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 28 October 2015

OH29 Mountain Orcs released!

Alternative Armies is proud to now release more classic 28mm scale miniatures as part of our ongoing programme to bring our mighty range back to the world of wargaming.  Following up on the two codes in the 'Kev's Creatures' range KC1 Lesser Goblins and KC2 Mountain Orcs we now have another code of mighty Mountain Orcs sculpted by Mike Owen in the late 1990's that go great with them and includes personalities. Go HERE for the Goblin and Orc Horde page.


“The hulking chieftain of the Mountain Orcs lifted the terrified Man using only one massive fist gripped about his head.  Even for an Orc of the mountains this leader was massive and must have gained his place by endless feats of barbaric savagery.  Around the chieftain other big Orcs stood and watched all of them larger and more powerful than any Elf or Man even the Cinniberian Northerners.  Only the hands and mouth of the shaman were in action as a spell was forming among his broken and yellowed teeth.  He pointed fingers at the struggling Man dangling from the chieftains grip.  Minutes passed and the prisoners struggles slowed and then ceased.  It was evident that the Orcish gods were not impressed and with a shrug the shaman gave up and shuffled off to loot the dead of the village.  With as little effort as a child popping a summer grape of the vine the chieftain closed his fist and then dropped the corpse ignoring the bloody ichor now dripping from his fingers.”


This code contains six different 25mm / 28mm white metal miniatures approx 30mm plus average height (with one over 40mm tall!).  Great quality, choice and value. These miniatures are not supplied with bases and are supplied unpainted. Select your choice from the drop down product menu. Choose from a pack, three packs with a 10% saving applied and single miniatures.  Total choice!  Assembly is required with some white metal miniatures. Go HERE. Poses in this code are as follows:

OH29-01: Huge Mountain Orc leader with separate sword arm (40mm tall)
OH29-02: Mountain Orc standard bearer with stone axe.
OH29-03: Mountain Orc musician with drum.
OH29-04: Mountain Orc shaman with staff (Ozzie!)
OH29-05: Mountain Orc Warrior with Sword and Shield.
OH29-06: Mountain Orc Warrior with Spear.


These miniatures go great with the other KC2 Mountain Orcs designed by Kev.  You can see these HERE.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

OH30 Goblin Knights on Dodos released

Every now and again you just smile at some miniatures and that is the case here.  The armoured Goblins riding on Dodo's were sculpted by Elton Waters in the early 2000's and are now back in production.  They are a modular set in that we have two poses of rider with open hands and the riders are supplied with sets of weapons to choose from meaning sword, lance, bow and more to choose from.  They go well with the other OH Goblin warrior packs. Go HERE for the Goblin and Orc Horde page.


“The Goblins have their iron guard which ride into the fray atop flightless birds.  Yes, birds.  Some might find mirth in this, some might even laugh at their squawking approach.  This would be a mistake for those though.  We have fought the iron guard and while our horses were faster on the hoof they were not as nimble as the birds of the Goblins.  We rode them down at the charge and then in the melee our horses flanks and bellies were slashed and gutted while our swords could not reach low enough to strike back.  Surely we hit our foes but the blades glanced from the crude iron helms and welded horns of the iron guard.  Only a dozen of us made it clear and back to the city walls.  So find mirth but when you sally forth upon the morrow I will not be coming with you.  I have already asked the captain for a change of billet to the barracks of the archers!”  

This code contains five riders in two different poses of arm out and arm crooked.  Five identical Dodos and two sprues of weapons giving a total of ten different weapons to arm your five Goblin knights.  These 25mm/ 28mm white metal miniatures are approx 26mm tall assembled.  Great quality, choice and value. These miniatures are not supplied with bases and are supplied unpainted. Select your choice from the drop down product menu.  Choose from a pack, three packs with a 10% saving applied and single miniatures (single means either rider pose supplied with a set of weapons and a dodo).  Total choice!  Assembly is required. Go HERE. Poses in this code are as follows:


OH30-01: Goblin rider in plate armour arm out to the side.  Dodo and Set of Weapons.
OH30-02: Goblin rider in plate armour arm crooked.  Dodo and Set of Weapons.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

Tuesday 27 October 2015

Flintloque Books and Starter Sets back in stock and free miniatures!


