The Alternative Armies Blog

Welcome to the Alternative Armies blog. This blog tells you all about what we are up to and it is where we post our latest tabletop gaming news and articles.
We cover Flintloque and Slaughterloo, High Fantasy, Other Ranges as well as our 15mm scale fantasy, science fiction and historical ranges.
Our game systems and free content such as PDF downloads and reading articles. Enjoy and do dig back in time to see what was going on before now.

Feel free to comment and ask questions. We are always happy to help gamers with their hobby.

Wednesday 25 November 2020

Pudigroan Grenadiers released for Flintloque and Slaughterloo

The last new release of more than sixteen during this mega offer month is a big one for the World of Valon.  A whole set of new Dogmen from the ruined kingdom of Pudigrochumsberg.  This takes that army up to an all arms force of infantry (line, grenadiers), cavalry (dragoons, cuirassiers), artillery, light troops, command, personalities, limited edition and a Divisional Army Pack (DAP) saving 15% off an entire division.  Go HERE for this Ferach Empire allied nation to see everything.

“Give us our revenge was the only request of the thirty thousand Dogmen who marched into Armorican service. Give us the chance to kill Ostarians and we will. The Emperor Mordred was only too happy to oblige them and in addition to training them in Elvish drill he armed them with his firelocks and give them his artillerie was well. There are more than a dozen regiments of Pudigroan in the field against Ostaria.”

56597 Pudigroan Dogman Grenadiers

Veterans of many campaigns and extensive soldiering have made the remaining regiments of line that King Bonio possesses very effective fighters. Considered a breed apart these troops perform very well in battle.  Poses are an Officer with Pistol, Drummer, Standard Bearer with bone topped pole and musket, Sergeant with musket and spontoon.  Four different soldier poses with musket which are firing, advancing, loading and marching.  As with all World of Valon codes you get free resin cartouche bases included.  You can choose from a skirmish pack of ten, a unit of twenty (with saving included) or a trooper booster single (random trooper or ask for a pose you want in any amount).  Go HERE for these new miniatures.


These are characterful miniatures and each could tell a story of war in Central Urop.  Above is a front and rear block view of each.

Players of Flintloque and Slaughterloo a treat for you! A free six page army booklet to download for the Dogman kingdom of Pudigrochumsberg. Background, profiles, regiments, statistics and more.  CLICK HERE to download from us.

Pudigrochumsberg features in 5028 Bier & Bones game book for Flintloque and in 5030 Slaughterloo where you can create your characters and units and get playing.

Get started in Flintloque with 5024 Escape the Dark Czar beginners set which has core rules, three scenarios, ten resin miniatures, dice and bases all for a great price. See our Begin in Flintloque page for this as well as many free scenarios and articles following General Saindoux and his survivors as they retreat from Moskova.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Tuesday 24 November 2020

Velite Grenadiers de la Garde column painted by Jerry Frazee

It is my delight to present to you the super painting of Slaughterloo and Flintloque fan Jerry Frazee from the USA who has with kind permission allowed us to share his Velite Grenadiers.  On top of these lovely pictures we have updated the Elf Column on the website and you can now purchase all the poses from the box as well as the full set.  Go HERE or read on.  

Click on the pictures to make them larger.  You can see the whole column as well as trooper front and back pictures.




5103 Velite Grenadier de la Garde Mordred

Send in the Garde!  Best of the best the Velite Grenadiers de la Garde are the anvil upon which the Armorican Armee sits.  An excellent centre piece for your Elf forces. This code contains twenty miniatures an entire Elf Column for your battlefield. A Full Unit of Mordred's Elite Grenadiers with many different and unique poses filled with character. One Mounted Elf on Horse and Nineteen Foot Garde Elves armed with Muskets. Includes a Background and Painting Guide. This box makes an entire elite unit for use in Slaughterloo or larger Flintloque scenarios.

Download the two page PDF insert for the column from our server by CLICKING HERE.

You can now select from the options on this page alongside a full set any of the poses within the set in any amount.  Use the drop down menu for this.  Here are your options and refer to images as well.

5103 Velite Grenadiers de la Garde - Set

5103A Mounted Officer on Horse

5103B Grenadier Banner Bearer

5103C Officer on Foot

5103D Grenadier with Axe

5103E Grenadier shako under arm

5103F Injured Grenadier

5103G Bare headed Grenadier

5103H Grenadier with wrapped musket

5103I Grenadier cocking musket

5103J Grenadier marching with musket

5103K Grenadier standing with musket

5103L Grenadier advancing with musket

This set of miniatures is a core part of any Elf player's collection as a center point for a division or many scenarios and with its multitude of poses it is always interest to look at too.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Monday 23 November 2020

Devil Frog 15mm tractor and field artillery new for Bradley Miniatures

 “The first shot is for the Devil, the second for God, and only the third for the King.”

