HOF121 SFA Bear Cat Battlesuit 15mm many uses kit released

A new code added to the HOF 15mm Science Fiction range for November 2018.  Security Force Alpha (SFA) brings the stompy in with a battlesuit kit fit for anything for low to high intensity warfare and also civilian construction and repair roles (six build options in the pack).  These follow up on the SFA Personalities and Dogs last time as well as  Tracker Wheeled Bikes and Portable Weapon Platforms with Gun Crew plus the Trencher Tracked Bikes from previous releases and are great for any game system and fit right in with the rest of the array of the SFA. Go HERE or read on for more.

Remember our Black Friday Season Event is on now!

Until 9am GMT Tuesday 27th November our Black Friday Season Mega Event is on. We have automatic Free Worldwide Shipping on all orders over 15GBP of product placed in the cart (you need do nothing but add to cart but please note tracked shipping remains a flat 10GBP charge to select) and we have TEN brand new releases too during the event.  Each of these new releases ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER CODE ON THE WEBSITE is 10% off regular price during the event and they are all online now with a place holder image; getting their own news during the event (such as this news). Go HERE for our blog post on the event in detail.

“All across the core star systems and on Terra itself there is a need for security after, during and even before the high rollers and expensive kit arrives in the battle zone. Security Force Alpha is just that force filling in as police, paramilitaries, mercenaries and planetary militias too. They are the faceless grunts that do the thankless jobs needed by all those who govern, control or enforce. Use them as you will from the near to the far future!”

Alternative Armies has embarked upon expanding the Security Force Alpha (SFA) array of codes within the HOF 15mm Science Fiction Range in conjunction with prolific wargamer Fred Richards who has a vision of space colony warfare in the near future which we find captivating and wanted to get in on.  From the mind of Mr Richards and the guys at Alternative Armies comes the fifth release in this thread the multi-role battlesuit as a part of Fred's vision for the future.

HOF121 Bear Cat Battlesuit

This pack contains one 15mm scale white metal and grey tone resin vehicle kit which can be outfitted in several roles.  The Bear Cat (known as the Hell Cat in its loaded for battle variants) is composed of a lower body part, an upper body part which includes armoured cockpit as well as a left arm ending in a fist and right arm ending in a wrist.   Fittings for that wrist supplied are a twin barrel rotary cannon, a large chainsaw and a large power drill.  There are also two supplied top mount weapon options a missile pod and a machine gun.  Assemble your battlesuit for war or construction work or as a scrapheap post apoc project.  Use the pieces left over for your bits box.  When built the Bear Cat is approx 45mm tall.  This code is supplied unassembled and unpainted and without a base.   It goes excellently with any science fiction force in 15mm scale.  Go HERE.  8.00GBP.

Above is a picture of the parts of this code as supplied.  A lot of variety!

Here are two examples of the Bear Cat.  The first in the colours of Security Force Alpha fitted out for war and the second is a space scheme for a battlesuit outfitted to break into moon domes.  Enjoy!

We are very lucky to have pro-painted examples of the Bear Cat from the legend that is Mastergunz over the USA.  His take on this battlesuit comes in two forms one for combat and the other for construction.  Here are his shots, all make from the kit parts and ain't they ruddy awesome!

If you are interested in fielding a force of these Human Soldiers then you are in for a treat as there is a very wide array of choice for you.  Here is a list of all of the current Security Force Alpha packs.

HOFA01 Security Force Alpha Core Box

(Save 20% off list with a whole force from codes HOF112,HOF113, HOF27, HOF28 choosing propulsion type.  75 Infantry, 2 Defence Turrets, 6 Vehicles.)

