Shadows of Brimstone Heroes 05

I mentioned in my last Monthly Musings that I have been painting a lot of Weird/Wild West figures and in this post I want to show you six more Heroes that I recently finished for Flying Frog Productions' Shadows of Brimstone game. This time, I have the Cowboy, the Gambler and the Outlaw archetypes, shown from left to right respectively.

The quintessential hero of the Old West, the life of a cowboy is full of rough-riding adventure, fancy rope-work and sleeping under the stars. Out on the range, there's never a dull moment! Whether it be herding cattle, fighting off outlaws, rustlers and demons or just riding the trails on a trusty horse, the cowboys are the watchmen of the frontier, every one an American legend waiting to be made. Cowboys are rough and tumble, hearty folk that can brush off most damage, be it physical or mental. Living life on the edge, a cowboy's greatest asset is his potentially unending supply of Grit, not to mention his ability to Rope his opponents with a Lasso, keeping them tied up and under control. When you're a cowboy, you just can't help but live life on the edge.
Gamblers may not have won the West, but they had the most fun winning the war of words and wits around the card table in saloons and gambling halls across the new frontier. With nimble fingers, a cunning smile, and an elaborate plan, looking three steps ahead, a gambler was more than just a showman or performer; he was an artist. Lying, cheating and stealing was all part of the show when your reputation as a card shark and scoundrel was on the line. No gambler worth his salt would let a little thing like honesty get in the way of his next big score. The gambler is all about sleight of hand, card and dice manipulation, and gaming the system using his Gambling Tricks. He is not the toughest fighter or fastest gun around but with a bit of fortune on his side, he can pull off cunning combos and lucky manoeuvrers that other Heroes wouldn't even dream possible. This makes him a fun Hero for players who like to think outside the rules... not cheating per se (most of the time anyway), but bending and twisting them, with a wink and a smile.

The outlaw is also a quintessential part of the American West. A rogue and a scoundrel, outlaws live by their own code, stealing what they want and having a good time getting away with it! With a shot into the air and a smile, an outlaw lives life to the fullest, knowing that every breath could be his last. Whether the law catches up to him or his luck runs out, an outlaw knows his days are numbered. His only hope rests in becoming a legend before becoming a corpse. Outlaws are a bit of a wild card in that they are very versatile. They can lay down a lot of fire and are great at moving quickly in the shadows. Of course this comes at a price in that they are not very accurate with a gun and they do not gain a lot of Health over time. One of the coolest elements of being an outlaw though is the ability to rob the Outpost Bank in Town. This can give you a big influx of cash to buy cool gear and pay bribes to keep you out of jail. One important note is that outlaws may not collect on Bounties posted in Town.
These 32mm scale figures are made of resin and are all multi-part miniatures apart from the female gambler who is the only one-piece casting. They are extremely well detailed and beautifully sculpted. Flying Frogs' sculptors have really got their act together now. As is usual, each set comes with male and female versions, which I wholeheartedly approve of. The Outlaw set was one of the first expansion sets to be released but proved extremely elusive to purchase... at least at a reasonable price! I often saw this set going for nearly £100.00 on eBay, a price I refused to pay. Eventually, after years of waiting, I found an eBay seller who had a set for sale at a much lower price and I was finally able to add the pair to my collection. I also bought the Cowboy and Gambler sets from eBay, but they were much easier to acquire. It just goes to show that perseverance can pay off. At the time of writing, the only Hero set I am missing is the Wandering Samurai set. Hopefully, it'll turn up on eBay at a reasonable price.
Although these six figures are designed for play in Shadows of Brimstone, there is no reason why they couldn't be used in other Wild West games. To me, these were essential purchases.