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.

Thursday 29 August 2024

Last days of Summer Sizzle Event how about a new game...

Our summer event gives you 20% off automatically on any order placed or any value any number of times until 3rd September.  We have no new releases after event end and you need do nothing but proceed to checkout and see the discount appear on screen before shipping is calculated.  See our BLOG for details.  You also automatically get the last two of ten any scale Devilish Imps in packages too.  Scroll and enjoy the thousands of choices across genre, scale and more on our website using the left hand menu.

With the sizzle discount in place how about considering a new tabletop game from us?  After all you will get 20% off and all of our beginners sets and bundles have built in savings too.  

Get started with Flintloque. The worlds biggest and most expansive Blackpowder Fantasy game system.  5024 Escape the Dark Czar contains core rules and scenarios as well as dice, bases and ten resin 28mm miniatures.  All you need and a great point to jump into the Witchlands campaign.

Patrol Angis!  Get into The Ion Age in 15mm scale with the game pack which gives you the first game book as well as two entire forces of miniatures plus free bases and more with a saving.  With it you have all you need and can then proceed to fight the Prydian Civil War or the alien Shia Khan Empire.

USEME Game System.  Ultra simple and suitable for real beginners to the hobby and teaching new comers.  Choose from four different Complete 15mm Starter Sets such as Danger at Outpost 32 and Compound Interest which come with rules booklet, miniatures and bases as well as scenario sheets.

While there is no starter set for Sengoku Monster Hunter the solo play game of Yokai seeking in mythical Japan we do recommend this to begin your play.  A copy of the core Monster Hunter book plus SGFP01 Sengoku Set I and SGFP07 Sengoku Set II along with SGFP53 Guild Hunters which will give you enough to really get going.


Furioso 16th Century Warfare!  The mega bundle gives you two entire armies (with free element bases) as well as the rule book for free meaning you only pay for the miniatures.  Written by Steve Danes this set of rules is very well regarded.

Furioso the English Civil War!  Using the same core mechanics but a new book focused entirely on one conflict the mega bundle gives you rule book for free as well as all the element bases for free alongside an entire Royalist Army and a Parliamentary Army as well.  Superb value.

We have many other game system books in print and as digital downloads too.  Some are tied to range of miniatures (such as USEME 6mm Science Fiction) and others are generic (such as the excellent solo play Doom Squad).

Thanks for your time and your support.  

We will see you all in September with a brand new free code in all orders and much more...

Thursday 22 August 2024

Summer Sizzle Event on until 3rd September 2024 read for details…

The summer is coming to a close but before it does Alternative Armies has the Summer Sizzle Event!  Until 3rd September 2024 an automatic 20% off any and all orders placed (shown on screen during checkout) and you will get two free any scale Devilish Imps in your packages too. Here are the details.

Firstly we will have no further releases until the free code changes on 3rd September and this event ends.  Nothing new until after 3rd September 2024.

You need do nothing to get the 20% discount just add to cart.  During checkout the total in cart will automatically reduce on screen. This cannot be used in conjunction with any other manually entered discount codes but any ‘sale’ item on the website its already reduced price will go down by 20% as well.  This also applies to anything in our Deals and Offers pages too.

Shipping Rates, Small Package UK rate and Free Shipping levels are as normal and please note that when your cart reduces by 20% it might take you under the free shipping for your world region; best to double check.

Free in your Package. Over June, July and August we have given away all ten poses of the new VNT53 Devilish Imps.  These work in 28mm, 15mm and 6mm scales.  Currently it is the final two poses (Month Three) which are added automatically to all packages. Check them out and all the Formerly Free codes (which all have discounts) on the website.

Browse the website using the mighty left hand menu which drops down into ranges by genre and scale. You can also see our New Releases page and our BLOG for a scroll back to see all that has been going on recently.  

Here is a wee selection from our thousands of choices:


Mount your riders in high chaotic style with D7 Dragon Lizard Mount.  Save on five or more on ten and they fit most Human Sized Riders.


