Merry Christmas 2024 and a Happy New Year 2025

The finest of Yuletide and Fresh Annum tidings from the team at Alternative Armies.  We will close on Monday 23rd December 2024 giving the whole team two weeks paid rest with family and friends.  We re-open on 6th January 2025 and commence production, shipping and responding fully from then on.

While we are closed there will be occasional checks upon email and social media and we have in place (from now) a blanket automatic discount of 20% on all festive orders placed online. You need do nothing but order and the discount will show on screen at checkout to see before shipping is calculated. This ends 9th January 2025.  

Every order placed until 9th January 2025 automatically gets VNT52 Wee Beasties (see them above with scale miniature examples) three different little creatures for any scale and many genre uses.  There is also a bundle VNT52P code as well.  See them as well as everything else which has ever been free on our Former Free Collected pages.

We have been asked by customers what our ‘miniature of the year’ is. We have made over 300 releases this year and picking is very difficult so...we let our website software do it for us!  Here are the top codes by sales and by searches in 2024. Interestingly all of the brand new fell outside of this but we expect to see a couple of them next time.

DW00 Dwarf Warriors Set (13 Miniatures) :  The most popular restored classics of the 1980's were Jes Goodwin's Dwarves and of them the value set of all thirteen.

Patrol Angis Game Pack :  The most popular 15mm sci-fi rules set and pack code is the game pack for Patrol Angis the way into skirmishing in The Ion Age.

ME31 Scottish Pikeman :  Among many others from the Medus 15mm range this code was the biggest seller, just, for the year.  Comes with a separate pike and is part of the restored Tabletop Games range of the 1980's.

PA13 Prussian Limber Horses :  We overhauled the 15mm Napoleonic range options allowing the purchase of single poses of horse and the most searched historical term of 2024 was 'Prussian Limber Horse'.

HOT111 Dem Bones :  The most favoured 15mm Fantasy code of 2024 and popular also with historical players as well.  We recently made new molds for 'Dem Bones' too.

AS028 WarBot II :  We called this one as most popular 28mm code but really it can be used in 6mm and 15mm too.  We plan another War Bot in 2025.

Furioso English Civil War rule book : Our most popular digital download title of 2024 and in the top four of print ones too.  Written by Steven Danes and goes with our range of 15mm ECW miniatures.

2024 Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar

The Advent Calendar has some cracking releases for Flintloque players this year.  See OITW and also these links directly for scenarios, AAR and much more.  All organised by the Mad Welsh Wizard.  Here are some examples all found on the main page.

Day 6 saw a brilliant in-depth Charge/Flintloque After-Action report from the Practical Wargamer 1999 Yearbook.

Day 7 saw a background article and scenario from the 2008 fanzine 60 Bloody Rounds featuring the Joccians and their Witch-Queen.

Day 8 heralded the return of a brilliant scenario that had fallen behind the virtual shelves of Orcs in the Webbe in which Sharke and his Rifles are caught napping by some Voltiguers.

Day 9 saw the final article in Danny O'Hara's phenomenal campaign series where the battles of Valon continue in the far-off lands of El Dorado...

And Days 10 through 12 saw a small trilogy of Flintloque scenarios from the pages a 1998 Valkyrie magazine, all using Sharke's Rifles and a single section of Voltigeurs... 

Have a great Christmas and New Year!

Last Posting Date 2024 and information

Alternative Armies will be making its last domestic and international dispatches of 2024 on Thursday 19th December. This is our last posting date before the festive break (more on this in a following announcement).  Shipping will commence once more on 6th January 2025.  Now for the details:

The team would like to thank everyone who placed an order during the Winter Mega Event.  We do not think we are doing too badly fulfilling them but there was some added complexity due to the imposition of the GSPR legislation by the European Union upon all nations outside of it. EU/EEA and Northern Irish orders were given priority and we got all of them dispatched in time before we sadly had to cease accepting orders from these countries for the time being.  As it is we still have nearly one hundred orders still to send out before the 19th.

