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.

Friday 27 October 2017

Madame Boniface wishes you a Gruesome Halloween Weekend!

Spooky times abound upon this all hallows weekend. A time of frights, scares, horror movies and gaming (candy and sweets for the nippers instead) and at Alternative Armies we are having a gruesomely good time playing games of Flintloque in the snows of the Witchlands. We want to share the fun with all of you so to that end we have a weekend offer. All 28mm scale including orders placed on our website or by email until midnight 30th October GMT which are of 10.00GBP or more product in the cart will automatically get the 28mm scale Madame Boniface miniature (worth 2.50GBP) included for FREE in the package. Freaky Fine! Go to the website HERE and browse! 


So. Until midnight 30th October 2017 any order placed with Alternative Armies which is 10GBP or more in the cart gets you Madame Boniface for free automatically put in the package. But who is Madame Boniface? 


5005J Madame Boniface 
This code is taken from the Lady Wintermores Fangs box set of characters for use in Flintloque. It is a one piece 28mm scale white metal miniature of a Skeleton wearing a ball gown with a mask half covering its face. She is the confidante of the Vampyre Lamia Wintermore and her bodyguard too acting undercover at regal events and balls in the city of Moskova. An excellent miniature for many settings in your collection. Supplied unpainted with a square cartouche style resin base. Go HERE and select 5005J or HERE for it on its own. Price 2.50GBP 


5005 Lady Wintermores Fangs 
While the Grande Armee Du Norde is laid waste outside the Dark Czar's capital city Moskova the Emperor Mordred has just escaped the clutches of the Wintermore family of Vampyres...other Ferach officers are now trapped in the Undead infested streets. The Lady Wintermores Fangs scenario box set contains sixteen different 28mm scale white metal character miniatures as well as their bases and a thirty page booklet with profiles, story and statistics to play a scenario arc in Flintloque. You can purchase the box set or get it pro-painted and based and now you may select single miniatures from the box set too just by choosing what you want on the page from the option buttons. Go HERE and have a look. 

Download Lady Wintermore's Fangs updated to 3rd edition free at Orcs in the Webbe! 
Updated by Craig Andrews this new vision of the 5005 booklet can be found HERE. Enjoy!


55016 Lady Rosafiend
The nemesis of Lamia Wintermore is the temptress and seductive Lady Rosafiend. The cause of the Emperor Mordred's fever dreams and now she can be yours too!  Go HERE.  2.50GBP.


Get into Flintloque the skirmish the best alternate history fantasy black powder skirmish game there is with 5024 Escape the Dark Czar! A set with a core booklet along with ten miniatures, bases and dice. Your entry into the World of Valon and a massive range of miniatures and titles built up over more than fifteen years. From this starting point you can go in any direction from continuing the fight in the Witchlands to the dusty lands of Catalucia or the rolling fields of Urop marching with or against the eagle banners of the Emperor Mordred and his blue coated Elves. 




The bitter retreat from Moskova is where you begin your adventure. Take command of General de Brigade Hugo Saindoux and his three fellow survivors as they attempt to evade death and escape from the Witchlands. On their heels are a group of Savant Zombies, the finest Undead in the ranks of the Dark Czar, who are led by Captain Preserovitch. Their task is to capture the golden eagle standard carried by the young Elven drummer boy Ayers Quinte de Toux. Will the survivors outwit the living dead? In this set is a twenty page booklet containing the core rules of Flintloque the Skirmish which will get you playing as well as character profiles and three introductory scenarios as well as the story of the Witchlands campaign. Written by Gavin Syme (GBS) Ten high quality resin 28mm miniatures are in the set designed by Sam Croes. Four mortals (An Elf, young Elf, Dogman and Ogre) and six Savant Zombies. Ten bases for your miniatures and two percentile dice. All you need to get playing and to begin your adventures in Flintloque. Go HERE

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Wednesday 25 October 2017

TOR5 The Garrotte Chair added to the Torture Chamber range

As the winter draws near it is nice to be back in the dungeon next to the glowing coals and the roaring...pain..well fire. A classic code now returned to the Torture Chamber Collection at Alternative Armies. Suitable for 25mm or 28mm scale for any suffering system or diorama use you can get TOR5 The Garrotte Chair as a pack or parts of it just like all the other codes in the range. Go HERE or read on for more. 


Excellent for roleplay, dungeon crawl, dioramas and wargaming you can purchase the packs or parts of them if you just want some of the furniture or the people from them. Thus far we have the following. The Whipping Beam, The Cage, The Rack, The Branding Iron, The High Inquisitor on Throne, The Snake Pit (2017 version) as well as The Iron Maiden and The Wall. Now a chair no one wants to sit in! 




