I'm not sure if this has been requested before, but are there any plans to get more sculpts for rifle infantry across all armies? Seeing as it's the main weapon in most squads it would be nice to see the figure poses mixed up some more.

I've been putting together some SS troop bases and felt somewhat reluctant to put Panzerfausts, snipers and StG44s on each base. Has this been mentioned before and what do others think?

Most armies drill (pun intended) their men to use standard positions for their weapons, so Brits should have their enfiedls at high port, butt on the thigh and muzzel at left shoulder. It was thought to be the best position to get into a firing pose. Standing firing is not good for health on a battlefield.

That said yes new poses would be good.

I've said it before, but MY hate is the 'Penelope Pitstop' running flat out pose!  In WW2,  Cautious advancing, ducking, kneeling to give covering fire or beckon on... MUCH better! I also like prone.. but that means duplicating figures.  However, favourite position is a personal thing...!  lol. 

I'd like to see more infantry poses too, e.g. standing and firing, prone and firing, prone and crawling, advancing, etc..

Advancing as if on patrol with German LMGs leveled at the waist would be useful too, since they had their MG34 and MG42 gunners on point to do that too.  BAR and Bren gunners could be done the same, if they aren't already like that.

Prone and firing MGs would be useful too, for those still missing from the ranges.

Could use some more casualty figs too, e.g. guys hit and dramatically falling in addition to those lying crumpled on the ground.

I prefer my figures upright, rather than kneeling, crawling or prone but moving MG teams would be good.

For the moment, my Kursk era Eastern Front German platoons have DAK MGs.

Quote from: Mako on 03 January 2022, 06:53:42 PMI'd like to see more infantry poses too, e.g. standing and firing, prone and firing, prone and crawling, advancing, etc..

Like these?




Though I have to say I'm not keen on prone figures. <== Gross understatement

No prone figures for me either, except MG.  I also like to have LMG/MMG in firing and moving poses but I've already converted all the ones I need for my SCW and 1940 armies.

I love those moving, action poses, as shown in the above pics.  Those are great.

I would love to see MG42s being held at the waist with both hands, with the weapon leveled as if firing, or ready to fire, as the figures walk on patrol.  They were usually at the head of the squad, or fire team (2 MGs in a squad), and were kept at the ready to fire if an enemy was encountered.  Other troops followed carrying MG boxes with extra ammo, and to protect the MG'ers from flanking attacks too.

I think you need prone figs with rifles firing to support the MG teams firing from a bipod, when in firefights too.  Swapping stands or individual figs of them out negates the need to use cardboard chits to show the troops' status, in skirmish, platoon level, or company level games.

Having troops standing and firing their weapons while the MG42 and MG34 teams are prone just looks wrong, unless the MG teams are to the rear providing covering fire for the advancing troops.

Prone troops also make more sense for soldiers on the defensive too.

Pose is contentious. I would dislike most of those in the photos... too much 'action'.
Walking / Patrolling with weapon held either up or more likely downward would be favourite for 20C figs... with kneeling or prone figs for'in cover'.

Horse and Musket figs... beautifully painted... just look D*** silly marching along a road and shooting each other in 'Standing, Firing ' pose. Flat out 'Charge' a VERY rare occurrence. However, I am not a Fan of the prevalent 'March Attack' pose... I like 'Advancing'. It might not be 'realistic' but it covers Marching, Firing Line and Square adequately.

We all have our preferences.

Hmmm, interesting point of view.

For me, I don't think you can have "too much action" with your figs on the game table, since they are "in battle" at the sharp end of the spear, and presumably either under fire, or moving hard and quickly in the assault.

Of course, I'm fine with patroling figs too.

I would like to see more generic rifle poses for all nationalities, as well as some of the following specific ones too:

- US bazooka men/team firing from both the kneeling and prone positions;
- US engineers laying/clearing/searching for mines, and perhaps one placing/pulling a "daisy-chain mine" strip across a road too;
- BAR man firing from the prone position;

- prone firing and/or observing, and low-crawling riflemen for all nationalities (especially useful for skirmish games, instead of having to use counters to represent their status - just swap out the minis);
- troops digging in - shovels, as if digging foxholes, trenches, or other things;
- dismounted tank crews - all nationalities;
- more pose varieties for casualty figs - all nationalities;
- standing, advancing, running, and firing rifle figs - all nationalities;
- men standing and firing MGs from vehicles - all nationalities;
- men firing rifle grenades from the kneeling position - all nationalities as appropriate;

- prone, firing MG42 teams - Summer and Winter;
- MG42 team advancing, gun at the ready at waist as if patroling, and/or slung over shoulder - Summer and Winter;
- more Volksgrenadier figures in great coats - Stg44/MP44, Panzerfausts, Panzerschrecks, etc.;
- MG42s for halftracks, and loose panzerfausts and panzerschrecks for figure bases, conversions, etc.;
- German tank riders - Wehrmacht, SS, and Paras;

- man with PIAT advancing

QuoteFor me, I don't think you can have "too much action" with your figs on the game table, since they are "in battle" at the sharp end of the spear, and presumably either under fire, or moving hard and quickly in the assault.

- MG42 team advancing, gun at the ready at waist as if patroling, and/or slung over shoulder - Summer and Winter;
- more Volksgrenadier figures in great coats - Stg44/MP44, Panzerfausts, Panzerschrecks, etc.;

I agree with the can't have too much action sentiment but I'm pretty happy with the current options for infantry.

The exceptions being the two groups above and the three-men-in-a-trench models already in hand (and sounding even better than I'd anticipated - nice one Leon).

I bought some of the German, DAK troops that are like this, and with a bit of different paint, they'll be running through NW Europe soon.

I like them, and would like to see more running and dynamic "skirmishing" poses for future WWII and Cold War troops.

I understand the sentiments for more rifle poses.

Unfortunately as always this comes down to a commercial decision. Every additional pose adds to the costs- Master, Production mold, and even then additional sorting costs.

This has to be balanced against sales of that particular figure. If Pendraken produced another 4 Rifle poses in each of the 13 national WW2 ranges it is an additional 52 figures, almost a small range in itself. This is without the sub categories - Airborne, BEF, 8th Army DAK, US Marines etc.

So to make it commercially viable you would have to sell more figures or increase your prices.

If you look at 20mm WW2 AB figures. They produce rifle sections where each figure is different pose, BUT they are at double the cost of most other 20mm ranges.

So the questions we must ask ourselves are :-

1. Are we willing to buy significantly more Figures?
2. Are we willing to pay significantly more for our figures?

I suspect the answer to question 1 is "No".  We tend to buy enough for a company, battalion or what ever suits our game preferences or storage ability.

Question 2 is again I suspect "No".  While the forum generally accepted the need for the recent price increase , there was a huge rush to place orders before the price increase took effect. Indicating that cost is something people are concerned about despite acknowledging the need for Pendraken to charge prices that are commercially viable.

Pendraken are good at doing stuff that will probably never do more than break even at best if it enhances a range. But just as individuals need to budget they wargames expenses, Pendraken has to do this as well.   




 

Well said Orcs

While extra none-prone poses would be nice in any WW2 range, I would have thought devoting finite existing resources (sculpting time, moulding set up, etc) to new ranges and missing items from existing ranges would be a far better option.

Mark