Obviously this is a loaded question. As sci-fi gamers, we strive for a good blend of each. If we're playing near future games, we want something that looks like a terrestrial army may use in a generation or two. Even if we're playing far-future space opera games, we want to have something that we can relate to.
But there's one thing that I don't personally like on the tabletop - prone figures. Take a look at these Harook Sniper greens posted this week by Mad Robot Miniatures:
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| From Mad Robot's preview article |
I love that figure on the left. He's crouching down, and would look great behind covering terrain (crate stacks, rocky outcroppings, whatever you have). But he also looks like he's able to move during his game turn. On the right we have a prone sniper. Obviously this is a more realistic firing pose - that's not even a question to me. But on the game table? I'll use it, but I'd personally rather have two of the figure on the left.
I'm certainly not picking on Mad Robot - either Steve's concept or Pedro's excellent sculpt. And they certainly aren't the only ones to use this kind of pose. Rebel Minis' early sniper teams (Earthforce and Sahadeen) take this a step farther by having the sniper and spotter as a single conjoined figure. And even before that, take a look at Ground Zero Games' figures. Most of the early factions were available as advancing, kneeling, and prone variants of the same figures. And many of the new-sculpt heavy weapon troopers are also available as prone figures.
I'm certainly not picking on Mad Robot - either Steve's concept or Pedro's excellent sculpt. And they certainly aren't the only ones to use this kind of pose. Rebel Minis' early sniper teams (Earthforce and Sahadeen) take this a step farther by having the sniper and spotter as a single conjoined figure. And even before that, take a look at Ground Zero Games' figures. Most of the early factions were available as advancing, kneeling, and prone variants of the same figures. And many of the new-sculpt heavy weapon troopers are also available as prone figures.
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| Stolen from Mini Metal Mayhem - Paul has great pics of many GZG figures |
This is a cool idea in concept, especially if your rules somehow utilize a trooper's stance. But in practice, I'd rather see them advancing or kneeling. I personally don't want recreations of combat photos. I want game pieces! My figures should "feel" mobile, like they're ready to accept new orders at any time. If I'm using rules that let figures go prone or hunker down, I can always represent that with a counter.
So how does everyone else feel about that? Do you like your figures in more realistic combat poses, or do you like them to be mobile game pieces?
Cheers,
Chris
