The ethnic diversity of the Ghaznavid army almost demands that its reproduction in miniature figures includes a wide variety of costuming and postures - even within individual units. To demonstrate the possibilities, I scrounged through a number of figures catalogues and came up with the following list of items that could be considered when organizing this army. (I apologize to the 25 mm buffs - all my catalogues are for 15 mm figures.)

We'll start with Falcon Figures because in 1999 they came out with a new range of Ghaznavids. Organized in the standard 8 foot or 4 mounted per pack, they also offer bargain bags of 50 foot or 25 horse. The small packs range from $3.50 to $5.50 each, and the bargain bags go for $12.50 or $13.50 each.

This mob includes the following:

GAZ1 – Armored command elephant, driver, 2 crew general w/parasol bearer in howdah.
GAZ2 – Armored elephant, driver, 2 crew
GAZ3 – Ghulam heavy cavalry, lance, bow, shield.
GAZ4 – Armored infantry, spear, bow, shield.
GAZ5 – Daylami infantry, zupin (?), shield.
GAZ6 – Light cavalry, JLS, bow, shield.
GAZ7 – Light infantry, JLS.
GAZ8 – Indian ally general on elephant, driver.
GAZ9 – Indian spearman, shield.
GAZ10 – Indian archer.
GAZ11 – Indian cavalry, spear, shield.
BBA305 – Armored cavalry (bargain bag).
BBA306 – Mixed infantry (bargain bag).
BBA307 – Light cavalry (bargain bag).
BBA308 – War elephants [3] (bargain bag).

Essex has a small Ghaznavid range, a small Daylami range, and some miscellaneous figures and equipment that should be considered. Packs are organized to contain 8 infantry, 6 command, 4 cavalry, or 3 mounted command each. Prices per pack range from $1.99 up to $12.99.

These include:

AEA19 - (Ghaznavid) Heavy infantry.
AEA20 - (Ghaznavid) Heavy Cavalry.
AEA21 - (Ghaznavid) Elephant, Bow & pike (HH).
AEA22 - Daylami javelin.
AEA23 - Daylami archer.
AEA24 - Daylami crossbowman
XEQ1 - Light bolt thrower (2).
XEQ4 - Arab slaves carrying baggage (6 per pack).
XEQ5 - Pack horses (6).
XEQ6 - Pack camels (3).
XEQ11 - 30 mina bolt or stone thrower.
MOA9 - Cmd: Camel drummer, camel standard-bearer.
CRU20 - Cmd: Arab camel drummers (3).

Irregular Miniatures offers a scattering of various models that can add greater diversity to the above. Their Asians ("AS") range has up to four variants in helmets, baggage, position, etc., for each figure, and all cavalry are one-piece castings. Their Arabs & Turks ("AB") range has up to six variants in helmet, shield, etc., for each figure, and all cavalry are provided with separate bow case and quiver.

AS12 - Keshik or Mangudai Light Cavalry charging with sabre.
AS15 - Turkish Light Horse Archer with bow.
AB5 - Arab/Daylami/Kurd Javelinman running.
AB15 - Ghaznavid Heavy Infantry advancing.
AB16 - Crossbowman advancing.
AB18 - Infantry Officer/Heavy Infantry.
AB19 - Infantry Standard Bearer.
AB22 – Light Cavalry with javelin or spear.
AB23 – Light./Medium Cavalry with lance.
AB24 – Heavy Cavalry (AB23 in mail).
AB26 – Medium/Heavy Cavalry with lance, in scale or quilt armor.
AB28 – Heavy Cavalry in mail with lance.
AB31 – Arab/Khorassanian Horse Archer.
AB33 – Cavalry Officer.
AB35 – Cavalry Standard Bearer.
AB37 – Mounted General.
AB38 – Elephant with driver and two warriors astride.
AB39 – Turkoman or Turk Light Cavalry.
MIP1 – General & Attendants in armored elephant, howdah and parasol.
MIP6 – Indian/Persian Heavy Cavalry Lancer.
MIP7 – Indian/Persian Light Cavalry.
MIP12 – Indian/Persian Ghazi Infantry.
MIP18 – Mounted Kettle Drummer.

