The Brood is the newest range of figures from Dark Age games. The figures are 50mm scale which makes them a lot larger than the Dark Age human races. The price of the blisters are 5.5-6.5£ (8-10$) for single models or characters and 6.5-10£ (10-15$) for blisters with two figs. Quite resonable considering the size of the figs. The best European retailers of Brood figs are (IMHO) Artemis Blacks and Game Mart (both are located in the UK).
The figures
The background story for the Brood is that they started out as test subjects for human military research. When most of the humans left the planet, they dumped most of the research material in a swamp. Apparently some of the creatures weren't quite dead and so evolved in the swamp (this is the short version, there is much more background on Dark Age's website).
So far there are only 6 different troop types out, but there will be more in the coming months.
The pics show a couple of figs: First is Murtros (the only character fig released), next is a sawblade (close combat warrior), and then Grist (shooting dude).
The Design
With a background story like this, you would expect the figs to be wierd and gross and they sure are! I'm usually not into the GW Nurgle style of grossness (actually I think the Brood figs would be awesome for a Nurgle army), but damn these figs are cool. There is just something about the style I really like. Maybe it is because they are so big. There is room for a lot of details and textures.
Another really cool fact, is that the range is already quite varied. There is the really big Murtros/Grist/Sawblades/Pud Throwers, the medium sized Ratchet (pronounced ratshit), and the small but nasty puds (which can actually be thrown by the Pud Throwers in the game!).
The picture shows (from left to right): Pud Thrower, Ratchet, normal sized human figure, Pud.
Most of the figs are in one or two pieces, and it's really nice not having to spend ages pinning and gluing, especially since the low number of parts doesn't mean that the figures look flat.
Casting Quality
I don't have a problem with the casting quality as such, but oh my the moldlines are placed in annoying places. I think it must be because the molds that are used are in more than two parts. Multiple moldlines = not good. I have the same problem with some Foundry figures that also appear to have multiple moldlines. I guess that is the disadvantage of casting figs in one piece. The size of the moldlines are quite acceptable though, and the overall casting quality is good.
The DA figs are made of lead free metal, but I'm still not sure that you should let your dog/cat/child eat them. Most parts seem quite solid and the fit is good.
The Bases
The Brood figs come with the very cool Dark Age bases.
Conclusion
Overall, this is an awesome set of figures. I absolutely love when a company produces something original and I think that Dark Age has done exactly that. I'm am very much looking forward to seeing even more Brood figs as well as painting some.
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