Invading Space Brains released!

By Gor!  This is a fine day to be a wargamer.  Now released at Alternative Armies two new codes of Space Brains good for most scales and systems of tabletop gaming.  Sculpted by Kieran Billings (he of the Sand Worms and Big Mouth Beast) there are five lesser Brains all armed with exotic weapons and one big brain in total command with its psychic majesty.  Check them out HERE or read on for more information.

A creature of classic science fiction from the golden era of the 1950's the Space Brain is a fine foe for your pulp, horror and post apocalyptic among other forces in 28mm or 15mm or other scales.

EH02 Big Space Brain

This code contains one multiple scale model in two pieces cast in high quality grey tone resin.  Pulsing with psychic power the mighty mind sits atop a grav platform with control surfaces allowing it to order its minions and slave Humans around with ease.  The big brain is easy to assemble and is 35mm tall and 55mm wide when assembled. Please note this model is supplied unpainted and without a flying stand or base (we used steel wire in the pictures). You can purchase one or select to purchase three and save 10%.  Price 8.00GBP per pack.  Go HERE.

EH03 Space Brains

This code contains five different multiple scale miniatures cast in one piece white metal.  These are the enforcers of the mighty mind of the master brain and they use their death rays and metal claws to shoot down and control slave Humans and others who must bend to the will of the Space Brains.  They are about 25mm tall. Please note that these miniatures are supplied unpainted and without a flight wire or base (we used steel wire in the pictures).  You can purchase a pack or three packs with a 10% saving or select a single brain from number 1 to number 5. Price 10.00GBP per pack.  Go HERE.

Here are some more images with groups and larger shots as well as scale compared to a Flintloque 28mm miniature and a Tabletop 15mm fantasy knight.

We have more great miniatures sculpted by Mr Billings and other EH codes too as well as killer plants.  Total weird!  Have a look at these and see if they tickle your fancy.

GRN Klorzid Killer Plants

EH01 Flower of Evil

VNT35 Greater Sandworm and VNT36 Sandworm Swarm

VNT37 Crustacean Monster

VNT39 Air Squid

VNT38 Big Mouth Beast

Alternative Armies will return in March with new releases for Flintloque, for High Fantasy, for HOF 15mm Science Fiction, HOT 15mm Fantasy and Sengoku Japanese Fantasy and more than this too.  It will be a bumper month!

We also have different Weekly Deals beginning each Monday for seven days with 10% off two entire collections; one 28mm scale and the other 15mm scale.  Go HERE.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Spektrov Cuirassiers for Flintloque take to the frozen field!

We promised a full unit release for Flintloque and Slaughterloo this month and following up on the new Grand Howitzers and the Dead Rams we have for you the heavy hitters of the Dark Czar's Undead Army.  55517 Spektrov Curiassiers are here with re-mastered white metal riders and a new resin zombie horse as well as a reduced price. Also extra savings on taking a whole unit of ten.  Go HERE to see them or read on for more information and a look at this new horse.

“Powdery snow crunched under the iron shod hooves of his horse but he did not hear it.  The rough and heavy iron over his chest rubbed and dug into the cloth underneath but he did not feel it. Upon his head a steel helmet topped with frozen blood soaked hair ground against his neck and forehead but it was as if nothing were there to him.  All that echoed in his mind was a series of commands which had been with him since the pain...a musket ball...had pieced his heart.  They were fainter now and his eye sockets were empty but he still saw the mortals ahead.  He turned to the riders to his left and right and like them they leered back from bare bone skulls. What had he been?  It had mattered and now...now it was a whisper.  A rusted straight sword was in his hand and it was time to kill.”

55517 Spektrov Cuirassiers

Not encountered during the endless march towards Moskova by the Elves these riders are the heavy hitters of the Undead cavalry and for the deceased they are of an excellent quality. Carrying long straight swords and wearing a lot of iron armour these soulless killers can be found at every major battle, leaving the routine hunting of stragglers to the Zombiski Cossacks and others of less value. Unless they feel personal vengeance is merited. Savant Zombies acting alone the Cuirassiers wear loose grey and or white cloth breeches and shirts with black or polished metal cuirass and helmet with red horsehair crescent plume. Facings are red or green and metal work is gold. Zombie Horses have brown saddles and light blue horse blankets with a gold and red blanket roll. From 5026 Death in the Snow.

Optional Flintloque Rule: As they wear a Cuirass you may optionally add a +1 to the riders Steady rating against ranged fire only.

