The Quest of Thane Tostig
The Quest of Thane Tostig or The Quest of Thane Tostig for the Magic Sword Blooddrinker is a miniatures skirmish wargame with figures and illustrations by Barry Minot, written by Eric and William Knowles. Published in 1977 Thane Tostig is possibly the first fantasy wargame by a British publisher. Set in an alternative dark ages, where the woodlands are haunted by nude beer-bellied thugs called 'Sprites' and hideous witches with sagging breasts, and fearless horned helmeted heroes quested for mighty pagan weapons.
Rulebook
The booklet itself is a 12-page A5 book, typeset with illustrations in black and white with coloured card covers. The game is a raid on the woodsprites lair by the heroes, Thane Tostig and his band. As play progresses certain events are triggered. Combat is resolved through d10 rolls, and uses hitpoint locations to determin damage, while magic uses a point system and carries a chance of misfiring.
Miniatures Range
The miniatures were by designed and sculpted by Barry Minot through his Minot's Miniature Armoury company. The range covers all the troop types needed to play the scenarios in the book.
The following models are listed in the rulebook:
The Heroes
- TT1 Thane, Tostig with Detachable Shield
- TT2 Edith, Tostig's female companion
- TT3 Beowulf of Barkynge with Battle Axe
- TT4 Sigurd, master of the bow and arrow
- TT5 Gurth the Serf, with spear, shield & horn
- TT6 Cedric the Slosher
- TT7 Infang, Tostig's ferocious dog
King Debobmik Fen & Wood Sprites
- TT8 King Debobmik, seated on throne
- TT9 Executioner with Axe
- TT9a Halt naked female kneeling
- TT10 Court Jester
- TT11 Palace Guard with Pole-Axe
- TT12 Hudekin the Giant idol, with the Blooddrinker sword (54mm.)
Sprite Warriors of the Debobmiks
- TT13 Naked Sprite with Hudekin Standard
- TT14 Naked Sprite with War Horn
- TT15 Naked Sprite Drummer with Drum
- TT16 Armoured Sprite with Spiked Mace
- TT17 Armoured Sprite with Disemboweling Sword
- TT18 Armoured Sprite with Broad-Bladed Sword
- TT19 Naked Sprite Tribesman with Pole-Axe
- TT20 Naked Sprite Tribesman with Glaive
- TT21 Naked Sprite Tribesman Archer
- TT22 Naked Sprite Tribesman with Rock
At the Torture Chamber of the Debobmik Sprites
- TT23 Stretching Rack and Operator
- TT24 Wheel of Torment (takes two victims)
- TT25 Naked Female Torture Victim
- TT26 Naked Male Torture Victim
- TT27 Sprite Torturer with Whip
- TT28 Sprite Torturer with Ripper Tongs
- TT29 Brazier with Hot Brandinq Iron & Sprite Attendant
Sprite Sorcery
- TT30 The vile wood witch, Hangbeffor
- TT31 Hangbeffor's Bubbling Cauldron
- TT32 Hangbeffor's Table, with Spell Book, & Bats
- TT33 Hangbeffor's Giant Earwiq Familiar
Additional figures uncatalogued elsewhere:
Sorcerers
- TT 34 Merlin the Magician
- TT 35 Merlin's Altar
- TT 36 Altar Accessories (Books, Bottles)
Undead
- TT 37 Skeleton with Axe and Shield
- TT 38 Skeleton with Sword and Shield
- TT 39 Skeleton with Poleaxe and Shield
- TT 40 Skeleton Firing Bow
- TT 41 Skeleton with Spiked Mace and Shield
- TT 42 Skeleton Standard Bearer
- TT 43 Skeleton War Trumpeter
Clergy
- TT 44 Monk with Staff
- TT 45 Monk with Folded Hands
- TT 46 Abbot with Large Cross
- TT 47 Unhooded Monk with Staff
- TT 48 Monk Kneeling in Prayer
- TT 49 Monk with Processional Cross
- TT 50 Abbot with Hands Raised to God
- TT 51 Monk with Pack Mule
Photographs of these figures can be seen here:
Authors
Barry Minot
Is a scultpor. After finding succcess as a miniatures sculptor in the late 1970s, Barry went on to work on prop-making for feature films such as The Dark Crystal and Raiders of the Lost Arc.
Eric Knowles
Eric is a wargaming pioneeer, ran the wargaimg shops Wall Models in Upton Park, London and later New Model Army, and took part on the 150th Anniversary Waterloo reconstruction at Duke of Yorks Headquaters in Chelsea in 1965.
William Knowles
Brother of Eric.
Publisher
The game was published by navwar,
External links
- http://www.navwar.co.uk/nav/ The Publisher
- http://www.moonshinepewter.com/ Barry Minots current projects.
- http://deartonyblair.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-quest-of-thane-tostiga-barry-minot.html David Wood's comprehensive article on Thane Tostig.