Old boney was not wrong and today Bradley Miniatures alongside Alternative Armies presents brand new 15mm scale field artillery by the name of the Devil Frog!  Go HERE for the 15mm scale range and go HERE if you want to see Bradley's 6mm range which also has the Devil Frog.


“The General Carrier/Ordnance tractor (GeCO) represents a venerable lineage of military light-motor utility vehicles.  The most common of these is the GC454 Devil Frog.  The Devil Frog is able to haul a large field gun, it's crew and ammunition as well as provide security with it's light armor and roof mounted machine gun.  A compact bifuel-cell drive provides good range and simple logistics, ensuring that any size Colonial force is likely to include them in its ranks.”

This pack contains one 15mm scale kit in high quality resin and metal with all parts required to build one Devil Frog Ordinance Tractor and one Devil Frog Field Gun. There are three different cannon barrels supplied in the pack giving you a choice.  Assembly is required of low complexity. You may also choose to purchase the Tractor on its own or a Field Gun on its own on the page.  Single Field Guns are listed as A (Energy Weapon), B (Rotary Weapon) and C (Long Howitzer Weapon) by barrel size.  

This is the fifth code in the 15mm range and comes after four tanks.  These can be had as single kits or as a bundle of four saving ten percent.  Star Legion tanks of the Lionheart and Stormheart patterns.  You can also get the sponson heavy machine guns and armour skirts on their own too.  See the range HERE.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Sunday 22 November 2020

HOF155 Dominator Spheres released!

“In the service of a machine god, or a radioactive wasteland, guarding prisoners or sent by an invading army the Dominator Spheres are many limbed metal killers!”

With the revving of power saws and the clack of clamping claws the many limbed terrors of the future are here!  Below you can see Dominator Spheres in pursuit of escaping Prisoners (from HOF139 Penal Legion).  Go HERE.

Our last release for the month in the HOF Range following up on the new Grey Alien packs is a fantastic generic code great for many settings and systems.

HOF155 Dominator Spheres. This pack contains three metal kits each composed of a robotic body propelled by tentacles and a sprue of six different limbs which can be added in any of the six mounting slots and bent to your choice of pose meaning huge variety.  Limbs are: Grabbing Claws, Circular Saw, Laser Cutter and Energy Blaster. Each model is 20mm to top of body and with limbs added can be up to 35mm tall. You may purchase a pack or a single sphere kit.  Max Choice!

Other models for photo enjoyment and scale given for reference only and not included.  Check out the HOF Range for all manner of other science fiction miniatures across nearly one hundred and sixty different packs.  See these new models HERE.

Winter Mega Event 2020 is on! 15% off all orders automatically, free new Ice Queen miniature included automatically, Sixteen new releases and more. Everything we make is in this event all scales, all setting, all periods, all models and all books. Lots to this all explained on our BLOG. Event lasts entirety of November.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Friday 20 November 2020

Ashigaru Archer Catfolk released for Kitton

Four new 28mm Catfolk now in the growing Kitton range at Alternative Armies.  We continue to make releases for the range though slower than expected for 2020 for reasons you will know of (as with happened with the Erin Project) but this new pack takes us up to thirty seven poses plus a giant oni all sculpted by Sam Croes out leader designer.  There are more coming in 2021 and we thank you for your kind words on this new expansion to the World of Valon.  We have Samurai, Ashigaru, Ronin and Villagers.  Each pack can be had on page as single poses too.  Go HERE for the range.

A unique array of 28mm scale fantasy Japanese miniatures in the same vein as our Todoroni, Ratmen, Rabbitmen and others though these Kitoka live in a land of warring Diamyo and vicious monsters cut off from the rest of Valon.  Welcome to the islands of Kitton!

58017 Kitoka Ashigaru Bows. This pack contains four different 28mm scale metal Kitoka Catmen miniatures of an average height of 23mm. The Ashigaru are the foot soldiers of the warlords of Kitton and are armoured carrying a Bow and Quiver of Arrows. They are soldiers for your forces. Each miniature comes with a separate Sword Bundle, Arrow Quiver and Back Banner. 

The poses are: The poses are: (A) Kitoka Ashigaru arm raised with Bow, (B) Kitoka Ashigaru drawing Bow, (C) Kitoka Ashigaru just loosed with Bow, (D) Kitoka Ashigaru shooting with Bow.  See them HERE.