HOF121 Bear Cat Battlesuit

HOF120 SFA Personalties

HOF119 SFA Tracker Urban Bike Command

HOF118 SFA Tracker Urban Bikes

HOF117 SFA Support Platform Platoon

HOF116 SFA Trencher Bike Command

HOF115 SFA Trencher Bikes

HOF113 SFA Support Trooper Sprue

HOF112 SFA Trooper Sprue

HOF111 Scrofa Wheeled AFV

HOF109 SFA Crewed Skimmers

HOF27 Maginot Defence Turret kit

HOF28A Charger MkII APC Wheeled

HOF28B Charger MkII APC Hover

HOF28C Charger MKII APC Tracked

HOF86 Human Medical Team

HOF95 SFA Command

HOF97 SFA Troopers with SMG

HOF98 SFA Sergeants

HOF99 SFA Shotgun Troopers

HOF100 SFA Support Troopers

HOF101 SFA Anti Armour Troopers

HOF102 SFA Riot Team

HOF104 SFA Elite Troopers

HOF106 SFA Female Troopers

HOF7 SFA Jump Pack Troopers

HOF8 SFA Jump Pack Sergeants

See you out there among the Colonies of Mankind in the HOF 15mm Science Fiction Range.

If you like this miniature awesome then you might want to check out our other 15mm sci-fi ranges.  A huge choice of new and classic as well as all manner of characters, infantry, vehicles, robots and more.  We also have a wicked cool 6mm range from Bradley Miniatures.  Click on the links to visit these ranges to see more.

HOF Science Fiction Range

Loud Ninja Games

Laserburn and Asgard

SHM and Star Vikings

USEME Game System

Bradley Miniatures 6mm Range

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

HOT 15mm Fantasy range expands with new packs of Wraiths!

Have you got an Undead 15mm Army?  Need some gliding death dealers for it?  Here at Alternative Armies we have you covered with our new packs and re-mastered pack too which give you more than a dozen Wraiths to put into the fray against the living.  Go to the mighty HOT 15mm Fantasy Range now with one hundred and twenty codes HERE or read on for more.

We have gone a little Wraith mad at Alternative Armies this November with not only these new 15mm Wraiths but also new 28mm Wraiths and a whole new unit with characters of Wraiths for Flintloque too.  Sculpted by Sam Croes these diminutive robed servants of the Necromancer have really grown on me!

Until 9am GMT Tuesday 27th November our Black Friday Season Mega Event is on. We have automatic Free Worldwide Shipping on all orders over 15GBP of product placed in the cart (you need do nothing but add to cart but please note tracked shipping remains a flat 10GBP charge to select) and we have TEN brand new releases too during the event.  Each of these new releases ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER CODE ON THE WEBSITE is 10% off regular price during the event and they are all online now with a place holder image; getting their own news during the event (such as this news). Go HERE for our blog post on the event in detail.

HOT114 Wraiths (16 Miniatures)

This pack contains sixteen 15mm scale white metal miniatures in a random but even mix of four poses. The poses are as follows: Wraith with Spear, Wraith with curved Sword overhead, Wraith with Sword Raised, Wraith with Poleaxe.  As with all HOT miniatures you can select a pack or a sampler of one of each pose from this code for skirmish gaming.  Great for any game system these miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted.  Go HERE.  5.00GBP per pack. 

HOT115 Wraiths II (16 Miniatures)

This pack contains sixteen 15mm scale white metal miniatures in a random but even mix of four poses. The poses are as follows: Wraith with Axe, Wraith brandishing curved Sword, Wraith with severed Head raised, Wraith with Halberd.  As with all HOT miniatures you can select a pack or a sampler of one of each pose from this code for skirmish gaming.  Great for any game system these miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted.  Go HERE.  5.00GBP per pack. 

HOT36 Wraith Cavalry (6 Mounted Miniatures) 

This pack contains six 15mm scale white metal miniatures (rider and mount) in a random but even mix of four poses. The poses are as follows: Wraith with Sword on Undead Horse, Wraith with curved Sword on Undead Horse, Wraith with Spear on Undead Horse, Wraith with double headed Axe on Undead Horse.  As with all HOT miniatures you can select a pack or a sampler of one of each pose from this code for skirmish gaming.  Great for any game system these miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted.  Go HERE.  5.00GBP per pack. 