Oldhammer style metal Catapult kit for any 28mm force such as Goblins, Dwarves or Humans.  Easy to Assemble and on special offer too.  OH36-03 Torsion Catapult.


The HOF 15mm Science Fiction range is huge and the Star Mercs are its latest additions as packs, singles and a value platoon.  Check them out and the Warbots!

The latest release from Bradley Miniatures 6mm Sci-fi range is the BR042 Erherzog Heavy Tank and there are loads of things to choose from in this growing range including 6mm rules.

Halcyon Miniatures super growing array of 28mm miniatures has over twenty poses including these Nobles and Servants.  Every figure comes with a free slot base too!

Restored our very own early 1990's monster by Steve Trickett.  VNT22 Manticore is a female beast great for your table.  It is also on special offer.


Flintloque Fans were very pleased with the remastering of the classic 1998 set 5004 Sharkes Victory with all the poses now as singles and the whole set with a saving.

Thank you for Reading!

Tuesday 20 August 2024

Asgard Orcs by Jes Goodwin restored part two OR25 to OR40

The time is here! Asked for and now on the website the second part of three of the total restoration of Jes Goodwin’s classic Orcs made for Asgard in the early 1980’s. Sixteen codes as single miniatures, plus get the wolves and riders as singles as well and a warband set of all with a good saving too. 

Painted by Studio Maxi with hand painted shields in the style that such superb miniatures deserve we present OR25 to OR40.  Wolf Riders for the speed as well as brutal Black Orcs and cowardly Slave Orcs and lastly the Clan Orcs. So much attitude and style in every one of them. 




These Orcs work really well in 28mm scale. Great for any system.  Every miniature has an image of its front, side and rear plus a height gauge as well.  

These follow on the mighty restoration of part one which brought you twenty four Orcs the bulk of the infantry.  Above is OR2 Great Orc Spearmen from that first lot of releases.

Some of the finest Dwarfs of the 1980’s also by Jes Goodwin. Singles and a full set with saving. 

The Dragon Lizards!  Sculpted by Nick Bibby for Asgard seven different creatures restored as well as a complete set with saving.  These 1980’s classics now also have the D7 Dragon Lizard Mount (good for any Human sized riders) on its own with saver options for units.

Alternative Armies is committed to restoring all that we can of the Asgard ranges and Tabletop Miniature ranges too. We have been at this for several years now and we want to thank all of you for your support and kind words in this mighty project. Part Three the final part of the Orc range will appear late in 2024 with a boom and the biggest value set of all. 


VNT2 Wraith on Pteradon a classic 28mm code now with wonderful brush work by Hackminipainter. Choose from the pack or parts of it.  More pictures on the site.  Watch the darkened skies!

Lastly and thank you for reading this far our Summer Sizzle Event will begin officially later this week.  No further releases until 3rd September but until then an automatic (you need do nothing but add to cart) discount of 20% off all placed orders.  Note this discount is on top of any discounts on products on screen like warbands and saver packs.  You will also get the last two any scale Devilish Imps automatically in all packages sent out too.

Thanks!

Thursday 15 August 2024

Nearly 50 choices of Bases with first MDF codes added plus Discounts

Our news and releases this week are additions to our wide array of bases for miniatures.  Five new packs of MDF Wooden bases as squares and circles to kick us off and we will work towards putting all our existing sizes in resin and metal into this medium too.

As with our metal and resin round and square bases we offer these MDF codes in packs of twenty with saver options to purchase 50,100 or 500 with more off at each level.  All of these bases are 2mm thick.  Here are the new codes:

MDF001 20mm Square (Straight Edged)  

MDF002 25mm Square (Straight Edged) 

MDF003 30mm Square (Straight Edged)

MDF004 16mm Round

MDF005 20mm Round

Alongside the satisfying weight of metal bases and the thicker grip and comfort of resin bases the prime advantage of MDF is its light weight and its affordability to you.  Above are examples of what you could do with these new bases.  The 16mm round is ideal for Laserburn while the 20mm round suits HOF 15mm Sci-fi and SHM Range.  The 20mm square is great for Goblins and the 25mm square goes with any of typical 28mm scale such as Erin Celtic Mythology.  The larger 30mm square is ideal for Ogres or smaller Artillery such as our Mountain Gun.

