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So, I've played some games borrowing pre-made forces and have decided to invest in a set for myself and my other half.

I've bought the Enchanter, Illusionist and Thaumaturge with associated apprentices, as well as the small/medium constructs (will make a large construct using greenstuff). As these were the ones I had fun with and the missis liked the look of.

With the soldier box, I've been mulling over what the best selection of troops is to build - the box contains 20 models and I want to split into two forces (one for myself, the other for the real power in the household). What would be the best selection of soldiers to build using the box for both of us to use - that doesn't require buying yet another box?

(In addition, there is a box of 10 skeletons from the GW Vampire Counts force arriving soon for undead in Frostgrave, I don't know many are needed for mobs/events but if there are enough, include them in your suggestions for the soldiers as Im comfortable with greenstuff)

Many thanks, look forward to your replies

Have a play with this band builder and see what appeals to you/fits in a starting crew, that should give you a good idea of what to build.
http://www.battletortoise.com/frostgrave/roster.html

I've yet to play Frostgrave, but one thing that often gets mentioned is taking one or two really, really cheap guys to grab loot. When you've got to move a model off the board, better for it to be a dirt cheap thug than an expensive Templar or Knight.

 Paradigm wrote:
I've yet to play Frostgrave, but one thing that often gets mentioned is taking one or two really, really cheap guys to grab loot. When you've got to move a model off the board, better for it to be a dirt cheap thug than an expensive Templar or Knight.

If you are using the standard starting level of 500 gc you're not going to be hiring any Tempars or Knights, anyway. After buying your Apprendice you've only got 300 gc left, so you need to stick with the cheap soldiers.

I'm still fairly new to playing the game, but this is what I put together for my starter warband.

- Thug
- Thug
- Thief
- Thief
- Archer
- Archer
- Crossbowman
- Infantryman

This gives you a balance between combat and treasure carrying and you can build two of these lists from one Soldiers box (with a couple left over for future expansion). Depending on your preference you could swap one of the archers or the crossbowman for another infantryman, but I like the missile soldiers better. Of course as almost soon as you start building up your warband, you are going to have to either buy another Soldier box or some of the metal soldiers (like the Templar or Barbarian).

You'll find that your plastic soldiers parts are compatible with Mordheim mercenaries plastic parts, just in case you want to go custom.

With 20, you actually have a bit of flexibility, since you only have 8 non-magic-using soldiers per warband. So you can make what you want -- within reason.

One thing you can also do is to make minis that could be more than one type of soldier. For example, if you model a thug with a sack of treasure over one shoulder and a hand weapon in the other hand, but also add a dagger at his belt (I think most/all the soldiers come with small knives at their belts already), he can also be a treasure hunter.

Magnetising is another good option, of course. You could do some models that have treasure, torches, or lanterns that can be removed and replaced with extra weapons.

If you don't want to magnetise, I would probably do something like this with the 20:

4x Hand weapon, non-weapon item (bag/lantern/torch) -- can be thug or treasure hunter
4x dagger (thief)
4x crossbow (2 with helmets, so they can also be Marksmen; 2 bareheaded)
4x archer (could give 1-2 of them scabbarded hand weapons if you can find them, so they could be Rangers)
2x weapon and shield
2x two-handed weapon

I think that would stand you in good stead for plenty of games. You could reduce either crossbows or archers a bit and add more melee soldiers. A lot also depends on what other fantasy / historical minis you have access to that could fit in; I have a few thieves already from old D&D games etc. so made fewer thieves.

Thanks for the advice guys, t's much appreciated!

While waiting for my figures (there's been a delay as the shop got hit by a tidalwave of orders - and is waiting for the manufacturer who was also swamped to deliver), I've ended up buying in a FLGS a Knight and a Templar figure blister box (along with a Large Construct because it's adorable). I think I'll do something very similar to what you suggested Ian and mdauben.

Thanks for the link Paradigm, it's a nice (and lazy which is a plus) way to make some lists

I think the older militia parts are a tad on the large size for mixing with the soldiers, the newer empire kits are a much nicer fit as they have better proportions (less heroic). I really enjoy how well the empire huntsmen and flagellents parts pair up. So far I've been using a bunch of the huntsmen heads and arms to tech out my warbands, plus a mix of female heads from statuesque. If you're trying to get a girlfriend or wife to play a female gang might up their potential interest.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/671280.page

Those look great mixed with the flagellants and huntsmen.

Are those the 'heroic' Statuesque heads, or the smaller ones?

They are the heroic scale heads.

Thanks for the info guys.

I love the female heads - the missis doesn't mind the soldiers being male (read meat-shields) though as long as her spell caster is a female.


I've rummaged through my boxes and discovered I had a number of Conquest Games Norman infantry and some Gripping Beast Anglo Saxon Thegns - which scale pretty much perfectly. I believe both sets as well as the Frostgrave soldiers are made by Renedra.


I've ended up constructing the following:
4x Thug
2x Treasure Hunter
2x Thief
2x Crossbowmen
2x Marksmen
2x Infantryman
2x Archer
2x Ranger
4x Man-at-arms
3x Knight
3x Templar

I've built 11 Skeletons using the Vampire Counts Skeleton box (the 11th uses the spare torso to make a skeleton bursting out the ground)

Wizards and Apprentices Include:
Enchanter
Illusionist
Thaumaturge

Large Construct
Medium Construct
Small Construct

Can't make my mind up about the objective markers as I love crafting little nubbins like that but am lacking willpower at the moment.
I may also use more of the Gripping Beast models to bulk out some sections of the Soldiers Roster - I'll need to check if this will affect my ability to build a 4th 6x Point Saga army first though.