We have re-mastered the popular Wraith Lord on Fell Beast to go alongside these new packs and it is looking glorious.

HOT74 Wraith Lord on Fell Beast

This pack contains one 15mm scale white metal kit consisting of the Fell Beast Body, Left Wing, Right Wing and Wraith Lord rider with Crown and Mace.  A flying scout or general for your Necromancer of Evil armies.  A Lord of Shadow.  The Fell Beast is approx 40mm from head to tail.  Great for any game system and goes excellently with our other HOT codes for Wraiths and Undead.  Supplied unassembled and unpainted.  Go HERE.  5.00GBP per pack.

Wraith riders battle a Cockatrice

The Wraith Lord commands a Ghoul Dragon

Wraiths deal death to passing Ogres

The living are in peril with the coming of these Wraiths!  If you like them then you might want to check out our other 15mm fantasy ranges.  A huge choice of new and classic as well as all manner of characters, beasts and monsters plus of course the excellent Sengoku Japanese Fantasy Range.  We also have HOTT 24AP Armies and 15mm Buildings.  Click on the links to visit these ranges to see what we have.

HOT Fantasy Range

HOB Buildings Range

Sengoku Japanese Fantasy Range

HOTT 24AP Ready Made Armies

Tabletop Fantasy Range

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Black Friday Season Mega Event 2018 now on and biggest of the year!

Now on and until 9am GMT Tuesday 27th November there is a Black Friday Season Mega Event happening at Alternative Armies. We have automatic Free Worldwide Shipping on all orders over 15GBP of product placed in the cart (you need do nothing but add to cart but please note tracked shipping remains a flat 10GBP charge to select) and we have TEN brand new releases too during the event.  Each of these new releases ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER CODE ON THE WEBSITE is 10% off regular price during the event and they are all online now with a place holder image; getting their own news during the event.  We have new 28mm Fantasy, 15mm Fantasy, 15mm Science Fiction and new Flintloque releases too.   Go HERE or read on.

All of these releases (minus their images) are now online along with all our other special offers for the event and more. We will feature each new release in its own news article on its day in detail during this event. Here are the new codes and the top offers we have alongside our free postage! Its huge and it will end with a Cyber Monday (26th Nov) promotion on all our digital download books (all the other deals are still on during Cyber Monday too).  We will be shipping almost every day during the event worldwide. Enjoy and here are the details. 

New Releases! 

All of these brand new codes are on the website now on the New Releases page as well as their own sections of the website.  Each will be detailed with pictures in its own news article during the event.

28mm Fantasy Range

VNT43 Wraiths II (4 Miniatures)

VNT44 Wraith Riders (2 Mounted Miniatures)

VNT45 Wraith Riders II (2 Mounted Miniatures)
VNT28 Wraiths (4 Miniatures) (Re-Mastered 2018)

Flintloque and Slaughterloo

55522 1st Noncorporialski Line (20 Miniatures) 

55023 1st Noncorporialski Colours (4 Miniatures)

55024 1st Noncorporialski Privates (4 Miniatures)

55025 1st Noncorporialski Veterans (2 Miniatures)

15mm Fantasy Range

HOT114 Wraiths (16 Miniatures)

HOT115 Wraiths II (16 Miniatures)

HOT36 Wraith Cavalry (6 Mounted Miniatures)
HOT74 Wraith Lord on Fell Beast (1 Miniature) (Re-Mastered 2018)

15mm Science Fiction Range

HOF121 SFA Bear Cat Battlesuit (1 Multi-Pose Kit)

Black Friday Mega Event 10% off Everything On the Website

That's correct during the event we have taken 10% off every single code on the website in all of the ranges in all of the scales.  This is on top of free shipping.  This applies to miniatures, books, downloads, dice, bases and of course our pro-painted service.  All normal priced codes (not bundles or divisional boxes which are already discounted) are ten percent reduced on screen.  All you need do is add to cart as the discount is already applied.  Have a browse of our ranges using this LIST on our blog or by going across the top menu of the website home page HERE.