Our current Deals and Offers will be ending next week on 21st August just before our massive release for the month and our Summer Sizzler Event begins..but more on that next time.  So check them out if you want to save 5% to 50% off select items.

We like to give our customers a treat so there is always something free in every package shipped out by us here in Scotland.  Until 2nd September 2024 it is the last part of three of the Devilish Imps.  Two any scale miniatures with burning braziers.  Those of you who have been ordering in June and July to get the previous eight poses can now get the last two! Read about this in the ARTICLE.  Totally free in orders included automatically.

Thank you for Reading!

Thursday 8 August 2024

Tracked Gremlins four new 15mm Ion Age vehicles released

“The sound of war treads never leaves you.  A rattle and such weight as they pass but as they pass they are your salvation. That was on the third day on the outskirts of Northern Sector and we were pinned down.  So many Maligs and none with a sense of self preservation.  Five regiments calling for support and with no Retained Knights that meant our own armour.  We were the first to be aided by the Gremlins.  Their missile pods made short work of the defensive ramparts the Goblins had erected.  I signalled the advance and in the cover of their hulls we dispatched the survivors.  The Star Port was near and whatever the Khanate were up to we would stop it.” Captain Abraham Tull, 48th Planetary Defence Regiment, Northern Sector.  4346 IC.


Following on the heels or should that be skirts of the new Gremlin family of vehicles in their hover variants we now release the four variants of this medium vehicle with tracked propulsion!  Above a tracked Gremlin AFV with Valerin Laser Cannon screens a fire-team of Planetary Militia in the new fallen snows. The Gremlin gives Planetary Militia, Grima and sometimes Muster added mobility and firepower that out classes the smaller Adder for weaponry and outpaces the much heavier Mullo classes of transport.  These are all our 15mm sci-fi releases for the month.



Four page free Patrol Angis download article covering Adder Combat Tankettes as well as lifter type Hazelwurm and Colabreta Carriers. All the variants of the steadfast Mullo Armoured Fighting Vehicle and most requested all of the variants of the new Gremlin Medium Vehicles. Go to the WEBSITE or click HERE to get it direct from our server.  Formatted as Callsign Taranis.


IAF186A Gremlin AFV Tracked with Bodkin AP Cannon (and Valerin) and hull turret    
IAF186B Gremlin MSV Tracked with Anda Missile Pods Turret and hull turret
IAF186C Gremlin APC Tracked Personnel Carrier with hull turret        
IAF186D Gremlin ACV Armoured Command Vehicle with command turret and hull turret



If you are new to the 15mm Ion Age range then our suggestion is to begin with the Patrol Angis book or game pack with miniatures, battlesuits and bases with a saving.  Once you are ready to progress from infantry level skirmish and want to add vehicles then seek out Callsign Taranis for this. The greatest foe of Humanity is the alien Shia Khan Empire.  In the third book of the series The Khanate Return you can add these aliens as well as Grima and Planetary Militia forces to your play in the Camarthen Prime campaign.  Books in print and as digital download.


The 15mm Ion Age Range contains many hundreds of miniatures as packs (choose single poses within them) and platoon packs which come with an extra free unique miniature.  Added fun!  Get Retained Knights, Destria Knights, Muster, Planetary Militia as well as Malig Goblins, Legionaries, Pioneers and much more such as the massive IAF146 Tohlic Armoured Crawler which carries an entire platoon!  See the ‘Filter By’ box on page to refine your look at the mighty range.

