Minis: Female Heroes

by Dewayne Agin

In the collaboration between Games Workshop and Milton Bradley that produced HeroQuest, I have always guessed that Games Workshop produced the models for the figures found in the game. They are in the "Games Workshop" style; i.e. large heads and large hands. Another common trait among Games Workshop figures is that all players are assumed to be male, and therefore there is no need for female Heroes. Milton Bradley, however, realized late in HeroQuest's life that while perhaps a majority of players are male, there are some female players. The Barbarian and Elf quest packs each included one female Hero. Unfortunately these two quest packs are not as common as Kellar's Keep and Return of the Witch Lord, and many players do not own them. Also neither Dwarf nor Wizard quest packs were never produced, so there are no Milton Bradley female Dwarf and Wizard figures.

I searched the web for some female figures and have listed them below. This list is by no means complete, but if you are in need of some female Heroes or enemies, consider it a starting point. Also the list does not contain every female figure that a company produces, only those that have pictures and can be used as a Hero. If you buy some female figures for use with your female players, a plus is that you then also have female villains. Instead of an evil Wizard, you can use a female figure and have an evil Sorceress, and so on.

Originally when Miniature Games came out, they were more in the lines of Dungeons and Dragons. Figures were produced of all types of monsters and Heroes. Figures that were found singularly, such as a dragon, were easy to come by. Later, when Games Workshop began producing Warhammer Fantasy Battles, using armies of figures against other armies, many Miniature Figure manufacturers went to this concept. As a result "loner" figures, whether Hero or monster, are harder to come by. One of the Miniature companies that did not turn to the "army" concept was RalPartha, so we will start our search there.

Ral Partha (http://www.blackmoor.ca/ralparthamain.htm) is perhaps the largest figure manufacturer that still produces figures in the old D&D style. Until recently they were the manufacturers of D&D figures. Even though they have lost that license, they still offer a wide range of figures. Most of their figures are 25mm, a little smaller than the 28mm of HQ, but not too small to use. Here is a list of their female figures:

Barbarian/Warrior/Knights:

Durban the Dwarf, Calemon the Elf, & Chaarna the Swordmistress $5.50 Of these three figures, only Chaarna is female.

3 stage (shows the character progressing in power) Female Fighter $5.50

Leonara, Warrior-Champion of the Pure (on foot and mounted) $5.95

Valaz Ravenheart - Female Anti-Paladin (on foot and mounted) $6.25

Lady Paladin (on foot and mounted) $7.25

Nomad Warrior Woman (on foot and mounted) $6.75

Deelah (sort of a cave woman/female barbarian figure) with Sabertooth Tiger $5.00

Vrina (sort of a cave woman/female barbarian figure) with Liger (cross between Lion & Tiger) $5.25

Velana (another cave woman/female barbarian figure) with Cave Hyena $5.25

Talleah (another cave woman/female barbarian) w/Prehistoric Cheetah $5.25

Shona (can you take another cave woman/female barbarian) With Daphoenus $5.25

Kala (yet another cave woman/female barbarian) With Phorhusracos $5.75

Danae (the last cave woman/female barbarian) With Smilodon $7.25

Huntress and Dragon $6.50

Ivea, the Battle Queen, and War Wolf $4.00

Pack Mistress & Velociraptors $5.75

Amazon Horse Archers (2) $10.25

Female Fighter $2.15

Female Adventurer/Thief $2.15

Male & Female Fighters $4.25

Male & Female Paladin $4.25

Legendary Heroes (looks a lot like Xena & Hercules) $4.25

Female Adventurers (3) $5.50

Female Paladin (mounted & on foot) $5.95

Female Duelist $2.15

Zora, Gypsy Swordswoman (looks more like a barbarian to me) $2.15

Lysis, Queen of Evil (another barbarian) $2.15

Katora, Female Pitfighter $2.15

Dorna, Warrior Queen $2.15

Lanah the Lost, Barbarian Princess $2.15

Frea Koolblade, Shield Maiden $2.15

Amberlynn, Dragon Slayer $2.15

Ciera, Swordmistress $2.15

Lillith Lithefoot, Falconeer $2.50

Gloranthia - Amazon Guard $2.50

Dwarves:

Dwarf Shield Maidens (3) $5.75

Male & Female Dwarves $4.25

Drugga Sparpsteel, Female Dwarf Blademaster $2.50

Wizards:

3 stage (shows the character progressing in power) Magic User $5.50

Female Magic User $2.15

Male & Female Wizards $4.25

Male & Female Druids $4.25

Female Magic Users (3) $5.50

Sorceress $2.15

Ellana Dragonmistress, Female Druid $2.15

Arianna Moonshadow, Enchantress $2.15

Elves:

Female High Elf Irregulars. These are army-type figures, and you get 6 in the pack. $7.95

Female High Elf Regulars. There are army-type figures, and you get 6 in the pack. $7.95

Male & Female Elves $4.25

Male & Female Half-Elf Rangers $4.25

Suron-gyl, Dark Elf Princess $2.15

Vivania, Elf Adventuress $2.15

Other Non-standard Hero types:

Female Cleric $2.15

Male & Female Thieves $4.25

Male & Female Rangers $4.25

Male & Female Clerics $4.25

Male & Female Halfling Fighter/Thieves $4.25

Female Ranger $2.15

Mingnion, Masked Thief Of Hearts $2.25

As you can see from the list above, RalPartha's female figure list is quite extensive. There are several more than can be found on their webpage, these are just the ones that have pictures posted.

After RalPartha, the manufacturer that I found with the most female figures was Reaper Minis (http://www.reapermini.com). Here are some of their figures:

Barbarian/Warrior/Knights:

Marda of the North $2.25

Muriel the Just $2.25

Talisha Highbringer $2.25

Shanon Barbarian Queen $2.50

Lorien Dawnlighter $2.25

Justine the Holy $2.25

Nadia of the Blade $2.00

Karina $2.25

Monique Denoir $2.25

Vanessa of The Blade $2.25

Vanessa, Mounted $6.95

Mia of the Blade (for some reason she has a bow) $2.25

Mia of the Blade w/Bow, Mounted $6.95 (why is she Mia of the Blade if she has a bow?)

Bianna $2.25

Wizards:

Mishka the Mystic $2.25

Allanah Grayloft (druid) $2.25

Elves:

Liara Silverrain $2.25

Non-standard Heroes:

Trissa Cloverhill (halfling with a sling $2.00

Christina the Devout (fighting cleric) $2.25

Some other figures you might want to check out are:

Barbarian/Warrior/Knights:

Andy's affordable Mini's has 3 female fighters at 25 cents each. He has some scanned pictures that really don't do the miniatures justice.

Wizards:

Games Workshop has Morgiana le Fay Enchantress, mounted, for $15.49

Black Tower Figures has a magic user for $1.00

Grim Reaper Miniatures (http://www.grimreapercasting.com/) has a Witch for $1.75

Elves:

Games Workshop has a set of Elves, The Everqueen and Maiden Guard, for sale separately or as a set.

http://www.games-workshop.com/

After following the above link, click on Warhammer, then on the High Elves to look up the Everqueen. Prices range from $3.25 - $9.45 separately, or $24.99 for the set.

GW also sells Witch Elves. From the Warhammer listing, go to the Dark Elves and then Witch Elves to view these miniatures. Prices are $3.25 each.

If you are playing with or are a female HQ player, I hope this will pique your interest in all the female figures that are out there.