This code contains five different 28mm scale skeletal riders in armour with plume topped helmets as well as five resin horses.  The riders are an officer with sword raised, a sergeant with sword forward (separate arm), standard bearer with bat topped pole (separate top), musician with two kettle drums and arms raised, trooper with sword at the ready.  Horses come with a separate saddle roll plus one will have the kettle drums too.  Easy to assemble and sculpted by Steve Young (riders) and Sam Croes (horse) you can choose from a pack of five or a unit of ten or a single trooper booster.  There is a saving for the pack over the single and the unit over the pack.  You may also choose to purchase these miniatures painted and based ready for play from here in Scotland.  These miniatures come supplied with our resin cartouche cavalry bases.  Select your option on the page. 18.00GBP (was 24GBP) per pack of five. Go HERE.

Those of you who are long term collectors of our miniatures will recognise these skeletal riders as those of the Undead Curiassiers and you are correct; they are.  Let me tell you a bit more about what we are doing with the Curiassiers and the new horse too.

As you will know Alternative Armies has been converting many of the riding beasts used in Flintloque and Slaughterloo from white metal into resin. Dogman Horses, Orc Horses, Camels, Rhinos, Moose and others.  This was done for several reasons the one ones being a reducing in price to you the customer for the large units you like to collect due to this new medium.  Some other projects are on the go too and one of these was a new horse for the heavier Undead cavalry.  The first of these are the now Spektrov Cuirassiers which have had their price reduced overall with this new resin zombie horse over the original white metal one. This new horse has mounting places for accessories and comes with a saddle bag (you can mount this on the horse or on a rider or foot miniature too) and musicians get kettle drums.  This is shown in the picture above.  Steve's riders were re-mastered to fit the new horse and here we are.  I am sure you will agree that the new horse is really nice.  It can be used for Valon and for High Fantasy too which will occur in our future releases. It will feature again for personalities and for an expansion to 5024 Escape the Dark Czar...after all the Savant Zombies in the beginners box are dismounted cavalry.  More on this nearer the time.

Here is a picture of the Spektrov Curiassier musician next to General Saindoux and a Goblin private of the Al-Garvey Legion giving you the relative sizes of each with 30mm being the height from the bottom of the base to top of plume of the Goblin.  You can see all of these miniatures on our Begin in Flintloque page.  There are also free scenarios there to download.

This is our last release for Flintloque this month.  See you in March with more awesome for the best black powder fantasy tabletop games in the world as well as more free articles and content too.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Talking About Games plays third scenario from Flintloque Escape the Dark Czar set

Following on his Flintloque video review of 5024 Escape from the Dark Czar beginners box and of our FL22 Adventurers Party it was my pleasure to see Talking About Games new review of the third scenario from the booklet.  5024 Escape from the Dark Czar is a jumping off point for those who want to play some black powder fantasy set in the World of Valon.  My thanks to Abraham of 'TAG' channel and I will point out that we gave the box set to TAG for free but we had no input in the review.

The review lasts for eighteen minutes and Abraham of TAG channel uses his own painted set of the resin miniatures to play scenario three 'Trust in the Emperor and Keep your Powder Dry' which is a straight toe to toe fight to the end.  Having played through the two other earlier scenarios from the 5024 booklet this third scenario sets the players loose in a straight battle rather than a fight over an objective.  Will General Saindoux prevail or will the Undead take their lives?

Here is more on Escape the Dark Czar and the free resources that exist for it on our website:

5024 Escape from the Dark Czar

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).  

Included are 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.  You can purchase the boxed set unpainted or painted and based ready for immediate play.  Go HERE  You can also get the booklet on its own as a paid digital download. 

If you want to talk about Flintloque and see what is happening or to ask questions then join our Alternative Armies Tabletop Gaming Group on Facebook where I lurk and will be happy to talking gaming with you.

We have a new page on the website called Beginning in Flintloque which is quite sparse presently but it will fill up with codes and free resources, such as this and other review videos, giving a way into the vast World of Valon as we release more miniatures and other things which follow on from 'Escape the Dark Czar'.  Things on this page are your start with the game of Flintloque.

Thanks for viewing!

