mrtexseals | 20 Oct 2014 8:37 a.m. PST |
I am starting a Welsh SAGA army/war band. I was looking online at Shields. I find 2 schools of thought on it. Very simple Blues or other Earrh Tones or extremely intricate designs. I find it hard to believe even the most wealthy took a decorated shield into combat. The cost in money or time would have made it a prized poser ion. These shields with intricate designs I am guessing were for show like a dress sword or some such. So what is the prevailing thought on shields? |
Steve | 20 Oct 2014 9:46 a.m. PST |
Intricate shields look cooler and I'm not terribly concerned whether these guys were hanging them on the wall or using them in battle. I used a lot of markers to finish mine off. You don't even have to use permanent marker, you can get regular ones with finer points, just seal them right away. Steve |
tigrifsgt | 20 Oct 2014 9:50 a.m. PST |
I paint all of my shields, Norman, Saxon, and Viking. If you look at what's out there in transfers, most you can easily replicate. Most shield designs of the period were two or three colors at the most. I feel better about figures when I hand paint. I have done three boxes of GB plastic so far. Or as I have said before, if I had used transfers, "What are those great looking shields doing on those God awful figures". TIG |
skipper John | 20 Oct 2014 10:07 a.m. PST |
Funny tigrifsgt!! My figures are the same… if it wasn't for the shield transfers and my terrain basing… people would most likely just drop my troops to the floor after looking closely. The "Little Big Man Studios" shield transfers are just too well done to pass up. So easy! Why spend endless hours painting the shields when the transfers look so good? |
Griefbringer | 20 Oct 2014 10:19 a.m. PST |
Medieval man tended to have quite a fondness for colours and decoration. And those had wealth and social status were also fond of displaying it in their clothing and equipment. And when going to war, they would also want to impress both their ally and enemy with their equipment. Besides, what good is having a fine shield by your hearth, if you fall in a battle in a distant land? Better to bring the best you have got and show your status while you still can. "Kin die, cattle die, but the memory of a great man lives ever on." |
John the OFM | 20 Oct 2014 11:52 a.m. PST |
Why do you find it difficult to believe that a warrior would want a flashy shield? The Spartans would dress and oil their hair, and wear their finest clothes before fighting. Celtic warriors would wear large gold torcs. Polish winged hussars. Napoleonic uniforms. Aren't hussars terribly flashy? Even at the very early days of the Great War, a lot of flashy uniforms were worn. Sadly drab camo has taken over, even to officers in the Pentagon. We really need some camo that looks like file cabinets. Or file cabinets that look like camo. OP, you are thinking too much in the mindset of modern man. Try to think like a Welsh chief. |
Cerdic | 20 Oct 2014 4:09 p.m. PST |
Warriors throughout the ages seem to have 'blinged up' to fight. It even applies to modern street gangs. I think the subconscious thing going on is that if you make an impressive visual display it may intimidate your enemy. I reckon they would have their funkiest shields with them…… |
Condotta | 21 Oct 2014 12:24 p.m. PST |
Once the dark, wet weather came on and the cold was barely held at bay by the fire pit, I can see a warrior working on intricate patterns on his shield to pass the time until he could once again join his fellows as the weather mellows, showing off his new designs created during the fast, but also to impress a lass. |
Benvartok | 27 Oct 2014 4:14 p.m. PST |
Steve at LBMS is actually 2654 years old and used to do 1:1 transfers until the advent of plate and gunpowder. There were some lean years until wargaming came along and he was able to pull out those old designs and resize them for our purposes. |