While no game rules exist for the range there are plans to field test a version of the Flintloque 3rd edition engine with a Kitton setting.  This project is currently on hold but will resume next year.

Almost all of the Kitoka are warriors but as the range expands more townsfolk and villagers, as above, as well as yokai (monsters) will make an appearance.

One of the largest models in Alternative Armies array of thousands of miniatures.  The Kitoka face Oni all the time as they fight the strange monsters and also each other. But, among the Oni there is one whose name strikes fear into the bravest of Catfolk. A giant called Jigoku!  The model is over 100mm tall and carries a Kanabo Spiked Club (90mm long from end to end).  See him in the range HERE.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Kev Moon paints Ganesha Games and Erin miniatures

I am delighted to show you the brush work and painting skill of Kev Moon, known as @Verbal_Gerbil over on Twitter (check him out by his handle, excellent fellow) on some of Alternative Armies and Ganesha Games figures.

In this composite picture, click on the image below to make it much larger, from the top left they are as follows. Three Halflings from Ganesha's 28mm Fantasy range (AAB003 Halfling Militia Man, AAB007 Halfling Hero and AAB002 Halfling Militiaman II) with spears and sword.  ER19 Chicol the one Legged from our Erin range (big fellow in 28mm scale).  Three Mushroom Man Warriors by Ganesha (FIFU036 Fungus Assassin, FIFU037 Fungus Gladiator with Net and FIFU035 Fungus Paladin running) in 28mm scale.  Lastly ER021 Morc of the Tree a dagda type dragging a tree.

Really lovely work on these by Kev!

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Wednesday 18 November 2020

VNT46 Skeleton Adventurers released

"The Adventurers were sure of their weapons, of their armour and of their skills in magic and in fighting.  They opposed themselves to Thanat the Necromancer and stole into his dark fortress. In facing the lord of death they fell and now..they are what they once were but now in his service...reborn."

A new pack of 28mm miniatures now in our growing Fantasy range.  This time the Undead Legions collection of skeletons, zombies, wraiths, monsters, vampires, anti-paladins and many others.  All as packs and single choice of poses within pack on page.

VNT46 Skeleton Adventurers. This pack contains four different 28mm scale metal miniatures.  A skeletal Knight in damaged plate armour with Sword and Shield his jaw broken. A skeletal Barbarian with huge two handed Axe.  Skeletal Dwarf with Axe and Shield and a skeletal Wizard dressed in robes and large hat with an orb tipped Staff.  Great for any game system and to replace mortal characters of the same kind when they fall to a Necromancer. Supplied unpainted and without bases (shown on 25mm square bases).  Go HERE.

The forty sixth pack in the VNT series matches right in with the very first VNT1 The Eternal Guard which you can see below.  There is a thirty year age gap between them both; VNT1 was re-mastered in 2018.

We have a number of value sets of 28mm Fantasy miniatures and you can see these in every collection in the range; VNT, FL, CA, DH, OB and so forth.  Browse using the left hand menu on our website and each of these saves you 10% or more off single purchase.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Tuesday 17 November 2020

Age of Might and Steel 15mm fantasy rules and loads of free articles

Steve Hazuka wrote a great set of fantasy wargaming rules which Alternative Armies published in an expanded edition way back in 2009.  The book is out of print but it is in a very affordable (we always price our digital titles at least 20% cheaper than print) downloadable format.  See it HERE.

Have you ever wanted to field large fantasy armies with many blocks of infantry and cavalry with lots of monsters, artillery, heroes and magicians that looks great on the gaming table? Have you been put off by ever more complex rules and the need to spend many hours playing to get to the glory and thrill of victory? Then The Age of Might and Steel is the rules set for you!

Play a full game inside an hour with 100-200 15mm Miniatures on the table. All the action played out using 1 six sided dice (1D6). Armies built from Units made up of Stands of several miniatures. Add Generals, Monsters, Magic Users, Heroes and more to your Units. BIG Fantasy Armies easily controlled. The look of a complex battle without the headaches. Create original scenarios or use the included Points System and Army Lists. Combine Armies into Nations for even bigger games! For busy gamers who enjoy a rewardingly simple game that encourages tactics.

Age of Might and Steel is not a complex game rather it allows you to take your 15mm scale fantasy armies and get playing with a minimum of fuss.  In fact read what was said about playing AoMaS back in 2011 on Orcs in the Webbe HERE. You can use any miniatures such as those in the HOT Range or Tabletop Fantasy Range or even the Sengoku Japanese Fantasy Range.