Cyber Monday Mega Digital Event!

On our Digital Downloads page you can find titles such as Flintloque, Slaughterloo, Furioso, Sulphur, Sengoku Monster Hunter, USEME and others.  Paid for downloads which are 30% cheaper during the event ending 9am GMT 27th November 2018.  This is ten percent further off the already twenty percent less than the print version.  A 30% saving.  Please note that this offer is valid during the entire event but will be public stated on Cyber Monday.  Go HERE.

If you have not already done so we urge you to go to our website home page, scroll to the bottom and join our mailing list through the box provided there. You will also not miss out on all the new releases and fun as we send out each day's new release and news as well as regular news and more after the Black Friday event.

Lastly if you wish to combine orders with our smaller sister site The Ion Age then you can and you get access to the offers and free shipping. Send an email to info@theionage.com and list out all the codes you want from both websites along with your shipping address and your paypal email. We will respond with a total and send you an invoice to pay. Easy and you can get ahold of the brand new Magog 15mm scale giant mecha.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the biggest event of the year! 

GBS

15mm Christmas Range packs and HOTT Army on offer this week!

The seasonal range in 15mm scale at Alternative Armies has brought you Evil Snowmen, Killer Xmas Trees, Abominable Snow Monsters and Psycho Presents plus Gingerbread Men and Jack Frost too all in 15mm scale. Get a whole force for festive fun. Go HERE or read on for more information. With all of the codes, except for Jack Frost, you can purchase a pack or you can get a bumper pack with a saving.   The HOTT Army comes with all the miniatures and element bases you need as well.   This week we have 10% off all the codes as an early festive offer ending midnight GMT Sunday.  We will be expanding the range into 28mm at the end of this month but more on that at the time.

SN2017 Seasonal Fun Sampler

This collection code gives you one of every pose in the whole SN Xmas 15mm Range. The pack contains five SN01 Evil Snowmen in five poses, three SN02 Killer Xmas Trees in three poses, two SN03 Abominable Snow Monsters in two different poses plus a separate sprue of Christmas hats, SN04 Psycho Presents five poses, Brutal Gingerbread Men in four poses and lastly one Jack Frost.  Everything we have in 15mm scale. Unique and fun with a lot of uses from a festive themed army to a post apocalypse campaign, arctic warfare or even science fiction and more you can get into this range HERE.

SN06 Jack Frost

This code contains one 15mm scale white metal miniature. The legendary magical Jack Frost who is a suitable leader for your festive force.  Posed leaping into action pointing and holding his staff he is approx 30mm long and 20mm tall.

SN05 Brutal Gingerbread

This code contains four different 15mm scale white metal miniatures. Our rather vicious Gingerbread Men suitable for any festive themed scenario or army. Each of them stands about 9mm tall and poses are with sword, with spear and shield, with axe and lastly with blunderbuss. You can choose a pack or choose the Value Blister (Gingerbread Horde) where you get 20 Random Mixed Men with a 10% saving. 

HOTT1023 Xmas Army

This HOTT Army Pack contains an entire Christmas Army.  Miniatures taken from the SN Range and are 15mm scale and white metal. This Army Pack contains all needed element bases.

Magician General (Jack Frost) @ 4AP (1) (1 Festive Deity)(B1) 

Behemoth (Abominable Snowmen) @ 4AP (1) (2 Monsters)(B1) 

Shooters (Psyco Presents) @2AP (2) (6 Magic Presents) (D2) 

Lurkers (Xmas Trees) @1AP (2) (6 Killer Trees) (C2) 

Warbands (Gingerbread Men) @2AP (3) (12 Baked Warriors) (D3) 

Hordes (Snowmen) @1AP (4) (20 Frozen Water Fighters) (C4)  

See the whole range HERE on the website.

