures.  Also I suspect the vikings line would probably work for Varangians.   But using late romans and vikings still leaves some pretty big gaps without the heavy cavalry and armored infantry.

It would be nice.

[Leon]

It's an interesting period, and one which looks like it would be popular.  We'll maybe have a look at this in 2011.

[jchaos79]

Today I have recieve my last load of Pendraken lead. Iman could be made with a pose of SC13 arab civilians. This reference has a very beatiful figures. Camels with bagagge is SC14 and arab tents PS15.

When I take a picture I will link here

[Jagger]

Thanks Leon.  I will keep my fingers crossed the period looks promising in 2011.

[Dunnadd]

I'd like crusaders and saracens too - including the naptha throwers. Fatimids would be nice, but any will do.

[Jagger]

Except considering the age and smallness of the current line, I would like to see a new crusader era line from scratch with the latest sculpting techniques and period information.

Ummm...correction.  I just received my first order of arab miniatures for my Fatimid army and they are very nice.  I don't know where I got the idea the arabs were an old line but they certainly don't look old.  They have a similiar bulk to the AWI, ACW, Late Romans line.  The details are nicely upraised for painting and definition.   Neither the shields or the spears are too thick.  The poses are very natural and appropriate.  Overall, these arab figures are very nice.  The only drawback is they are single pose.    Also there were some molding problems with the bows of the horse archers but still useable.  Hopefully that was just a one off bad batch.

IMO, these arab figures are a very good base for expansion.

[Leon]

I've checked on the horse archers, and it's the mould causing the slight miscast, so we'll have to get that one remoulded at some point soon.