Recent active interest led to Craig over at Orcs in the Webbe setting up a dedicated Age of Might and Steel (AoMaS) page where he has placed all of the free articles written by the author for the game. These have not been seen online and were in print a decade ago.  They expand the game with a lot of fun material. Go HERE for the page. Articles include an Errata for the game, using Heroes, fielding Mercenaries, the Undead and much more.  Our thanks to Craig!

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

The Art of John Steele paints Kev's Mountain Orcs

It is my pleasure to present the painting work and skill of John Steele who recently got back into painting high fantasy miniatures.  I was delighted he send me pictures to show you all of his take on our Mountain Orcs.

The goblin master Kev Adams sculpted two packs for Alternative Armies back in the early 1990's.  They were KC1 Lesser Goblins and KC2 Mountain Orcs both of which have been re-molded in the last year for the third time since they were originally released.  Click on image to make it bigger.

If you are keen to see more of John's painting then seek him out on social media as 'The Art of John Steel'.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Monday 16 November 2020

Landsknecht 15mm Halberds Swords Crossbows Arquebus 20 new poses!

Alternative Armies now expands the Altuos 15mm Renaissance Range with new miniatures now totaling 170 poses.  Sculpted in the same style and to the same fineness as the original range these new Landsknects add to the Pikes from last month giving four with two handed sword, four with crossbow, four with arquebus, four with halberd and four armoured with halberd.  Twenty 15mm poses.  Go HERE for the range which covers late 15th century through to the 17th century and look through all the miniatures.

Every miniature in the whole range including 15mm buildings, walls and tents plus horses and artillery as well as cavalry and infantry can be had as a single meaning total control of your army for your chosen game system. We also have the Furioso Renaissance wargame rules with its Italian Wars expansion by Steve Danes.  These books can be had in print or as digital downloads at twenty percent less.

MR100 Landsknect Loading Arquebus

MR101 Landsknect Shoulder March Arquebus 

MR102 Landsknect Advancing Arquebus  

MR29 Landsknect Arquebus

MR103 Landsknect 2H Sword Standing

MR104 Landsknect 2H Sword Raised

MR105 Landsknecht 2H Sword Advancing

MR28 Landsknect 2H Sword

MR106 Landsknect Halberd Shouldered 

MR107 Landsknect Halberd Standing

MR108 Landsknect Halberd Guard

MR109 Landsknect Halberd Advancing

MR110 Landsknect Armoured Halberd Shouldered

MR111 Landsknect Armoured Halberd Standing

MR112 Landsknect Armoured Halberd Guard

MR113 Landsknect Arm Halberd Advancing

MR114 Landsknect Crossbow Shouldered

MR115 Landsknect Crossbow Loading

MR116 Landsknect Crossbow Firing

MR117 Landsknect Crossbow Advancing

We hope you enjoy this big expansion and these were added to the Light, Heavy and Armoured Pikes in three poses each last time. There are now nearly thirty different early 16th century miniatures for these paid for troops and we will be releasing more in coming months.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Sunday 15 November 2020

Fomorians of Erin some new pictures of a project

This year has been something of a challenge as I am sure everyone reading these words will well know. Among the projects tentatively begun but postponed for 2020 by Alternative Armies was the overhaul of the Erin range of Celtic Mythology miniatures and the game.  We only got a tiny amount of this done by March but I thought it would be nice to show you what we had and let you see where we were heading.  This project will continue..when..who knows at this point..but it will.  Enjoy!

The Fomorians are commonly known as 'Sea Devils' or those who come from below, from the cold dark depths of the waters.  They are a magical race long at war with the Sidhe for possession of Erin. Laying claim to the islands and sending forth mighty heroes to do battle on the beaches and into the forests under a slate grey sky.  Fomori grow larger as they age and while the greatest such as King Culach and Balor of the Eye are monstrous most warriors are the size of a Man while the Pucci are smaller, weaker but very numerous.



Fomorian Champions from ER13 pack and newly re-molded with halberd.



Fomorian Warriors from ER11 newly re-molded


Sidhe Warrior from ER08 facing off with Fomorian Warrior


For fun our FL24-01 Midsummer Druidess next to Fomor Champion..sits well

Click on the images in this blog post to enlarge them.  If you fancy trying out some of the miniatures then thank you and remember during the month of November 2020 you get 15% off your order at checkout automatically and a free brand new 28mm Ice Queen miniature (a good ally of the Fomori perhaps?).

Thanks for Reading,

GBS