"Pike length and miniatures?" Topic

Hi all!

I'm just about to start painting my first unit of ECW infantry (both musketeers and pikemen). After doing some online research and reading a couple of books, I have determined that pikes were about 17 or 18 feet in length. As this is about 3 times the height of an average man, I was wondering, do I make the pikes 3 times the height of the figure?

Is this the norm for those of you who game, or do you make them smaller so that they're more 'manageable' (I presume) on the tabletop?

Thanks for your help! :)

"After doing some online research and reading a couple of books, I have determined that pikes were about 17 or 18 feet in length. As this is about 3 times the height of an average man, I was wondering, do I make the pikes 3 times the height of the figure?"

Er … yeah … otherwise they won't be in scale, will they?

Though I believe that some veteran pikeman used to chop a couple of feet off the length of their pike.

FWIW there are quite a few records of pikes being shortened by the soldiers so something shorter would be historical anyway.

"FWIW there are quite a few records of pikes being shortened by the soldiers so something shorter would be historical anyway."

But still probably at least 14ft long. And bearing in mind that people in the 17th century were on average shorter than today, that's still nearly three times the height of a figure.

The trick when on of your units makes a bad move, or gets thrashed by a mob of blind, one legged peasants dont slam your hand down on the table without checking it is clear of pike blocks!

Tally Ho!

Check the height of the box/shelf you will store them, then make sure the pike plus base plus movement tray height of the mini does not exceed that height.

….yes, I found that out the hard way :(

Is this the norm for those of you who game, or do you make them smaller so that they're more 'manageable' (I presume) on the tabletop?

Where is the fun in that? The pikes are supposed to be long and unwieldy in the first place.

And steel pikes with sharpened heads really add to the historical effect when some careless player manages to poke his hand with them.

I know when I was re-enacting I made sure that I got hold of one of the shorter pikes…
Much easier to handle!
Still around 14' long though.

It doesn't even take someone slamming hands to get hurt. Just an awkward movement toward them can stick you!

I do mine 2 and 1/2 the height of the figure. It makes them a bit easier to handle and store and still looks impressive.

I was wondering, do I make the pikes 3 times the height of the figure?

Yep. Pikes for "heroic" 28mm pikers (really 31-32mm to top of head) for instance should be about 90-100mm in length. 80mm looks OK IMHO, but 100mm looks awesome.

Mine are 100mm…and they do look awesome indeed!! :-)

Cheers

Romain

Make them full length and sharp. They'll keep the cat from jumping up onto the table a second time.

They'll keep the cat from jumping up onto the table a second time.

And make fellow gamers more mindful of being careful with your figures!

I know when I was re-enacting I made sure that I got hold of one of the shorter pikes…
Much easier to handle!

I made sure I was a musketeer – even easier :-)

Don't make them too short – remember Benburgh!

Agreed totally on the points. I sharpen mine up. We were playing a game years ago and this portly gentleman (not me…not then) reached over to move some units and ended up with several pike stands in the ole tummy. It was at a convention so we all yelled at once…"GUT CHECK!"