Shields and sigil musings

[Ludzik]

So in a way this will probably just start as an outloud thinking but I hope it will get me on a path and comments will help me get someplace :)

As I'm building my castle (or rather a large keep) and manning it with troops I'm trying (on a budget) to outfit the troops with arms and part of that is shields..... This means I am not going to go on a buying spree to get multiple shields of the same type just to outfit my troops.

Having said that, while I like the old lion shields I don't have any of them (just 3 torsos) and the newer ones don't really tickle my fancy. Granted I have a fair amount of troops that I could use (ok, for me fair amount is 9 footmen and 3 mounted) BUT they just feel wrong for me. Next group that I have plenty of is the crownies (17 footmen and 2 mounted) but they feel too common. So I started to look at various other groups that I have and decided that if I go with a theme I could bring various sigils (as long as they follow a pattern of sorts) and use the various sigils to mark various ranks and "duty stations".

So, the lord of the keep is using his family crest and his three close companions (3) use for their shields. I figured that the color scheme is neutral but since it's on a green background (ok, yeah, I know.. they are of a different shade). The 4 (lets call them) high guard soldiers (4) have been issued these shieldswhich follows again the pattern of green background and assuming that my keep is in a wooded area the stag, the tree and the green round shield are appropriate for each other. I also have two of the old forestman shieldsand picked up two more for just shipping (had a $5 coupon for Ebay :) ) making them potentially the shield for my castle (wall) guards. I also have 3 of the orc shields that are perfect for some ground troops.

This leaves me with a dilemma: I have total of 11 ground troops - 8 with a sigil on their shields, 3 with plain gray shields and I have 4 mounted. Since I have started with the rarer shields it could get expensive to outfit more troops. On the other hand I'm wondering if there are other shields that I can "fit" into the pattern. Oh yeah, I'm not a big fan of the small triangle shields: someone the ovoid ones offer a "fuller" look to my troops....

Well, I guess that's enough of my 'crazy' musings :) I hope that someone will point me to a shield that is somewhat common and decently priced that will fit my need :)

edit - oh yeah, I forgot to add that I'm considering getting some of these though sadly they are triangular :(

Edited June 11, 2013 by Ludzik

[NiL_FisK_Urd]

You could print the lion-shields on sticker paper, or better on waterslide decals. Templates are found here:

http://www.classic-castle.com/howto/articles/TriangularShields.html

http://www.classic-castle.com/howto/articles/OvalShields.html

Pick-a-brick from the Lego Shop offers blank triangular shields for 0,15€ a piece, or you can get ovoid shields at bricklink. The original printing can be removed with brasso.

[Ludzik]

Waterslide decals are an option... and I keep meaning to "try" that route, though I am yet to find someplace local the good decal paper (and I hate to pay half in shipping for something just to try it out :( ). Oh yeah, I'm a cheap SOB :) (ok, not really: just on a budget :D ).

Anyways, got my two extra forestman shields, put them on the figs that are guarding castle walls and was disappointed: one fig outfitted on a trial basis with the shield looked good... but the 4 of them on the wall with those shields didn't fit right.... oh well, my small band of elfs just got more shields :)

This puts me back to square one. I think that the wall guards "look" better with the orc shield . I wish they were more available/cheaper and that there was a better selection of ovoid shields :)

[Wardancer]

Here is an overview: http://www.rittersets.de/wappen.html

The Slytherin shield might be an addition if you want a dark green color scheme.

[Ludzik]

Here is an overview: http://www.rittersets.de/wappen.html

The Slytherin shield might be an addition if you want a dark green color scheme.

Thanks! that's a really nice and comprehensive list of all of the shields and sigils. I like the slitherin color scheme but the snake... hmmm gonna have to ponder that one.

I wish that lego made more of the shields in both ovoid and triangle shapes....

[Wardancer]

Yes, the snake is rather a symbol for evil. That keeps me from using it, too.

If you are into customizing, you could take the evil knight boar shield and glue/paint/decal something over the boar head.