Is it Just Me?

[WarriorOfToys]

How many of you try to recreate armies from a certain era?
Mainly, I am talking about Medieval history.

Do you just combine all the sets to create Medieval armies of no particular period...
Or does anyone (like me) try to recreate truly period armies from a certain era?

What armies are those, and what era is that? (Maybe with pics? )

I know for my Medieval armies I try to recreate the Dark Ages to early Crusading Knights...
So no plate armor, and a lot less of the Helmets Playmobil actually produces.

I am working on period Japanese armies from around the 12th century.
And a Colonial English army (though I haven't chosen an exact date).
I am debating whether to work on a Conquistador army as well.

[Wesley Myers]

It's just you.


Just kidding.  I like keeping historical consitency and accuracy too.  My viking will not interact with my knights in plate armour.  Now for my kids, they don't seem to mind mixing ALL eras together - Romans, knights, modern, late Rennaisance (Magic Castle stuff).  I think it's only when we get older and learn history and appreciate it.  I would bet there are a lot of adults out there who would mix them all up and not think a thing is out of place. 

[Wolf Knight]

I don't think I recreate any historical period actually...I do try to keep my armies accurate to reality as for as their gear is concerned but mixed up!

So you will see lots of full plate knights but the army that goes with them are usually wearing light armour. You will also see half plate knights or ones that have their arms just armoured.

I have not mixed my Templar or Teutonic klickies with these knights and keep them seperated, so these are really just Crusading klickies.

As for the soldiers, I keep redcoats as they are and french-like soldiers as they are!

[Gis]

I really appreciate the efforts of some to keep things historically correct. However I am mainly creating my medieval setting as a background to D&D adventures. In that light all I worry about is keeping things D&D correct. Also I really have an aversion to guns and cannons for some reason. so I will not be using those.

[AndrewL]

Hi WoT,

No, I don't think it's just you!

I come at it from this angle: the range of armour, weapons, heraldic blazons and so forth that Playmobil have produced for their Knights/Castle/Medieval range generally reflects (as far as toys at this scale can) the sort of armour, weapons, heraldic blazons and so forth that were in use in western Europe in the period (roughly) 1350-1450 (I would say).

And in my customs, I choose to stick only to original Playmobil parts (no paint, no stickers, no nuthin'). So that leaves me with 14th-15th century medieval armies, and I can live with that.

My own period of personal/professional interest is somewhat earlier (10th-12th centuries), but trying to build armies of custom Klickies from that period would (in my opinion) be rather more difficult, especially if using only original parts. (This is not to say doing so would be impossible, but far more effort than I feel like expending!)

And I argue to myself that the apparent temporal range in the original Playmobil parts is simply a reflection of the fact that poorer, less-well-equipped men had to make do with older armour and weapons, which was clearly the case in reality.

And then, having gotten myself tied up in all sorts of self-justifying knots... I remember that Playmobil is a toy, and I collect and customise and play with the Klickies and Steck to have fun!

Whew. I've had a long and trying day  at work, so if any of that made no sense, that's the reason 

Cheers,

AndrewL

[WarriorOfToys]

It's just you.


Just kidding.  I like keeping historical consitency and accuracy too.  My viking will not interact with my knights in plate armour.  Now for my kids, they don't seem to mind mixing ALL eras together - Romans, knights, modern, late Rennaisance (Magic Castle stuff).  I think it's only when we get older and learn history and appreciate it.  I would bet there are a lot of adults out there who would mix them all up and not think a thing is out of place. 

Yeah, non of the kids that play with them really seem to do that.

[WarriorOfToys]

I don't think I recreate any historical period actually...I do try to keep my armies accurate to reality as for as their gear is concerned but mixed up!

So you will see lots of full plate knights but the army that goes with them are usually wearing light armour. You will also see half plate knights or ones that have their arms just armoured.

I have not mixed my Templar or Teutonic klickies with these knights and keep them seperated, so these are really just Crusading klickies.

As for the soldiers, I keep redcoats as they are and french-like soldiers as they are!

That is cool, it is how I kinda was until I decided to work on one period.

Your Templar and Teutonic Knights could very well mix with the rest of your Knights
As they had institutes all over Europe
And might have supplied men to some of the Lords that allowed the institutes to be build on his land.

There are many times that we hear of Templars going to battle in Western Europe.

[WarriorOfToys]

I really appreciate the efforts of some to keep things historically correct. However I am mainly creating my medieval setting as a background to D&D adventures. In that light all I worry about is keeping things D&D correct. Also I really have an aversion to guns and cannons for some reason. so I will not be using those.

That is cool, especially as I have enjoyed your D&D game greatly so far.

I too do not use cannons and guns for really any of my people.
(Though that will not hold true for my Colonial English, and maybe my Japanese soldiers.(If I choose to do a later period.))

[WarriorOfToys]

Hi WoT,

No, I don't think it's just you!

I come at it from this angle: the range of armour, weapons, heraldic blazons and so forth that Playmobil have produced for their Knights/Castle/Medieval range generally reflects (as far as toys at this scale can) the sort of armour, weapons, heraldic blazons and so forth that were in use in western Europe in the period (roughly) 1350-1450 (I would say).

I agree, Knights form those erass could have had all the equipment Playmobil produces.

And in my customs, I choose to stick only to original Playmobil parts (no paint, no stickers, no nuthin'). So that leaves me with 14th-15th century medieval armies, and I can live with that.

I just generally prefer an earlier period.
I have had no trouble though with getting earlier period Playmobil through soft customizing techniques only.

My own period of personal/professional interest is somewhat earlier (10th-12th centuries), but trying to build armies of custom Klickies from that period would (in my opinion) be rather more difficult, especially if using only original parts. (This is not to say doing so would be impossible, but far more effort than I feel like expending!)

And I argue to myself that the apparent temporal range in the original Playmobil parts is simply a reflection of the fact that poorer, less-well-equipped men had to make do with older armour and weapons, which was clearly the case in reality.

And then, having gotten myself tied up in all sorts of self-justifying knots... I remember that Playmobil is a toy, and I collect and customise and play with the Klickies and Steck to have fun!

Whew. I've had a long and trying day  at work, so if any of that made no sense, that's the reason 

Cheers,

AndrewL

[Andy R]

I’d like to build a ASW Confederate army, but with modern(ish) gear.