Monday 5 August 2024

Last burning month with final two Devilish Imps free in orders

We have reached the last instalment of the ten free any scale Devilish Imps!  If you missed the first month of our first ever multiple month give away in order then see this ARTICLE on our blog.  If you overlooked the second month then see this ARTICLE on our blog to catch up.  Until 2nd September 2024 you will automatically get two Imps carrying burning braziers in your package. The previous eight Imps are now in our FORMALLY FREE collection and the whole set is now out as a Value Pack with saving.

These two Imps are free in your order automatically no need to add to cart.  As long as your order requires shipping they will be in it.  As many orders as you wish.  You may also purchase additional castings of these poses on the website if you desire as singles.

Until 2nd September 2024 included please note No Digital Download only orders for freebies sorry.   If you wish to see what was previously given check out the Former Free Codes Collected where each of them is shown and has a discount too.

Here you see what is currently free and what came before in month one and two.  The full pack of VNT53 Devilish Imps contains all ten with a grand saving.  The ten pack is now released and on the website.

Our DH18 Mountain Dwarf Hero as an example of 28mm scale and Tabletop Miniatures Human Character for 15mm scale. Imps are useful in loads of settings and scales.


Rain stone death upon your foes!  Our old school style OH36-03 Torsion Catapult metal kit 28mm scale is 20% off in the Deals and Offers page.

Thank you for reading this far.  A wee glimpse of what is coming is yours for sticking with it to here.  August 2024 will see 15mm Ion Age releases with four more vehicles and awaited and as promised the second part of Jes Goodwin’s Orcs by Asgard (above is OR2 from the first restored part).  News will happen as these appear and late in this month will see our Summer Sizzler mini-event as well.

Thanks for Reading!

Thursday 1 August 2024

That was July 2024 plus last chance on free Imps auto in orders...

With August now begun we look back at all that happened with Alternative Armies in the course of July 2024.  All the news, releases, remastering and more in one place plus your last chance to get the current free in all orders code.  

Read on and as always thank you for supporting us.

These four any scale Imps are free in your order automatically no need to add to cart. As long as your order requires shipping they will be in it. As many orders as you wish. You may also purchase additional castings of these poses on the website if you desire as singles. Until 5th August the free codes are VNT53-05 to VNT53-08. No Digital Download only orders for freebies sorry. For these and if you wish to see what was previously given check out the Former Free Codes Collected where each of them is shown.

To be eaten alive!  Such is the fate of this 28mm Stricken Adventurer.  Half price just now in our Deals and Offers collection.

Among our mold mountain the ‘Alternate Captain Sharke’ miniature has been found!  August 1997 free with returned blister backs for one month only then gone.  By request now on the website after 27 years absent.  Example painted by Dave Toone.  A wee bit of Flintloque lore made real again.


 

Restored!  Halflings, Gnomes and Cleric Pt3 Dungeon Adventurers 1980’s Range by Asgard. Back in the World. Click for details plus Halfling Walking Party.  Painted by Studio Maxi and some sculpts by Nick Bibby too.


5004 Sharkes Victory (1997) set has been remastered; released with all sixteen miniatures being had as singles now.  Sharke, Harpy, Wheeling-Turn, Daniel La Roo and the rest.  Read ARTICLE for details!



New very limited edition. A fun character for your Orc forces in Flintloque and Slaughterloo sculpted by Nikki Chatwin.  See the article for this news plus more and rules for use in game.



New 28mm Ion Age releases! Propulsion systems for Portable Weapon Platforms.  Following up on the new Retained and Planetary Militia gun teams.  Huge range and choice in over 250 poses.  See the article for details.  Thanks!



New 15mm sci-fi review video from talented French painter and enthusiast Dimitri “Minisocles” Peyrard.  Features our HOF Range with Grey Aliens, Hazmat Team and the Star Mercs.  Click through for the video on our BLOG.    




On your knees serf for your betters are here!  The third round of releases by Nottingham based Halcyon Miniatures adds five more 28mm miniatures with free slot bases to the expanding range.  Also an accessories pack of Shields.  This unique range suits any game system and as well as single poses there are saver value sets as well. Visit the WEBSITE or read the ARTICLE in full. 

Thanks for your Time!