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Tuesday, 19 December 2023

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2024

Our last message of the annum is here and the whole team here in Scotland wishes you and yours a most Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May 2024 be a great year for you all.  We have ceased production and shipping for some rest and some celebration too.  We will re-commence on 8th January 2024.  During the down time the annual maintaining is being done.  In the meantime here is what is what is of interest at Alternative Armies

To celebrate the festive season we have an automatic (no code needed) discount of 20% off any order placed until 8th January when we return.  All orders placed will ship out from then too.  You will get the EH08 Flower of Evil II free in packages.  Any number of orders of any value and the discount is ON TOP of any reductions shown on screen such as those in the DEALS AND OFFERS PAGE.







During 2023 we released (created new or restored classics) over 200 poses of 28mm, 15mm and 6mm including an entire Asgard range, a new range of 15mm English Civil War, 28mm Ion Age, 15mm Ion Age, Flintloque, High Fantasy and Mighty Monsters.  You can trace all of these back on our NEW RELEASES pages. We aim to beat that next year!

A real treat on our BLOG for 15mm science fiction wargamers.  The miniature dreams of Golgothaprime a fine painter, player and instragram guy.  See and read his stories along with pictures of his collection of miniatures.


Check out the Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar 2023 for loads of free material for Flintloque and other games hosted by the Mad Welsh Wizard.  Including two pieces penned by Gavin Syme (GBS).

A shout out to Studio Maxi as well who has been putting his talented brush to work this year on miniatures not seen in decades.  His most popular painted sculpts by view were the Creatures of Chaos Range featuring sculpts by Nick Bibby, Jez Goodwin and John Blanche from the start of the 1980’s.

Lastly we can confirm that the third Furioso book by Steve Danes will be releasing January 2024.  Furioso English Civil War will be in print and a digital download. While it goes with our 15mm Renaissance Range it works for several scales.  There will be a couple of starter armies with free element bases too.

Enjoy the merriment and as always thank you for your support of our family run and fair paying company.  See you all in 2024!

Thursday, 14 December 2023

The 15mm miniature dreams of Golgothaprime...

There is a fine fellow on Instagram with the handle @golgothaprime who has not only a lovely set up of 15mm science fiction miniatures and terrain but also a talent for fiction too.  By kind permission on our blog we present the collected short fictions and pictures of his collection which features miniatures from the 15mm Ion Age Range, the 15mm HOF Science Fiction Range the SHM 15mm Range  and the Loud Ninja Games Range too.  Enjoy the tales of future adventure!

Every tale is presented with its pictures and if you have any questions do ask us by commenting on the blog post.  Click on each picture to make it larger and follow links if interested.

(Ikwen from Loud Ninja Games as well as Octopods, SHM Aliens and the Xin from The Ion Age)

KEFALOS TRADE GUILD

When humanity first left Earth, guilds had been around for four millennia. By then they had fallen out of favour, but as humanity started to spread through the galaxy, guilds became popular once more. By banding together in guilds, resources could be pooled, more could be achieved, and members could find sources of co-operation and connections in systems far from home.

Some guilds are singular, like the Star Charters' Guild, while others can be found in multiple iterations, like the Trade Guilds. The older Trade Guilds mainly focus on logistics and brokering multilateral deals, seeing to it that the flow of goods never breaks down. Their fees are low, but with the enormous amount of deals being handled, they will still amount to massive gains.

While many Trade Guilds are peaceful, some are quite ruthless. They are constantly looking for newly colonized systems where they can force bad deals on colonists in need. In return they get the rights to natural resources, indentured servants, or the right to plunder any ancient ruins on the colony world. They do not care if their resource extraction creates environmental catastrophes, and if quotas are not met, they come to get it in force... The Kefalos Trade Guild is one of the most ruthless guilds, which has driven their business to the absolute fringe of the galaxy. They have recently been spotted on Golgotha Prime, and rumour has it that they are involved in some shady business...

MISSION BRIEFING

"Do not point that thing on me!"

"Hey, do not point that thing on me squidface!"

"Easy now, easy now... Would you please both lower your weapons?", Vorpal Dink asked. "I think that these aquatic fellows need our help to get something back which is theirs".