As announced last week Alternative Armies ran out of stock of the Flintloque 3rd edition books and a re-supply of books would be with us shortly.  We now have the new stock of gleaming lovely prefect bound books and all of the four books and four shilling starter packs are back on our website.  We have three game books each with full rules and focus on a single theatre of the Mordredian Wars and we have Grapeshotte the artillery and armoury expansion which goes with any of the other three game books.   Read on for more on the books and sets and an offer of free miniatures until 1st November 2015.

Go HERE for the Flintloque Game System page on our website.  Flintloque is the original and best alternative history skirmish wargame now in its 3rd edition and with a range of hundreds of different miniatures behind it gives you a tabletop game with a sense of humour and fun.  Every book is a packed ninety six pages which not only get you playing but provide endless hours of enjoyable reading and scenario plotting (ask fans of the game).  Written by Gavin Syme (GBS) and Mike White you can get the books on their own or in a Shilling Starter Pack with the book, extra sheets as well as miniatures to get you playing straight off the musket shot.


5025 War in Catalucia – Flintloque 3rd Edition.  Game Book.
The first book in the new series for the worlds foremost Black Powder Fantasy game. Contains full rules for Character driven Section level skirmish gaming along with full background for the Cataclucian theatre of the Mordredian Wars. Plus Army information for the Army of Albion (Orcs, Rats, Hob Goblins, Bog Orcs), the Goblins of Al-Garvey, the Dark Elves of Catalucia, the Elves of the Ferach Empire and the Todoroni of Nepolise.  Character creation and Section rules, magicke, skills, traits, flaws both generic and racial specific.  Also Solo play rules and much more.   Go HERE.


5026 Death in the Snow – Flintloque 3rd Edition.  Game Book.
The second book in the new series for the worlds foremost Black Powder Fantasy game. Contains full rules for Character driven Section level skirmish gaming along with full background for the Witchlands Theatre of the Mordredian Wars. Introducing the Undead and all rules for them and the forces of the Dark Czar. Plus detailed Army information for the Grande Armee du Norde (Ferach Elves, Confederation of Finklestein, Werewolves of Diberia, Centaurs of Coltz), the Army of the Witchlands (the Undead, Vampyres, Ghouls, Wraiths and more). Character creation and Section rules, magicke, skills, traits, flaws both generic and racial specific for MORTAL and UNDEAD. Also Solo play rules and much more.  Go HERE.


5028 Beir & Bones – Flintloque 3rd Edition.  Game Book.
The forth book in the series for Flintloque 3rd edition sees the Ostarian Empire fighting for its life against the Ferach Armees of the Emperor Mordred. Before the invasion of the Witchlands and the canker of the Catalucian ulcer the Emperor Mordred forged the Confederation of Finklestein and subdued Burrovia before taking his columns against the Dogmen of Ostaria at the Battle of Osterblitz. Soon the Dwarves of Krautia joined the fray and the future of Valon was for the taking...The Bier & Bones book contains full Flintloque rules, the background to the Wars of Urop, the Armies of Ostaria, Krautia, Burrovia and other minor powers and allies plus characters and section generation. Skills, Traits and Flaws along with scenario creation and three starter scenarios. Solo play mechanics and pull out sheets (Section Roster, Game Counters, Quick Ref). Also Solo play rules and much more.  Go HERE.


5027 Grapeshotte – Flintloque 3rd Edition.  Expansion Book
The third book in the new series for the worlds foremost Black Powder Fantasy Game. This expansion book contains a vast amount packed into its ninety six pages. The full rules for Artillery in Flintloque, Queene of Battle expansion artillery rules to cover garrisons, sieges, new troop types and more. The Armoury of Valon giving firelocks and artillery along with exotics and new troops for every nation on Valon. The Sterling Appendices giving rules for vehicles in play, faith in play, attaching characters, singers and more.  Also two fold out and pull out colour A3 sheets of blast templates and the famous trangle of death cannon caseshot template. EXPANSION BOOK - YOU WILL NEED ANY ONE OF THE FLINTLOQUE GAME BOOKS TO MAKE USE OF THIS EXPANSION.  Go HERE.

The four starter packs are on the Flintloque Game System page and you can see them HERE.  Click on each product for more images, full contents information and much more than there is space for here.


To celebrate the Flintloque books being back in stock we have a new product and an offer.  The new product is the 5025T Flintloque Tetralogy which contains all four titles and gives you 10% off the bundle of books.  Go HERE for this bundle.


