If You Can't Afford MORE Warhammer Watch This!

I wanted to play the Middle Earth Strategy Battle game narrative campaign book from Games Workshop but the cost of the Official Games Workshop and Forge World Warhammer Lord of the Rings miniatures are very expensive, so I decided to look for alternative proxy LOTR miniatures to use in MESBG.
🛒 USA
- Viking Miniatures: ebay.us/m3yfjE
- Cavalry Miniatures: ebay.us/GZvmYz
- Archer Miniatures: ebay.us/TZd2lu
- 25mm Bases: amzn.to/3VMt9ib
🛒 UK
- Archer Miniatures: ebay.us/gEZrBX
- Viking Miniatures (Amazon): amzn.to/3HY9bh3
- Viking Miniatures (Firestorm Games): www.firestormgames.co.uk/vict...
- Cavalry (Firestorm Games): www.firestormgames.co.uk/vict...
- 25mm Bases: amzn.to/3GhSVFi
One of the main drawbacks of Warhammer is that it can be a expensive hobby. The cost of purchasing miniature figures, paints, and other supplies can add up quickly, and it's not uncommon for players to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on their collections. But what if you're a budget-conscious gamer who still wants to get in on the action? Is it possible to enjoy Warhammer without breaking the bank? Today we take a look at alternative miniatures for use in The Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game from games workshop.
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➖ TIME STAMPS ➖
0:00 My Problem
1:52 Wildman Proxy Comparison
2:24 Warriors Proxy Comparison
3:14 Troop Savings
3:32 Horsemen Proxy
5:28 Character Proxying
6:26 Forge World Huscarls
6:58 Monopose vs Multipose?
7:37 Crebain Proxy
7:58 3d Printing Archers
10:11 Fixing the bases
11:12 Total Cost
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➖ About Me & The Channel ➖
My name is Danny and the goal of this miniature tabletop channel is to inspire likeminded passionate miniature painters with entertaining content on the hobby
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This channel will cover Warhammer 40k and its faction tactics and painting guides for all the factions in the Warhammer 40k universe; Chaos Space Marines, Sisters of Battle, Imperial Guard, Chaos Daemons, Orks, Necrons, Space Marines, Drukhari (Dark Eldar), Eldar, Tau and Tyranids. I also enjoy painting D&D miniatures (Dungeons and Dragons) and Age of Sigmar (AOS) from Games Workshop. And the factions; Stormcast Eternals, Fyreslayers, Idoneth Deepkin, Sylvaneth, Seraphon, Khardron Overlords, Fyreslayers, Chaos, Khrone, Tzeentch, Slaanesh, Nurgle, Skaven, Vampire Counts, Nagash, Nighthaunts, Bonereapers, Gloomspire Gitz, Ogor Mawtribes, Orruk Warclans, Sons of Behemat and lots of scenery building and painting guides.

[@esotabletop]

FYI: This is my progress on my half of the miniatures I need for my half of the campaign - 3 x FW Dunland heros - 6 x FW dunland huscarls - 12 wild men of dunland - 12 Dunland Warriors - Thyrdan Wolfsbane - 6 Dunland Horsemen - Vrasku - Ugluk - Mauhur - 18x Wars - 24 x Uruk Scouts - 4 Captains with shields - 30 Uruk Warriors - 12 Crossbows - 16 Berserkers - 5x ladders - 3x demolotiin teams We have a long way to go!

[@akumaking1]

Do you like OnePageRules?

[@StackingLimit]

I love this proxy solution.The only people that wont are GW. Too bad for them!

[@Featherus_]

The only people I’ve ever known to care about Proxied minis are GW store employees. Victrix miniatures are fantastic quality and a fantastic price.

[@adrianniks2591]

And GW cucks, not warhammers fans but GW fans, antifa/corposhills of hobby "aos sales matters"

[@damianarvizu1095]

I have met a few… they tend to be GW fanboys.

[@jayvis123111]

Imagine having to work an entire day to buy a box of minis or two only to then defend that company.

