Avatars of War Trolls: The Old World's New Plastic Core?

The return of Warhammer: The Old World has ignited a fervent desire for classic fantasy models, and Avatars of War has stepped into the breach with their Plastic Stone Trolls Kickstarter, offering a multi-part plastic regiment that looks poised to become a staple for many a burgeoning army.

Let's talk brass tacks. The Avatars of War Stone Trolls are presented as a multi-part plastic kit, which immediately sets them apart from many third-party resin or metal offerings that often come with inherent limitations in terms of pose variety and ease of assembly. This isn't just about cost-effectiveness; it's profoundly about the hobby experience itself. Plastic allows for far greater modularity, enabling hobbyists to craft truly dynamic and unique poses for each monstrous infantry model within a unit. From the initial renders and prototype images, these trolls boast a robust, classic fantasy aesthetic that aligns beautifully with the established visual language of the Old World, avoiding any jarring stylistic departures. We're looking at multiple head options, varying weapon loadouts—from massive clubs and jagged axes to hefty, uprooted rocks—and a distinct lack of monopose rigidity that can plague unit-based kits. This level of customization is crucial for a unit meant to rank up in a regiment; you want variety without sacrificing visual cohesion. The scale appears to be perfectly in line with existing Games Workshop fantasy lines, ensuring seamless integration into an established collection without looking out of place alongside your old metal minis or newer resin pieces. The material itself is a boon for painters and kitbashers, taking plastic glue and paint readily, and offering a durability often lacking in more brittle resins or fragile metal castings. This isn't merely a handful of character models or a diorama piece; it's a genuine regiment-builder, designed from the ground up to form a formidable, visually diverse block on the tabletop. For the full details on what's available, check out the Avatars of War Stone Trolls Kickstarter campaign. The design ethos clearly prioritizes both playability and hobby satisfaction.

Beyond the raw plastic, these sculpts capture the quintessential essence of a Stone Troll as envisioned in the rich, grimdark lore of the Old World. They’re not lithe or cunning; they are hulking, elemental forces of destruction, their very forms resembling rough-hewn boulders brought to monstrous, malevolent life. The craggy, petrified skin, the blunt, powerful limbs, the vacant, hungry expressions – it all screams 'Stone Troll' from the deepest, shadowed caverns of the World's Edge Mountains or the desolate reaches of the Troll Country. Historically, Stone Trolls have been a versatile, if somewhat unreliable due to their low intelligence, monstrous infantry choice for various destructive factions. Primarily, they've bolstered Orcs & Goblins hordes, but also found homes within the ranks of more primal Chaos Warbands or even as mercenaries for desperate human commanders. Their renowned regenerative abilities and sheer physical resilience made them a terrifying prospect on the battlefield, capable of shrugging off wounds that would fell lesser beasts. These new Avatars of War sculpts lean into that aesthetic perfectly, offering a strong visual anchor for those narrative elements. Imagine them lumbering across a battlefield, shrugging off bolt throws and cannon fire, their stony hides deflecting blades, a truly imposing and thematic sight for any opponent facing down your army.

So, what does this mean for your gaming table, your painting desk, and the longevity of your Old World aspirations? For players eagerly building or rebuilding their armies for Warhammer: The Old World, this Kickstarter is nothing short of a godsend. Games Workshop has been clear that the Old World will be a slow burn, with new releases trickling out over an extended period. Third-party support, especially for foundational units like monstrous infantry which often have high point costs and a significant table presence, is absolutely vital to keeping the community engaged and armies growing without prohibitive waits or costs. These Avatars of War Stone Trolls provide a fantastic, high-quality plastic alternative or supplement to existing collections. They offer a cohesive aesthetic that blends seamlessly with the established Warhammer look, while also providing enough unique character and pose variety to stand out as a distinctive unit. From a hobby perspective, the multi-part nature is an open invitation for extensive kitbashing and conversion, allowing GMs and players alike to truly personalize their forces, perhaps even creating unique unit champions or themed regiments. This isn't just about filling a roster slot; it's about injecting character, narrative, and visual diversity into your regiments, making each unit feel like a bespoke part of your army's story. The sheer flexibility, robust quality, and thematic fidelity on offer here make the Avatars of War Stone Trolls a compelling proposition for anyone looking to bolster their Old World forces, whether you're marshalling a classic Orc & Goblin Horde, an invading Chaos force, or even a mercenary contingent for a Kingdom of Bretonnia army. It’s a win for player choice, a boon for hobbyists, and a strong signal that the independent market is ready and able to support the Old World's resurgence with passion and high-quality products. This kind of community-driven development is what keeps the tabletop vibrant and innovative.