Best Kept Secrets: Ral Partha Europe

Pikeman #1

Pikeman #2

Former Crucible range:

Pikemen #1 & #2 – these figures both have heavy armour, but of different styles. They could be combined into a single unit but I have decided to use them as two different, but related Yan Koryani gureks: the Purified City of Krel (#27 IIRC) and its sister unit, whose name I forget (#7). Both are pike units “that fight in phalanx formation”. I am not sure why this has to be stated. Maybe it is just filler text, or maybe some pike units on Tekumel do not fight as a phalanx. Maybe there is a distinction being drawn between pikes used in ECW or 30YW fashion and Macedonian-style pikemen? Anyway, IIRC one unit is stated to be in full plate armour, the other in heavy armour. Both gureks have other troop types of course but I haven't figured those all out yet. Except one has heavy armoured crossbows, for which I think I am going to use the Reaper Crusader Crossbow figures, from the Warlord range.

Swordsman #1

Swordsman #2

Swordsman #1 & #2 – I like these figures a lot, with their demon-faced shields. I am not completely decided who they fight for, however.

Halberdier #1

Halberdier #2

Halberdier #1 & #2 – Again, I haven't decided which Empire these are part of yet. (I'm leaning towards Salarvya currently...)

I should note that I am probably going to end up inventing new legions. I don't have a problem with that. It seems to me that a lot of the existing legions were created to accomodate Barker's players. And some nations seem a bit sparce on the ground; Salarvya, in particular, has few troops compared to the expanse of land it occupies. I suppose a lot of the land could just be wilderness, ownership being more theoretical than actual. Or there could be a ton of Feudal Household troops.

Testudo Spearman #1

Testudo Spearman #2

Testudo Spearman #1 & #2 – I really like the shield these guys have, with the female face on it! The one pose with his arms in the air is no good as they depict it, holding the shield aloft as well. No worry, this is like getting a free shield as I will use it elsewhere. I think these are Salarvyani troops because the face has to be that of the Goddess Shirringayi! I think they fight with the shieldbearers in the front rank who make a Persian style wall of shields, and the other ranks press in behind, hence the overarm pose. This means the shield from the second figure can be used somewhere else. Not sure where yet. A Salarvyani pavise shield perhaps?

Thane Bodyguard #1

Thane Bodyguard #2

Thane Bodyguard  #1 & #2 – They have demon-bladed axes and wear the hide of a great ape over their helmet and armour. I think the apes are the Great White Apes as found on Barsoom. I think they live in the mountains, so these figures perhaps represent Saa Allaqani or Pechani warriors. Not sure which yet. I don't think there is a unit description that matches fully, though 2-handed axes are a Saa Allaqani thing, it seems.

More to follow...