GBS

Article 8 Converting Marshal Ney for Flintloque on foot by Andy Jefcoate

The snow of winter is in Scotland but its mainly gone now and a weak sun shines! The eighth in a series of linked Flintloque articles by Andy Jefcoate about his forays in the Witchlands and in Flintloque. If you want to catch up on the first to seventh articles where he got his starter set and then tried it out followed by a nail biter of a scenario and then get his Pug Dogs marching plus more Cavalry and more then you can read them on our blog HERE and work backwards. In this article he gives legs to a marshal of the Ferach Empire! With pictures of his own painted collection. Read on and enjoy. GBS

Converting and Painting Marshal Ney 

Alternative Armies do an excellent range of named special characters for all races that can be used in Flintloque and Slaughterloo. Game statistics and back stories are provided for them all so you just need to paint them and they are ready to go. I've bought several of them for the Witchlands and I plan to build them into my narrative over the coming weeks. You may have noticed the picture of Scooby Doom and Raggy that snuck in with my cavalry article in December. He gets in everywhere that Scooby Doom! While Saindoux has been a great commander for my Ferach forces up until now I also wanted a named character that I could use in Flintloque but who could command my Ferach army for Slaughterloo in the future. After much deliberation I decided on Marshal Galahad Ney. I like the dynamic figure on the galloping horse but also the stories around him made him stand out for me. This figure is limited to 1000 castings and I purchased number 810.

Background

Known as the 'bravest of the brave' Marshal Ney led the 1st Armee du Norde on it's retreat from Moskova and if it hadn't been for him the whole army would have been lost. He appeared seemingly everywhere at once, driving the army on and being where he was needed most. He is perfect for small scale scenarios with a small bodyguard or commanding an army in a full scale battle.

In Flintloque he is a Ferach Elf / Legendary / Regular / Elite armed with a Sword and High Elf Musket mounted on a light horse. All troops in his section gain a +2 Discipline Modifier as long as Ney is alive and in line of sight. He never personally takes a morale test for any reason and he has 4 Wounds on his profile. He is therefore very useful! In Slaughterloo he can be used as either a C-in-C or a General but that's something for the future.

Marshal Ney on foot

While Marshal Ney is good as a mounted character there is always the chance of him ending up on foot during a game, or simply a scenario where a character on foot is needed. There are foot and mounted versions of some characters in the Flintloque and Slaughterloo ranges but Marshal Ney is only currently available as a mounted character as he was meant for Slaughterloo. Do not fear though, in this situation the kind people at Alternative Armies will supply a torso and head of the mounted character plus a foot figure to use for conversion upon request. With Marshal Ney the figure that they supplied on foot was the pointing command figure from pack 51041 2eme Regt de Ligne command, which is a nice dynamic pose. I did the conversion with some clippers and a sharp modelling knife. While I'm sure that some of you out there have a better range of tools for this sort of thing it didn't take very long to do. As you can see from the end result I kept the fur collar of the mounted figure which creates a larger area to join to the foot figure and helps to tie the foot and mounted versions together. The pointing command figure from pack 51041 also has long hair so the fur collar helps to hide where this was removed from the casting as Marshal Ney's hair is short. If you want to try a conversion I recommend that you make the area where the head and torso join as flat as possible to insure good adhesion and limit the need for filler to hide any gaps. I wanted a figure that looked like he was leading from the front and exhorting the troops around him to follow. I was happy with the result and I hope you like it too.

Painting Marshal Ney

As I wanted him to be my overall commander I decided to paint Marshal Ney using the Ferach uniform colours of mid blue, red and white. While the great coat on the mounted figure could have been grey as on the lovely painted example of this figure on the Alternative Armies site, I decided to paint it blue with red facings. This then matches the jacket on the foot figure and ties them further together. As I said earlier I left the fur collar on the converted figure which adds an individual touch to this characters uniform and is perfect for a figure in the severe cold of the Witchlands. I painted the fur grey to represent wolf fur.   Perhaps he likes the Corps Imperial des Dragon? To make him stand out further from other Elves I gave Ney ginger hair (as a nod to the historical figure) and green eyes. When painting the horse I tried to use more gold than usual so that it is fitting as the mount of a Ferach Marshal, but there is also various equipment attached which fits with the retreating army scenario. In normal conditions, a Marshal would never be expected to carry such things!

The continuing narrative

As Saindoux's force has grown it has come to the attention of Marshal Ney as he works hard to hold the rearguard together and fight off the Dark Czar's forces. He therefore appears from time to time to ask Saindoux to send part of his force on special tasks, some of them led by Ney himself. Sometimes he appears with a small bodyguard and sometimes alone having sent his bodyguard off on another task once he has reached Saindoux.

What's next

My Flintloque forces have grown fairly large but while I have infantry and cavalry, I have yet to add any artillery which is vital if I want to move on to playing Slaughterloo at some point. Which I do. I have therefore ordered the 5027 Grapeshotte Expansion book and a Ferach Elf artillery piece with limber and crew. I'll let you know how I get on with these in my next article. 

Thank you for reading. 

Andy

Next Furioso Book coming in March plus Dutch Starter Army released!

