If you are like this reviewer, you have neither the desire, nor space, nor cash, to ?collect? traditional miniatures. Yet, with the tactical combat systems used in many game systems these days, being able to bust out the battle mat and a set of minis is often necessary. Thus you find yourself looking for a practical and inexpensive option for your miniatures needs. Paper miniatures meet this need. When they are packaged as a PDF, you are provided with a readily available source of minis for your games, being able to print as many of a particular figure as you need, without having to invest too much money in them, or time and effort, in the case of those who paint their minis. In short, paper minis are an attractive option for their low cost and convenience, and are also logical options for ?collectors? needing a particular miniature, or several of them, for their game.
The figures in Arion Games? miniatures sets come in 3 styles, ?A-frame?, ?Flat?, and ?Triagonal?. The ?A-frame? and ?Flat? figures can be constructed from the same sheets, depending on how they are cut out. The ?Triagonal? minis are constructed from a separate sheet. These construction choices provide additional options in preparing your minis for use in the game, major characters or monsters can be constructed as the ?Triagonal? versions to provide a more visual flair, and to emphasize their importance. Other figures can be done as ?A-Frame? or flat versions to make them easier to handle or distinguish them from each other, thus providing a functional use beyond their graphical characteristics. Vehicles done as Triagonal versions of the minis work very well, giving a better impression of their relative size.
The instructions, which are not included in this PDF, but are available on the publisher?s website, are easy to follow and assembling the minis is quick and painless, just requiring a bit of work with scissors and some glue. The minis look good, even when printed on plain paper. Each figure is drawn from a 3D rendering (done in Poser using figures provided by DAZED, according to the credits), providing sharp detail and life-like shading, even when printed.
This 3 page PDF (4 with cover) provides a set of 18 figures. It includes 3 Braves with Bows Figures, two Braves with Rifles figures, reminiscent of Indians portrayed in the Last of the Mohicans movie, four War Braves figures, two Chiefs figures with characteristic feathered head dress, one Medicine Man figures, three Squaws figures,
three Mounted Braves figures, and one Bison figure. The dress style of the Indian figures vary some being more reminiscent of eastern woodland tribes such as Iroquois and Mohicans, and the rest resembling Plains Indian?s tribes such as the Sioux and Apache. The figures look quote good overall, and due the variety will allow you to field a believable set of Indians for most of the major American tribes.
Overall, this is a solid product from Arion Games. It provides a nice selection of Native American figures suitable for use in games set in the eastern Woodlands, such as during the French and Indian war, as well as for games set in the plains, such as during the westward expansion. Adding in the fact that you can print as many as you need, and prepare your own figure sheets, this is excellent value as well. If you are doing any western or early American adventures, you will find this set useful.
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<b>LIKED</b>: Medicine Man figure, variety of tribes represented.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Textures used for horses fur are to smooth and shiny in appearance. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>
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