The first known mention of the Saxons is by the Roman writer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. They inhabited an area that equates to modern Northern Germany, and at various times fought against and alongside the later Roman armies.

This set is part of the mini-box series, and contains 24 figures in just four poses. HaT have said this is to reduce the production cost, and therefore allow them to manufacture sets on subjects that would otherwise not have been seen as economic to produce at all. Clearly not everyone will be happy with the resulting limited set, but at least it could be argued that four poses are better than none at all.

The four poses on offer are not too impressive. The first figure on the left, above, does not seem very convincing as the length of his step is enormous and he is trailing his spear along the ground. The third man also seems awkward - it is only necessary to attempt to recreate the position of his right arm, and particularly the wrist, to realise this is a very uncomfortable and unlikely stance.

The Saxons wore tunic and trousers like other Germanic peoples, but rarely utilised armour. As a result the unpainted appearance is quite plain on these figures, though the costume seems accurate. One man wears some form of mail and a helmet with a boar across the crest. This identifies him as being much wealthier than the others, and is based on a number of grave goods found over the years.

The weaponry is simple but properly done. The shields are all moulded on to the figure, and are mostly round, though the oval shape is also thought to have been used.

The level of sculpting is really poor in this set. Some detail is quite unclear, and there are plenty of problems with the anatomy, particularly the heads. This is true of both the figures that face the mould, where the left-hand side of the head is not fully formed. The standing figure is the worse example, especially since his entire head sits on his right shoulder and his left ear is in line with his spine!

Quite apart from any issues about the number of poses, these figures are amongst the poorest HaT have offered for a long time. As they are aimed squarely at wargamers, perhaps the faults won't look too bad when massed together in units on the tabletop, but for collectors these are a real disappointment.