3D Roleplay Con V 2025 the After Action Report

The fifth annual 3D Roleplay Convention took place over the weekend of 4th May 2025 and was a roaring success!  Alternative Armies sponsored again this year with prizes for the winners on the day from our 28mm Monsters and Creatures range. Here is organiser Hank’s account of the event.  If you have a tournament or convention and would like to ask us about sponsoring please make contact by email on sales@alternative-armies.com and tell us about it.  We have a budget set aside for this.  Take it away Hank and count us in for next time!

Saturday morning started bright & early with several volunteers getting up & converging upon the Peninsula Odd Fellows Lodge to set up nearly 20 large gaming tables. The terrain was set, armies unpacked & dice ready to roll as convention goers poured in around 9AM. Friends old & new arrived & we kicked off the convention with two fantastic games, Kryomek & Man O' War respectively. Early in the game of Man O' War, an Imperial great ship was set ablaze from stern to mast and an epic wizard battle ensued. Powerful greatships & other nautical war machines battled over the next four hours, with many shouts & laments on how the battle proceeded. 

Kryomek saw the Nexus marines make an impressive breach into an infested colony on planet Orion III, driving back the initial alien enemies as they emerged from the colony. The marines were able to immobilize a kryomek tank positioned on the northwest ridge, though it could still fire. Things started to go wrong for the marines as their Nexus battle tank fell to an alien bio-acid weapon wielded by the warmaster. Several helions then closed on the eastern group of marines & were able to drive the human menace back. By the end of turn 6, the marines were scattered & had not destroyed any kryomek eggs or rescued any colonists. So, the game ultimately went to the alien player.

From there, a hybrid WFRP 1st edition & WFB 3rd Edition game called "Dawn of the Golden Spawn" started & several players were tasked with Slaan warbands navigating their way during the spawning rituals as they witnessed the hatching of the sacred spawning of the cycle. Concurrently, a game of 54mm Inquisitor took place & folks seemed to really enjoy themselves. 

In the afternoon, there were lots more games played: some RPG's such as Shadowrun and other wargames like Rogue Trader with the "Battle at the Farm" classic scenario. There was also some WFB 2nd edition with the classic scenario "Terror of the Lichemaster", which was really fun. There was a tunnel mining siege game called "Sapper" that used the Siege rules supplement for WFB 3rd edition. Then, we had a local game creator demo his game Rumpus which folks spoke very highly of after playing. We ended Saturday with one of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay's first one-shots called "The Black Knight" from an old Dragon Magazine issue. We capped off the first day with a great session at the local watering hole. Many beers were had & new friendships made!

(Rogue Trader era Space Marines led by 28mm Ion Age metal miniature IA001 Retained Knight)

The second day of the convention was more relaxed & people played several pick-up games throughout the morning. Folks played an original scenario by one of the GM's of WFRP called "The Red Baths" which was visually and narratively stunning. Then, the massive centerpiece of WFB 1st Edition, "Ziggurat of Doom" took everyone's attention as dwarves battled goblin hordes in a last stand on an ancient ziggurat. One of the best looking tables of the convention! Finally, there was another session of "Sapper" & then a glorious session of MERP (Middle Earth Roleplay) from the 80's I.C.E. edition. High-powered minions of Mordor duked it out with a demi-god like wizard and colossal snake in the northern moores. 

All & all, 3DR Con V was a massive success. So many friends, laughs, and unforgettable gaming experiences. Everyone is talking about next year's con already!

All of Jes Goodwins 1980’s Orcs for Asgard are now restored!

Ka Boom!  It has taken a year and happened in three parts but this day sees the completion of the project of restoration of the entirety Jes Goodwin’s classic Orcs made for Asgard in the early 1980’s.  A total of forty infantry Orcs, four Wolf Rider Orcs and now finally a cannon and its two crew.  Every miniature is a single and all painted by the talented Studio Maxi (who even did free hand designs on shields!).  

As well as being single poses there are saver packs and now the massive Orc War Tribe which has every single model in the range within it.  Here are the details of the last releases in this project.