SN04 Psycho Presents

This code contains five different 15mm scale white metal miniatures. Our armed to the teeth animated wrapped presents suitable for any festive themed scenario or army. Each of them stands about 10mm tall and poses are pointing Sten Gun, holding Blunderbuss, Polearm, firing Sten Gun and Machine Pistol. You can choose a pack or choose the Value Blister (Psycho Present Sack) where you get 20 Random Mixed Presents with a 10% saving. 

SN03 Abominable Snow Monsters

This code contains two 15mm scale white metal miniatures in two poses. These are both one piece and come with a separate sprue of two Christmas Hats which may be mounted on the miniatures or left off. Abominable Snow Monsters approx 35mm tall these creatures are covered in fur and have sharp claws and even sharper teeth. Unique and fun with a lot of uses from a festive themed army to a post apocalypse campaign, arctic warfare or even science fiction and more these beasts will add some scare to your games. You can choose a pack or choose the Value Blister it code contains six 15mm scale white metal miniatures.

SN02 Killer Xmas Trees

This code contains five 15mm scale white metal miniatures in three poses. From one side these approx 22mm tall trees are nice and friendly with sparkly baubles and paper bands adorning them but turn them around and horror they are all teeth and doom! Unique and fun with a lot of uses from a festive themed army to a post apocalypse campaign and more these monsters will get your opponent's attention for sure. They go great with our Evil Snowmen. You can choose a pack or choose the Value Blister (Killer Xmas Tree Forest) where you get 10 Random Mixed Trees with a 10% saving. 

SN01 Evil Snowmen

This code contains five different 15mm scale white metal miniatures. Our not so friendly snowmen suitable for any festive themed scenario or army. Each of them stands about 10mm tall and poses are hat with hatchet, top hat and candy cane, wool hat and rifle, saucepan and scarf, severed head and knife.You can choose a pack or choose the Value Blister (Evil Snowmen Horde) where you get 20 Random Mixed Snowmen with a 10% saving.   

We have some free scenarios for USEME 15mm science fiction featuring Snowmen, Trees and more. They are great fun. Go to the USEME page of our websiteand download Bundle One to get all of the festive scenarios or if you don't want to wait just click HERE for the zip file as a direct download from us.

GBS

Article 15 The Mighty Trolka by Andy Jefcoate

In his last Flintloque hobby article for this year Andy continues his journey in the Witchlands and this time deploys the biggest regular troops on Valon the mighty Trolka.  Enjoy and if you missed any of the previous fourteen articles you can see them all on our blog by clicking on this TAG.  Last time Andy put Valonian Civilians into his game and before that there was the mistress of death Lady Wintermore.  If you would like to Begin in Flintloque visit out website HERE.

The Mighty Trolka!

The Alternative Armies Troll week drew my attention back to these guys, the Trolka of Skandavia. They are allies of the Ferach Empire, and are mainly found fighting in the Witchlands so are perfect for my games.

As the largest figures in the Flintloque and Slaughterloo ranges (they stand around 50mm high) they are hard to miss so had been on my radar for a while, but it made me decide that I needed a Trolka section.

In the past this would have been an expensive undertaking but not so now, thanks to most of the range being in resin. The castings are excellent with lovely detail and being resin you can store them without reinforcing your floor boards, and transport them without needing the muscles of Arnie!

What is available?
There is an excellent range of Trolka figures available including Line Infantry, Light Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. There is also an imposing metal General figure standing 60mm high! They are supported by the slightly smaller Trolkin of Copendaz (standing a mere 30mm high!) but for this article I'll concentrate on the Trolka.

What did I get?
I purchased a section of 6 Trolka Line Infantry from pack 56550, consisting of an officer, a musician, a standard bearer and 3 troopers. I also bought an additional trooper to paint up as a zombie!

As the Trolka Cavalry ride huge Moose into battle I had to have one in my collection so bought the officer figure from pack 56570. He will eventually lead my section, with the line officer on foot coming into play if the Moose gets taken down or if a mounted figure doesn't fit the scenario.

How did I paint them?
There is a high level of detail on these figures but due to their size I found them to be relatively easy to paint. As always I like a bright colour scheme to stand out against the snow so I painted their jackets a light blue with yellow trim as suggested in the 'Death in the Snow' book.

The officer had to stand out so I reversed these colours for him in the same way that I did with the Ogre cavalry.

For the Zombie Trolka I painted him in a similar way to my regular Savant Zombies, so his uniform jacket was done in a dark green with red facings to show his allegiance to the Witchlands. I toyed with using him as a mortal Trolka who is rebelling against the Ferach Empire, but the chance to add a bit of muscle to my Savant Zombie section was too good to miss!

How I've used them in my games
While I haven't used the cavalry figure yet, the infantry have been very useful. Just one or two can be used to really strengthen any Ferach section and are great for beginners as they are easy to use, and fairly forgiving if you make a mistake. If you use points to build your sections they can be expensive (30 point basic cost for even a Raw figure) but with an unmodified steady rating of 6, with 6 wounds and starting at +5 in combat they can give the Witchlands player a very bad day.

The fact that they can carry a Skandavian Kannonderbuss is also useful as this is basically an artillery piece. At short ranges (under 15cm) this weapon fires at 60/18 when using Roundshotte or 80/10 when using Kannister. Not many creatures can stand up to that!

A Trolka section is great to try out, you will always be outnumbered but if you don't let your force get spread out and mobbed then it really is a force to be reckoned with. Especially if supported by a Vampyre such as Rosafiend as outlined in my narrative below.

As I mentioned earlier I also painted an additional Trolka as a Savant Zombie to even the odds a bit. I've used the stats of the Ogre Savant Zombie as advised on page 83 of the 'Death in the Snow' book. Despite being dead this Trolka still has an unmodified steady rating of 6, with 7 wounds and a basic modifier of +4 in combat.

The continuing narrative
The Emperor Mordred knows that the Dark Czar is seeking the traitor Rosafiend so that he can make an example of her as there are rumours that others of her kind are considering joining her. She therefore doesn't stay in one place for too long but she is currently with Saindoux, a situation that she created in order to take on and frustrate the efforts of her nemesis Lady Wintermore.

To insure her safety the Emperor has insisted that she take a Trolka bodyguard, and they have become fanatically loyal. While they would never all leave her undefended, some of their number have joined Saindoux's forces in battles with Witchlands troops. They have heard that Lady Wintermore has a Zombie Trolka and the thought of one of their brothers being used in this way has fired them up to oppose her whenever and wherever they can.

If she gets a chance Lady Rosafiend would also like to meet Lady Wintermore with teeth and claw, and the feeling is mutual!

What's next 
I hope that you've enjoyed reading about how I've brought the mighty Trolka into my games. I've now got fairly large forces for both sides in the Witchlands conflict so rather than creating new units I'm concentrating on individual characters and unusual figures to spice up my scenarios. I'll let you know about some soon, so until next time......

Thank you for reading.

Andy

Harringtorc Parte the Second a continued Flintloque tale by Christian Cuello

Welcome to part the second in a short series of Flintloque fiction concerning the campaigning of Lieutenant Harringtorc of the Albion Army.  If you missed part one please read it first on our blog HERE.  Written by Christian Cuello we and he hope that you enjoy this story and we look forward to more to come which will also be published for free on our blog.  The artwork in this article was drawn by Valonian artist Edward Jackson.  If you are looking for a miniature to match Harringtorc then we suggest an officer on foot from the 54506 Orc Command set.  Enjoy and I know that I did! GBS

Parte the Second

A steady drizzle of rain pattered against the window.

Captain Gustave Coeur du Bouef squinted in the grey daylight that filtered into his office as he looked at the scrawled balance sheets that had been laid on his desk. His eyes carefully followed the lines on the impeccable handwriting, admiring every loop and curl as he became slowly drowsier. Of course, he understood none of it: numbers had never been his speciality and he was too old to learn now. That was best left to the legion of accountants, lawyers and bankers - in a word, bureaucrats - which appeared anywhere the army set foot.