Lastly if you place an order for any Flintloque book (or Shilling Starter Pack) you will get a mounted Orc Officer on a new Resin Horse (either 54506-E or 54506-F) worth 5.00GBP totally free automatically in your package.  If you purchase the Flintloque Tetralogy bundle we will give you the whole set of 54506 Orc Command worth 18.00GBP free automatically in your package.  This offer lasts until and including 1st November so get your order in within the next few days.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Monday 26 October 2015

Runic Golem offers ended and packages now shipping!


The pre-order offers on our excellent DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem are now over.  We thank everyone from all across the world who placed an order with us for one, three or in one case twelve of this 28mm scale resin creation.

Packages are being made up now and will be dispatched from here in Scotland today and on Tuesday 27th to customers by Royal Mail and airmail.  Those orders requiring courier service due to weight and size customers will shortly receive an email with details of this service from us.

The DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem will be on general release soon allowing those who placed their orders early to get their axe weilding 65mm tall golems first from us. The response to these offers was such that we may well do another such offer the next time we have a new monster kit.  Time will tell.

Thanks again!

GBS

Friday 23 October 2015

Resin Orc Horses for Flintloque and Slaughterloo soon


Following on from this summer and the resin versions of the Trolka and their huge Moose mounts and then the resin versions of the rhino mounted and limber beasts of the Hunvarian and K.G.L Ogres in the early autumn Alternative Armies is now turning the Horses of the Albion Orcs into resin. Test castings of the four types of horse have come out very well as you can see above. The standard cavalry horse, the officers horse, the limber horse and the alternate limber horse. 

We have temporarily removed all of the codes from our website that make use of these horses while we bring the production molds on stream for them. The riders will remain white metal and aside from a slight change in pose (the tail) the horses will remain the same except no longer white metal. Here is a list of the codes to which the change will be made: 

54600 Albion Orc (DAP) 
54602 62nd Foote Division (DAP) 
5100 Royal Horse Artillery (Box Set) 
5109 Sharkes Chosen (Box Set) 

54504 Orc Hussars 
54505 Orc Dragoons 
54506 Orc Command 
54508 Orc Artillery Crew 
54513 Orc Life Guards 
5100LT Orc Limber Team 

5000A Duke of Wheeling-Turn 
54024 Black Bob Crowfoot 
54025 Major 45th Regiment 
54026 Orc Exploring Officer 

58600 Obidiahs Desterter Army (DAP) 
5108 Obidiahs Cavalry (Box Set) 

More information soon and we will not have these codes offline for long. If you have any questions or comments please email me directly or comment below. 

Thanks for Reading. 

GBS

Flintloque Books and Starter Packs back in stock soon

At the start of this month Alternative Armies experienced a surge in orders for Flintloque 3rd edition books and as a result we ran out of stock of these great titles. They will soon be back in stock and that means the books themselves plus the book bundle offer and the Shilling Starter Packs too as all of these make use of the printed books. 

You can visit the Flintloque Game System page on our website HERE

Work is going on in the background as you know for new miniatures for Flintloque and the Army of Pudigrochumsberg as well as some other packs in other parts of the range too which you have not yet heard about. I am also tinkering with a new book for the game and more about this will be stated at the right time on our blog. We are planning a new book bundle offer to replace the popular 'Trilogy' set of War in Catalucia, Death in the Snow and Grapeshotte. This will be a 'Tetralogy', yes four books in a bundle. Composing all four current titles including Beir & Bones. It will give you everything in one set and give you a nice little discount too from single book prices. 

Thanks for Reading. 

GBS

Thursday 15 October 2015

First Look at the Hundmorder Dragoons for Flintloque


Welcome to the first look article for the next release in the Ruined Kingdom of Pudigrochumsberg army for Flintloque and Slaughterloo. This new code will be released at the end of October and follows up on 56589 Pudigroan Dogman Line and 56123 Pudigroan Line Casualties from last month. You can see them all on the Pudigroan page of our website HERE

We want to show you these great 28mm original miniatures. This time as inked 'tins' master castings in white metal which are now part of the production process. Here is the code, description as well as images of the light cavalry of this burned and blackened land. The Hundmorger Dragoons! 



