Greathelm: Finally, A Game Where One Sprue = One Warband! Huzzah!

Alright sprue fanatics, gather 'round. I've just gotten my hands on Greathelm, a new medieval skirmish game that's about to solve your biggest problem: justifying why you bought "just one more sprue" at checkout. This game needs exactly 6 knights per side and plays on a sheet of paper. That's right - ONE SPRUE = ONE WARBAND.

The Perfect Storm

Wargames Atlantic Baron's War Foot Knights

Okay, this is almost too perfect to be coincidence. Greathelm needs exactly 6 knights. The Baron's War Foot Knights sprue has... wait for it... exactly 6 knights. Malev created the "one box wargame challenge" in 2024 - a challenge to design a complete wargame playable with just one box of miniatures. Greathelm needs exactly 6 knights per warband. The Baron's War Foot Knights sprue has exactly 6 knights. One box typically has multiple sprues. Do the math - one box gives you multiple complete warbands. This isn't coincidence, this is literally what the game was designed for!

One sprue gets you:

• 6 complete knights (literally a full warband!)
• Modular assembly (separate legs/torsos)
• Good melee weapon variety including two-handed options
• Multiple head options
• That classic medieval knight aesthetic

This is it, folks. The mythical one-sprue-army actually exists. Buy one sprue, play tonight. Buy two sprues, and you've got warbands for you AND your opponent.

Victrix Medieval Knights

Looking for a different vibe than the Barons Wars Foot Knights? The Victrix sprue gets you 8 knights! That's a full warband PLUS two spares for:

• Conversion projects
• Casualty/Objective markers
• The start of your second warband

With multiple weapon options per figure, separate shields, and various helmet styles, one Victrix sprue gives you more variety than most people get in entire armies.

The Shield Decal Bonus

Here's the kicker - both Victrix and Wargames Atlantic make shield decal sheets specifically for these kits! Those shields aren't just for defense (+2 to Block tests!) - they're your knights' identity. However, at 6 models per warband, if you are the extra crafty type you can actually take the time to make each shield special and go to town with that super micro fine one hair brush we all have but never use.

The Terrain Game-Changer

Wargames Atlantic Marketplace/Barricades Sprue

The Wargames Atlantic Marketplace/Barricades sprue is basically custom-made for Greathelm's terrain rules. One sprue gives you:

• Barricades: Perfect for the Barricade terrain feature (knights can move over them with Walk actions, provides cover)
• Market stalls: Instant Defensible terrain - knights can fight through them and gain cover bonuses
• Barrels and crates: These work as Obstruction features OR as Throwable objects (small throwables = 6" range, Hazard 1 damage)
• Tables and benches: More Defensible terrain or flip them for instant barricades

On an 8.5"×11" battlefield, just a few pieces completely change the tactical situation. One Marketplace sprue gives you enough terrain variety for multiple different scene setups.

The Ranged Weapon Solution

So your medieval knights are all melee-focused? No problem. Here's where the sprue ecosystem really shines:

• Frostgrave Soldiers sprue: Comes with crossbow arms
• Frostgrave Knights sprue: Also has crossbow arms
• Victrix Norman Crossbowmen sprue: Mailed crossbow-holding arms that look perfect on armored bodies

Got any of these sprues in your bits box from previous projects? Those crossbow arms are about to become MVP pieces. The Victrix Norman arms are particularly sweet - that chainmail sleeve blends seamlessly with most medieval knight bodies.

The beauty of Greathelm only allowing limited ranged weapons means you need maybe one or two crossbow arms total. That single sprue you bought for "someday" just became the missing piece of your warband.

The Absolute Minimum Buy-In

Let me spell this out:

• 1 Baron's War Foot Knights sprue = Complete 6-knight warband
• 1 Marketplace/Barricades sprue = All the terrain you need
• Total cost: Under $30

That's it. That's a complete game. Find me another miniatures game where $25 gets you playing.

Building for Greathelm's Rules

When assembling your knights, keep the game's equipment rules in mind:

• Knights with shields get access to the powerful Block defense (+2 to clash tests!)
• Two-handed weapons prevent shield use but often hit harder
• WYSIWYG is king - what they're holding is what they're using

Final Thoughts

I've been selling sprues for years, and this is the first time I can honestly say "buy literally one sprue and you have everything you need for a warband." Whether it's the perfectly-sized Baron's War sprue it was made for or the value-packed Victrix sprue, you're only one purchase away from playing.

Sprue Score: 11/10 - Broke my own scale because ONE SPRUE = ONE ARMY.

Next time: Lets talk about how Greathelm plays!

Pssst: Its awesome. 

Questions? Comments? Got other crossbow donor sprues to suggest? Drop them below or swing by the discord.

-The Sprue Dude