"Lower your weapon, Hruk. Mister Dink and his associates are to help us bring back the Seer stones that Kefalos Trade Guild stole from us. We have found out that they are to deliver them to a secret site here on Golgotha Prime."

"We have mapped their previous flight routes to the facility. It's always good to know what the Kefalos are up to", Captain Biro interjected. "Anyway, they are quite predictable in their movements. There is a specific point where we can station one of us with an EMP missile launcher. It should bring the craft down without damaging the cargo."

"The EMP blast ought to disable the craft's tracking signal, which should give us time enough to get the stones and get out", Dink added. 

"It ought to", Hruk replied. "But let's be prepared if it doesn't."

"Yes, let's be prepared", Captain Biro agreed.

BATTLE OVER THE SEER STONES

"You said you had a plan. You said you could bring down their craft softly. You said we could get our Seer stones!"

"The EMP blast did bring it down softly."

"But we haven't found the craft yet! How do you know that the Trade Guild hasn't tracked it down?"

"Because we have ears listening in on Guild communications, and the chatter on the comms tell us that they are still searching. Now, look what we have here!"

"The craft! And inside ...the Seer stones!"

"Excellent, let's get out of here before ...what's that sound?"

The jungle had fallen silent, except for a rhythmic thudding and the whirr of servos. Suddenly an automated voice boomed.

"SCAVENGERS, STEP AWAY FROM THE CRAFT! KEFALOS TRADE GUILD IS HERE TO BRING THE CONTENT TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNERS!"

"Thank you, but the stones are with their rightful owners now."

"NEGATIVE! YOU ARE NOT NEODYNE SECRET RESEARCH FACILITY! RETURN THE STOLEN GOODS OR FACE OUR WRATH! YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO COMPLY!"

Captain Biro sighed and unholstered his beam pistol.  "Here we go..."

K0NG Mech Suit

Originally created to haul heavy goods in hostile environments, the K0NG Mech Suit has seen a lot of use on the galactic frontier. Most of the newer models have forgone the use of mech pilots, opting for an onboard AI instead, but the option to use it as a mech suit is still there.

With its enormous strength and durability, the Kefalos Trade Guild prefer to bring K0NG Mech Suits when they are to collect outstanding debt or unfilled quotas. The K0NGs are intimidating and able to forcefully haul away whatever cargo the guild deems appropriate to take as compensation.

Should anyone still pick a fight with the Trade Guild, the K0NGs massive strength, heavy armour (and the retrofitted, shoulder-mounted Hyper Blaster) will tip the odds in the Trade Guild's favour...

Trade Master Ko-In Zedel and M1-K Bot

Known for his utter ruthlessness and the trail of destruction that he and his retinue has left along the colonies on the galactic fringe, Trade Master Ko-In Zedel has piqued the interest of many parties with his arrival on Golgotha Prime. Ostensibly Zedel has come to establish a Kefalos Trade Guild outpost, but vile rumours about more nefarious motives follow him...

Something else follows him as well: his M1-K Bot. Modelled after a terrestrial simian, the M1-K scampers around its master, fetching things, acting like a pet. The M1-K's AI seems severely limited, often failing with even the simplest tasks in front of whomever Zedel is meeting. But this is all a ruse. Under the official AI, there is another, much more potent hiding.

When invited as a guest, Ko-In Zedel always bring the M1-K. When they are alone, the bot is sent out to map the facility, spy on its inhabitants, slice computer systems and bring the data back to Zedel. The bot is extremely quick and nimble, able to move through vents, dodge security systems and guards. Should it be discovered, it can deploy the energy weapon hidden in its tail, which can either fire deadly bolts of energy, or be used to stun the enemies in close combat.

Should a target need to be eliminated, a toxin pack can be installed in the M1-K's tail. Sneaking up on the unsuspecting victim, the M1-K can deliver untraceable and delayable toxins, which make the death seem natural. But as potent as the M1-K is, Zedel is using it sparingly, so it doesn't get discovered for what it actually is...

(Post Apoc Warriors from the HOF Range)

SCAVENGERS AND A FAILED COLONY

Sometimes the worst things happen. The colony fails. The experimental reactor explodes spectacularly. The world gets invaded by hostile forces. 

The tech archaeologists release unspeakable horrors from forgotten vaults. 

But humans exhibit an extreme survival instinct, and as long as a smaller group survives even a 'lost world' can harbour human life perpetually.

Sometimes the survivors can reclaim most of what was lost, other times the world regresses to a lower level of technology which can be sustained on its own. 

Sometimes, there is nothing to reclaim, the former colony is wiped out, or the hostile invaders drive the survivors into the wild. 

That's when humans usually return to their origins. In ancient times, humans were hunters and gatherers. 

In the ruins, they tend to turn into raiders or scavengers, either fighting and stealing to survive, or sifting through wreckage and ruins for usable things.


Bands of scavengers and raiders have been sighted in the Badlands of Golgotha Prime. 

While some kind of cataclysmic event wiped out everyone from the first colonization millennia ago, rumours speak of the loss of an enormous colony ship during the first modern colonization attempt of Golgotha Prime. 

Supposedly the remains of that ship can be found in the Badlands, but its exact position is only known by a group of raiders calling themselves "Children of Thunder". 

As a rite of passage, anyone joining the Children of Thunder must travel to the wreckage of the colonization ship, traverse the labyrinthine corridors and reach the reactor, where they shall submerge their heads in coolant. 

The stories say that they gain mystic powers after this, but the only thing that has ever been confirmed is that they all gain electric blue hair...

---

For those interested the game system used in the scenarios here was Five Parsecs from Home by Ivan Sorensen of Nordic Weasel Games.

There will be another article from @golgothaprime about his love of 15mm gaming and his table and this will come in the new year of 2024!

Thank you for Reading,

GBS

Monday, 4 December 2023

Last Posting Date 2023 and Winter Mega Event finishing

The Christmas season is underway and the big days and holidays approach fast. A quick message from Alternative Armies to let you know our last posting dates for 2023 as well as that our Winter Mega Event ends in 48 hours time plus our December 2023 painted in stock update. 
 
 
Friday 15th December is our last shipping date for orders internationally and essentially for domestic UK packages too. As we do every year any orders not ready in time for this date will be held by us until after the new year to avoid any possibility of ‘loss in the system’ which, while rare, is sad when it happens. We will add a wee extra gift in any of these ‘held’ orders themed to what was ordered. We are always fair. If you wish to ask about the status of your order then contact us on sales@alternative-armies.com with your name and order number. We are happy to help. 
 

The biggest event of the year ends shortly at 9pm UK time 6th December 2023. If you fancy a treat then head on over to the website and browse. We will do our best to get all orders out as quickly as we can. Winter Mega Event has two days to go.  See all the detail and releases of the event on our BLOG in one place.
 
 
Our team of ladies here in Scotland has updated our Painted in Stock array of miniatures. Ready to use painted and based figures done by hand from across our ranges. Flintloque and Slaughterloo as well as Ion Age (28mm and 15mm) plus Erin Celtic Myth and High Fantasy. We also have some HOTT 2nd edition Armies and painted starter sets for Laserburn and Patrol Angis too. Most items are stock level one and what you see is what you are buying. Honest prices and tabletop quality. See the pages at the bottom of the left hand menu of the website. 
 

It has been a very busy year filled with new releases and restored classics as many ranges expanded and some popped back into existence. See our New Releases for the last twelve months of action. Have a dig through and see if you missed anything. Over 200 codes covering 28mm, 15mm, 6mm and many genres of Fantasy, Sci-fi and others. 
 
 
Lastly a wee mention of the Flowers of Evil. Until 8th January 2024 you get EH08 Flower of Evil II free in all shipped orders automatically (totally free and you need do nothing but order anything which is physically shipped). This free model came about from requests to follow up on EH01 Flower of Evil which was free a couple of years ago. See them in our Deals and Offers page. 
 
