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.

Tuesday 18 December 2018

The Ferach Armee for Slaughterloo of Ajax Skyrm

As the year draws to an end I present one of two treats for players of Slaughterloo and Flintloque.  This time for Slaughterloo the mass battle game set in the World of Valon and the fantastic Ferach Armee of Mr Simon Hutchinson (known as Ajax Skyrm).  With his kind permission here is his account of this mighty 28mm force of more than 700 miniatures.  You can see the original article for this on his BLOG too.


The army of Emperor Mordred, the blue coated menace which has conquered all of Urop.  Beautifully painted and presented.  Click on each picture on the blog article to make it larger and read the account of it below.  You can see all of the miniatures HERE on our website and there are two divisional army packs for the Elves of Armorica giving a whole force for the game with a saving; see those HERE.  Thanks!  GBS


The Elves of Amorica


The leaders of the Ferach Empire, these fine soldiers form the core of all troops under their Tyrant Emperor Mordred.  Some of the fastest and most motivated troops of the Napoleonique Wars of Valon.


The Commander of all the Ferach Empire.  The Emperor Mordred.


Officers, both mounted and on foot ensure that the Emperors orders are carried out.


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.



There are hundreds of Regiments of Elf Line, Regt de Ligne, armed with Armorican Muskets.


Supporting the line troops there are the mean and tough Bog Orcs of the Guinalean Legion.   Armed with Armorican Muskets or captured Bessie Muskets and classed as Infantry.   They are led by Elvish Officers. The Bog Orcs of Guinalea live in a conquered homeland.  While most serve Kyng Gorge and Albion some flee and join the ranks of the Ferach organised Guinalean Legion with dream of an Elvish victory that will free Guinalea.  Tough and ruthless troops the Legion goes toe to toe with the Orcs of Albion in Catalucia.


Lacking the glamour of the Ligne and the professionalism of the Garde, Militia Regiments perform important roles non the less.


Elf Carabiniers.  Elite and veteran Elf skirmishers hardened from battle armed with Armorican Muskets and classed as Light Infantry.



Chasseurs are elite and can be classified as Guard troops.  They skirmish in front of many Elf Regiments.


Hundreds of Tiny Kingdoms and Comic Opera Baronies make up the conquered Confederation of Finklestein and Dwarves inhabit many of these small states along with Dogmen and Ogres.  Create your own army within the Confederation.

Commonly referred to as 'Confederation Dwarves' or 'Confederation Dogmen' or 'Hunvarian Ogres' these troops serve alongside Armorican Elves in Catalucia, the Witchlands and elsewhere. 

From the Confederation of Finklestein come huge Finklestein Guard Ogres forming the Old Guarde in Bearskins and armed with mighty Kannonderbuss. 



Artillerie is central to all the nations and client states of the Ferach Empire. The 2eme Garde Artillerie a'Cheval are veterans and almost unique in the Armorican Armee since they are Horse Artillery.  They take cannon to battle by pulling them with horses meaning they are very agile and feared.  An excellent centre piece for your Elf forces.


The L'Esprit du Garde are veteran Elvish heavy cavalry classed as Cuirassiers armed with straight bladed heavy swords.


The Grenadiers a Cheval du Perdue are know as 'The Lost Souls' veteran heavy cavalry in the Army of Armorica they are the constant foes of the Undead in the Witchlands. Heavy cavalry classed armed with straight bladed heavy swords.


Fighting on horseback the Corps Imperial des Dragoons are elite in every sense of the word. The scorge of the Witchlands and led by the veteran Gui de Carcharoth. These Elite Hunters of the enemies of the Empire will always be found in the thick of it.


The Field Hospital, an unfortunate necessity on the battlefields of Valon.


The Ferach Empire is truly a mighty war machine and even more so when other loyal states flock to the banners.




















1 Ferach Elf Commander
7 Ferach Elf Officers
6 units of 20 Ferach Elf Line Infantry
4 units 20 of Ferach Elf Militia
1 Unit of 20 Bog Orc Line Infantry
1 Unit of 20 Ferach Elf Guard Infantry
1 Unit of 20 Ogre Old Guard Infantry
3 units of 12 Ferach Elf Light Infantry
6 Ferach Elf Line Artillery
2 Ferach Elf Horse Artillery
1 Ferach Guard Artillery
3 units of 10 Elf Cavalry
1 Ferach Elf Field Hospital
4 units of 24 Toad Militia
1 Unit of 20 Big Toad Guard

1 Dog Commander
4 Dog Officers
7 units of 20 Dog Line Infantry
2 units of 20 Dog Grenadiers
1 unit of 20 Dog Chasseurs
3 units of 12 Dog Light Infantry
4 units of 10 Dog Cavalry
4 Dog Line Artillery




718 figures not including Artillery, Crew, Limbers, Officers or Commanders.



After the game the miniatures are packed away in their trays and into these wooden carrying cases ready for next time we play Slaughterloo.

Thanks!