[@Mikel9]

And buttermilk bobs

[@KrullMaestaren]

@@damianarvizu1095 wanted to say the same thing.

[@nathangerardy2669]

Looks like you did great. It also seems like Victrix deserves the attention. Thank you for bringing attention to better priced alternatives. If GW wanted to compete, they could lower their ridiculous prices...

[@thewallachianbard6975]

That's the problem, there's no one else big enough and willing to compete with them ! It's the same problem Lego has. I guess once 3D printing becomes cheaper and easier, things might change, hopefully not hurting Victrix though

[@7thson726]

Another great video, no need to feel guilty, game how you want, never had any issues using proxy models and would never not play someone because of it. Bonus is you now have an entire Viking Army for Saga right there 😁

[@Salty_Sassenach]

I'm in my 60s now & I used to joke with my dad, why he called my older brother, Number one son 🤔 I said that I was Number one son as I did more about the house than he did 😜 Love your channel 👍

[@RosiePaintsMinis]

Back in the day i watched so many videos of your skyrim videos. Now i am obsessed with minis and find this channel. Thank you so much for the wonderful content

[@PlanetToborTV]

I recently picked up a couple kits from Victrix and they are magnificent (especially in cost, haha) -- Frostgrave and Oathmark kits are also tremendous. They've made me fall back in love with the hobby.

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

Their goblins, orcs (even demons if you do a bit of conversion work) and dwarfs are really great for middle earth, although they're in hero scale so might look a bit chunky compared to other LOTR minis

[@brickbreaker8148]

Yeah but don't GW metal minis contain lead? No thanks.

[@omegamattman8399]

this channel deserves way more love, im inspired to get into table top gaming now, ive always been so worried about the price

[@sapatanque5881]

The seamless way you blend the recommended video at the end of the current one is mesmerising. I can't stop 😂

[@DavesMiniMenagerie]

Those are some really nice kits, and going to plastic from metal is a huge bonus as well.

[@borna1231]

Yeeees! I love seeing Victrix getting more and more publicity in the wider wargaming community! A LOT of their kits can be used for all sorts of fantasy armies. As for me... Well, my next project is a 700+ model Punic Wars project, with 90% of minis coming from Victrix :D. The two MASSIVE armies (with a lot of options for low cost branching into other armies like the Celts, Spanish etc...) cost me about 350 euros.

[@williammcallister4066]

I have just done the exact same! Our group wanted to play the war in Rohan scenarios, no one had any interest in that Dunland outlay, and then I found victrix. Great stuff. They look great!

[@GothPaoki]

Great video,great analysis and also nice highlighting alternatives.

[@foehammer1172]

I have a GW Dunland army, but I really want to buy the Vitrix kits because they are just fantastic! Been to a few tournaments where people have brought the proxy army intermingled with some GW stuff and they look amazing.

[@rolandjensen3746]

I don't play Middelearth, but I think your proxies look great. As far as useing proxies to play with, you could play with cardboard cutout AFAIC. Remember to paint the rim of the bases :-)

[@kelvingriffiths6017]

Yes to the rim painting. Classy black all the way.

[@joseluisnd75]

This army is gorgeous. And the dilemma about GW or not GW... well, Lord of the Rings was created by JRR Tolkien, not by GW so, I see no problem if you create yur own models based on Tolkien to play the game. In fact... now I want to buy some Victrix models.

[@KrullMaestaren]

Is it still ok if it is AoS or 40K?

[@joseluisnd75]

@@KrullMaestaren proxy models have been used always. I remember a guy who used a Pepsi can as an ork Dreadnought because he couldn't afford one. He and his friends wanted to play, just it. And other hobby comunities use proxys usually. In Bolt Action you can use any brand, not only Warlord, and Warlord allows ti even in their official competitions. I don't understand why to be a GW's taliban fanboy unless if someone is a guy who don't really like hobbying and playing but only winning. GW is just a brand (and not the cheapest or even the better), not a god who deserves total submission and love.