ORG1 Orc Cannon Kit (Body, Wheels, Hoops, Barrel and Cannon Ball)

ORG2 Orc Gunner with Match

ORG3 Orc Gunner with Rammer

ORP03 Orc War Tribe:  Get the ultimate skirmish force of forty seven metal 28mm scale Orcs with four cavalry rider Orcs on Wolves and a Cannon Kit.  The entire Jes Goodwin range of Orcs from Asgard.  It has a ten percent built in saving.

All the images of the Orcs are from the talented brush hand of Studio Maxi who has really brought them to life including hand painted shield motifs and more.  You can see how they scale next to our own Crystal Empire Elves (1993) as well as Human Militia from the Fantasy Warlord Range (1990) and Jes’s excellent Dwarfs (1985).  The Orcs vary in size from the Great Orcs (OR1-4), Orc Trackers (OR5-8), Orc Soldiers (OR18-21) and Cave Orcs (OR9-12) for example; fitted to their roles.

By request we have added the option to all of the Orc Wolf Riders (OR25-28) to get the rider and wolf or just the wolf on its own.  The wolf is among the nicest examples of its type of the era..a real fierce beast of teeth and fur.

Alternative Armies is committed to restoring all that we can of the Asgard ranges and Tabletop Miniature ranges as well.  Thus far we have restored most of the 15mm Historical Ranges as well as Laserburn and Asgard Sci-fi in that same scale.  We have brought back the Dragon Lizards as well as Space Marines by Nick Bibby and his massive Dragon too.  Almost the entire FM Fantasy Range is back in the world.  The process continues in 2025!

Thanks for your Time

Jes Goodwin Centaurs restored added to the 80s 28mm Barbarian Range

The good work of restoring the classic 1980’s high fantasy ranges of Asgard Miniatures proceeds at Alternative Armies with two more requested poses by Jes Goodwin. These followed up on his restored Barbarians Collection and fit right in with them. These lovely examples were painted by the talented Studio Maxi Costales who has done such sterling brush work on so many returned classics. In the woods below with our useful Handcart behind them.

Part of the Fantasy Monsters (FM) Range of which we have now restored about eighty percent of the one hundred poses each of these Centaurs is part horse and part man standing about 40mm tall.  Have a gander at the FM range for all manner of monsters and creatures.

Shown for scale DA18 High Elf Adventurer from the Dungeon Adventurers Range which is 28mm tall.  The new codes are FM99 Centaur with Bow and FM100v2 Centaur with Spear which follow up on FM98 Centaur with Sword.  These are our last restored releases for this month.

One of the first collections Alternative Armies returned to the world was the twelve pose strong Barbarians by Jes Goodwin.  These are offered as singles and two different sets of all twelve.  The first set gives a small saving and the second set gives you FL24-01 Midsummer Druidess for free included (one of the FL24 Winter and Summer Heroines set).

Thanks for your Time!

Adventurers Party 1993 by Andy Cooper remastered returned to website

We are delighted to present returned to our website the ten poses of the Adventuring Party sculpted in 1993 for Alternative Armies by Andy Cooper.  Along with remastering them we now have them in new pictures and they are as singles and a set of all ten.  See them along with Evil Adventurers, Halfling Walking Party, a Wizards Progress, Deadly Foes, Classic Fighters and more.  Great for any game system in 28mm scale.

FL22 Adventurers Party:  Made up of the original codes of FL13 and FL14 you can enter the dungeon or the wild woods with Fighters, Thieves, Cleric, Bard, Barbarian, Half Orc and Female Halfling.  Metal miniatures in 28mm scale in the 90’s style.

Save with the set of all ten or seek out the singles as codes FL22-01 to FL22-10 such as FL22-02 The Bard above.

Our ongoing process of offering all miniatures as value packs and singles is now just about complete on the Adventurers and Wizards Range which includes the remastered Winter Knight (FL10) on foot and also mounted on a superb armoured horse.

Right now we have not begun on the Dwarfish Host Range as it still has its original images with packs (choose singles within the packs) but we have refreshed the molds of the Dwarf Runic Golem.  This magic construct stands 65mm tall and is easy to put together.

Thanks for Reading!

Armoured Storm Giant remastered the classic Big Un by Tony Ackland

We are delighted to present one of the biggest metal models in the 1980’s Asgard array and certainly in the Fantasy Monsters (FM) Range.  Welcoming back the ‘big un’ remastered and added to as well as being painted by the talented Studio Maxi Costales.  Almost 90% of the range is now restored.  Below the Armoured Giant faces off against an Elf and Cleric from the Dungeon Adventurers 28mm Range.

