"15mm Italian communal recommendations" Topic

If you were building a 15mm Italian communal army in December 2020, which figures would you use barring Mirliton? Looking to make something early to mid 13thC. Thanks in advance.

Legio Heroica have a good feudal range. They recently have added apearmen with pavise, ideal for Communal spear.

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LH also have a Christmas sale until December 14.

Hmm very nice thank you.

Mirliton would be my choice. They are accurate and there their business is located between Florence and Siena, so you know they care about the period.

… which figures would you use barring Mirliton?

I wouldn't bar Mirliton. My medieval Italians are Mirliton and I am more than pleased with them. The mix very well with the excellent original Feudal range by Gladiator (FE codes – avoid the later stuff)

Phil

Are you avoiding Mirliton due to having to import them?

I know you have been to my blog in the past
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The main addition to the 13th century ranges which I haven't really covered is the Donnington NE range. It mixes very well with Mirliton's 13th C and Gladiator's Feudals. There are specific German knights which are good for some of the cavalry in Italy and a nice bishop for the Bish of Arezzo.
I think the foot spear are a bit limited by the poses – the mix of poses are okay but I would rather have some 'waiting' and some 'attacking' as separate codes.
No specific pavisiers but they sell pavises separately. I would like to see someone do figures which are only carrying a pavise while someone else uses a spear or crossbow behind.

Additionally, Outpost's later Crusades range is suitable for mid 13th century. The spearmen come out better than they might look in the photo on their website. Some of the foot (especially the command) have the teardrop shield which is often shown being carried by Italians, even in later periods. I particular like the standard bearer in face mask helm – probably a bit dated by the mid-13th but I daresay still worn by some.

Outpost knights are okay and mix pretty well with Mirliton, Donnington and OG15s. The horses have some good poses and they will fit the other makes too, adding to the variety.
Outpost are also quite cheap!

I don't often use Essex (their knights in particular are a bit vague as to what period they are supposed to be) but they do various foot with the teardrop shield.

The pretty new Khurasan 13th century range looks good but the few I have bought have been large enough that I don't think they would mix with anything else.

Swampster, yeah, I am not keen on importing from the UK/Europe right now because the exchange rate is horrible for dollars to pounds/euros. I want to say too that your site has been massive influential on me in the way I think about miniatures and wargaming.

I've always wanted an excuse to order from Outpost…perhaps this is it. Thanks everyone as always.