TOR5 The Garrotte Chair 
This is a seat you refuse if it is proffered. This pack contains the following pieces all in white metal. The Torturer in apron, the Victim in sitting position, the front and rear of the chair, the torture neck fittings and the winding wheel. This code requires some skill to assemble. This pack is 25mm scale and you can choose to purchase one pack or three packs with a saving or parts these being only the Chair with Victim or the Torturer only. 5.00GBP per pack. Go HERE

Below are pictures of the other codes in the range at this time. Go HERE.









We will have further TOR releases which are being readied now and we thank you for your support in bringing this range back to reality. 

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Tuesday 24 October 2017

Loud Ninja Games releases the Zthruk among the Ikwen

"The Ikwen are one side of an asymmetric war against a higher tech, invading enemy. They fight in a less organized, militia style, utilizing acquired weapons, not of their of own manufacture." 

Over a generation ago, the planet Kwiell was set upon by aliens bent on exploiting the natural resources of the planet. The planet’s native population, the Ikwen, found themselves suddenly enslaved and their society rocked as they were enslaved, put to work and in many cases hunted and killed. The Ikwen have spent decades in frustrated servitude to these invading overlords. We see them as very much freedom-fighting indigenous life forms, use them as alien invaders, allies, mercenaries or even lower tech indigenous forces for more organized warfare.

A new release into the 15mm scale Loud Ninja Games range on its page at Alternative Armies. A mighty beast which comes from the Ikwen home world of Kwiell and fits in perfectly with these alien rebels who are trying to over throw an invading tyrannical yoke. Go HERE for the range or read on for more. 


RAP038 Zthruk 
This pack contains one 15mm scale white metal miniature supplied in three pieces which require a simple assembly. This beast stands 20mm tall to the head and can be used as a creature for any alien world or as an ally of the Ikwen. The Zthruk is a very powerful animal with a vicious temper which are hunted by the Ikwen while a few of the most noble Ikwen ride them into battle. All miniatures are supplied unpainted and without bases. Note that images depicting miniatures and codes other than those in this code are for reference and scale only and are not included. Miniatures manufactured and sold in agreement with Loud Ninja Games. Go HERE. 4.00GBP per pack. 


The Ikwen are a great native alien force to put into your low level conflicts in 15mm science fiction wargaming. Go HERE. Here is a list of their codes. 

RAP016P Ikwen Platoon (24) 
Contains twenty four miniatures from RAP016, RAP017 and RAP018 and offers a 5% discount off single pack prices. 

RAP016 Ikwen Assault Rifles (6) 
RAP017 Ikwen Rocket Launchers (6) 
RAP018 Ikwen Light Machine Guns (6


RAP035P The Ikwen World of Kwiell (36) 
Contains thirty six pieces of resin and white meta 15mm terrain for the Ikwen from codes RAP033, RAP034 and RAP035 great value saving 10% off pack prices. 

RAP033 Ikwen Bases Scenics (6) 
RAP034 Ikwen Diorama Scenics (4) 
RAP035 Ikwen Scatter Terrain (8) 

There will be further Ikwen related releases from Loud Ninja Games next month! 

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Monday 23 October 2017

FL29 Mischief of Rats scurrying out now!

“They boiled up from the tunnel a frothing tide of black fur and glinting red eyes. The Wizard stepped back away from the collapsed entrance to the creatures lair but he was too slow. The tide of living flesh, teeth and claws swept up and over him. Into his robes and then into him biting, chewing, eating as he screamed. The rest of the party scattered and then watched, unable to give aid, as their magic user was subsumed and then as the rats broke in all directions left as a gnawed skeleton. Only a richly embroidered hat remained among scraps of cloth. It was the entrance to the lair and already the party was reduced. Now who would peer in into the tunnels depths?” 


I don't know about you but I loath Rats...really...I do...yuch..the squeaks and the scampering and the genetic memory of disease and plague. Luckily these re-mastered white metal miniatures will not spread illness but fun. Now on the Alternative Armies website is a value pack of Rats in two poses. Excellent value and great for many settings and uses. Go HERE or read on for more. 


FL29 Mischief of Rats 
This code contains ten from two different poses of white metal miniatures approx 18mm in length. 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 or three packs with a 10% saving applied; or a massive 100 mixed Rats at 25% off single pack price. Assembly is required with some white metal miniatures. Go HERE. Poses in this code are as follows: 

FL29-01: Rat running tailed raised. 
FL29-02: Rat skulking tail down. 