56591 Hundmordor Dragoons 
This will be a set of 28mm white metal Dogman miniatures which will give you the light cavalry sections and units of your new force. These are meant for use with the rest of the coming Pudigrochumsberg packs but they will also serve well in Confederation of Finklestein collections and also revolutionary older style Ostarian Empire forces. Sculpted by our lead designer Sam Croes there are five different models (riders) in this set as well as a horse (taken from 51509) and they will be available as a full unit (10) as well as a skirmish set (5) and a trooper booster (1) as well. As with all our Valon miniatures we will offer the additional choice of purchase pro-painted and based by our team of ladies here in Scotland. The poses are from left to right in the pictures an officer pointing out the enemy with his hand on a sheathed sword, musician blowing on a bugle and scabbarded sword, a standard bearer with a pole topped with a plain cylinder head, trooper with drawn sword raised and lastly a trooper aiming carbine. All models are wearing a fur trimmed hat. Hundmorder Dragoons carry a straight sword and a carbine (shortened musket) and can operate as infantry when needed. These Dogmen are all 'poodle' types making them the same average height and bulk as an Elf. They would make an excellent skirmish section in their own right. The horse in this code is taken from code 51509 and well suited to cavalry operating in a colder part of Urop near Diberia as the horses have cloth protection for the face. 

Coming last days of October 2015! 


Our eventual aim is to make the Ruined Kingdom of Pudigrochumsberg army for Flintloque and Slaughterloo a totally complete one as we did with the Von Rotte Dwarf Legion at the start of this year. This means line infantry, casualties, light infantry, cavalry, command, artillery and more. Its an even bigger line up of releases than for the Von Rotte. Feel free to ask me questions on enquiries@alternative-armies.com

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Monday 12 October 2015

Dwarf Runic Golem 28mm kit pre-order offers now live!


I want to start by saying thank you to all of the people who said such kind words about this new model and thank all those who put in emails to reserve a pre-order.  I have contacted you all by this time and the offers are booked for you.  Now its time to make the three pre-order offers on the DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem live. From now until Monday 26th October you can pre-order purchase these three offers for mailing worldwide upon release. This is a great 28mm scale fantasy creation.

The three offers are on our Dwarfish Hosts page and on our Deals and Offers page too.  Click through for them or read on for the details.

DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem
This resin 28mm scale kit is styled in the traditional manner of Dwarfs whose love of gold and mining has led them to use magic to artifice a big brutal runic golem to aid them in battle.  Assembled from five highly detailed pieces with a small degree of pose choice the Golem is 65mm tall and is supplied with a 50mm square resin base.  Supplied unassembled and unpainted.  Release price will be 18.00GBP.


Offer One:  Pre-Order One Golem and Save 10%!
Get yourself a single DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem kit automatically saving ten percent off the release price of 18.00GBP.  Price 16.20GBP.


Offer Two:  Pre-Order Three Golems saving 10% and get DH5 Dwarf Polearms Free!
Get yourself a trio of three DH15 Dwarf Golem kits automatically saving ten percent off release price of all three.  You also get DH5 Dwarf Polearms a pack of five different 28mm scale white metal Dwarfs included for free.  Bundle Value 62.00GBP.  Price 48.60GBP.


Offer Three:  Buy DHM01 Dwarf Multitude get Dwarf Golem worth 18.00GBP Free!
Do you love Dwarfs?  We do and in this pre-order offer you get the DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem worth 18.00GBP for free in this box set.  The multitude contains sixty five different miniatures (DH1 to DH14) not including the Golem and give you not only the ultimate character or skirmish force but one of everything Alternative Armies makes in the Dwarfish Hosts!   Bundle Value 125.00GBP. Price 107.00GBP


If your order reaches 80.00GBP product value then your order will be freight free worldwide.  All orders containing one or more DH15 kits will ship worldwide from Tuesday 27th October onwards and the Dwarf Runic Golem will be on general release at that time too.  We have more monsters new coming as well as a lot of now re-mastered and re-molded classic fantasy from our fantastic 1990's range by great names in the industry.


To read the concept post on this creation with sketches and ideas its on our blog HERE.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

Friday 9 October 2015

TOR3 The Rack Set at Alternative Armies



This week we have the second re-release, under Project Darkhelm, of a classic display set in 25mm scale.  From the Guild Room range of quality white metal dungeon and wargame scenics we present to you...The Rack!  Please note that due to the nude aspect of this release the censored versions of images have been used on all forums, blogs and on our website page.  Go HERE for the Torture Chamber Collection page.