We think this is possible but for any orders which (unless you already contacted us and asked for this) are not sent out in time these will be kept until 6th January and sent out then.  This avoids the vagaries of the depot and mail holding over the still period of Christmas and New Year internationally and nationally.  Any orders kept will have extra related miniatures added for free by us!  Our team will make contact by email using your order number on the 20th if your order is one of these kept.

If you would like an update please contact us by email to sales@alternative-armies.com with your order number or name and address and we will be delighted to assist you.

Thank you as always for your custom.

Dwarven Moustache Hobbying video review Flintloque Beir and Bones

We were delighted to be tagged on X (formally Twitter) by Dwarven Moustache Hobbying who has just discovered a new love for the World of Valon.  He recently picked up our 5028 Beir & Bones Shilling Starter Set which contains a Flintloque game book by that name plus miniatures, bases and dice as well as sample scenarios.  It is a twenty minute video over on Youtube.

The video review goes over the contents of the ninety six page book which covers the ‘Uropean’ theatre of the Mordredian Wars and features his own painted set of the Ogre and Dwarves which come in the shilling pack.

As always we did not sponsor this video and we pass on our thanks to Dwarven Moustache Hobbying for his take on the Flintloque game.  We hope you enjoy.

Thanks for your time.

VNT52 Wee Beasties new and free in all orders until 9th Jan 2025

We present a brand new release, the last of 2024, and its also the free automatically in all orders code too!  Huzzah! Until 9th January 2025 the VNT52 Wee Beasties are placed into all shipped packages.  You need do nothing but order and we will do the rest.  You can order VNT52 and you will still get the three creatures in your order. If it ships they will be included; as many orders as you wish. See the Former Free Codes Collected page for them and everything we have previously offered in orders all at a discount.  In case you missed anything.  Alternative Armies keeps the fun in tabletop gaming and a gift too.

What are ‘Wee Beasties’?  It is a Scottish term usually applied to any tiny or small insect, critter, mammal which bits or scratches and for which the real name is not readily to hand.

VNT52 Wee Beasties:  This code contains three different any scale metal miniatures which are creatures of the same armour plated species.  An ‘adult’ a ‘juvenile’ and an ‘infant’.  Use them in your fantasy or science fiction games in 28mm, 15mm or 6mm scale. Shown on 25mm round resin bases they are 27mm long, 13mm long and 7mm long respectively.

You have the choice of the Three Set which is the standard code (free included automatically until 9th January 2025) or single poses on the page.  There is also VNT52P Wee Beasties Mega Pack which contains ten miniatures (five smallest, four medium and one largest) with a saving baked in.  You can see in the scale picture two Ion Age miniatures on the top row the 15mm scale Retained Knight from IAF184 Burgeon Bike and 28mm Grima Combat Robot from IB94 Grima Close Assault Squad.  Fantasy Warlord 28mm Human Hero (20300) and HOT41 Skeleton Spears in 15mm scale.

We will make no further releases until 9th January 2025.

Thank you for your Time

Moskova Volunteers 20 new Undead Flintloque miniatures and more...

Often effective when used en-masse the Skeletons of the Moskova Volunteers are poor troops but they are effective against lesser mortal enemies such as enemy Militia or Landwehr. They operate in sections of about twenty armed with Standard Carbines or Dwarf MkI Muskets officers are typically Ghouls with sword. Their uniform consists of various civilian clothing along with some odd bits of military equipment, browns and blue are common.  They are legion and also have supporting artillery and other arms.

A huge end to the year for Flintloque and Slaughterloo plus the last regular releases of 2024 and the Winter Mega Event too. Added to the Army of the Witchlands are twenty new poses as packs (with single choices within them) and a twenty eight pose Slaughterloo unit with saving of all poses. In 28mm scale and metal with included resin free bases we present the Skeletons of the damned, the fleshless and the worn out...the ‘volunteers’.

55028 Moskova Volunteer Muskets: This pack contains the more ‘fortunate’ Skeletons of the Militia armed with captured Ferach Muskets.  Single poses are A to D as shown on the page.

55029 Moskova Volunteer Melee:  The former villagers and townfolk of the Witchlands are in this pack armed with hand weapons.  Single poses are A with Axe, B with pitchfork, C with bladed staff and D with wooden mallet as found on the page.