Thank you for all your custom and best wishes from the Team here at Alternative Armies

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

NB1 Barbarian by Nick Bibby returns 54mm scale masterpiece..with free new weapons

What is good in life...to collect and paint miniatures and to see them arrayed before you. Tis true! This then is the most fitting thing to be Alternative Armies final release of 2023 and the final release of the Winter Mega Event’s 80 new and restored codes.  Now in the Asgard 1980’s array is a one off 54mm scale Barbarian figurine by Nick Bibby.  A really special piece on a bigger scale.

In addition to the restored Barbarian we have four new weapons in that scale sculpted this year by Sam Croes our lead designer which we are putting in with the Barbarian for free.  You can get them on their own as a pack or singles if you desire too.

NB1 The Barbarian:  A metal 54mm scale figurine supplied in four pieces (barbarian, base, sword, scabbard) supplied unpainted and unassembled. Dating from 1982 and not in production for many years we are delighted to see it return.  Supplied with NB1W a set of four new weapons for free giving you options for arming and outfitting your barbarian.

NB1W Barbarian Weapons Set:  Newly created in 2023 in 54mm scale four metal weapons suitable for NB1 The Barbarian (or any large 28mm scale creature or giant).  The four are a dagger, a Great Axe, a Scimitar and a Mace.  Choose from the set or singles. 

We have no other 54mm scale codes and it is not likely we will get any more but we have a number of BIG models in our ranges which would look grand on your gaming table.  There is Jigoku the Giant Oni in the Kitton Range, the GNATS giant mecha in the HOF 15mm Sci-fi Range, the Wyvern Kildane in our Monsters Range and of course Durzum the Giant Troll in the Orc and Goblin Range.  All of these are 100mm or more tall.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS (Gavin Syme – Creative Manager)

Thursday, 23 November 2023

Creatures of Chaos range returns Asgard 80’s Fantasy by Bibby, Blanche and Goodwin

Not often is it possible to return to the world something wonderful in its complete form but this is such a day. In 1982 Asgard Miniatures released the Creatures of Chaos Range sculpted by Nick Bibby, Jez Goodwin and John Blanche.  It is now on its own page of the restored Asgard drop down menu of the website.  Our set was painted by the talented Studio Maxi Costales bringing them to life.

Nine different...very different...miniatures as singles or as a value set of all nine of them with a saving.


CC0 Creatures of Chaos Set (9 Miniatures with a Saving)

CC1 Running Hornhead  (35mm total height)

CC2 Many Armed Skulker (30mm total height)

CC3 Hawk Footed Stabber (40mm total height)

CC4 Hoofer Bladesman (30mm total height)

CC5 Crabclaw (40mm total height)

CC6 Trunkhand Tuskoid  (40mm total height)

CC7 Four Fang (35mm height, 45mm long)

CC8 Hideous Octopoid (28mm total height)

CC9 Crested Weremonkey (23mm total height comes with separate wings)

Sculpted by Nick Bibby except for CC6 by John Blanche and CC7 by Jez Goodwin he of The Barbarians Range.


A majestic (and also the largest single piece metal miniature we produce) often listed alongside the Creatures of Chaos figures is the D6 Dragon Lizard Juggernaut by Nick Bibby.  A real centre piece for an army it is 110mm long.  

A source of real price for Alternative Armies was the restoration of NB2 Dragon which was issued initially as a 200 only limited run of boxed metal models (over half a kilo of metal).  We have a couple of these limited kits on site.  This famous Dragon is now a resin kit at a much lower price and an easier build...plus a lot, lot lighter.  

Thanks for Reading,

GBS (Gavin Syme)

Tuesday, 21 November 2023

Dismounted Elf Lancers released for Flintloque

Final new releases for Flintloque and Slaughterloo for the year are here. Adding to the Elves of Armorica and their battles in the Witchlands or elsewhere we have a much requested code and a remastered one too. If you use lancers in your games or wish to expand your sections with them without a horse then these are for you. Get into Flintloque with 5024 Escape the Dark Czar beginners set with ten resin miniatures and core rules and scenarios. 
 

Four new miniatures giving you command on foot for Lanciers Rouge or other mounted Elf troops and an older miniature in new molds of a trooper armed with a musket. These slot right into General Saindoux survivors retreating from Moskova fighting the Undead of the Dark Czar. 
 