[@gusty9053]

@@joseluisnd75 In Battletech they let you use cartboard cutouts if you want as long as the facing is marked and you can tell what mech it's supposed to be. GW is just an a-hole company and has been for years.

[@thewallachianbard6975]

Never have I wholeheartedly recommended a product as much as I would recommend Victrix. I got the late Anglo-Saxons bag, and it was worth it ! 60 Minis in one bag, and let me tell you I am left with a TON of spare parts

[@MartinDickson]

@@KrullMaestaren Re. AoS or 40K, it is certainly a more interesting question (to me at least) when the imagery/beings/models being proxied are specific GW IP as opposed to (say) more "generic" elves, dwarves, goblins, etc that are clearly grounded in the works of Tolkien and other authors. Tolkien himself was writing a pseudo-historical time-that-never-was, and using Saxons, Vikings, and the like to represent these seems very reasonable. And while GW may have the current licence to make Middle-Earth minis they aren't really the generators of the IP or look-and-feel of the IP - most of that came out of Jackson's LoTR movies, which in turn leaned very heavily on the imagery produced by long-time Tolkien illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe (to the point that they were both employed for the movies as creative artists). I also suspect that, as an older player, my thinking is coloured by growing up with pre-GW rulesets were the minis weren't made by the same company... and even now GW are the exception, not the rule. As for AoS or 40K... I personally prefer GW's minis... but it's not an absolute. My IG army has a far amount of 3rd party stuff in it, (mostly because I love Victoria Miniatures guard figures), but my Marines are all pure GW. Provided the proxies were unambiguous I really wouldn't care. TL;DR the very question of whether it's OK to use Victrix (or whoever) minis with GW rules for an LoTR game is basically nonsensical... honestly, I'm trying to imagine someone like Warlord insisting that only their official British 8th Army figures could be used with Bolt Action... total nonsense.

[@sapatanque5881]

Dramatic light changing at 3:20 while delivering key info 👌🏽

[@bzakd]

Absolutely mint video mate, subscribed 💪

[@ScorchMat]

Brilliant video! I have made a Victrix Dunland army but I wasnt sure what would work well for Cavalry and crebain. But I do now!

[@haxan6663]

I don't play LOTR but am always happy to see money going to companies other than GW! Those Victrix minis look great.

[@jordanbeard6687]

Not only acceptable, but a fantastic army and IMO seems more fun hunting down the right pieces and kitbashing this together.

[@kelvingriffiths6017]

It is. I do this with all my middle earth now. Couple of "real" charachters and sprues, rest proxy and convert. And you know what? The finished army looks so much cooler.

[@tethys17]

They'll be more personalized and unique too

[@RotGolem]

The Norman Cavalry kit is incredibly versatile. I've just completed some... well Norman Cavalry, but I'm honestly wondering if I should get another one to build some Saracens. The sculpts are just SO good.

[@totallylegit4092]

Also…it’s your hobby. If people dont like how you play it, then play with someone else. Also, as much as GW winge officially about this sort of stuff, they know it will happen and that it is a result of using their “premium” price model. So they have actively chosen to have this more prevalent so that their products are seen as “premium” and thus more desirable. But I will give them credit where it is due…their army books, codexes etc. are bloody premium. That art work is amazing and getting that look just right takes a lot of time.

[@Kitserina]

Looks great! Hope you'll have an awesome time playing the game :)

[@kosachilles2504]

Keen to see you paint them!

[@jackneighbour7605]

Well I bought a whole early Roman army (one of everything) after your first video. So I’m sold!

[@sirrobert1962]

Fantastic video, and I see no problem at all using these miniatures.

[@kennygpokerstrategy4917]

Show us how you painted them!!!! Great vid, the victrix models are great

[@B1GP3T3]

This is outstanding like it’s unbelievably good! so so similar

[@andrewnewton-evans2362]

Im pretty sure I heard in a podcast that Bob Naismith who used to sculpt for GW did a lot of the Victrix models tools I think they would fit in quite well in a MESBG.

[@Machiovel]

I want to start a Dunlending army myself to jump in and play but the prices in USD is ridiculous! These Victrix models might just do the trick for me though, thanks for sharing.

