First of all, Jamie you've got to get a photo catalog. Some of the figures sent for review are absolutely outstanding. Take the new Viking foot command. The jarl/earl stands holding a Danish axe, his foot resting on the prostrate body of a beaten foe. The mail armor and detailed helmet design (I'm reminded of Kirk Douglas' character of Hastings Maidenface in that favorite of all time movies, The Vikings) is a great example of casting a figure with a flavor all its own. A submissive female figure and another warrior holding the Raven standard complete the set.

The Slavic figures are a welcome addition as figures are few and far between for this excellent army. The mounted bowmen include three different figures, one shielded and the others not.

One figure in particular cries out to be painted IMMEDIATLY! He is firing deftly over his shoulder at the enemy who he is wisely evading. He also has an air of what I would expect from a Magyar of Lithuanian light horseman. The other figures, though not as animated, are well done with little or no flash to speak of.

The 'Elder's Council' or Slavic foot command consist of three figures, one of whom is a wise-looking leader type surveying the forests around him. His standard bearer carries a pole with a boarfigure and the third piece is a warrior with a double-bladed axe.

I also received the 'Pagan Idol' which is carried on a litter by two figures serves as a sacred banner for this army. Interesting.

The true stars of this line are the 'Pole Axes' - Jamie's puns i.e. 'Gaul stones' for Gallic slingers are becoming a product in themselves! The Slavic axemen carry monstrous axes - scaled up to over 61 long and wielded by wildly charging figures, some in mail, most in linen and furs, but all having the proper barbarian look streaming long hair, running stances and a multitude of variations. Figures are both shielded and unshielded with a good mix of axe-held positions. Again, out of 24 figures, only two had any flash.

The 'Lions of the Woods' are not as well animated, with a variety of swords, javelins and a combination of the two. These Slavic warriors are unarmored and both shielded and unshielded. They also had some flash, but still painted up to be good-looking barbarian types.

I also liked the 'Men of Moravia', 12 mounted Slavic cavalry again with a variety of poses. These guys make interesting Russian types from the Alexander Nevsky period as well. The only complaint is that those damned spears have to be glued in the hands - and my spears always eventually break off, but so do the cast-on ones ... Really, I like the cavalry figures very much.

The archers, Pagan Fire, are also pretty nice, though not as well animated as the axemen.

All in all, I heartily recommend these figures. I can't wait to get all of my Slavics painted up and see how they do in open combat!