Like the figures in all Arion Games printable miniatures sets, these medieval monks are renditions of 3D models, giving you a fairly realistic look at a very low price. However, this set lacks the zing of other Arion Games sets. The fact that monastic orders tend to have “uniforms” contributes a certain flatness to this set, but that sameness gets carried over to the models used under the robes, turning the flatness into monotony. Most of the images seem to be the same model, used over and over again, with variation provided only by his posture, weight, and hair color. The heavyset monks look strange, because the face and head don’t seem to have been adjusted (sufficiently) to match the figure’s weight. Also, the addition of weight to the model seems to bulk up the figures’ thighs more than their hips, resulting in an unnatural look. The best figures are those whose props, posture, or costume differentiates them significantly from the other miniatures: the abbot, prior, cellarer, and almoner. If you’re playing an OGL game based on Green Ronin’s “Medieval Player’s Manual” or you’re trying to recreate the feel of “Pillars of the Earth,” or you’re otherwise setting a game in medieval Europe, this set will serve you well, despite the lack of variety relative to other Arion sets.
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