[@mindsetmatters2433]

I've subscribed because of this video please do plenty more

[@stevenwhite7763]

I love Victrix. My last monster sized project was a First Punic War battle. 476 infantry figures. Being able to use nearly every piece from every set with every other set, I was able to build an accurate Carthaginian army. Keep up the great work.

[@chriswilson6486]

I actually play quite a bit of MESBG. Normally I'm not a fan of proxies, but in this case, since so much of the Dunland range is in metal with a small range of poses, I'm cool with it. Especially if the Victrix Vikings (which I have for Saga) are blended in with the metals.

[@TheBearMoose]

Your army looks great, and running proxies is totally fine. Some people might care, but I think most will be fine with it. 😁

[@aazron87]

I had been considering a Dunland for my new army this year. I will definitely be following your lead and going the route of victrix. GW options are wayyy too expensive and it’s hard to see why.

[@thewallachianbard6975]

I could never argue against GW's quality, each mini is ridiculously modeled but the price ? oooh .. I would argue that labor costs (salaries/taxes etc) would be a major drive in cost, but Victrix also appears to be in the UK..yet for some reason a GW mini is about 3 euro/each while Victrix is about half an euro each (assuming we are talking about "cannon fodder" .

[@KeeRovmusic]

I allways loved if someone use other manufactures figures, which match in their armies. For me much colorful and intresting

[@chris6206]

Great info for a newcomer , excellent mate

[@elijenkins2181]

Thanks for the videos, I am considering getting back into MESBG and this would be a fun cheap way to pump up the bodies for an Isengard army with an army underrepresented in the films. Although I would likely stick to Mordor and Minas Tirith as they are in the starter set but if I split that and wanted an evil faction this would be my choice.

[@rcgunner7086]

Pretty funny. I went the OTHER WAY and proxied my Dunlindings as Vikings some years ago! They worked pretty nice. My Rohirrum also did duty as Romano-British/English troops too.

[@kristoff7049]

This looks awesome!

[@garysmith4742]

I just buy a box of minis, paint it, then sell it for 3 times as much on ebay, usually they sell within a few days and then I just take that money and buy three times as many models. I just keep doing that process until I have a full army. I started off with a box of 10 chaos marines 2 months ago, now I have 70 marines, 2 forge fiends, 1 chaos lord with thunderhammer, 12 possessed, 2 obliterators and a venom crawler. if you are a good painter that can paint fast, this I what I suggest.

[@geertbeekman8680]

the vikings you used are looking good and if we would play i woudnt see a difference, yes i would play agains you. Now get to it and paint them up.

[@christianreyes5912]

Proxies for the win!

[@hendrikvandenberkmortel6702]

Vitrix is great. i am using them for my Kings of War Varangur army.

[@iohanart]

well done!! I would definitely play against that army

[@Tim1000064]

Honestly if someone has an issue with you using similar miniatures as proxies they're probably not worth playing with. Especially with the prices for some minis sold by GW, getting fantasy or historical minis from other companies is a great way to bulk up numbers and create more visual variety in your army.

[@NLykkeshoj]

Please do a couple of painting videos of these models! What would be great :)

[@Auriorium]

By now, If I could paint every Necron model I want, I would do so. Look you can come with Lego mini figs as your army and I still would fight against them.

[@siraujus101]

Great video. I find that the same feeling goes into my gaming at the moment. I can sell my car for more minis or buy some really fun second party minis and model them. well I do love my greenstuff so model away. Your army looks great and now I am off to watch the painting video so I might end 2023 with less grey and more painted models.

[@HomeDrone]

I think you nailed it. I'd be more than happy to play with or against that "proxy". It's not even really a proxy. It's just the army from a different brand.

[@thewallachianbard6975]

Oh yes I agree those Victrix miniatures are INCREDIBLE . I could not believe how many I got for such a low low price !

[@simontemplar5426]

beautiful minis !!