55030 Moskova Volunteer Command:  It is the lowest of roles in the Army of the Dark Czar to command the militia but still it must be done.  This pack contains four poses which are Ghoul Officer (A), low ranking KGB Liche (B) and two Skeletons armed with muskets and wooden mallets (C and D).  The office and liche can be used with other formations such as Zombie Line (55508).

55031 Moskova Volunteer Colour Party:  As the battalions of the skeletal volunteers advance it is to the sound of rattling drums and the vision of ragged flags.  This pack contains a standard bearer (A), a drummer (B), a Sergeant (C) and lastly with pose D a hopping mad private missing a leg using its musket as a crutch.

55032 Moskova Volunteer Pikes:  This pack contains skeletons who are better armed than the worst but not possessing firelocks.  Two poses with pikes (A and B) and two poses with axe bladed polearms (C and D).  Typically Militia formations will have many more pikes, blades and melee weapons rather than muskets.

55523 Moskova Militia Skeletons:  This full Slaughterloo Unit contains twenty eight miniatures along with their bases included free. There is a saving off packs and singles in the unit.  Led by a Ghoul Officer with KBG Liche and full colour party as well as skeletons with muskets, pikes, axes and more.  A total of twenty different poses with eight further troopers added for the total unit.  See 5030 Slaughterloo for game rules. Codes contained are: 55030,55031,55028, 55029, 55032.

Here are some side by side pictures of other codes in the Witchlands next to the new Skeletons.  General Bardaghul as well as Stalinov and the Zombie Colour Party Sergeant.

World of Valon News for December

Any adventure in the Witchlands starts with the Flintloque beginners set 5024 Escape the Dark Czar which contains ten miniatures, core rules and more giving you General Saindoux and setting off on the Retreat from Moskova.  There are many free scenarios and more as links at the top of the Begin in Flintloque page.  Once you are confident of the game or you wish to go in with the full rules and setting then you will want 5026 Death in the Snow or its SSP02 Shilling Starter Pack.  Adventures are boundless in the barren frozen wastes of the Witchlands.

There are some treats coming during December for the World of Valon. Three articles to read, to play and to enjoy which each involves the Moskova Volunteers.  Each will be announced and given freely.  A free full size Flintloque scenario for two players or solo play which sees General Saindoux and his band of survivors surprised by a numerically superior Undead force. A ‘Uniformation’ expanding the game rules and statistics for the Witchlands Volunteers as well as Undead Cossacks in Slaughterloo as well as Flintloque. Lastly over on Orcs in the Webbe a solo play simple game in which an Elvish Drummer Boy has a bad night trying to evade Skeletons among petrified trees.  Great fun!

Thanks for your Time.

Ion Age 28mm fifteen new Malig Space Goblins for the Shia Khan

“The Maligs….Vermin. Savage and cruel with a taste for the sadistic and prone to acts of lunacy and utterly needless violence, the name given to their small green or mottled brown humanoids is Malig. Taken from records which make frequent mention of these creatures, second only to Legionaries, their name suits them. They are malicious and deadly. Maligs are Goblinoids and, while shorter and weaker than Humans, they are numerous in the extreme. Rather than seeming to define a formation many Legions treat a horde of Maligs as an attached source of cannon fodder. Cunning, cowardly but rather effective at killing, given superiority in numbers and opportunity, the Maligs should not be underestimated. With second rate armour and weapons and also some rather odd contraptions, the Maligs are often the bane of Planetary Militia or unfortunate Muster patrols. They are the lowest rung on the command ladder along with Betrayers.”

First new 28mm Malig Space Goblins in thirty years are here!  We have doubled the Goblins of the Khanate from the original fifteen by Kev Adams in the early 90’s to thirty poses with fifteen more by Sam Croes as three packs, as singles and as a platoon with two included free.  See the Shia Khan Empire in the massive 28mm Ion Age Range.