There will be a second book, a supplement, for Furioso titled 'The Italian Wars' released by Alternative Armies in March 2018! Written by Steve Danes it slots right in after the rule book giving a lot more to expand the sixteenth century historical wargame. Like the rulebook it will be fifty two pages and available in print and as a digital download too. Mercenaries, Generals as well as actual historical battle Scenarios are in the new book plus Blessings and Divine Interventions too. Two big features of the new book are the Solo Play rules and the Wondrous Inventions. Want to go to war in Italy in the 1500's? Then this will be for you. Want to field Da Vinci's Tank in an alternate reality? You will be able to. 

The book is being finalised and printed in the next week or so and will be released in both formats in early March. We will give full details at that time including contents and views from the author. It will be HERE on our website. Today though we are pleased to release the third of our 15mm scale starter armies for Furioso and this time it is a Dutch Army of 250 Points of the Dutch Wars. It comes with all the element bases you need and they are included free to boot. 

FURA03 Dutch Army of the Dutch Wars (250 Point Starter Army) 

This pre-made army for use with Furioso contains all you need to field a two hundred and fifty point starter army for the Dutch during the Dutch Wars of the 16th century. Supplied with 184 pieces in 15mm scale white metal consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery there is also an included army list for assembly. 

Also included are 45 Element Bases (40mm by 30mm and 40mm by 20mm) for the army worth over 12GBP for free! All the included miniatures are from the Altuos 15mm range. Total value 75.30GBP. Price 62.90GBP. You can also get this army pro-painted and based ready for immediate use. Go HERE. 

There are other 250 Point Starter Armies for Furioso (French and Italian with free bases) as well as a mega bundle with two armies and the rule book included free. There is also the Furioso book (print and digital download, packs of Furioso Element Bases and the entire 15mm Renaissance Range of miniatures which includes a Da Vinci Tank as well as over two hundred figure codes. See them all HERE. 

We also have free files for Furioso such as a Quick Reference Sheet and a Starter Scenario written by Steve Danes the author which you can download by clicking on the links on the website page HERE. 

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Two Free USEME scenario and mini-game to download by Vic Dobson

Vic Dobson hits another home run with two more free resources for players of USEME with his scenario 21 and 22 the links for which are in this article.  Puff the Magic Dragon sees a modern warfare game with a super heavy tank returning to the front lines while The Boojum and The Snark is a mini-game of nasty creatures sneaking up on your miniatures in the swamp; great fun.  If you want to find out more about USEME as well as UM001 15mm Science Fiction and UM004 Modern Warfare the sets used for these scenarios then go HERE.

Here are the details of each free download!

Puff the Magic Dragon – Scenario 21.

A neo-soviet super heavy tank is making its way back towards the front line through a small village when it and its protecting squad of infantry are ambushed by a force of Insurgents bent upon destroying the tank.  This scenario features hidden set up for the Insurgents within a number of buildings on the table.  Download the scenario by CLICKING HERE.

UM004 USEME Modern Warfare

Author of the fantastic adaptation of USE ME for the UM003 World War Two rules O.G.Joel has done it again with a set of rules that is intended for ultra-modern games set in the first decades of the 21st century, from Afghanistan to Iraq to Lebanon to Southern Ossetia and beyond. In writing it, it is envisioning combat in today's turbulent world, with high tech equipped units fighting each other or skirmishing with lightly-armed insurgents. This is a world of helicopters and assault rifles, night-vision devices and satellite uplinks, special-forces units and sophisticated terrorists. Many battles await from a few characters a side to whole squads upwards to a major battle.  Digital Download HERE.

The Boojum and The Snark – Scenario 22 (Mini Game).

A multi-player game of USE ME 15mm Sci-Fi. In this game the proprietor of 'Stinky Bobs Bait Shack & Sushi Bar' has organized a hunting competition, the winner of which will get a years worth of cheap watery beer without extra added water … all they have to do is bring back a trophy from the rare and elusive Boojum that lives in the fetid Okelly Dokelly Sewage Marshes next to his establishment … whilst avoiding being head-butted ortrampled by the Bok-Wango! beasts … poisoned by the Lurid Lurgy Beetle … or eaten by the fearsome Snark …  A mini-game for one to several players with rules for creature location and discovery.  Great fun.  Download by CLICKING HERE.

