Hello! Thanks for taking the time to come over and read about the hows and whys and whens of the Believable Female Miniatures Project.
Here I have scoured catalogues and websites to pick out great female miniatures that are equipped and attired to the job they would be doing. Not a hard task to ask, but if you’re here reading this you probably already know about how common chainmail bikinis and generally ridiculous outfits are in this little world.
Heck, there’s a time and a place for a chainmail bikini, and this isn’t a crusade against them. It’s a crusade for more choice. Before I started the project, I was getting frustrated at wanting to add some fighting ladies to my armies, and finding them not quite as well equipped to survive as their male counterparts. Women are hugely and constantly oversexualised in this age, and finding it dominating the gaming tables too was somewhat depressing and demotivating.
So! Once I had started to gather the models from different manufacturers together, I decided to rebrand as Bad Squiddo Games (Previously The Dice Bag Lady), to incorporate my new miniatures direction, as well as the launch of my own miniatures line.
Bad Squiddo Games produces miniatures that follow the whole ethos of 28mm scale women “getting the hell on with it”. It began with a set of shieldmaidens. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t find shieldmaidens to play SAGA with.. Valkyrie helmet after metal bra after metal pants in the searches…gah. Great for Fantasy, but not historical.
I’m now expanding the shieldmaiden line to way more dark ages, as well as fantasy (I started with orcs) and ancients, with sci fi and modern on the way.
The reception to this project has blown me away, it has been brilliant. This means it will continue to grow and expand and branch out to all sorts, and it is very exciting. It’s great to be working in a project that is really close to my heart, with some fantastic companies, artists and sculptors.
I’ve also compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (and critques) for you..with answers! Wahey!
Shieldmaiden Warrios by Bad Squiddo Games. The first pack produced in the range.
FAQS
So you’re like a directory? How can I buy the figures?
In one way, yes, as it makes finding the female figures a million times easier. But I am a shop, and all of these models listed are in stock (unless stated!) so you can buy them all RIGHT HERE. Payment is through Paypal, you literally just click the buy button on as many as you want and go through the checkout, then they’re usually shipped the same or next day. More general shipping and delivery information here. Please appreciate the time, money and soul I’ve put into the project – aside from funds required to live (rent etc) all the money goes back into growing this with sculpts and more stock. So if you come here to browse then head over to ebay with your cash, it doesn’t help.
Dammit you’re in the UK! Why isn’t this in [my country]!
Fear not, I post worldwide!
Will you be stocking X? Why aren’t you stocking X?
It’s reaching the point where if the company is large enough, I’ve probably already contacted them or have them on a “when I have the spare funds” list. However I am always looking for suggestions, feel free to pop me a message to ask. There are lots of little companies out there, and I love finding new ones.
Some companies only sell direct, or have minimum order limits that I just can’t reach (i.e hundreds of pounds when I only want a couple of figures) so there are some I would LOVE to be a part of this, but can’t. It’s not through lack of trying!
I saw a model on your page that had a cleavage/bare midriff/leg out – you lied to us!
Some of the models do indeed! A good rule I use when choosing models is “Would the miniature choose to dress herself in this way?” and if the answer is yes, I feel it’s a goer. Sometimes the rule of cool applies. It seems a shame to pass over some amazing miniatures on the grounds of too much flesh. These are still a tiny percent of the collection but generally found in wizards and steampunk. Remember that the key point is models that aren’t overtly sexualised – skin doesn’t automatically equal sexual. Same for empowering vs demeaning, it’s sometimes down to opinion/perspective, but I would never stock a model I saw as demeaning to women.
Why is there boob plate armour on some of the models? Don’t you hate boob plate?
Yeah I do hate boob plate. Read this article. Alas, I would have about THREE female knights if I banned it from here. There are some amazing fighter lady models out there, and it was just too hard to turn them down. It’s hard enough to find a woman in head to toe plate armour – without random buttock and cleavage holes – so boob plate: ok fine. They’re easy to convert as well if you don’t want it on your model. None of the models I ever produce will have “boob plate” armour, now there’s a bold statement! I think other companies are starting to catch on too, so perhaps we will soon see a wave of change.
Great, a project that only appeals to feminist wargaming women, won’t that suck?
This has been extremely popular, and the demographic of my sales is so so broad. Far broader than I expected actually. All genders and all ages. As well as feminist women. And men. Some buy to paint, some buy to game.
What makes me really really happy is the amount of people buying for their little girls. Seeing a girl at a show buy her very first miniature is just totally amazing. But so are older chaps who come up to shake my hand and say it’s what they’ve been looking for for the last 30 odd years.
Do you stock anything other than 28mm?
Currently 28-32mm is the focus, as it is the most popular. Smaller scales are generally immune to some of the “I made a sculpt of a woman..hang on I need to cut away some fabric randomly!” as they are small! I may well expand into this in the future. Currently I have some lovely 15mm from The Raft, and 40mm from Endless Fantasy Tactics.
I want to buy some models but I have no idea if they will fit next to each other?
That’s fair enough, different sculptors have different ideas of what 28mm or even heroic is. Send me an email and I will do my best to answer, and if you’re lucky – send a picture of them next to each other! This isn’t possible with some such as Reaper and Dark Sword as they are sealed packets, but I can at least give my own HONEST opinion ( I won’t just say “looks good to me!”) to nab the sale.
I’d love to see these models in person!
You can! I attend lots of UK (and one Belgian) show, the details are on the events page. I have a growing display cabinet of painted models as well as endless racks of packs to browse through. Also you can access my brain, where you say “do you have…..” and I stand motionless for a few moments like a zombie, then swerve to the racks and find just what you need!