FM39 Armoured Storm Giant:  This is a big metal kit which stands 60mm to the top of its head.  Wearing chainmail and cloth armour and a great helm he is in one piece with separate weapons. These are a scabbarded sword, a huge Axe and a mighty round Shield which are to be mounted as you please upon the Giant. Works in any scale of wargaming as large in 28mm, huge in 15mm and titanic in 6mm.

Originally sculpted by Tony Ackland this code has been remastered and newly sculpted Axe, Sword and Shield by Sam Croes replacing the degraded originals which did not survive remastering. Look to FM19 Storm Giant for the counterpart of this metal giant.

Have you seen the restored D6 Dragon Lizard Juggernaut which is the largest single piece of metal we cast?  At 110mm total length and sculpted by Nick Bibby it and its fellows are rather unique creatures as singles and a value set with saving.

Until the start of October the free new model in every shipped out order automatically is VNT54-01 The Icon (small).  It is added by us regardless of what you purchase and you can buy it or other sizes of VNT54 and you will still get it free.

Thanks for Reading!

F23 Wyvern 15mm Tabletop monster restored

A lesser Dragon the Wyvern has no arms and seldom breathes fire.  It is a flying snake with a bite of death.  This monster is common on Fantasy Battlefields and we are delighted to present back to the world a classic.  The 1980’s 15mm scale Tabletop Miniatures F23 Wyvern model. Now on the website.

F23 Wyvern:  A three piece metal miniature.  Body with separate wings.  It is 90mm total length and has an 80mm wing span when assembled.  Shown below alongside 501 Human Wizard and F24 Seven Headed Hydra to demonstrate its size.

This creature joins all of the other restored monsters and beasts in the Tabletop Miniatures 15mm Fantasy Range including Dragons and Arch Demon.  

If you like fantasy skirmish in 15mm scale this range has several super value packs of Human and Dwarf adventurers with many poses (they are as singles in their pack codes too).

Have you seen VNT33 Wyvern Kildane in our 28mm Monsters Range?  This much larger take on a Wyvern comes with a free Human Knight and has a 200mm wing span!

Thanks for Reading!

Asgard Orcs by Jes Goodwin restored part two OR25 to OR40

The time is here! Asked for and now on the website the second part of three of the total restoration of Jes Goodwin’s classic Orcs made for Asgard in the early 1980’s. Sixteen codes as single miniatures, plus get the wolves and riders as singles as well and a warband set of all with a good saving too. 

Painted by Studio Maxi with hand painted shields in the style that such superb miniatures deserve we present OR25 to OR40.  Wolf Riders for the speed as well as brutal Black Orcs and cowardly Slave Orcs and lastly the Clan Orcs. So much attitude and style in every one of them. 

These Orcs work really well in 28mm scale. Great for any system.  Every miniature has an image of its front, side and rear plus a height gauge as well.  

These follow on the mighty restoration of part one which brought you twenty four Orcs the bulk of the infantry.  Above is OR2 Great Orc Spearmen from that first lot of releases.

Some of the finest Dwarfs of the 1980’s also by Jes Goodwin. Singles and a full set with saving. 

The Dragon Lizards!  Sculpted by Nick Bibby for Asgard seven different creatures restored as well as a complete set with saving.  These 1980’s classics now also have the D7 Dragon Lizard Mount (good for any Human sized riders) on its own with saver options for units.

Alternative Armies is committed to restoring all that we can of the Asgard ranges and Tabletop Miniature ranges too. We have been at this for several years now and we want to thank all of you for your support and kind words in this mighty project. Part Three the final part of the Orc range will appear late in 2024 with a boom and the biggest value set of all. 

VNT2 Wraith on Pteradon a classic 28mm code now with wonderful brush work by Hackminipainter. Choose from the pack or parts of it.  More pictures on the site.  Watch the darkened skies!

Lastly and thank you for reading this far our Summer Sizzle Event will begin officially later this week.  No further releases until 3rd September but until then an automatic (you need do nothing but add to cart) discount of 20% off all placed orders.  Note this discount is on top of any discounts on products on screen like warbands and saver packs.  You will also get the last two any scale Devilish Imps automatically in all packages sent out too.

