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.

Wednesday 23 March 2016

First Look at the Pudigroan Command Set for Flintloque

Welcome to the last, yes the last, first look article for the Ruined Kingdom of Pudigrochumsberg army for Flintloque and Slaughterloo.  Come April 2016 every code and the divisional army pack (DAP) will be released. Following up on the Line Infantry, Casualties, Rache Carabiners, Dragoons, Artillery Crew, Characters and the three barrel cannon we have two more codes to come.  These are Cuirassiers (no first look post sorry!) and the epically excellent Command Set which is the focus of this article.  You can see everything already released on the Pudigroan page of our website HERE.  

We want to show you these great 28mm original miniatures.  This time as 'greens' hand made sculpts by Sam Croes our lead designer. Here is the code, description as well as images of the leaders on foot and mounted of this burned and blackened land.  The Pudigroan Command Set!


56587 Pudigroan Command Set
This will be a set of 28mm white metal Dogman miniatures which will give you the foot and mounted officers in all units for your new force.  These are meant for use with the rest of the Pudigrochumsberg packs but they will also serve well in Confederation of Finklestein collections and also revolutionary older style Ostarian Empire forces.  Sculpted by our lead designer Sam Croes there are six new different models in this set and two from the existing range (Horses from 51514) and they will be available as a full set (8).  As with all our Valon miniatures we will offer the additional choice of purchase pro-painted and based by our team of ladies here in Scotland. 




Every command set we made for The World of Valon follows the same methodology in that we have four officers on foot and two mounted.  Those on foot have one of four dominant personalties to reflect officers in Slaughterloo.  These personalties are Aggressive, Cowardly, Heroic and Dastardly. The mounted officers are always a 'colonel' grade and a 'general' grade for maximum usefulness in an army. The poses are from left to right in the foot officers photograph firstly the 'Cowardly' type of officer with hand out stretched and a pistol, the 'Aggressive' type of officer at a full run teeth bared and sword raised.  Next is the 'Heroic' type of officer sword held aloft and arm raised preparing an order to attack.  Then the 'Dastardly' type officer who is rubbing his hands together plotting how to get his troops killed and himself glory.  The mounted officers from left to right are firstly a 'General' with raised sword and periwinkle wig and secondly a 'Colonel' holding the reigns and with a pistol in his hand.  All are wearing Pudigrochumsberg uniform and most wear a tricorne hat.  These Dogmen are all 'poodle' types making them the same average height and bulk as an Elf.  They are character filled miniatures who would also make excellent additions to an infantry, cavalry, artillery or any other section as well.

I just have to say that having held the actual sculpts before they went for master molding that the Aggressive Foot Officer is I think one of the nicest Flintloque miniatures ever!  Such a radical pose and possessing a vitality that makes you think he will begin running at any moment.  I look forward to seeing it in white metal.


Go HERE to see the whole Pudigrochumsberg Army.

So roll on April when the following codes will be released during our Salute Season of annual promotions, offers and fun!

56587 Pudigroan Command Set
56592 Cruellest DeVille Cuirassiers
56604 Pudigroan Dog Division (DAP)

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Tuesday 22 March 2016

28mm Mortar Set now in resin and new lower price!


Alternative Armies is delighted to announce the re-mastering into resin of our 28mm scale resin and white metal mortar kit.  This model can be used in straight historical wargaming 18th and 19th century or in our own fantasy Napoleonic rule systems such as Flintloque and Slaughterloo.  Go HERE or read on for more information. 


59520 Mortar Set
This 28mm miniature set contains all the pieces required to assemble a specialised artillery piece; the mortar.  A large mortar suitable for all armies and gunners.  Contents are mixed resin and white metal as follows.  Wooden Mortar Bed and Mortar Barrel both in resin.  Wooden Wedge to position firing angle and small stack of three fused shells for diorama or basing use both in white metal. This is a re-mastered set and to reflect this there has been a lowering of the original price  by approx 15% to the new price.  As with all our range of artillery pieces you can purchase it assembled and pro-painted by using that option on the product page drop down menu. Requires Assembly. Multiple firing angles dependent on position of wedge under barrel. 


Suitable for use with any Flintloque, Slaughterloo or 28mm scale historical army.  See it and the rest of our Artillery park HERE.   It is priced at 6.00GBP.

Boom, Boom, Boom!


If you are a keen gunner make sure to check out our new three barrelled cannon!  Follow the Artillery Park link for more information and images.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Monday 21 March 2016

Fighting Fungi by Ganesha Games final releases at Alternative Armies!


With the 'Hammer and Forge' Kickstarter pledges now mailed out across the whole world, those for the UK and Europe coming from Alternative Armies, it gives me great pleasure to announce the release of the third and final wave of Fighting Fungi. Manufactured by Alternative Armies under agreement with Ganesha Games the whole range is now on their page on our website HERE. No worries about stock and availability. 


Wave three sees all the exotic cavalry plus the monsters and the biggest miniatures added as well as a third value pack saving 15% and the ENTIRE range in a box with a 20% saving and free postage too! 








Here is a list of the releases in this third wave and until the end of this month all of these singles plus those of the second wave of releases are at 10% off list price. They are shown in the order below above in images and below this list are images of the complex miniatures with pieces contained and scaled alongside a 28mm Fungus warrior.  HERE.