Here are some more images of the Rats including scale shot with one of our 28mm Crystal Elves (CE24-03 Infantry with Sword) plus CE24-01 Officer and 15mm MDA38 Wizard. Great for 15mm and 28mm use in hordes or multitudes. 


VNT29-02 Stricken Adventurer 
When you sign up with a party all you see are riches and glory in store. Sadly not for all. For some the adventure ends in a tunnel or cavern injured with something nasty gnawing at your leg. This fun miniature is an unfortunate adventurer who is being nibbled upon. One of our favourites and great for your dungeon or gaming table. Go HERE

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Thursday 19 October 2017

HOT60 Bastion Wall now released in resin with twelve to the pack

Back at Alternative Armies in the 15mm HOT Range the second of five packs of now in resin 40mm frontage scenics. Excellent for use in 15mm scale in systems such as HOTT for strongholds or outer defences and such or in wargaming in general. Once they were white metal and now they are resin and a dozen to the pack. Superb! 


Go HERE for the HOT Range or read on for more information. 


HOT60 Bastion Wall 
This pack contains twelve identical resin pieces of a 'dry stone style' wall which is 40mm long and 16mm tall. You can assemble 480mm of frontage (19.2 Inches) with this pack and they can be used in 15mm or 28mm scale for a head height or knee height structure. Form walls, field enclosures and more. Useful in HOTT 2nd Edition to make a stronghold for your army. Can be used in Furioso or DBA, DBM and such games. Go HERE. 5.00GBP per pack. 



Above are more images of HOT60 as well as a photo with MRC17 Late 16th Century Cavalry Command for scale plus MR34 and 5024 in 28mm. Here are the other HOT Wall scenic codes on the website now. 

HOT59 Stone Wall 
This pack contains twelve identical resin pieces each a stone wall which is 40mm long and 15mm tall. You can assemble 480mm of frontage with this pack and they can be used in 15mm or 28mm scale for a head height or knee height structure. Form walls, field enclosures and more. Useful in HOTT 2nd Edition to make a stronghold for your army. Can be used in Furioso or DBA, DBM and such games. Go HERE. 5.00GBP per pack. 


We have a large range of 24AP pre-made armies for HOTT which you can see HERE. All the miniatures and element bases included. 


We have a full range of miniatures and some pre-made armies for Furioso. See them all HERE if you enjoy 15mm scale Renaissance warfare. 

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Monday 16 October 2017

VNT37 Crustacean Monster released with offer until end of October!

“Kandar was a warrior. He was the fiercest fighter that the land of Thagul had ever produced and his name was legend among the tribes. Now he stood at the shore of the cursed lake with sword in hand ready to kill the demon which had plagued the fishers these past months. The simple folk of the lake had spoken in hushed tones of an orange rock which moved and then reached up into their boats plucking them like fish on a line out and then down into the water. They hungered now as none would go near the water and none had for eight risings of the sun. Kandar would destroy the demon and then take his pick of the spoils the fishers possessed from their wealth and their women. The water swirled and the warrior tightened his grip on the blade. From the lake came the top of an orange rock as had been witnessed. He stood his ground with no fear of a rock. The rock grew wider and taller as it moved toward him and soon it was clearly not a rock but a body. Nearer and shallower it came, legs before feet as it stepped from the water to the land. Kandar raised his sword and then paused as two black beady eyes looked down at him. What was this thing? It towered over the warrior and it stank of the corruption of crab meat. Its arms ended in pincer claws one of which was massively bigger than the other. With a roar of defiance Kandar charged, sword raised, at the monster. Its arm came up and neatly snapped the blade of the sword as if it was grass to the scythe. The warrior ducked and slammed the broken blade into its mid rift; it shattered on connection. The larger arm came down and caught the warrior around the waist and then lifted him off the ground. Where was the glory in this Kander thought as he drummed his fists against the orange carapace of the arm. Then with a simple closing snip the monster turned Kander to two with no effort at all.” 

A big brand new crunchy release into the 28mm High Fantasy ranges at Alternative Armies with a monster sculpted by Kieran Billings. VNT37 Crustacean Monster is a suitable foe for any army to face and it is on special offer with 10% off until the end of October. Go HERE to see it or read on for more information. 


VNT37 Crustacean Monster 
Enforcer of an undersea kingdom or summoned creature of a rogue mage this mighty armoured foe will give your characters a real fight. This pack contains a single high quality grey tone resin miniature in three parts (partially posable arms) which is about 45mm tall from foot to head when assembled. It will work in several scales for many game settings. Supplied unpainted and without a base (shown on a 40mm round base) with basic assembled required. Go HERE. 7.00GBP 



Here are some photos of this new monster from several angles and for scale with a 28mm Human Thief. This is Kieran's third code for us and it follows up on last month and the burrowing Sandworms. Check these out. 


