First Preview: The Crusader - Space Legions
Hi everyone,
We want to show you the first preview of Space Legions, our new sci-fi marine range.
This first release will be part of The Crusader, focused on the legions fighting for control of Terra in the service of the Heliarch.
These are the first images, and the range is still taking shape. We want to hear what you think before we continue: helmets, weapons, armour details, poses, unit ideas, anything you feel could make the line stronger.
What do you think of this first direction?
Terra burns. The Heliarch calls. The Crusaders answer.
Comments (19)
You know I'm, late to the party, but feel I must say if you guys are going to be redevoting time away from Fantasy for Sci-Fi I might not be reupping my annual membership come November. I just don't feel like we need even MORE sci-fi options when the field is already so crammed as others have explained. You guys do fantasy so well and personally there are so much more things to explore there, or to even go back and fix old sculpts or improve upon them and re-release them.
Is he holding a microphone? It looks like he’s about to launch into a rap, or maybe do some trash talk before his WWE match.
Pues me encanta la idea. Llevo mucho tiempo buscando Guerreros del Trueno. No terminan de convencerme los cascos, pero tengo mucha confianza en vuestro criterio. ¿Teneis pensado que sea una gama muy amplia? ¿Auxiliares Tecno Barbaros?
Pues como siempre serán los números los que nos dicten en el camino. La idea es hacer un ejército lo más completo posible. Pero para eso hace falta vuestro respaldo
Well, I don't even know... I understand that these renders are just prototypes and that the final result will look much better, but I just don’t know if it’s really a good idea to start a sci-fi line with space marines... It just seems to me that the shelf of heavily armored and powerful space conquerors is already so crammed that it’s hard to squeeze anything new in there. After all, so many companies have already released, are releasing, or will release legions of genetically modified paratroopers, and this new line might just become another drop in the ocean—one that will fade away unnoticed :( If you don’t mind, I’ll tell you why I like LastSword’s products—they simply look way better than what’s being released by that one company in Nottingham... The High Elves, whose design echoes ancient Greek armor and weapons, are, in my eyes, simply divine and the very best. However, the SM line currently produced by the folks in Nottingham is so good that everything else pales in comparison—it just looks like yet another attempt to copy them... I don’t know if your fans are really looking forward to you trying to break into the ranks of Dark Future miniature manufacturers. Well, if it were something completely new, rather than something similar to what’s already been made, then maybe… This is just my opinion, because I really hope you'll release something new that won't get lost in the sea of similar things that already exist :)
Hi Andrius, Thank you for the honest comment. Yes, these are risks we have assumed. We know this is a crowded field, and we also know that many people in our current audience may simply not be the main public for this specific range. Part of the objective is precisely to reach new people, not only to repeat what already works for us. At the same time, this is not the whole picture. Some of the other sci-fi lines we are preparing will probably be much easier to bring into our own visual territory. This one is harder, and that is part of the reason why we needed to show something concrete. The previous posts about our sci-fi plans were too abstract. Without images, the discussion became too dispersed and it was difficult to extract useful design feedback from it. Showing early material, even if it is still rough and may change a lot, helps put the conversation in context. So this is not us saying “this is the final answer”. It is us starting the conversation from something real, so we can better understand what works, what creates resistance, and where we can build something stronger.
A shape like this: https://www.perrypedia.de/mediawiki/images/e/ea/A623_1.JPG with a style like the one on the right: https://www.perrypedia.de/mediawiki/images/thumb/6/6c/PR1025.jpg/187px-PR1025.jpg The helmet could be a separate piece that is put over the head.
Hi Christian, Now I understand it much better, thank you.
The helmets could bei spherical with more space for the head. This gives the opportunity to use heads with or without helmet. If the helmet is bulky it could fit some instruments like a miniature cockpit. I hope it is understandable.
Do you mean a more spherical helmet, something closer to the classic retro sci-fi helmets, like the ones from Tintin?
I dig them. I feel they would be amazing Thunder Warriors. The low tech vibes and iconography makes them look like a precursor to space marines. I believe in your process! Very excited to see other ranges as well. I know your space elves will be sick.
This design is not for me :s
Hi everyone, Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts! We love seeing this level of discussion on Patreon—this is precisely why we share our projects with you at such an early stage. Just to set proper context: what you see in the post are initial base models (pre-posed) meant to test volumes and armour design language. At Last Sword, we don't work with a static "Model T" that remains frozen from the first draft. Our ranges mature over time through iteration, as you've already seen with our elves and other ranges. We are laying **the very first stone of this project**, which is why **your input RIGHT NOW carries far more weight than at any other point**. This is the ideal moment to tell us what references inspire you and what elements you’d like to see reflected in these miniatures. Even if not every idea makes it into the first batch, your suggestions will be the seed for future units, variants, and evolutionary steps of the faction. Our goal is to craft a heavy, archaic, and brutal aesthetic with its own identity—not just repeat a safe, familiar formula. Also, keep in mind that this is only one pillar of the Sci-Fi content we are bringing to Patreon: we are also working on an ancient pre-metal dynastic civilization, space-elves, and human imperial regiments. The floor is yours in the comments. Tell us what references you'd like to see on our sculpting table. Thanks for being here and helping us build this!
Personally, I don't find them interesting—at least not right now. I really don't think we need even more Space Marines, especially since most people likely prefer the original designs anyway. I would have been happier to see you expand your range into *Age of Sigmar*. *40k* is a fiercely competitive market; sure, there are plenty of customers, but there is also an immense amount of strong competition. To succeed there, you’d need a unique concept that fits the IP well while also offering a distinctive feature. I don't think Space Marines are the right approach for that. Factions like the Imperial Guard, Inquisition, Eldar, or Orks would offer more artistic freedom, in my opinion.
Hi, I like the back of the model so far. The front seems very static to me and I'm missing the usual elegance of your models. But I'm excited to see the final models. 😎
Hello, i really love your "old world" dynamic figures, i ve plenty a good things to say. A bit less with the historical figures who are a bit harder than others and when i read you'll go on sf i think it wasn't too enjoyed. I want to be honest with u with the reply, it's not the quality on your Lastswords works, space marin are too stoic, the helmets are like they listening spotify :-), thoses poses are a far away generation of figures we've see. I think its not a good idea to go on sf, not a good idea to go first on space marines with this work, it not a good pub for your compagny, you are a monster in fantasy lore and Lastswords means fantasy figures for me. But maybe you have many guys who work for you. So i think you have to take a point with the team.
I'm not really into space marines, so it's hard to say. As far as space marines go, I like the armour and the heads with the sunglasses. I'm not a huge fan of the fully enclosed helmets though - I feel they need something a bit more. Needs more depth and a more archaic look perhaps. Stronger eyes too maybe
Those are early models so I can't say much beside I'll trust the process. Still I always find it hard to like SM proxies as the originals are far too iconics. Nevertheless I'll wait and see as I really enjoy your fantasy line so I may end being pleasently surprised by the final results. Anyway those kinda remind me of the Thunder Warriors which is something I like.
Hi Wilhem, That is very close to the direction we are exploring. With this range, we are trying to move toward a more archaic, brutal and heavy armoured look, rather than simply following the most familiar modern sci-fi armour style. We always like to look at the older roots of an idea and then reinterpret them through our own visual language. So if the models give you that feeling of something more ancient, rough and imposing, then we are probably moving in the right direction. There is still a lot of work ahead, of course, but your reading of the concept is very useful. Thanks for trusting the process, and we hope the final versions surprise you in a good way.