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Hey all!

Still thinking about starting a fantasy modelling project - I think I've more or less decided on the bulk of it - some ragtag units from the roughest edges of the empire - but I kinda feel like I need a hero-looking figure to really tie it all together. I might try to build one myself (gonna be using a lot of plastic, anyway), but I thought I'd ask you guys if there were ever any minis of this type that you, the guy reading this, were especially fond of, for whatever reason?
Please share, especially if you can get any pics! If nothing else, it'll help me build mine, though...
...I am also perusing ebay, and while one or two little men have caught my eye, my mind isn't totally made up, just yet.

Take care! I look forward to hopefully getting a response or two!

To me, the Empire heroes from 4th-6th are some of the most characterful and iconic warhammer minis. So many good stuff.
Some of my favorites would be the Greatswords champion and Volkmar:





Once I get the main army painted, I might hunt down a few characters I'm missing.

Thanks for the reply! I like the greatsword guy a lot!

I wasn't around for those editions - the End Times had already started by the time I got into warhammer, but recently I've really been into Total War Warhammer. A lot of the people I've seen playing have a load of stories about favorite minis and stuff. I really like the subtle silliness of oldhammer metal minis, and I think this comes out really nicely in a lot of fantasy minis, though there's just something about the Empire that I can't quite put my finger on that feels really fun.

The very, very first model I bought when I first got into the game was the old metal Marius Leitdorf Elector Count model. I thought he was the coolest...its also the inspiration for my username.

I also felt he had the best fluff of all the other Elector counts. A warrior, a poet, and Engineer....basically a renaissance man whose only equal with a sword was the Reiksmarshal himself.

He was just a tad on the crazy side, but brilliant and brave to the last (RIP Marius).

For sure, that's an excellent model!
Perhaps it's the more brutish part of me, or maybe the more 18th century gothic side (it's 100% the 21st century Total War Warhammer fan), but I always liked Boris Todbringer best. Eye gouged out by a beastman? Self-destructive quest for vengeance? sick eye patch? trail of broken enemies, all lamenting into the wind "fething TODDYYYYYYYYY" excellent, 10/10 best boy.

What about the people's champion Valten? When he first came out he was just a humble blacksmith leading a ragtag peoples crusade to save the Empire from the Storm of Chaos.

I appreciate his character was rebooted in the End Times in a different form, but you could go back to the classic interpretation to match your theme.

 Kroem wrote:
What about the people's champion Valten? When he first came out he was just a humble blacksmith leading a ragtag peoples crusade to save the Empire from the Storm of Chaos.

I appreciate his character was rebooted in the End Times in a different form, but you could go back to the classic interpretation to match your theme.

Interesting idea! I had kind of pictured the hero being like mutton chopped and grizzled, and wielding a big sword, but chosen by the gods is a very intriguing angle...

...gotta say, guys, this has been very fun and insightful! Thanks to all of you! I really appreciate the input!

I like most of the old Grand-Master models for the knightly orders. And the pair of duelists you used to be able to buy.

This guy by a long chalk;


I use him as my paymaster for my DoW army.

I highly recommend the plastic Empire general kit, it comes with mounted general, and foot general or BSB; I think the best bit was the baroque face plate, and leopard helm, much like the Order.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=mzVs6cE%2b&id=1BBAD22AA07F4115293BF1BE005B9511544F57AE&thid=OIP.mzVs6cE-iAoMiaxwvB7f2AHaJ_&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fimg.game.co.uk%2fml2%2f7%2f4%2f7%2f5%2f747502_gen_a.png&exph=1500&expw=1112&q=empire+general+warhammer&simid=608027306323673106&ck=DC5962B9627C10DA0EE8FDCDFEFD4559&selectedIndex=25&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0

There are a lot of decent Empire sculpts from over the years.
The plastic Empire general set is good as is the plastic Empire wizard boxset, both kits have a lot of versatility and were well supported by individual fixed sculpt miniatures of quality.

These are not officially GW Empire but they were made to go with the Empire. First is the female Empire soldier from Eureka miniatures Australia. The 2nd (mounted) and 3rd (on foot) are Brunhilde von Konigsberg from raging heroes.

Marius Leitdorf for Emperor!