51054 Dismounted Elf Lancer Command: Four 28mm scale metal miniatures as a pack or singles supplied with free resin cartouche bases. 
 

51043A Dismounted Elf Lancer: A pack of four identical (or choose a single) 28mm scale metal miniatures with free resin cartouche bases. 
 

 
The classic 5002 Deadloque Set has been remastered and restored to the website with, for the first time ever, single pose choice option. Characters for your sections and units. These and the new Elves go well with 55508 Zombie Line
 
 
A solo play Flintloque scenario is in the works for late this annum and will be free on our blog (news when it happens) to download. Featuring the new dismounted lancers as well as Legion de Nain Dwarves ‘foraging’ for bread and other food who are discovered by a much stronger force of the 18th Foot Al-Garvey Goblins
 
Thanks for Reading, 
 
GBS

Monday, 20 November 2023

New 28mm Terrain the Al Garvey Goblin House

A new addition to the our large and growing array of scenics this time with a World of Valon release the Al-Garvey Goblin House.  If you have seen the Cryptmass House in the Christmas Range of 28mm and 15mm miniatures it will be familiar as it is the same building but forgoing the snow and festive items.  A great addition to your table for Flintloque and Slaughterloo.

59546 Al-Garvey Goblin House: Easy to assemble from five pieces of resin this little house is 100mm tall including the chimney and is right at home in Al-Garvey and Catalucia.  You can see Goblins of the 18th Foot defending it from the Ferach hordes!

This new release goes very well with our 59541 Bread Oven and the 59542 Wayside Shrine on your table.

The Cryptmass House is great fun as are the Snowmen and Festive Pucci among other things if you want to expand your miniature fun.  In 28mm and 15mm scales and there is an HOTT 2nd Edition Army too.

We have smaller scenics in among the Abandoned Beer Wagon and Barricades such as the Hand Cart with Load which is very useful.

This range of terrain works for Flintloque and Slaughterloo as well as any Horse and Musket game system and many fantasy ones too.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS (Gavin Syme)

Friday, 17 November 2023

Flower of Evil II any scale model free in all orders until 8th Jan 2024

Welcome to the new free in any shipped order period!  We say goodbye to the free AS023 Info Bot which has now joined the regular website for sale in the Alternate Stars range and say hello to the most requested new free code of the year.  A sequel to EH01 Flower of Evil we present EH08 Flower of Evil II.  An any scale miniature.

We like to keep the fun in tabletop gaming and to this end as our customers will know and eagerly await we give something away free in packages. No limit on the number of orders, no minimum size of order. No catch at all except that your order must be for a physical item (no Digital Download only orders sorry).  Until 8th January 2024 the Flower of Evil II will be included automatically.

EH08 Flower of Evil II.  A one piece resin miniature which is 47mm in total height.

What can you do with a Flower of Evil?  A lot it seems from space opera sci-fi to post apocalyptic as well as eldritch horror and fantasy too in scales from 28mm to 15mm to 6mm.  Here are some examples of the Flower to give ideas.

A Fomorian from Erin Celtic Myth shows you can have such a curse from the gods on your mythic Irish table.  High Fantasy Dwarves are well suited to hunt such creatures as this plant in their mines.

Not all of Valon is civilised like Armorica where the Elves rule but a pistol will work all the same upon a Magike Plant if one is found...

There is much alien life in the Prydian Precinct and not all of it is the Shia Khan Empire's troops.  Grima Combat Robots in 28mm scale and 15mm scale will shoot on sight of killer plants.

Worlds of Fantasy have Monsters a plenty and marching armies of High Elves can face magic creations barring their paths too.

Perhaps the Flower was a creation of the Grey Aliens or it has been discovering on an alien world by this scout car from Bradley Miniatures 15mm range.

Summoned from beyond by an Inquisitor from the TOR Range (warning Adult Theme Miniatures) as an Eldritch curse or a giant towering plant in your 6mm collection.

We hope you like this most asked for new free miniature and have a good weekend.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS (Gavin Syme)