The army may march on its stomach, but the road was padded with reams of paperwork. 

There were conventions, agreements, taxes, fees, royalties… and ever since he had settled into Vigore it seemed to have gotten worse. Every day he was asked to approve or ratify administrative documents, and today was no exception.

One particular glorified clerk commissioned to him, Hugo, peered smugly over the edge of the ledger he had produced.

Gustave looked back blankly.

The clerk seemed to expect some kind of acknowledgment, but received none. This only seemed to make him more eager, and Gustave more irritable. He coughed politely to clear his throat as he prepared for his moment of glory with a deep breath.

“In one word, Hugo”. Gustave interjected.

“Spies.” He responded, deflated.

Gustave looked at the sheet.

He looked back at Gaston.

And back at the sheet.

“But… how?” he gestured at the sheet incredulously.

“Some nights ago. The port master was caught with some shillings on a surprise inspection.” Hugo fumbled and spilt the coins on Gustave’s desk as he simultaneously tried to get his presentation underway. “This wouldn’t be unusual under normal circumstances, but it is a discrepancy nonetheless. I had a word to the Watch and we were able to get an account from some witnesses which lead us to believe that… one moment, I’ve prepared slides.”

“Mon Dieu… put them away. I’ll take your word for it. The question is: what do we do about it?” he asked, mostly to himself. 

Gustave levered himself out of the desk chair and turned to an open window, considering the city below as the mist gently cool his skin – a relief from the stuffy air of his room.

In reality, he was miles away.

He had been relegated to this office in a temporary arrangement during the early stages of the occupation of Vigore. This had been, at first, novel. Some reprieve from months on campaign. He knew he was no longer the strapping cavalryman of his younger days, and it seemed this was Commands polite way of saying so. Make no mistake, he was a soldier through and through, but the years had been, well… he looked down to where his waistcoat started to stretch across his belly.

“Spies, you say?”

“Oui, mon capitaine.”

He stroked his stubbly chin.

This could be the opportunity he was waiting for. But would he feed this up the line and wait for approval?

He skipped to a cupboard and swung the doors open.

“Hugo, get your things. Ready the horses. We’re leaving - you can tell me more on the way.”

“Do you mean the slides?” Gaston dropped the pieces of cardboard as a carbine flew at him. He caught it gingerly in a delicate, uncertain grip. 

Gustave adjusted his scabbarded blade, strapped on a bandoleer and holstered his pistols across his chest. He shouldered an additional musket and satchel and made his way out the door, pulling his dusty greatcoat off its hanger and disturbing the thin layer of dust that had settled on it.

He was going to catch a spy.

***

Steel clashed on steel, and the sound rang out through the ancient settlement. The duellers danced to the rhythm of a flurry of precise strikes, their skill with a blade quite remarkable to the untrained eye.

Harry knew he was starting to lag slightly, but could see no sign of his opponent feeling the same. 

A small dishevelled crowd watched, cheered, and exchanged coins as the swordsmen exchanged blows.

“Come on, ‘Arry!” yelled Rotter, perhaps a little too enthusiastically for Harry’s liking. In the space of a heartbeat he flicked his eyes across to see his chaperone in the thick of the crowd. He’d have to have a word about his gambling later… if he managed to get out of this alive.

He instantly regretted taking his eyes off his opponent, as he frantically defended himself - did this elf never tire? 

A badly calculated step backwards and he felt his heel slip on the wet ground.

He repelled a heavy blow, the clang reverberated through his bones. Somewhere between keeping his balance and fending for his life, he flicked his wrist and to his surprise grazed his assailant’s cheek.

It seemed to Harry that the crowd made a collective gasp as the roguish elf took a step back, startled.

“Papa!” screamed one of the crowd in a shrill cry.

Harry’s body seemed to react on its own to the sound of a loud thwang, his sword sweeping in a back-hand motion as he moved to intercept the bolt aimed squarely at his chest.

A spark.

A sting on his brow.

The world faded to darkness.