UM001 USEME 15mm Science Fiction

I would like to tell you all something of the origins of what became the USE ME system for miniature wargaming; it will give you an insight into why we decided to publish the system for others to make use of as well as for our own use. In 2009 the lads at Alternative Armies decided to play some 15mm games (sci-fi, fantasy and some renaissance scenarios too) to get us used to and into the whole scale and feel of 15mm miniatures. We did not have any rule systems of our own to use for this scale or settings and though we looked at some of the other systems out there, with a view of getting one or two in to try, we decided in the end not to. Not because we only wanted to play our own rules, far from it. I had played over thirty different games that I had no hand in designing. Rather it was due to the fact that we were all knackered (read this as 'beat' if you are American!) and we wanted something easy, something super fast, something generic and something that we could learn in five minutes and get a game in when we had twenty minutes spare. Oh and some of us wanted a system that was open enough for our children or total new comers to the hobby to be able get into and not be scared off by. I drafted up the original concepts and soon we were lasering, lightening bolting and glorifying ourselves with a lot of satisfaction. Over time this original draft was tinkered with and other variants produced for other settings and scales until back in May 2010 it was suggested to me that we might want to let others in on this 'secret' engine that our own lads were using for just about anything that wasn't Flintloque or The Ion Age. I agreed and here we are.  (Gavin Syme GBS).  Digital Download HERE.

Thanks for Reading and enjoy the scenarios.

GBS

New Grand Howitzers and Dead Rams in 28mm for Flintloque and Historical

Now that I have managed to stop the Klorzids from biting me (plus several asks for a Flintloque article featuring them..maybe...) it is time for new releases for Flintloque, Slaughterloo and historical wargaming in 28mm.  This time we have three new artillery pieces and a pack of casualties.  Check out the Artillery of Valon and the Battlefield Accessories or read on to see and learn more.  Thank you.

The Grand Howitzer is a medium to heavy artillery piece for your Ferach Empire, Grand Alliance or Witchlands forces.  They fit right in with the rest of the artillery park and would be in game terms a 4 Inch to 5.5 Inch Howitzer.  Go HERE.

59527 Ferach Grand Howitzer

This is a 28mm scale white metal artillery kit for the Ferach Empire. Comprising four pieces which are a grand howitzer barrel (4 to 5.5 Inch bore), a cannon body and two wheels. Easy to assemble and once assembled measures 50mm long, 40mm wide and 30mm tall. Suitable for use in any 28mm Historical system or in Flintloque and Slaughterloo. 3.50GBP per pack.  You can also purchase the gun assembled and painted. Go HERE.

59528 Alliance Grand Howitzer

This is a 28mm scale white metal artillery kit for the Grand Alliance. Comprising four pieces which are a grand howitzer barrel (4 to 5.5 Inch bore), a cannon body and two wheels. Easy to assemble and once assembled measures 50mm long, 40mm wide and 30mm tall. Suitable for use in any 28mm Historical system or in Flintloque and Slaughterloo. 3.50GBP per pack.  You can also purchase the gun assembled and painted. Go HERE.

59529 Witchlands Grand Howitzer

This is a 28mm scale white metal artillery kit for the Undead of the Witchlands or if you wish for a damaged look to your cannons. Comprising four pieces which are a grand howitzer barrel (4 to 5.5 Inch bore), a cannon body and two wheels. Easy to assemble and once assembled measures 50mm long, 40mm wide and 30mm tall. Suitable for use in any 28mm Historical system or in Flintloque and Slaughterloo. 3.50GBP per pack.  You can also purchase the gun assembled and painted. Go HERE.

We have many other artillery pieces in our range including a Mortar and a Three Barrelled Cannon which can all be seen HERE.

Our other release into the World of Valon for this week is a casualty pack which will be of interest to players of Joccian Rats and Hob Goblins of Taffsea...dead riding rams!

53017 Dead Rams

This pack contains four 28mm scale resin riding rams in two different poses.  Suitable as battlefield scenics or as casualty markers for your characters or cavalry units.  The riding ram is the same animal used by the Joccian Hussars and the Taffsea Ram Raiders in their cavalry formations. One ram has collapsed to the ground its legs spread out and the other is on its side and both have saddles and tackle on them.  4.00GBP per pack and you can also purchase this pack pro-painted.  Go HERE.

Check out the riders for these woolly and fierce creatures.  56532 Joccian Hussars and 56535 Joccian Command as well as 56536 Joccian Engineers.  There is also 5106 Taffsea Ram Raiders box set plus 53010 Taffsea Colonel.

I am toying with a Flintloque article titled "Rambo'ne" which features these dead rams as well as other dead animals and rules for taking flesh from them in play and also recovering them for later trading.  It applies to all armies on Valon..well except the Undead.  A generic addition for your scenarios with a built in scenario featuring Joccian Hussars.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS