Pendraken Warband Fantasy Army Packs - Figures Review

Today a mysterious package arrived from Pendraken Miniatures.

I prised it open to find the bounty of two of their new fantasy army packs designed around the Warband fantasy rules.

With some relish I scoured through the packs to find that most contained the much anticipated resculpted goblin and hill dwarf ranges, and also some lovely new sculpts.

I think these are due for release in the next few days so I thought I'd put up a review of what I've found in the packs.

Doorstep booty...arr mateys...

OK, in the interests of full disclosure, I'm the author of Pendraken's Warband rules, but other than that I have no connection to the company - other than being a loyal customer for many years.  My review therefore will contain my own views, unbiased by any agreements or arrangements with Pendraken.

As this post could become exceptionally long, what I'll do is review the generic figures here, and then split the Hill dwarves and Goblins into different posts.

So, the 'other stuff' in no particular order...

First up, what appear to be some treemen, ents, huorns, or other generic arboreal creatures.  These are new sculpts I think and really rather jolly good.  There are three different poses, and six figures in the pack I received.
The sculpting, poses and detail is exceptional, and almost completely flash-free.  Their texture will be super-easy to paint (dry brush), and I'm looking at the poses and thinking it will be very easy to glue on foliage if you;re that way inclined.

My rating (out of 10)
Pose quality: 7
Pose variation: 6
Sculpting: 8
Casting: 8

Next up are some fire elementals, and these are really nice. Again, there are three poses and they each appear to be a sheet or column of flame with a human face screaming out of it.  Casting and quality are superb.

My rating (out of 10)
Pose quality: 6
Pose variation: 6
Sculpting: 8
Casting: 9

Following from the fire elementals are some earth, stone, or rock creatures.  Presumably also elementals.  Some of these appear familiar but some (if not all) are cerainly new sculpts. I particularly like the 'genie' rising from the ground!  Once again, well done all round and I think these will be very easy to paint also. 

My rating (out of 10)
Pose quality: 6
Pose variation: 6
Sculpting: 8
Casting: 8

The next pack are...i'm not sure if these are water elementals or air elementals.  To be honest, they'll do for either, and also sort of creatures of mystical energy.  Like the fire elementals, they're fierce-looking and dynamic figures, with good variation and excellent sculpting.  Detail is amazingly crisp and clear

My rating (out of 10)
Pose quality: 7
Pose variation: 6
Sculpting: 9
Casting: 9

Onto what I think are ogres, although they could also be small giants.  The pack contains three different poses, and i recognise one from the older ranges.  The other two (with axe and sword) I think are new figures.  All are very good although a little static.  They look like they'll make good single figures in a unit, but could look a little 'samey' if used in large numbers together.

My rating (out of 10)
Pose quality: 5
Pose variation: 6
Sculpting: 7
Casting: 8

And finally, a pack of six giants.  These are lovely new miniatures that remind me of old D&D hill giants, or perhaps creatures like Tolkien's Beorn.  they are much smaller than Pendrakens older giant figure, and considerably different, having a naturalistic style.  The detail is exceptionally good, crisp, and will take paint well.

My rating (out of 10)
Pose quality: 7
Pose variation: 6
Sculpting: 9
Casting: 8

So some very nice new miniatures there.  I'll be using them all for one or more of my Warband armies I suspect. Pendraken are really upping their game to take their fantasy ranges forwards.

Moving on, you'll find the review of the Hill dwarf army pack here, and the review of the Goblin army pack here.