VNT35 Greater Sandworm 
Seen in stories and legends across the globe you must be fearful when the soil under your feet shivers at its approach. The Greater Sandworm. This pack contains a single one piece high quality grey tone resin miniature which is around 50mm tall and works in multiple scales for any game setting. Supplied unpainted and without a base (shown on a 40mm round base) with no assembly required. Go HERE. 4.00GBP 


VNT36 Sandworm Swarm 
The brood, the young or just the typical these Sandworms hunt prey through the sands and dry river beds seeking by the vibration of footsteps. This pack contains five different one piece high quality grey tone resin miniatures which are between 5mm and 20mm tall. They are emerging from the soil and then attacking. Supplied unpainted and without bases (shown on a 20mm round base) with no assembly required. Go HERE. 5.00GBP 


We have a trio of Weekly Deals which run Monday to Sunday each week. Each week three different offers all at 20% off normal price for a code in that range on all of its options including painted and ready for play as well as whole units if applicable. We have a Flintloque code deal, a High Fantasy code deal and a 15mm scale code deal. Get something for your wargaming and check them out every Monday when they change. HERE. We also have a Latest Releases page where all of our codes from about the last six to ten weeks of releases are sited as well as in their own pages. If you want to see what Alternative Armies has been doing it is a great place to start. All of our ranges, all our game systems, 28mm and 15mm. All HERE

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Friday 13 October 2017

Todoroni Mountain Artillery and light cannon for Flintloque

A new pair of new releases for Flintloque and Slaughterloo sculpted by Elton Waters we are delighted to present the Nepolise Mountain Artillery crew and their specialised 2lb cannon.  You can see them on the Todoroni page of the Alternative Armies website HERE or read on for more information.  This is the first of two Valon releases for the month of October 2017.


There are a selection of units in the Todoroni of Nepolise Army, allies of the Emperor Mordred and part of the Ferach Empire. These include line infantry, light infantry, militia as well as line artillery and cavalry.  In response to fans of Flintloque these new miniatures give the Todoroni some mobile firepower such as that possessed by the Dogmen of Ostaria with their Grasshopper Gun.


56596 Nepolise Mountain Artillery
This set contains 28mm white metal miniatures including an officer with match extended, gunner with powder charge, gunner with powder horn, gunner carrying wheel and two poses of kneeling steadying gunners all standing around 28mm tall.  This set also contains a small 2lb cannon kit comprising the cannon, two wheels and a powder charge sack.  You can choose from a skirmish pack of seven miniatures (all six crew plus the gun) or the same painted and based for immediate use.  You can also purchase the cannon kit on its own.  These miniatures are supplied with our resin cartouche bases.  Go HERE.

The steep snow capped crags of northern Nepolise are the training grounds for gunnery crews which specialise in carrying their cannon into places where artillery is not expected to be.  These Todoroni have served in Al-Garvey and in the Witchlands and in fact anywhere that the Ferach seek conquest at the highest heights. For a uniform the Mountain Artillery wear a dark green jacket with white breeches with facings, collars and cuffs being white.  Boots and headwear is black and the feather in the cap is pink.


56596S Mountain Gun
This code contains all the parts to assemble one small 2lb cannon for use as a battalion or mountain gun.  For use with any Army.  Cannon body, two wheels and a powder sack.  This model is supplied with a resin cartouche base.  Go HERE.


Using these new miniatures in Flintloque and Slaughterloo

It is in the realm of light cannons that the new Mountain Gun is to be placed in play.  For use in 5030 Slaughterloo see pg25 for Light Cannons and regular use with a gun crew.  Below is a statistics line for the Nepolise Mountain Artillery to be used as part of a Ferach Division as well as an optional test rule for gun crews trained in this manner. To make use of these figures in Flintloque see 5027 Grapeshotte on pg29 for 2lb cannons and pg70 for Mountain Gun rules in play which these Todoroni adhere to as well.  Create your gun crew with the normal procedure for Flintloque.


Slaughterloo – Test Rule
Mountain Gunners   40 Points
You may choose to give the crew of any Light Cannon in your division the title of Mountain Gunners and this has the following effect in play.  The gun crew may  climb or descend any Hill on the battlefield at the normal Good Going movement rate regardless of its Slogging or other passable terrain nature.  Impassible Terrain remains so except in the case of cliffs which may be traversed as Slogging terrain as the gunners are in possession of climbing gear.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS