The Burnt Bugbear Reviews: Torch and Shield Physical Minis by Grimskald Games

     Last post, I talked about Torch and Shield’s core book and why it kicks all sorts of ass. It really is a game that’s left me feeling giddy to get models on the table, and I’m very much hoping it is something which catches on in my gaming group.

     Today, we’re going to take a look at something I have far more critical words about: the official miniatures from Grimskald. While Grimskald is very much a modern gaming company (that is, it strongly encourages 3d printing, and sells all its miniatures in digital form for you printing enthusiasts), I’m not a very modern gamer. My beard may be short and my hairs mostly un-greyed, but for me the miniature collecting hobby is not the same as the 3d printing one. I could invest in printing hardware and learn the craft of making my own miniatures, but that’s not the hobby I want to engage in. I want to build and paint minis, and that’s it!

     To this end, when I made my first Torch and Shield order I opted to buy the official physical miniatures offered on the Grimskald webstore. Two clans made their way from their home in a USA warehouse to Canada, which in spite of some orange villain’s insistence remains its own country! Don’t forget that, eh?

     So, let’s talk about these minis: cleaning them up, building them, looking at them longingly, the whole kit and kaboodle. Buckle up: it’s going to be a love-hate review.

Sculpted by Gods, Cast by Goblins

     The two clan starter sets I picked up were the ones which spoke to me: the Copperbrows and the Ironthanes. Renaissance dwarves decked out with the puffiest of clothes and dwarves who look like a mashup of Roman/The Hobbit film aesthetics: very, very cool stuff. Hats off to Grimskald for designing some outright cool miniatures. They’re chunky, they’re characterful, and they’re distinct from one another. In terms of the design of the models, I’m positively thrilled to report that Grimskald knocked it out of the park, took a slow lap around the bases and finished off by enjoying a beer and a chili dog. These are, without a doubt, some of my favorite sculpts on the market right now!

     Each kit arrived with ten models, plain plastic bases and a selection of weapons and other held equipment. Of note is the fact that, while the bodies of the models seem to be in Siocast thermoplastic (a detailed, slightly soft material that I hear is relatively affordable), the weapons themselves appear to be 3d printed. Bah! Or, maybe, not bah: you’ll see why in a second.

How the minis arrived. Plain packaging, but that's fine by me!

     So, I sat back, laid out the crews, and noticed just how long the building process was going to be. You see, the weapons were cleanly printed and required only moments of tender love and care before being fit for purpose. A couple of small imperfections needed to be scraped away, and they came off cleanly and without issue under the gentle caress of a good, sharp hobby knife.

What is in the box, minus six dwarves who were built before I realized I should probably snap a picture or two of the packaging. Oddly, the bodies of these dwarves were just loose, rattling around in the box. This was not the case for the Copperbrow models, who were in a baggy at least.

     But the bodies? Ye gods, they were in rough shape. Every model every single one, had mould lines big enough to park a Boeing 747 on, and they were often in very, very awkward places. At best, they ran a steady circuit around the model; at worst, they infested nooks and crannies that required nothing short of Turnen gymnastics to reach. In all cases, the mould lines were prominent enough to obscure detail, and often left nothing but plain, featureless Siocast in their wake when removed.

Yeesh, this Ironthane wasn't in great shape. 

     That is to say, the mould lines were thick enough to border on mould slippages, and they were a royal pain in the ass to remove. The Ironthane models were worse than the Copperbrows, and the Copperbrows were a D+ at best. The “cleanest” models required fifteen-twenty minutes each to get cleaned up, and the gnarliest ones? Twice that, easily.

The back of the same model. This is really, really bad.

     Complicating matters were two other issues. First, Siocast doesn’t like files, and even with a sharp hobby knife it has a tendency to almost tear, leaving unsightly marks and odd textures aplenty. Second, and this one really got my teeth grinding, many of the models had excess resin in the ball joints where the wrist joins with the hand/weapon pieces. In the end, I figured out a technique (a hand drill/pin vise ended up failing me, so using the tip of my knife to drill/widen the holes was what worked best) to get the job done, but holy hell it was an exercise in inventing new kinds of anti-fun.

Yup, filled sockets. I didn't end up building this guy for my starter crews, but there were a handful of other minis that had the same problem.

     So, after hours, I had models I was pleased to look at from afar, but worried to gaze upon up close. Maybe an onlooker wouldn’t notice, but I knew. I knew that there were areas where the arms were half-resculpted with a knife. I knew that if you looked close enough, you’d see uneven armor plates and beards that had to be trimmed with the utmost care. I knew that there was a good chance that a seasoned modeller would look upon my efforts, knit their brow, and wonder if millennials really have what it takes to be proper dwarven enthusiasts.

The Ironthanes, ready for painting. They look fine, but close inspection will reveal imperfections.

     But I want those old grumblers to know that I tried. I tried quite hard, got so far, and in the end whether it matters or not is a question of preference. For my part, the end result of all that cutting and swearing and crying are two warbands that are good enough. Good enough to slap some paint on and push around the table, but not good enough to do the sculpts themselves justice. Grimskald: you’ve designed some fine dwarves, but whatever crooked-fingered goblin you paid to cast them needs a flogging in the nearest piazza. A hard flogging!  

One Other Concern

     I’m not sure if this is intentional, but neither warband came with the full set of weapons/hands needed to recreate the minis on Grimskald’s site. My Copperbrows have a greatsword held differently than I expected, and the Ironthanes straight up do not have a second “shield holding” hand. Yes, the clan which has a shield-wielding specialist and rules for using shieldwalls did not come with the proper hands to equip my models with more than one shield. What is the meaning of this insult, I ask? I wanted a shieldthane, but instead it is a wretched shortbeard who holds the one shield my warriors were allocated. Rationing! Shield rationing! We live in dark times indeed. . .

A Positive Note, and a Suggestion

     For all their myriad flaws, I love these dwarves. They’re characterful, and while detailed enough to be visually interesting they’re not complicated. There are no superfluous bits that demand to be painted, and the details are chunky and relatively well defined: these are models that appeal to the practical painter in me. Given that I’m working on two warbands and a series of tiles, having clean, bold features (the eyes- they all have wonderfully well-defined eyes!) means that I can paint quickly and confidently.

My Copperbrow warband, ready for action! These were still a pain to assemble, but painted up well. Chunky details and a lack of overdesign makes these great little minis. . .if a little frustrating to build!

     Yet, I find it hard to recommend these Siocast Grimskald minis to anyone but experienced, patient modelers. It might be a better idea to head on over to Strange Plastic (an official printing partner to Grimskald, it seems) and get your hands on their own prints of these lovely sculpts if, like me, you don't intend to do any resin printing at home. I have some reservations about the durability of printed models, but I think when it comes time to order my Buldahr warband that’ll be the route I end up taking.

     In conclusion: Grimskald, you’re a small, indie wargaming/miniatures company. You’ve got a great ruleset and some excellent sculpts! Just don’t let the goblins near them again, for all our sakes!

     Next up, let's see if we can't get a game or two in, eh?