Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors Review

Rodge here, aka the Wisco Horndog, taking a look at the Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors Plastic Box Set.
I picked these up as part of my Eastern Romans Saga project. Please check out that playlist to follow along with that!
• Eastern Romans
If you'd like to get in touch, send an email to [e-mail]. I'd love to chat!

[@e-4airman124]

I was glad to see an unboxing clear so I can decide what to get>

[@RodgeRules]

Cool! What faction(s) are you thinking about? Let me know and I can provide some specific advice!

[@terrycrick3600]

Great fun and a very fascinating talk through a superb set,well done my friend,happy modelling.

[@RodgeRules]

Thank you sir. Thanks for watching!

[@travisdralle1227]

Great video as always! I have found that if you have the plastic GBP Viking HIrdmen and Saxon Thegns boxes, you have ample heads to provide helmets for a single box of the dark age warriors to bring them to "warrior" status. As I think most Saga players differentiate warriors from levy by classier shields and a helmet, having those boxes does well to pull this off. I also got the Conquest games Norman infantry box and these mix in well to give a little more pose flavor to the unit. If you have a collection, getting 3-4 boxes might be a bit much, but if you are just starting out, it can help you build a variety of generic troops really quickly, including 2 handed axes (conquest games box) and as you note, every non-bow levy option.

[@RodgeRules]

That is a great point about the Vikings/Saxon boxes. I think these three in particular are the same scale/proportions/poses so you have a ton of versatility. I haven't picked up the Norman infantry box but think I will have to now!

[@scotsbillhicks]

I am still firmly in the warmachine camp, (which Saga is a marvellous contrast to), dabble with Malifaux, and still grieve over Confrontation.

[@hatefuldisplay]

Nice video. I finally decided to try my hand at sprues after a few years of miniature painting and this is one of the two I picked up. I'm glad to get some details on them and will definitely check out your other videos.

[@RodgeRules]

Having a sprue or two of these in the collection is certainly handy for conversion potential!

[@ostrowulf]

I find this to be my favorite box because of the versatility. My brother in law and I each have a dozen slingers from these boxes, and just use them instead of bow men.

[@RodgeRules]

Indeed, quite a few options to be had! Was genuinely surprised by the slings in there!

[@shaundaly1134]

The bases seem very large on the Gripping Beast models, bigger than a 20mm x 20mm base at least, maybe even bigger than 30mm round.

[@scotsbillhicks]

Not had that many games. We started the age of the wolf campaign but my meta has a very fickle attention span. What I really like is that I got my head round the game, bought and re-roled enough models to make a 6 point army in about a month. Done. Finished. I have bought a few extras over time. Mostly because the links to the rules errata were so awful it was easier to buy the expansions.

[@RodgeRules]

Cool! Saga is indeed a nice change of paca when it comes to the actual building of the figures! As numbers go, it's not the smallest game but they tend to be cheap, go together quick and paint quick to boot! I suppose you guys didn't finish the Age of the Wolf campaign?

[@scotsbillhicks]

Badgered into playing Saga. Trawled through my old models and got a handful of models but not enough to make anything like a valid army. Bought this box, and I am good to go. I have since bought warlords, (Macbeth), and errrmm religious advisors...but this one box was enough. Good plastic. Cleaned up reasonably well and stuck together quite quickly.

[@RodgeRules]

Awesome! Glad to hear. Have you been enjoying your games now that you're "finally" in? What game(s) are you coming from?

[@kitswithkaren5003]

Nice review 👍

[@RodgeRules]

Thank you Michael!

[@tinywargamer3863]

Rodge how about shield sizes? If I buy some shield designs form warlord will those fit on those shields provided with the pack from GPB (the transfers from Warlord fit 12mm I believe?)

[@RodgeRules]

Good question! I just measured the shields and they are 14mm edge to edge. There is a little rim molded into it, and the interior of that is just over 12mm. So it looks like the warlord transfers would fit. Otherwise I believe Little Big Men studios has shields sized specifically to this kit.

[@teokal4221]

Might I please ask how you plan to go about converting the heads to make them stand more upright on the shoulders? I would love a video about it. Many thanks for your videos in any case.

[@RodgeRules]

Thanks for watching Teo! I will consider a video on that subject!

[@PMMagro]

I have these, not bad at all. Very useful and worth the money (although I'd add some special units).

[@RodgeRules]

Agreed! Compared to fantasy sets, the figure to $$$ ratio is pretty bananas!

[@WoofyMcDoodle]

Might be an off question, but how do these shields compare to victrix shields? Are they the same size as the Vikings or Anglo Danes Kit? I am asking, because I collect victrix minis and getting those LBMS shield decals in my country is way too expensive compared to GP so if those shields are the same size as victrix I might get their GP decals and save myself an arm and a leg :)

[@RodgeRules]

No problem! The Victrix Viking shields vary in size. The very smallest one on the Victrix sprue is about the same size as the GB Viking shield (which are all the same size.) The GB ones are a little thicker for sure.

[@dominicnzl]

the model holding the spear overhead has his arm in a very awkward position compared to his shoulder, it looks quite bad honestly. Thanks for the video review!

[@RodgeRules]

Agreed!