[@thevoidire]

Great video dude, keep up the good proxy work. If you can save money then save money. Seems like a no brainer 🤷🤣

[@danielhall6354]

These look great and very lord of the rings. I think ideally you would want to mix in some of the 'official' models and most get the most variety possible

[@Gumlass1]

That's a super nice proxy army. I don't know anyone that objects to proxying.

[@SkeletalStevo]

I think this is a great way to play and save :)

[@piddiification]

Nice! Please make more of thees vids!

[@brianv769]

These look really good!

[@Edward-Plantagenet]

Interesting video. Def the route I would go if going full Dunlending. Sadly, the Murder of Crowz (Zombicide) is now out of production and really hard to get, not that keen on the Anvil (too much assembly) or the Reaper (too big and unimaginative) options so looks like it will have to by FW for Crebain.

[@SleepingGiant77]

The quality on those Victrix models is incredible. I recently picked up some WarGames Atlantic Dark Age Warriors 4 proxy, and while affordable they just don't match the victrix detail. Will definitely be going with them next time around

[@aidanhart9871]

As long as the scale and wargear are correct I have no problem with people using proxies. Yours are amazing and i will definitely consider the same ....unfortunately everything in Australia is expensive...especially miniatures soo I don't expect to save much 😆 😆 😆 I'm also terrible at painting so I get comission painters to do it.... so yeah also increases the price. Models + painting my Gondor army cost about $1800

[@Lucian1227]

they look good wish I could find some for some riders of Rohan

[@lequick0316]

Omg I didn't know if this box. So want it.

[@andrewdavies6355]

Victrix are great. Currently building some carthaginians as I watch this.

[@Billchu13]

If you've got a 3d printer, check out The Printing Goes Ever On

[@ForgeMoon]

TPGEO really has great designs!

[@ForgeMoon]

don't mind proxies for MESBG, especially since they use the same moulds since 20 years... personally I use 3D prints alongside original models I own since about 19 years

[@OdaManjiro]

I hope the scaling of the upcoming Warhammer Old World kits are close enough in scale to these and perry miniatures to mix bits. I'd love to build some chaos warriors, Bretonnians, or Imperials with additional elements of historical armor to those in the gw kits.

[@Dirk_Daring]

Victrix miniature for MESBG is really good

[@samuelmarcoux3171]

Proxy/3d print is the way to go!!

[@BethorInvictus]

I love Victrix, now you have some armies you might even want to try out some games like saga Age of Vikings or ravenfeast

[@TheDungeonDive]

I play my skirmish games with Pathfinder Pawns, or meeples, or tokens. No 3D models required at all! I don't even use 3D terrain. I just use Loke Battlemats.

[@jameshilsdon1494]

Is this OK you ask? Honestly, it's like watching a man wake up one morning and realise that he doesn't have to walk 5 miles over broken glass in bare feet each day to see the man he knows will punch him in the face again and again. The proxies are easily as good, if not better, give you far greater variety and are a fraction of the cost, The phrase "no brainer" comes irrestibly to mind. Great figures you produced, well done!

[@kelvingriffiths6017]

More people must hear this. Just other day i ordered the isenguard battlehost. I then got on etsy and with just 100 i fleshed the army out significantly. Im talking charachters, crossbow guys, berserkers etc. GW equivelant would have cost WAY more.

[@NeedGamesNow]

Well, obviously in an official Games Workshop setting this would be a no-no, but in just about every hobby group I have been in and played with in the last 30+ years, I don't think anyone would have an issue with this. Especially if you proxy minis that look good. (Using Space Marines a Rohan Army wouldn't go over well), but with what you have done - in my opinion - this just adds to the fun of the hobby - job well done. :)

[@calvanoni5443]

Excellent!

[@wiser.kinder.calmer.6530]

great idea

[@rklammer]

Awesome video, might grab the Victrix models myself. I don't think its necessary fair to say "these bow models that I have to chop up to make allow me to have more poses" when you could also just chop up the official GW dunlendings to get more poses through conversions. What you should say instead is, because they are all plastic, this is much easier to get a variety of poses.