This is a classic set originally seen in the early 1980's from Tabletop Miniatures and though its taken us a while to get it back to the market we are pretty pleased with the results.  Its a set with a variety of uses in scenarios or just for collecting as there are many more to come from us when they are back in production.  Its simple to put together and features the rack, the captive, the torturer and the inquisitor.



TOR3 The Rack Set
This diorama set is composed of seven white metal 25mm scale parts.  These are the rack body which features a semi-nude female victim, rack front legs, rack rear legs, crank wheels on either side as well as the Torturer and the Inquisitor. These miniatures are not supplied with bases and are supplied unpainted. Select your choice from the drop down product menu on our website.  Choose from a pack or three packs with a 10% saving applied.   You can also choose to purchase only the Inquisitor or the Torturer on their own too.  Pack price is 7.00GBP.  Go HERE.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

Thursday 8 October 2015

DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem pre-orders from 12th October with offers!


On the twelfth of this month Alternative Armies will add the DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem kit to its classic fantasy range in 28mm scale.  As you can see above its looking lovely and we will be making some pre-order offers with all orders containing one or more of DH15 shipping worldwide at the end of the promo period which will be Monday 26th October.  So what will you get and what are the offers?


The Dwarf Runic Golem stands about 65mm tall and will be supplied in five resin pieces and a 50mm square resin cartouche base.  Its release price will be 18.00GBP which is good value for a large creature / monster in a fantasy system but our pre-orders will offer you more!   Buy one and save 10% on the release price (16.20GBP).  Buy three save that 10% and get a pack of DH5 Dwarf Polearms (5 white metal miniatures) worth 8.00GBP with them for FREE! That's retail 62.00GBP for just 48.60GBP.  Lastly if you order a DHM01 Dwarf Multitude during this offer period it will not feature its usual 10% discount but will instead include the 18.00GBP Dwarf Runic Golem for FREE!  And this bundle will automatically have free worldwide shipping.  Excellent!



You can use this magic creation in any Dwarf army and its themed for classic Dwarfs.  With enough interest we will make a second golem and theme it more mechanically and of course there will be a release offer upon it too.

You can visit the Dwarfish Hosts page on our website HERE.

You can read more on this soon to come model kit on our blog with a CONCEPT article and a FIRST LOOK article with scale image.

Roll on Monday!

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Friday 2 October 2015

Tony Harwood's Pudigrochumsberg Barn for Flintloque




Tony Harwood has produced two books on the art of making wargames terrain and he features here on Alternative Armies pages on a regular basis with his scratchbuilt structures for his Flintloque collection.  Tony was inspired by the newly released Dogmen of Pudigrochumsberg last week and as a result he has created a building for them!


The article is in two parts and I suggest reading them in order.  The first part is HERE and the second part is HERE.  There are many images and a lot of 'in construction' shots and tips if you want to try your own hand at making this piece at home.

I think as I always do with Tony's work that it is a lovely piece of terrain.  Great construction, fab colours and a lovely finish.  Makes me a little jelous actually!  Only kidding.  Having the skill to create miniatures and terrain is not open to all of us.  After all I just weave the words into a world and that suits me.  My favourite aspect of the barn is the bone over the door it just sets the whole building off nicely.


You can find the brand new page on our website for the Pudigroan Dogmen HERE and if you want to learn more about them just search our blog using the tag for Pudigrochumsberg.  We currrently have Line Infantry and Casualties released and there will be news soon on the next code for October expanding this new army even more!

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

Thursday 1 October 2015

DH15 Dwarf Runic Golem first look!


Following up on last time when we have a concept post (read for more information) for the Dwarf Runic Golem which is going to be added to our 28mm High Fantasy range this month we have the first image of the molded up pieces of the kit.  The model now has a confirmed code and this is DH15 and it will be part of the Dwarf Range adding to the fourteen other pack codes there now.  The golem is about 65mm tall when assembled and we aim to have a release offer on it middle of this month. The offer will be a saving off release price of 18.00GBP and perhaps something free too as well as savings for multiple purchases too.

This magic construct will be great for any high fantasy 28mm scale wargame system if you are a fan of Dwarves.  As you can see the model is easy assembled from five resin pieces and the arms can be varied in pose at the shoulders.  The grid is in 1cm squares.  More information soon and a picture of the assembled and painted golem too.

Alternative Armies will be releasing a classic Torture Chamber set this month and some more re-mastered and re-molded OH Codes too.  All in time for the offers on this new kit.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS