Samurai KoW Army Needs Miniature Finding Help!

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**Etna's Vassal**

Now that Warhammer is for all intents and purposes dead, and since I was able to get some extra money working overtime, my friends and I are starting Kings of War. I'm building a mythical Samurai army (Kingdoms of Men) from Wargames Factory minis among others. It's filled with Ashigaru, Samurai, and Oni (Thanks, Soda Pop Miniatures). A couple of things elude me me though.

Does anybody know where I can get an appropriately sized flying Japanese monster of any type? It's really hard to find an Asian dragon that fits on a 50mm base, yet can still carry a general without looking silly.

Secondly, does anybody have any idea where to get any more Japanese creatures, other than humans and Oni, at a reasonable price? I've managed to sink only $200 into this army and I'd like to stay close to that. My current alliance is that of Kingdoms of Men & Ogres, but nice minis and a compelling argument would change that.

Thanks to anybody who helps out.

**larva_uk**

Bushido, or the Zenit Miniatures Kensei range would be obvious choices (Kensei has a range of earthly and celestial creatures which includes a dragon and other oddities). Malifaux has a few creatures in the ten thunders crew including the traditional multi-tailed fox (only in the box set though, I think). And then Reaper make most things in one form or another (though their oriental dragon doesn't seem to be in the Bones plastic range, which is a pity).

If you can't get a general to sit on a flying dragon, have a general that's shapeshifted into a flying dragon. Or better yet, a staff wielding monkey riding a cloud (technically chinese, I know but...).

**Kilkrazy**

Ral Partha used to do Japanese legendary creatures like Tengu.

They are OOP I think, but you might find them on eBay, etc.

**Denilsta**

Have you looked at the Shael Han from the Wrath of Kings range and Malifaux's Ten Thunders are nice as well, I love Izamu, the Armor.

**Riquende**

It's worth noting that 50mm is the minimum size for a monster base, and that it really only disadvantages you to go bigger if you need (more people can draw LoS to shoot you etc).

Also, they're becoming increasingly rare, but Rackham's old Dai Bakemono Ogres are lovely if you want themed Ogres (sadly there are only these three):

Spoiler:

There is someone who posts on here that has been talking about their KoW Samurai army for a few... years? I'll see if I can find their threads etc.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I think it's this I was remembering:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/561318.page

There might have been a more KoW-centric version on the Mantic forums but I haven't been a regular there for a while.

**Tyr13**

A bigger base can be useful though. Mostly when it comes to inspiring though. (or maybe the odd situation of having a caster that can cast two spells on a turn, at different targets). So its not terribleif the base is bigger, really.

**TheAuldGrump**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Ral Partha used to do Japanese legendary creatures like Tengu.

They are OOP I think, but you might find them on eBay, etc.

Try Iron Wind Metals - which still makes many of the Ral Partha models -

The Auld Grump

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Legend of the Five Rings: Clan Wars - which I really should have remembered them earlier. (One of the sculptors used to live in my area.)

The Auld Grump

**heartserenade**

From Bushido miniatures:

Automatically Appended Next Post:
http://www.bushido-thegame.com/catalog/tengu-descension They also have a line of Tengus.

**AndrewGPaul**

That dragon's awfully wee; putting a human on its back will look ridiculous.

**Riquende**

Tyr13 wrote:
A bigger base can be useful though. Mostly when it comes to inspiring though. (or maybe the odd situation of having a caster that can cast two spells on a turn, at different targets). So its not terribleif the base is bigger, really.

I may now be in the realms of completely making stuff up (my 2.0 book still hasn't arrived) but I though Inspiring was measured from a single point on the model, precisely to deal with situations like this.

**JoshInJapan**

I found a couple of dragons at Scale Creep Miniatures. They're Chinese rather than Japanese, but they should fit in will enough.

Also, I recommend looking at Steel Fist's sekigahara and samurai lords lines for some more unique models to use as heroes or elite units, as well.

**larva_uk**

Riquende wrote:
Tyr13 wrote:
A bigger base can be useful though. Mostly when it comes to inspiring though. (or maybe the odd situation of having a caster that can cast two spells on a turn, at different targets). So its not terribleif the base is bigger, really.

I may now be in the realms of completely making stuff up (my 2.0 book still hasn't arrived) but I though Inspiring was measured from a single point on the model, precisely to deal with situations like this.

You're thinking of charge and shooting ranges which are measured from the unit leader point. Inspiring makes no mention of any special measuring point so the default rule on measuring distance applies i.e. distance between the closest point of the 2 units.

**Swastakowey**

I personally use 1:35 scale Samurai as my Samurai Giants/ogres for KOW.

I tried finding a dragon mount on a budget and ended up buying a cheap eagle toy and mounting my general on that.

I used a fat man eating rice (I know I know) as my mage, the idea he eats magic food and it gives him powers or something.

Other than that nothing in my army is mystical or fantasy yet in appearance. Although my cannon is pretty non historical as well.

**porkuslime**

Swastakowey wrote:
. Although my cannon is pretty non historical as well.

so your cannon is not canon?

**TheAuldGrump**

Also, it may be worthwhile to look at some of the toys out there - Safari LTD in particular has some relatively inexpensive dragons, and I just ordered a little something for my as yet unplayed Empire of Dust army -

Spoiler:

Less than $20 at Amazon, and I was able to get free shipping by adding a bit to my order.

Asian dragons....

Spoiler:

Less than $15 at Amazon.

A little trimming of the teeth, and a better paint job... I think that it could look very nice.

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* Added spoilers for huge images, and fixed typos.

**Swastakowey**

Nothing amazing but I needed cannon and didn't want to spend any money.

To me, this is as bad as using a Tiger Tank in WW2, but since it's fantasy nobody seems to notice this gross injustice of a western 18th century (or 17th) cannon in a medieval japanese army...

Such large quality photos shows off the average paint job I did on these... They look really cool at table top distance.

**TheAuldGrump**

Well, if you are going to stretch reality anyway, there is always the Korean Hwacha!

A lot closer in time and space, and... well....

The Auld Grump

**Etna's Vassal**

Wow! So much help! I'm so grateful to you all.

The link to steel fist is super helpful. I've been looking for decals for my banners. I asked around my LGS as well, and they found some ancient, awful looking dragon mini that, if used for its intended purpose would be horrible. With a liberal application of green stuff, it looks good. I even got it at a super discount, too!

I love those cannons too.

Time to get to work! Thanks, all!

**Theophony**

These are what I intend to use for my terra cotta army, still looking at which army stats to use, I think I'll use elves so I can have my phalanx and a dragon (Dragon Kindred Lord). Space marine for size comparison. You get 2 to a box and they are from the defunct arcane legion game. I found the set for $15 at miniaturemarket.com, they come prepainted, and are huge.

The option I was going to go for I found at Michaels crafts store in the kids toys (schleige i think) for about $13 for a single slightly larger Dragon.

Edit: Better picture of the dragons, not mine

**BobtheInquisitor**

Arcane Legions also has stone lions of decent size that look great.

**heartserenade**

I just remembered there's a dragon in Wrath of Kings

**SlaveToDorkness**

That thing looks AWESOME!

**Swastakowey**

Only 28-35 dollars too, thats pretty good.

Would make the perfect beast of war or dragon...

**heartserenade**

Or a general on winged beast, just as OP wanted. You don't need to buy a separate general!

**Theophony**

I took one of the previously shown arcane legion dragons and cut him from his base connectors and mounted him to a 50mm square base with a stem to make him look like he is flying and still allow bases to touch and not take up a larger footprint. Kings of war ogre champion for scale.

The dragon will get repainted soon.

**JoshInJapan**

There are a lot more Chinese/Japanese dragons available than I had thought. I may need to look into getting one for my own samurai.