Rus Warband vs Early Franks: Choosing a 28mm Dark Ages Force
By Victrix Limited 28mm miniatures | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Vergleiche
Compare the Rus Warband and Early Franks for 28mm Dark Ages gaming. See how unit mix, play style, and starter value differ so you can pick the right force.
Quick answer
Choose the Rus Warband if you want a ready-to-play starter army with a balanced mix of warriors and ranged troops. Choose Early Franks if you prefer a heavily themed Germanic force for the Age of Invasions and are comfortable building your own army list around a single warrior type.
What each force gives you out of the box
The Rus Warband is a complete starter set: 18 unarmoured warriors, 12 armoured warriors (including a warlord and standard bearers), and 6 archers or slingers. That spread lets you field a legal skirmish force immediately and gives you options for both melee and ranged phases.
Early Franks is a forthcoming set of Late Roman-era Germanic warriors. The catalog describes them as ready to raid overstretched Roman border defences, but does not list a unit breakdown or options. That absence is a real planning limitation: you cannot yet count exactly how many models or what weapon types you will receive.
Play style and army building implications
The Rus Warband's mix of armoured and unarmoured warriors plus archers or slingers supports a flexible, balanced approach. You can build a front line of tough warriors, use the warlord and standard to anchor the force, and add ranged pressure without buying a separate box.
Early Franks, by contrast, is presented as a warrior aristocracy taking over Gaul. That theme suggests a melee-focused force, but without a supplied unit list you will need to source additional models or convert to fill gaps such as archers or cavalry. If you enjoy hobby freedom and thematic list-building, that is a feature; if you want a one-box army, it is a drawback.
Cost and starter value
At catalog prices, the Rus Warband is USD 26.22 (compared to USD 38.00), while Early Franks is USD 25.20 (compared to USD 40.00). Both are discounted, but the Rus Warband includes a stated 36-model mix, which makes it easier to evaluate cost per model. Early Franks does not yet list a model count, so you cannot compare value per figure until more details are released.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Ready-to-play vs. build-your-own: Rus Warband gives you a complete starter army with a known unit mix. Early Franks is a forthcoming set without a published unit breakdown, so you must design your own force around it. If you want to play within a week of purchase, Rus Warband is the safer choice.
- Ranged support included vs. melee theme: Rus Warband includes 6 archers or slingers, adding a ranged phase to your games. Early Franks is described as a warrior aristocracy, which suggests a melee focus but no ranged troops are confirmed. If your local meta rewards ranged pressure, factor in the cost of adding archers to a Frankish force.
- Known value vs. unknown value: Rus Warband lists 36 models for USD 26.22, giving a clear cost per figure. Early Franks is USD 25.20 but no model count is supplied, so value per figure cannot be calculated yet. Wait for the Early Franks contents to be confirmed if budget-per-model is your main concern.
Product facts at a glance
- Early Franks: Early Franks are Late Roman era Germanic warriors described as ready to raid overstretched Roman border defences. This makes them a strong thematic pick for Age of Invasions scenarios, but you will need to plan your own unit composition.
Early Franks - Rus Warband: Rus Warband includes 18 unarmoured warriors, 12 armoured warriors (with warlord and standard bearers), and 6 archers or slingers. This balanced mix lets you start playing skirmish games immediately without buying extra units.
Rus Warband
Which force fits your games?
Best for
- New players who want a complete, playable Dark Ages army from one set
- Skirmish gamers who value a mix of melee and ranged troops
- Anyone building a Rus or eastern raider force for Pillage or similar rules
Not for
- Hobbyists who specifically want a Frankish or Late Roman themed force
- Players who prefer to design their own army list from individual units
- Buyers who need a confirmed model count before purchasing