The new model was one of the first Empire models I bought.

WhiteHaven wrote:I like most of the old Grand-Master models for the knightly orders. And the pair of duelists you used to be able to buy.

Those duelists are gorgeous, really like the guy with the pistols, though I'd be more than a little tempted to try to use him for a 40k conversion
Will have a google of the Grand-Masters, they seem interesting!

ingtaer wrote:This guy by a long chalk;


I use him as my paymaster for my DoW army.

Oooh, I loved the warrior preist mins - really grimdark and brutal-looking. I think I've seen an FW priest for a reasonable-ish price, and it's very, very tempting...

Big Mac wrote:I highly recommend the plastic Empire general kit, it comes with mounted general, and foot general or BSB; I think the best bit was the baroque face plate, and leopard helm, much like the Order.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=mzVs6cE%2b&id=1BBAD22AA07F4115293BF1BE005B9511544F57AE&thid=OIP.mzVs6cE-iAoMiaxwvB7f2AHaJ_&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fimg.game.co.uk%2fml2%2f7%2f4%2f7%2f5%2f747502_gen_a.png&exph=1500&expw=1112&q=empire+general+warhammer&simid=608027306323673106&ck=DC5962B9627C10DA0EE8FDCDFEFD4559&selectedIndex=25&FORM=IRPRST&ajaxhist=0

Orlanth wrote:There are a lot of decent Empire sculpts from over the years.
The plastic Empire general set is good as is the plastic Empire wizard boxset, both kits have a lot of versatility and were well supported by individual fixed sculpt miniatures of quality.

Ahh, I know that is a nice kit, but idk where I'd hunt it down. Interesting to see it come up so many times as so many people's fav source of a hero.

WhiteHaven wrote:These are not officially GW Empire but they were made to go with the Empire. First is the female Empire soldier from Eureka miniatures Australia. The 2nd (mounted) and 3rd (on foot) are Brunhilde von Konigsberg from raging heroes.

Those certainly are...
...eye-catching

herjan1987 wrote:Marius Leitdorf for Emperor!
The new model was one of the first Empire models I bought.

Marius seems to be a very popular boy - any reason why? Is he just a total killpig, rules wise, or is it more a fluff/mini thing?

There is a Templar Knight and a buccaneer looking model in Talisman 3rd Ed. that I'd run in a heartbeat, either as DOW or Empire characters.

 posermcbogus wrote:

Marius seems to be a very popular boy - any reason why? Is he just a total killpig, rules wise, or is it more a fluff/mini thing?

I mean...partially? For me at least it was somewhat of an accident. I never really intended to get as into Warhammer as I did. I just thought the models were cool and I want to try my hand at painting. So I went over to my local game shop (This is around 2002) and bought a starter paint set and a model. I knew I wanted a human army and, at the time, the Brettonian army hadn't been released yet so they weren't an option. So I stuck with the Empire and just started rummaging through the old Blisters. I was torn between the Marius Leitdorf model and one of the Engineer models. I eventually settled on the Marius model because I thought the yellow and black colours of Averland were cool (PAINTING it however....ugg).

It was only afterward I had read the background on the character and realized how cool he was. Even in the 6th edition Army book there a short story how the Emperor came to Black Fire pass to help Averland fight off an Orc Waaagh. It was at that fight that Marius died fighting with his Greatswords and the Emperor slew the Orc Warboss by kinda turning into the Avatar of Sigmar.

Rulewise, I mean his 6th edition rules weren't the best. He had Frenzy and dual wielded...but was on a horse so he couldn't use it. He was WS 6 however, which was better then pretty much every other character except Kurt Helborg who had WS 7.

For me at least it was half random chance and half background is cool.

His model is just awesome. Lore is too lol.

The lore of Marius Leitdorf is just gold. His 2nd model is in my opinion one of the best in the Empire range. And lets forget Averland is one of funniest and loyal Electoral province in the Empire.

Marius Leitdorf for Emporer!

herjan1987 wrote:
The lore of Marius Leitdorf is just gold. His 2nd model is in my opinion one of the best in the Empire range. And lets forget Averland is one of funniest and loyal Electoral province in the Empire.

Marius Leitdorf for Emporer!

You would rather him sell manufactured goods than be an Elector Count?