"Female VSF Characters" Topic

I have been playing Soldiers Companion for some time and have a sizeable collection of Martians, British and various other forces from the era. I decided to GM a Space 1889 RPG for some friends who don't share my miniatures passion. But, being a miniatures guy, I want figures for all the players. Here is the dilemna. We have 4 party members who are female. The female miniatures specifically for Space 1889 (RAFM) are too passive for this crew ;-) What are some good sources for female figures. We would like to have female archeologists, seafaring captains, reports, doctors and the like. Does anyone know who makes these in 25-28mm? What would you suggest?

I would start with the basics for that genre, look over
Pulp Figures, Brigade Games, Copplestone, and perhaps Hasslefree.
Most of the minis above are more specifically geared towards the Pulp age of 20s-30s, but a girl with pith helmet and pistol should fit your bill.

Foundry has some female characters in their Darkest Africa range. They're Victorian, but might work.

I use female Western (aka Victorian and Gothic Horror) characters from West Wind and Old Glory's Africa line. Foundry make some armed Victorian women as well.

Brigade Games has their Victoria Hawkes figure in various poses and clothes.

I've been thinking of Hinterland for stuff like that. Turn of the century Victorian dress for the ladies, but with big guns.

Hinterland has Princesses Viktoria and Cecille,
as well as female Raiders, skirmishers, and Hussars:
link
Steve Jackson has a few:
link
Shadowforge has a few
link
Some of these rare and unusually apt should be coming up for auction soon:
link
A very few select figs from Privateer might work. eg:
link
Mailifaux has a few candidates:
link
RAFM has a selection in their CoC line:
link

I'd also ask around at the Lead Adventure Forum
lead-adventure.de

That Auscon Dorothy fig
(previously mentioned as "rare and unusually apt")
soon to be available cheaper & metal from link
(kicking myself for ordering the resin version!)

Might as well add an Alice w/ your Dorothy:
link

Freebooter has some excellent choices:
link
link
link
link
link

Lead adventures Minitures (some members of the Lead Adventures Forum) sell a "Bonnie" from the Steampunk Bonnie and Clyde pack

Eureka Pax Limpopo/Transports of Delight range/s have a variety of female characters, some would also provide a good basis for conversions.

and to add to the list a very nice Mina harker with sword plus an excellent Irene and a couple more female characters
link
Some also (incl. a Queen Vicky armed) from Foundry
link
plus some interesting females in the new victorian townsfolk range
link

Also a very interest Queen by Victoria lamb Here:
link
(a little tall for me)

Ramshackle Games (though you'll have to dig):

link

Dark Sword:

link

I have some that might suit your needs here at Fiendish Fabrications: link

Reaper's Chronoscope line has some candidates:
link
link
link
link
There are some others -- maybe a bit "over the top", but colorful!

Some very cool stuff …. I an circulating the pictures to the ladies of the group (there are 4) and have offered to buy and paint up the miniature of their choice. If we get some decisions, I'll post the winners ;-)

Some thoughts.

Dresses (More VSF) versus pants (definite Steampunk.)

Women can use weapons (swords for middle class/upper class types, clubs and/or knives for lower class types, pistols for those whose personal background allowed it) but military type skills for European women would, IMO, require background – military childhood maybe – because women in Victorian times with rifle skills had very permissive or individualistic parents I suspect. YMMV and I may be wrong (certainly examples can be found from history.)

Women might be more prone to use wits, improvised weapons (umbrella to the eye anyone?) or non-traditional weapons – think Taser wannabes – because even the League of Exceptional Women would have some non-male skills in most backgrounds, even the technically trained women. Hatpins anyone? Silk Scarf garrote? Sharpened whalebone shiv?

Gracias,

Glenn

Edit: Garter strap retained weapons under dresses. Derringers?

Ironclad
ironcladminiatures.co.uk

Hinterland
link

Parroom Station (via Brigade)
link

Eureka
link

Dresses (More VSF) versus pants (definite Steampunk.)

Debatable: if you define VSF by 'fidelity to the creations of Victorian authors', 'active' women (e.g. soldiers) do wear pants in Robida (see '"La Guerre au XXeme siecle"): OK, very baggy bicycle rider ones -the ultimately 'modernist' creation of progressive fashion, by then [thus Robida also give bicycle riding trousers to male soldiers in 'futuristic' service, to submarines or airboats crews e.g.]. And never turned into miniature figurines, afaik.

Weaponry-wise, an umbrella would indeed not double as a convenient swordstick; derringers strapped in garters, on the other hand, sound quite feminine and would not require a special background. Stranglers silk scarfs -the rummals of Thug Kali worshipers- on the opposite suppose a special training. But don't forget the most obvious (and thus overlooked, Poe's 'Purloined Letter' fashion) feminine weapon: the *hat pins* (may be poisoned, if you are very careful).

If you use the Gail Carrigers "Parasol Protectorate" series of books the strong female role has problems with the fashion thats expected of a lady of breeding and carries a niffty weapon of a Parasol (with added extras).

Parasol / Umberella… Look no further than the Penguin from Batman. His umberella has all sorts of little nasties.

One of the characters has asked for, and recieved a parasol with a steel reinforced handle, then promptly went out and made one, substituting steel rebar for the shaft. Pretty cool!