Monday 10 December 2018

DarkeStorme High Fantasy Rules for 28mm and 15mm scales

“The Battles of ‘The Darke Age’ are fought in all places of Valon to a differing extent. From isolated groups separated from their Army fighting individual duels and skirmishes, to larger formations separated a great distance from others of their own Race waging private warfare in an effort to return to where they came from. Others still serve as Free Companies, Mercenaries fighting for pay and shelter.

The Dracci Hordes and Undead Legions are everywhere clashing not only with each other but also with those who happen to be in their path. Now the storm of the conflict has focused on Alevia, the region of the Central Continent that by misfortune of geography is the path both north and south between the Placidic and Karenian seas. Alevia was once a full Colony of the Crystal Empire. It borders with the outer Provinces of the High Elves and with the lands held by the Dwarves to the edge of the countless trees that form the Catalucian Forest of the Wood Elves. Alevia is not now what it once was, the fair green fields of wheat and fat grazing animals, winding tracks and villages have now been replaced by churned heaped mires of decomposing bodies.

It is in Alevia that the mighty mass of both the Dracci Invasion Horde and the Undead multitude that crossed the Tigiris at Scarsiamort met and cut each other to pieces. In addition the Dwarf Soldiers of the Krautan League attempt to repulse Dracci advances into their states. Dracci Hordes and Undead remain in Alevia in large numbers warily circling each other. They lock horns continually and they both clash with the Border Regiments of the Crystal Empire, defending the open passes into the Province of Ocame. The forces of Man fight at the side of the Wood Elves on the edge of the dense forest. The fate of Alevia was not always doomed to be this way. Before the arrival of the Undead from the north and the Dracci Invasion Horde with its Lizardman contingents advanced from the south, a brief time existed for preparation in defending the then Colony....”


We have a great high fantasy skirmish game system at Alternative Armies which we do not often speak about.  It is called DarkeStorme and it is great fun using any miniatures you might have in your collection in 28mm or 15mm scale.  Create a warband, create a hero and a magician from a great number of different races and then seek out adventure.  Monsters and more.  We have a 20% off offer on the book and on its digital download version too which lasts until Monday 7th January 2019 for you to enjoy. Go HERE or read on for more.


DarkeStorme is a high fantasy character driven skirmish game written by Gavin Syme (GBS) creator of Erin 2nd edition, Typhon and Flintloque 3rd edition along with many other wargame rule systems and fiction. A5 Publication, 60 Pages, Colour Covers, ISBN and Barcode These rules can be used with our High Fantasy miniature range or any other suitable range of miniatures. Read an independent review of these rules HERE.  Here are the features of the game:

Easy to learn D6 engine.
Full rules for character combat.
Full Magic System with ten levels of spells.
Monster Handling system with 'Amok' rules.
Creature generation formula and many Mortal and Undead races.
Expansion rules for Cavalry, Artillery and Chariots.
A Full Points System.
Terrain and Weather generation and special terrain generator.
Create Characters from nothing and lead them through linked adventures and progression.
Units of roughly ten to twenty characters in games lasting twenty minutes to over an hour in length.




A game system suitable for younger gamers, those with less time or starting out or those looking for an easy play wargame with a traditional high fantasy feel from the era of the 1980's and 1990's.  Go HERE for the print book and HERE for the digital download.


28mm and 15mm Scale Play
When you decide to play a game of DarkeStorme you will need to decide which scale of miniature you are going to use in play. This set of rules caters for 28mm scale and also 15mm scale fantasy miniatures. The book is laid out ASSUMING you are using 28mm scale miniatures in your games and gives all ranges and rates of movement etc in INCHES. Use inches for 28mm scale play. If you are playing with 15mm scale miniatures then transposing the mechanics of play is very simple. All rules remain the same unless otherwise noted and all movement rates and ranges etc given in the book as inches are changed to the same distance in CENTIMETRES.

We have a very large selection of miniatures which can be used in this game on our website.  Here is a list of the pages just have a browse to see what you like.  You can purchase single 28mm or packs and packs or sampler small in 15mm scale.

28mm Fantasy Ranges 

15mm Fantasy Ranges


Free Resources for DarkeStorme
We have a whole load of free material for our game systems which can be seen on our FREE DOWNLOADS page and this includes Darkestorme.  There is a folder of blank rosters and sheets and beginners scenarios.  There is also a free mini-arc campaign called 'Murder at Illstadde' to download as well.  To make this easier for you here are the links direct to our website storage to download the free DarkeStorme files.  Click HERE for the folder and HERE for the mini-arc campaign.  Enjoy!


Lastly there is a brand new free adventure for DarkeStorme just published on Orcs in the Webbe as Day 10 of its advent calendar of fun!  Counting Coup by Anonymous Bosch a two player scenario all about a young orc.  Enjoy and go HERE.

I love old school fantasy gaming.  Check out the recent blog article 'Armoured Goblins on the March' for more on this and these are coming next year.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS