Ye Olde Inn

Here is another interpretation of the "Wizards of Morcar" this time attempting to be closer to the original miniatures. I did make one substitution after Reaper released a new figure (this time from the "Black" fantasy series).

Enjoy:

Here is the newer Orc Shaman figure (not yet varnished or based): [Edit: Now varnished, I'll have to put the base on later]

I was pleased that the scale of this new figure corresponds with the others!

List of Reaper miniatures used (not an advert, just for anyone interested), might be missing a few...

77566 Ogre Chieftan = Ogre Lord
77455 Ogre Smasher = Ogre Champion
77456 Ogre Guard = Ogre Warrior
77105 Kagunk, Ogre Chieftan = Ogre Chieftan
89008 Feiya, Iconic Witch = Elf Archmage Sinestra
77436 Yeti Shredder = Yeti
77412 Lendil Blackroot, Wizard = High Mage
77172 Malek Necromancer = Necromancer
44004 Surkar, Orc Shaman = Orc Shaman
89043 Vagorg, Half Orc Sorceror = Orc Shaman (alternate)
77040 Satheras, Male Warlock = Chaos Warlock (alternate) / Chaos Mentalist / Storm Master
77349 Goblin Command (2) = Ice Gremlins
77437 Winter Wolf = Giant Wolf
77015 Bugbear Warrior = Polar War Bear
77233 Kegg, Bugbear Hunter (axe) = Polar War Bear (alternate)
89039 Graveknight = Chaos Warlock (alternate) / Chaos Mentalist / Chaos Alchemist

77106 Boerogg Blackrime, Frost Giant = Frozen Horror
77333 Mountain Troll = Frozen Horror (alternate)
77356 Anhurian Swordsman (3) = Mercenary Scout / Swordsman
77357 Anhurian Crossbowen (3) = Mercenary Crossbowman
77359 Anhurian Spearmen (3) = Mercenary Halberdier
77358 Anhurian Bowmen (3) = Mercenary Scout
77070 Aviriel Tellerion, Female Elf = Elf Swordsman/Warrior
77090 Mason Thornwarden = Elf Archer
77049 Arthrand Nightblade, Elf Ranger = Elf Archer (alternate)
77035 Deladrin, Female Assassin = female Elf hero
77225 Ingrid, Female Viking = female Barbarian hero

89005 Amiri, Iconic Barbarian = female Barbarian hero (alternate)
77073 Freja Fangbreaker = female Dwarf hero
77210 Sarah the Seeres = female Wizard hero
77445 Goblin Skirmishers (6) = Goblin archer

77094 Trista, the White Wolf = female Paladin (Sorasil hero)
77386 Andriessa, Female Wizard = Mystic (Sorasil hero)
77414 Halbarad, Cleric = male Cleric (Sorasil hero)
77396 Olivia, Female Cleric = Cleric (Sorasil hero)
77320 Galadanoth, Elf Sniper = Ranger (Sorasil hero)
77033 Callie, Female Rogue = female Ranger (Sorasil hero)
77467 Rheagar, Male Fighter = Paladin (Sorasil hero)

89010 Damiel, Iconic Alchemist = Alchemist (Wizard replacement)
77324 Frost Devil ("Ice Devil") = Chaos Mutant (skeleton replacement)
77435 Yeti Warrior = Chaos Sasquatch (mummy replacement)
77404 Valandil, Wizard = Apothecary (male Elf replacement)
89038 Oloch, Iconic Warpriest = Orc Alchemist (Orc Shaman replacement)
77160 Judas Bloodspire, Vampire = Vampire (Necromancer replacement)
77419 Balthon, Evil Cleric = Chaos Master (High Mage replacement)
77215 Eregris Darkfathom = Elementalist (Storm Master replacement)

For heroes I painted them red matching one of the shades of the originals (or blue to match the EQP/BQP heroes)...
a more vibrant red for the WOM mercs (men-at-arms) and an Ogre mercenary I came up with (using 77454 Ogre Clubber)...
the same brilliant blue for the other characters of the EQP/BQP... (except the Ogres)
gray for skaven and BQP mercs (similar to the gray GS figures)...
A dark navy blue for Ogres to match EQP (for Ogre Warriors) and ATOH...
black for the "alternate" Zargon Chaos Lieutenants because I thought it looked cool...
navy blue for the Wizards of Morcar...
bone white for the "alternative chaos creatures" (mutants, Sasquatch)
dark green to match any greenskins...

I created a few more special figures I may share some time for new quests, that are a pastel blue, and several more black or gray figures too.

Neat project.

I am in the accumulation phase (still a little planning for a few odds-and-ends) on an all-metal build-up of Heroquest.

It is nice to have some scale to work from, since Reaper's sizing isn't always the easiest to compare mini-to-mini on their site.
(yes they usually have the couple of 10mm tick marks -- but actual side-by-sides do a better job)

Thanks, and yours sounds great too (I can't afford metal...!).

As one can see from the photos, I had to use a few larger square or rectangular bases for some of the figures, but the scale is pretty good. The reaper goblins are more pint sized than the HQ ones, and most of the Orcs out there look totally different. Many of the male figures are hugely over bulked and lack the distinctive "big hands and head" of the HQ heroes... while many of the female heroes are either stick figures or a little too top heavy (if you get my drift). Still, some awesome sculpts out there and due to the lingering influence of Warhammer, many that are very close. HQ seems unique with the skeleton wielding a scythe (without going full grim reaper) and giving a zombie a cleaver. Many "Chaos Warrior" type characters exist out there, but without the distinctive helmet. I also have yet to find a gargoyle armed with a jagged sword AND a whip (or much of anything, really).

I realize one could go the extra mile with 3D printing and custom sculpting, but the most I ever did was trim down the ears/nose of the Elf Sniper to make him look less "Elfin." Another thing I thought about doing was adding shields to some were rats to make them look more like the Skaven Warriors from AHQ (and some of the published quests), but it seems like a lot of extra effort.

The game shops in my area tend to stock a lot of Reaper minis, so I write down the sku's online and then check their stock for the sizing and detail up close. Then I usually end up ordering in bulk from their page, though sometimes I've had to order directly from Ebay due to certain ones being out of stock (I think I bought out their last Ogres... if so sorry guys), or looking for deals on the more pricey special figures (the transparent large air elemental for example).

Kurgan wrote:Thanks, and yours sounds great too (I can't afford metal...!).

Well, my project coincided with finally selling off the bulk of my childhood toys that my parents had held onto all these years (80's stuff like Transformers, Battle Beasts, etc).

That gave me some breathing room in terms of "hobby funds"!


Ever since I came across (and bought) the metal Fimir (in the form of "Bog Raiders") from Blood Moon Miniatures, I've had designs of doing an "heirloom quality" set of Heroquest plus all of the expansions.


I picked up what I could from Reaper (they have the best mummies I have found, in the form of Nefsokar Awakened, and by far the best gargoyle, in the form of Guros Darkspawn Captain) -- also went with their Crossbowman and Men-at-Arms packs for the mercenaries. Think I ended up with the same female barbarian (Ingrid?).


For the elven archmarge -- you might want to take a look at Alicavniss Vonnarc. I though she PERFECTLY captured the hair style and overall outline of the original miniature, but with much better details. (went with Mirliton/Grenadier for my elf swordsmen and archers, though)


I've crossed into other miniature lines for a lot of my stuff, though.

For heroes -- my order from Warmonger FINALLY arrived (think it took about a month).
And one of these days my stuff from Black Tree will arrive for some classic GW-style greenskins.


It's definitely a quest, in and of itself!

The main guys I'm still sorting out are the other monsters from the Barbarian Quest Pack.
I've had a couple of dud orders for wolves (generally too small, even when advertised as "giant") and yetis.
But I'm hoping to sort it out one of these days!

Kurgan wrote:HQ seems unique with the skeleton wielding a scythe (without going full grim reaper) and giving a zombie a cleaver. Many "Chaos Warrior" type characters exist out there, but without the distinctive helmet. I also have yet to find a gargoyle armed with a jagged sword AND a whip (or much of anything, really).

Warmonger and Black Tree both have scythe wielding skeletons that are about as close to HQ style/theme as any I have come across.

Chaos Warriors are definitely tough to find for capturing the original feel.

Closest I have seen on Reaper is "Karse, Irongrave Knight".
With a little mod work you could repose him slightly and extend the horns.
But as-is, he is pretty good.

I have kicked around buying some oldschool Citadel chaos warriors, but haven't taken the plunge yet. (also, even in that era, GW/Citadels chaos guys are way too "ornamented" for my taste)





What is funny, is that Bugbear you used for the Polar Warbear was my tentative "Frozen Horror".

The best Polar Warbear substitutes I have seen are from a few lines of Bloodbowl miniatures (or more generically "Fantasy" football -- since the best minis out there for this purpose are not from GW/Citadel)

Cool stuff, I think I remember that too... I originally agreed with your choice until I saw the actual scale. The "Frozen Horror" is a big monster, bigger than any we'd seen before (or since) so the Bugbear just didn't cut it for me. And while the Frost Giant is a bit too big, he evokes a lot of the spirit. I like the armor coverage on the "Hunter" with the Axe, but the weaponry (even the "spiked shield for punching") looks more like it fits the War bear. Blood Bowl looks cool, but mainly I was trying to stick to plastic minis for budget sake. I admit its harder now to diverge into some other line after investing so much into reaper bones. Somebody should put together a definitive list of "equivalents" for these...

Kurgan wrote:Cool stuff, I think I remember that too... I originally agreed with your choice until I saw the actual scale. The "Frozen Horror" is a big monster, bigger than any we'd seen before (or since) so the Bugbear just didn't cut it for me. And while the Frost Giant is a bit too big, he evokes a lot of the spirit. I like the armor coverage on the "Hunter" with the Axe, but the weaponry (even the "spiked shield for punching") looks more like it fits the War bear. Blood Bowl looks cool, but mainly I was trying to stick to plastic minis for budget sake. Somebody should put together a definitive list of "equivalents" for these...

I agree that the Frost Giant is awesome -- just a bit too big for my taste -- though maybe my opinion will change when I finally get around to picking up the last pieces.

The blood bowl (actually 'fantasy football") minis I'm referring to tend to have options for resin or white metal.
(and if you aren't looking for metal, there are actually quite a few resin mini makers that ONLY do resin so there are tons of options out there)

They're a more expensive than Reaper Bones, for sure, though.

For instance:
https://www.comixininos.com/blood-bowl- ... tures.html (snow troll I was considering for a frozen horror)

and what I think might be the "definitive" Polar Warbear option:
https://www.comixininos.com/blood-bowl- ... tures.html

Both would need some modification to add weapons. But otherwise look amazing.

Decent... especially the second one. Thanks for the pics! Like a "Golden Compass" type monster, as opposed to the "Werebear" in the Bones line that just looks like an upright grizzly with a loincloth and axe.
What I like best about the HQ minis are the evil grins on their faces. That to me is the characteristic I appreciate the most... not just the fact that they are facing forward and look ready to fight.
(which makes the Dwarf that much cooler since he's kind of just chilling with his ax...) I hated the way the official Yetis looked honestly, I much prefer the Bones variety, but then I didn't grow up with that quest pack (no nostalgia factor), and realize they're not "accurate." Don't get me wrong, if I was wealthy and they weren't so over-priced as collectors items, I'd own them too!