Army building help...

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 1:20 pm

TwoTonic Knight wrote:
Really. Recovered hoplite shields have measured 80 cm to 1 meter in diameter (approximately 3 feet, an oft-quoted diameter). Now, the dimensions of a Lego minifig are not exactly human proportioned, but I'd say it is more like 4 feet, maybe larger. A hoplite shield should cover neck to groin, but on a minifig, it is more like neck to knee, and we are talking about a really big torso.

So why are you making such a fuss about the "accuracy" and "realism" if the minifig itself isn't humanly proportioned anyway? Does it matter that much? I mean Indian soldiers in the Scorpion Palace use those big 3x3 radar dishes as shields, and Chinese soldiers in Orient Expedition sets use them as gigantic coolie hats.

SirCumferance · Post by **SirCumferance** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 3:03 pm

wlister wrote:Hi Joe,

Once you check these out, let me know so I can take them out of my gallery. I want to take better pictures and get rid of the small sized old ones. Thanks,

William

Hi William, thanks a lot for taking the pictures! I think I like the brown shield the best. Since this is supposed to be a "desert army" I am going for the low-tech look.

TwoTonic Knight · Post by **TwoTonic Knight** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:47 pm

JPinoy wrote:
So why are you making such a fuss about the "accuracy" and "realism" if the minifig itself isn't humanly proportioned anyway? Does it matter that much? I mean Indian soldiers in the Scorpion Palace use those big 3x3 radar dishes as shields, and Chinese soldiers in Orient Expedition sets use them as gigantic coolie hats.

If you feel I was making a "fuss", let me note that you are the one that complained about the "accuracy" and "realism" of the 2x2 being more of a buckler size

. I was merely pointing out the flip side: the 3x3 is extremely large. Use either or both as it pleases you. The classic round shield is something of a happy medium, but is also extremely expensive, so cheap alternatives are sought.

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 6:03 pm

The larger 3x3 shields actually make for good Hoplons, far better than the round shields as hoplons were somewhat concave, unlike the round shields which are flat. Actually those round shields are better as Viking shields than ancient Greek ones.

And yes, the 2x2 is buckler size, but my "fuss" wasn't of comparing shield to soldier dimensions to the point where I had to say that it only covers this and this much of the body.

My comparisons were approximations, yours was more...... of a fuss.

TwoTonic Knight · Post by **TwoTonic Knight** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 6:20 pm

JPinoy wrote:The larger 3x3 shields actually make for good Hoplons, far better than the round shields as hoplons were somewhat concave, unlike the round shields which are flat. Actually those round shields are better as Viking shields than ancient Greek ones.

And yes, the 2x2 is buckler size, but my "fuss" wasn't of comparing shield to soldier dimensions to the point where I had to say that it only covers this and this much of the body. My comparisons were approximations, yours was more...... of a fuss.

I think you are taking this far too personally. I expanded on my reasoning when you said I was incorrect about the size, that is all.

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 6:39 pm

Fine. Whatever, your a Castle person Im more into Ancients.

SirCumference, ask people to make custom round shields. BTW, how come this hasn't done already?

SirCumferance · Post by **SirCumferance** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:16 pm

Ask people to make custom round shields? What do you mean? Like, make a mold, or shape one out of a piece?

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:27 pm

I was thinking more like what those guys who make custom weapons do. That way people such as you, can have a nice supply of not as akward like 2x2 or 3x3 radars, or expensive like Lego's, round shields.

Heck, I could get my hands on some molds and what not, if I halted buying from BL for a while, which is 99.99% not going to happen.

TwoTonic Knight · Post by **TwoTonic Knight** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:33 pm

JPinoy wrote:Fine. Whatever, your a Castle person Im more into Ancients.

Actually, I more into "ancients" than medieval - I'm not sure why you are claiming otherwise for me. I started with the overly complex WRG Ancients 3rd edition in miniatures gaming, I've been a member of the Society of Ancients, my army of choice was Alexandrian Macedonian, but I've also had Sassinid Persian, Palmyran, Cathage, Ancient Briton, Classical Greek, Roman Republic, Dacian, and Pontic armies. My only medieval armies have been in Lego.

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:40 pm

All my Lego armies are in Ancients era with the exception of the Near-Future Military guys, which is why I assumed you didn't do any ancients, since all your Lego was in medieval era.

I tend to prefer Far Eastern and Near Eastern ancient civilizations. Plus, I have no qualms about adding a slight touch of mythology/fantasy, but not so blatant like having Sphinxes, Chimeras, and what not in the theme. More subtle ways... like... the Kahilwayan factions. Plus its also not entirely chronologically accurate in terms of the history.
For example: Mycenae, Etruscans, and the Kingdom of Israel existing along side Hsia Dynasty China, Old Choson Korea, and the Harappa civilization of early Indian/South Asia culture.

wlister · Post by **wlister** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:41 pm

Guys relax, don't make assumptions.

I am a castle guy and although I find the subject of ancients very interesting, this thread is not the right one for this argument. Did give me a chuckle though.

This subject has gone way left field. Any chance one of the Admins could lock it down?

Will

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:45 pm

How about an Ancients section then? It could generate more interest in this Fan Created Theme.

The Blue Knight · Post by **The Blue Knight** » Sat Mar 06, 2004 7:39 am

JP and TTK, I have a lot of respect for both of your work. My passion is classical Greece and Rome, but my BS is in Mesoamerican culture because it's close enough to actually go there.

I have a Roman Army that's being reworked. i had it at BF PDX, though I have seen no pix of them. I have tried to load them up, but they are .bmp, and I have seen that those take to long. Know how I can make them jpeg?

Have either of you got links to your ancient stuff? I'm excited to find others doing these themes I love so much.

Admin: what about an "Ancient" topic area?

On topic, do what feels right. price constrains us all (expect JoJo

) so make it eye-catching. And don't forget pix!

Richard