[@federicodelio247]

Victrix miniatures are awesome pal! You could also play Saga or Clash of spears with them!

[@ManuelWagner-dj7rv]

Proxy or not, it is game, so have fun. I remember that my friends and I in school used Cut Outs in the correct base size just to play this game. To answer your question, yes I would play against a proxy army.

[@ricardopequeno3422]

Much love for this. I personally don't see a difference (I'm new to the game, thinking of getting into it). Any other factions you can make a video for? Like orcs or elves? Im thinking of going orcs so that would be great 😊

[@russby3554]

Look on The Print Goes Ever On. It's a 3D printing group that focuses on LOTR minis

[@davidclegg7874]

Victrix Early Saxons would be good proxies for Dunland, with earlier armour and weapon styles.

[@jercharron7380]

My friend and I did much the same as far as proxying for the Saga campaign. And yes I would easily play against non GW models even when i was only using GW for GW games.

[@BlackSabbath628]

Yeah, I noticed a lot of newer GW sets are monopose. Not to mention that you have fewer spare bits too. Which is a problem for Orks, because they were THE spare bits and converting / customization army.

[@jaysonstewart3537]

Ah, yes, the age old argument of is it moral to proxy historic minis in for lotr. Go for it! The army looks great!

[@TheDysartes]

I've started buying historical miniatures as alternatives for Lord of the Rings. Wargames Atlantic even do halflings which are great for Hobbit stand in plus they also have giant spiders as well.

[@PeninsulaPaintingProjects]

I want to see this army painted

[@danielhall6354]

I wonder how exactly how the victrix models look on the table top side by side with the GW ones - the only issue i have found with 3rd party models is that sometimes they look too big or out of proportion.

[@TheManInRoomFive]

You are right about everything.

[@danielhall6354]

This is possibly one of the best proxies as Rohan and Dunland are very much inspired by Vikings

[@hogs0war]

As long as there is a vaguely similar miniature to what you're playing it doesn't matter. Proxies are a great way to get more games for everyone. When I first got into Warhammer I was about 11 so it was impossible to put 2000pts together in GW models to play outside of my friend group. I would hate for someone as young (or any age really) as I was unable to wargame because they couldn't afford to play with GW models but could make an effort with all the wonderful proxxies available today that I didn't have access to.

[@DJRockford83]

That's really good 👍🏻 which army next I wonder? 🤔 Rohan from victrix Saxons and normans? Mordor from Wargames Atlantic?

[@arthursouza4326]

i bought 1 viking and 1 dark age archer set from victrix. i was able to create all 4 heroes from dunland, 9x huscarls, counteless wildmen and warriors. best money i've spent in my entire life

[@haroldduffey1383]

Brilliant! This is the way to go. You are welcome at my table any day, mate! However, I disagree with your comment of buying the FW heroes of Dunland. I proxied Goruf and Frida from reaper, and. I am still looking for a Wildman oath maker proxy. Could you make him from the Vitrix Viking Pack? Here is a challenge for you- find some proxies for Sharkey's ruffians! Cheers

[@Morhgoz]

Yeah, two main reasons I have moved more to the 3d prints or other manyfactorers on minis is GW's prices and monopose minies, as I love build every model looking individual and different.

[@totallylegit4092]

Bro you paint? Where can I see some of your work? I am busy with my chaos knight army and I am looking at everything inspiration 😁

[@kelticowl9400]

As someone who 3d Prints, long live the proxies, especially for your home games. I do understand the restrictions for "Official" Tournament/competitive play. but rarely play in those types of games

[@hobbychaos]

These Victrix models are much nicer than original gw sculpts

[@mkgegokaleida5891]

You saved me tons of money :D. Does anyone here know from where I could buy capes to attach to make them look more Huscarls ?

[@jmaccsarmiesofmiddleearth]

Some class ideas. Made a full mid 2nd age Numenorian army from Warlord Romans. Historicals for the win.

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

I'd recommend Cataphractii as Numenorian cavalry, they definitely have the correct aesthetic