IB88 Malig Rifles (Value Pack) (IA248, IA249, IA250, IA251,IA252)

IA248 Malig Goblin with Juno Rifle firing

IA249 Malig Goblin with Juno Rifle fitting bayonet

IA250 Malig Goblin with Juno Rifle advancing

IA251 Malig Goblin with Juno Rifle loading

IA252 Malig Goblin with Juno Rifle standing

IB89 Malig Assaulters (Value Pack) (IA253,IA254,IA255,IA256)

IA253 Malig Goblin with Maia Mpi firing

IA254 Malig Goblin with Maia Mpi slug on back and blade in hand

IA255 Malig Goblin with Maia Mpi advancing

IA256 Malig Goblin with Maia Mpi loading

IA257 Malig Goblin with Maia Mpi kneeling

IB90 Malig Support Weapons (Value Pack) (IA258,IA259,IA260,IA261)

IA258 Malig Goblin with Jupiter Plasma Rifle firing

IA259 Malig Goblin with Jupiter Plasma Rifle

IA260 Malig Goblin with Cupid Pistol and Ammo (loader)

IA261 Malig Goblin with Energy Cells for Jupiter Plasma Rifle (loader)

IA262 Malig Goblin with slung Energy Cells and carrying Hydra Laser Shotgun

IP07 Malig Predatis Ordos

This platoon pack contains fifteen different miniatures (IB88,IB89 and IB90) with two miniatures included for free.

Here are some comparison pictures of Malig Goblins next to other Shia Khan troops (Legionary, Warlord and Psycoborg) also Planetary Militia, Muster, Grima Combat Robots and a Retained Noble.

In 2025 we continue towards our new editions of our 28mm scale Ion Age game systems.  

Work is underway and the new Portable Weapons for Prydia and the Khanate along with Grima Robots, Planetary Militia and these Maligs will be joined then by further releases as the range breaks the 300 poses next year.  Thank you as always for your support.

New 28mm ten open hand Skeletons plus Undead Weapons and Shields

In the service of a great Necromancer we present added to our large Undead Legions Range and to the classic Fantasy Warlord Range the Summoned Skeletons along with Undead weapon and shield sets. These bone fellows can be outfitted with anything you choose placed into their hands or on their backs or waists.  Use in any 28mm game system. Sculpted by Sam Croes there are five typical Skeletons and five armoured ones.

Inspired by our respect of the 1990 Fantasy Warlord Range whose miniatures which are all open handed and (aside from the characters) are supplied without weapons we have made something often asked for which features in that rule set and was created by magics; Summoned Skeletons.  

In these pictures you see them ‘assembled’ with weapons and shields as examples of what can be done with the new codes.

VNT57 Summoned Skeletons: This pack of five different 28mm metal open handed skeletons is supplied without weapons or shields.  You can choose from the pack or poses within it on the page.  Minions of a dark overlord.  Combine with with VNT51 and VNT59.

VNT58 Summoned Armoured Skeletons: This pack of five different armoured open handed skeletons in 28mm scale.  They are supplied without weapons or shields.  Choose from the pack or poses within it on the page.  Superior minions of a dark overlord. Combine with with VNT51 and VNT59.

VNT51 Undead Weapon Sprues:  This code contains three metal sprues of weapons suited to Skeletons, Zombies and other Undead creatures.  Each sprue holds its weapons on a trio of skull motifs which you can use for your projects as decorations or armour adds.  Weapons are Halberd, Spear, Long Sword (2H),Sword, Axe, Mace, Bow and Quiver and lastly Crossbow and Quiver.  Set of all with a saving or choose singles on the page.  

VNT59 Undead Shield Sprues:  This code contains two metal sprues of shields rotted for Skeletons and Zombies.  Each sprue has its shields mounted on a trio of skull motifs which you can use for your projects as decorations or armour adds.  Shields are Oval, Kite, Round Bossed Wooden, Round Plain Plate and Round Wooden. Set of all with a saving or choose singles on the page.  

Look at these animated warriors next to their potential arms!

Lastly have you seen our 80mm tall Giant Skeleton?  It is an easy to assemble metal kit which comes with its fallen self (5 resin pieces) included for free!  A great centre piece for your army.

Thanks for your Time.