The last five items listed above are actually from the Moghul (Renaissance) range, but they could add a touch of distinctive character without being beyond appropriate costuming.

The prices and figures volume per bag for Battle Honors' ancients vary with each item. Their Asian lines are somewhat limited, but you should check out their Sasssanids range since some of the horse and foot could serve as Khurasani mercenaries or ghazis, and the archers as Yehudi mercenaries.

AN48-0 – Levy Spearmen ($15 per 48 figure bag).
AN24-1 – Archers ($10 per 12 figure bag).
AN12-2 – Horse Archers ($10 per 12 figure bag).
EL2-1 – Elephants ($10 per 2 figure bag).

I do not know what these elephants look like, or what kind of crew/armament they have. They're mentioned here only to indicate another possibility in style. Given the large number of elephants allowed with the MW Ghaznavid army list, i.e., eight, I would want to look at all possibilities to ensure these units are organized to look as classy as possible.

Old Glory has a couple of Sassanid ("SA") and Asiatic Horse ("AH") offerings that you may also want to consider to add variety to your line. Their packaging includes 50 infantry, 16 cavalry, 36 command, and 4 elephants per pack, with all packs prices at $12.50 ("unless otherwise marked"). The items of possible use here include:

SA5 – Javelin Cavalry
SA7 – Levy Spearmen
SA8 – Elephants
AH1 – Command
AH2 – Horse Archers
AH3 – Heavy Cavalry

Museum Miniatures has a small Khwarismian range, plus some Islamic Persians, that should be examined for mix-and-match potential, and lots of equipment and animal packs. The 1999 catalogue shows individual figures selling for $0.35 each for foot and $0.70 each for mounted. Equipment and figure packs are priced between $2.90 and $4.00. Note that all these figures are made of pewter, not lead. Items that tweaked my interest include:

A103 – Armed slave, light-medium infantry, robes, trousers, throwing javelin.
Q112 – Armed slave, light infantry, javelin.
MG14 – Khwarismian Lancer, heavy cavalry, lamellar armor, lance, shield.
MG16 – Khwarismian, light cavalry, trousers & jacket, firing bow.
MG17 – Sogdian Horse Archer, trousers & jacket, firing.
PR02 – Cavalryman, heavy cavalry, lamellar armor, lance & shield.
PR03 – Cavalryman, heavy cavalry, lamellar armor, saber & shield.
AC80 – Pack Camels (3)
BS01 – Heavy Bolt Shooter, crew
BS02 – Bolt Shooter, cart & crew.
PKC01 – Pack Camels (3 figures)
PH-1 – Pack Horses (3 figures)
IE13 – Indian Pack Elephant
IE14 – Elephant, 2 javelinmen, crew
IE16 – Indian Ally General on Elephant, crew
IE20 – Ghaznavid Elephant, crew.
MA13 – Stone Thrower Crew (Arab) (8 figures)
MA15 – Mangonel Stone Thrower (no crew)
MA16 – Ballista (bolt shooter), crew
MA18 – Trebuchet stone thrower (no crew)

While this review of offerings by the various figure manufacturers may seem unnecessary to the "old hands" in wargaming, I wanted to give the relative newcomers, who may still be considering how and where to start building an army, some idea of how at least one wargamer looks at such a project. The primary idea here is not to feel you have to limit yourself to items that are labeled with the name of your chosen army. You do not have to limit yourself to popular armies that already have completed figure ranges. There are many armies, such as the Khazars, Alans, Six Dynasties Period Chinese, and others, that can only be constructed using primarily figures that are labeled as being designed for other armies, but are still suitable for that obscure army of your own choice. The trick is to read up on the historical period covering your chosen army so that you can examine the figure catalogues with an informed eye, picking out the models that will make your army unique and distinctive.

In the case of the Ghaznavids, I cannot yet say which figures I will choose for which units. I'm still giving it much thought. I guess I just like to savor the entire process of building an army, starting with the preliminary research right through to flocking the bases.

The Glamour of Ghaznavids