Armoured Goblins on the March to an expanded future!

“The Iron Guard are the foremost of the Goblins. In ranks they march and in formations they fight. Yes, in good order. Not like any Goblins you have ever heard of. These plate armoured Goblins have turned back the Dwarfs of the green stone mountains and given the Elves of the sun vale a bloody nose. Respect them.”

I would like to thank Benamon Tame and also Zac Martin in this article for their pictures of their own collections and the efforts they have both put into pushing classic miniatures into an expanded future.  Benamon provides with permission his Goblin Knights, Goblin Knight Command and Goblin Knight with Great Sword from his collection in a fetching copper and white paint scheme.  Zac Martin has been busy sculpting new poses for the original packs including a Chariot Crew and Bolt Thrower Crew.  This gives me a chance to round up some great pictures and links to blogs to read plus tell you about what is going to happen for the Armoured Goblins 28mm scale next.  Let us begin!

It begins many years ago at the tale end of the 1980's with the Temple of Death for Benamon Tame and his collection of the 'Temple Guard' when they were first released (long before my tenure at Alternative Armies when they were with another company but more on that soon).  His pride and joy they were misplaced when time passed and boxes packed and misplaced as such things go.  Discovering the now 'Armoured Goblin Knights' on our website HERE he rejoiced and re-created his collection.  I hope you enjoy the pictures and if you wish to read the whole original blog post you can find it on The Copper Oracle HERE.

The brand new FL2-06 Armoured Goblin with Great Sword was released this year compared to decades earlier for the other poses and this was down to Zac Martin.  I was approached by Zac and he told me of the history of these miniatures and his love of them.  He called them 'Doom Garde' and though I knew they had originated with Rieder Design in the 1980's and were now with Alternative Armies I had changed their purpose.  Too short now to be 28mm Humans they were now 28mm Armoured Goblins, giving them new life, and had been re-molded along with the rest of our OH series and DH series high fantasy codes and put on our website across 2015 to 2018.  We had added Dodo riding knights sculpted by Elton Waters before this and these got an update too.  Well over a hundred poses now all with pictures and in packs and singles sorted by racial type.  We discussed expanding the range and spoke on some ideas.  On his blog called Lead Mountain Window there are several posts about these Goblins and you can see them all linked up HERE.

You would be hard pushed to notice that there is an age between the original poses and the new ones and while this was not intentional it is worth noting as the unified design of the Armoured Knights gives little clue to their era.  Such fantasy gaming is as popular now as it was then.  Sword and Sorcery and mighty monsters to defeat!  

Thus far we have the following codes:

FL1 Goblin Knights

FL2 Goblin Knight Command

FL2-06 Goblin Knight with Great Sword

OH30 Goblin Knights on Dodo

OH32 Goblin Knight Bolt Thrower

OH33 Goblin Knight Chariot with Two Crew

As we approach the end of 2018 there is a bright future ahead for the Armoured Goblins as they march into more campaigns, more battles against more foes.  Working with Zac we have more codes to come.  There is muted talk of an entire army in development but I do not want to get ahead of myself.  I can say that much like we twinned new crew with our existing Bolt Thrower and Chariot we will do the same with a Bombard!  We will be giving the Armoured Goblins more weapon options too with open hand poses able to carry sword, axe, pike, spear or anything else.  Also we plan ranged weapon versions of the infantry as sometimes you need to bring down distant quarry. At least four new packs. This will all be in 2019.

I am greatly enjoying this classic fantasy expansion and rejuvenation of the Armoured Goblins which are great for virtually any game system (they could even be chaotically minded Dwarves as have been pointed out) but I would like to hear your input too.  Are you liking what we have done and do you have any suggestions for further poses of these troops?  If you do then please comment or email me on sales@alternative-armies.com and I will respond to you.

Next year will be a great year for Alternative Armies in many ways and after getting all the packs and characters of the Fantasy Warlord range back into world we are going to be doing more in the realms of High Fantasy when 2019 arrives. 

Thanks for Reading,

GBS