Thanks!

Sharkes Victory 1997 set remastered released and Flintloque news

Captain Sharke of the 105th Rifles is dead!  Or is he?  Believed murdered by the infamous Half-Elf Daniel La Roo the dashing raised from the ranks soldier is in fact still alive.  He is in hiding while secretly trying to foil a Ferach plot to assassinate the Iron Duke himself.  While Sergeant Harpy and the Rifleorcs mourn they are unaware of the danger posed to Wheeling-Turn.  Will Sharke save the day?

Originally released 1997 5004 Sharkes Victory was the first scenario set for Flintloque.  It contained a booklet of scenarios and special rules along with sixteen metal miniatures.  We have now remastered those miniatures and for the first time you can purchase the set with a saving or choose any single pose from it.

Lettered A to O we have Captain Sharke, Wheeling-Turn the Iron Duke, Sergeant Harpy, Augustus O’Toole, Colonel La Roo, Major D’Kless as well as foot and mounted Elves and Rifleorcs.  Useful characters for many other adventures as each comes with a resin base.

The original 1997 booklet for 5004 Sharkes Victory has been retired as it’s mechanics do not fit with Flintloque 3rd edition. Fear not.  In the works an overhauled and expanded booklet which will include all that was in the original by Marc Bacon with Mac Coxhead and more. The three scenarios updated to 3rd edition; new special rules and fiction too.  It will feature artwork by Edward Jackson (such as the above) and be published as a free to download booklet.

51024 4er Voltiguers: This remastered pack contains four different 28mm scale metal Elf light infantry armed with muskets.  These miniatures feature in 5004 Sharkes Victory and can be part of your Ferach sections too.  Choose from the pack or single poses within it.

54027 105th Rifle Skirmish: This remastered pack contains three different 28mm scale metal Orcs of the famous rifle regiment.  These miniatures feature in 5004 Sharkes Victory and can be part of your Greate Britorcn sections too.  Choose from the pack or single poses within it.

We like to give our customers a treat so there is always something free in every package shipped out by us here in Scotland.  Until August 5th it is part two of our Devilish Imps; four any scale miniatures.  Read about this in the ARTICLE.  Totally free in orders included automatically.

Thank you for reading and for supporting the largest range of black powder fantasy miniatures in the world.

Halflings Gnomes and Cleric Pt3 restoring Asgard 1980s Dungeon Adventurers

The third part of restoring the Dungeon Adventurers Range is here. Following on the Dwarfs and Elves we now have the Halflings, Gnomes and Human Cleric. Mainly sculpted by Nick Bibby for Asgard in the early 1980’s these metal 28mm scale miniatures are once more back in the world as singles. All examples painted by the talented Studio Maxi. These are the last of the DA range for now as we will switch back to Fantasy Monsters (FM) and Orcs (OR) for the rest of the season. 

 

 

This very large range has some ninety poses in it and we shall restore as much as we can over time. We are now up to thirty one codes including the Weapon Sprue. Here are the ‘new’ codes: 

 

DA22 Halfling Warrior 

DA23 Halfling Slinger 

DA24 Halfling Archer 

DA27 Halfling Adventurer 

DA28 Halfling Adventuress 

(Halflings are about 18mm in height and shown on 25mm square bases) 

 

DA31 Human Cleric 

DA25 Gnome 

DA26 Gnome Illusionist 

(The Cleric is 30mm tall and Gnomes are about 18mm tall; all shown on 25mm square bases) 

 

 

 

If you are keen on smaller characters for your games then have a gander at CA2 Halfling Walking Party a pack or singles of six different male and female miniatures including a magician. 

 

 

The Battle Crow! From the collection of professional painter Studio Maxi Costales here is his take on Babd Catha one of the Morrigan. Taken from the 28mm Erin Celtic Myth range. CM24-02 sculpted by Steve Trickett in the early 1990’s. 

 

 

We like to give our customers a treat so there is always something free in every package shipped out by us here in Scotland. Until August 5th it is part two of our Devilish Imps; four any scale miniatures. Read about this in the ARTICLE. Totally free in orders included automatically. 

 

Thank you for reading and for your continued support is keeping the golden age of British Wargaming alive and the metal flowing as it should.