FIFU 014 Spore Monster 
FIFU 019 Fungi King 
FIFU 020 Worm Rider 
FIFU 022 Pillbug Heavy Cavalry 
FIFU 023 Grasshopper Rider Light Cavalry 
FIFU 025 Swamp Fungus 
FIFU 031 Sporebomb Launcher Fungus 

FIFUW03 Fighting Fungi Value Pack Three (7 miniatures) Save 15% 

FIFW00 Fighting Fungi Full Range Box (36 miniatures) Save 20%   Free Shipping!








Fighting Fungi is now complete and our thanks to Andrea and the rest of Ganesha Games for choosing Alternative Armies. Get yourself some unique fantasy miniatures. After all where else will you find a Fungus Warrior riding a mass of worms? Go HERE.

Thanks for Reading, 

 GBS

Friday 18 March 2016

Fauster and Von Smultz characters released for Flintloque!


The Dogman Army of the Ruined Kingdom of Pudigrochumsberg for use with Flintloque and Slaughterloo is heading towards its completion in April 2016 and while there are more releases to come including a Command Set and Heavy Cavalry plus of course a whole Divisional Army Pack (DAP) this time we are all about characters. Alternative Armies is proud to present two named character miniatures for use in your Pudigrochumsberg line infantry!  We also have the game rules for them and some brand new artwork by Edward Jackson too.  Go HERE or read on for details of our last World of Valon release for March 2016.


56125 Fauster and Von Smultz
This pack contains two different 28mm scale white metal Dogman characters to be added to our skirmish sections or your army. Meant for use with the rest of the Pudigrochumsberg codes but they will also serve well in Confederation of Finklestein collections and also revolutionary older style Ostarian Empire forces.  The characters are Major Fauster who is holding and sword and pistol an officer of the line infantry who has a wooden leg and Private Smultz who is holding a musket with bayonet and charging forward tongue lolling in the breeze. Both are dressed in the uniform of the 56589 Pudigrochumsberg Line Infantry miniatures.  Go HERE.


Read on for game statistics for Flintloque and Slaughterloo and Artwork too.

Flintloque Rules


Major Fauster
A soldier since the weeks before the Ostarian invasion of his now destroyed homeland, Fauster has survived injuries that rightly should have killed him.  He is missing his right leg and several fingers from his right hand due to three musket balls fired into him by an Ostarian Chasseur.  While on a filthy cot he heard a voice, from a disembodied source, offering him life in return for service.  He agreed and now his darken overlord keeps him safe in return for taken lives he desires. In play Fauster is an Experienced / Regular Dogman armed with a sword and a standard pistol.  He moves at 25% less than regular rates due to his missing leg but all shots aimed at him suffer a -20% modifier due to strange headaches those aiming at him suffer.  On the first turn of a game randomly roll 1D10 and count the resultant number of enemy characters in from the left of the table.  The selected character must be fought and killed by Fauster in game over all concerns.  If he fails to kill the target Fauster suffers a -1 to Steady in the next scenario he features in.  With these abilities and weapons he costs 37 Points.


Private Von Smultz 
Depite seeing some truly horrific acts of war and barbarity at the hands of the Ostarians, this soldier is constantly happy and wags his tail in joy each and every day.  This makes him popular with his fellows and well liked by his commander but its a time bomb waiting to happen for Von Smultz is actually...very deranged. In play this character is a Raw / Regular Dogmen armed with a Standard Musket and bayonet.  He acts as normal in play until the first time he is engaged in melee combat.  Whither he wins or loses roll D10 after the first round of melee and on an odd result he goes into a state of shock and falls to the ground twitching for the rest of the scenario. On an even roll he goes crazy and will attack the nearest character (friend or foe) continually until he is killed or knocked out.  With these special rules he costs 8 Points.

These characters feature in the 5028 Beir and Bones Flintloque 3rd edition book.

Slaughterloo Rules


Fauster and Smultz
(Special Character Officer)  (65 Points)
Dark Overlord of Madness: Leading from the front and with his somewhat deranged fellow next to him Major Fauster and Private Smultz are inseparable.  Bound by an evil oath to a dark lord which keeps them alive despite constant danger in return for carrying out horrid acts upon demand.  In battle any unit making ranged fire against the unit these two miniatures are a part of suffers a -2 to its Fire Mod due to headaches that seem to come from nowhere.  You may only use these two characters in one unit of your army and they must both be in the same unit.  They are at home in Pudigrochumberg Line Infantry units but may be used with any Dogman race that is allied infantry unit.  Remove a trooper from the unit if the size maximum for the unit is going to be exceeded.

You can find 5030 Slaughterloo 2nd Edition on our website.



One of the most fantastic aspects of the World of Valon is the artwork which captures the imagination and the humour of the setting so well.  The talented hand of Edward Jackson (Jackorc to his friends!) has illustrated all of the Flintloque 3rd edition books and Slaughterloo 2nd edition as well as other titles too and while his work can be seen in print we wanted to show you two pieces which are brand new.  These are taken from a range of artworks for the Pudigrochumsberg Army depicting the miniatures and also conflicts.  Above is Major Fauster and Private Von Smultz.  Great work Edward!

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Monday 14 March 2016

Fighting Fungi by Ganesha Games wave two released!


Back in September we announced our arrangement with Ganesha Games to fulfil backers orders on their 'Song of Blades Hammer and Forge' Kickstarter.  You can read about that on our blog. As well as this project we are now geared up for direct and trade sales of the Fighting Fungi range of 28mm scale white metal miniatures.  The first wave of releases from the range came out last time and now we have the second wave online on Ganesha Games page on the Alternative Armies website.  The miniatures are manufactured right here in Scotland and shipped worldwide so no worries about stock or availability.  Go HERE.


We have split this excellent range into three waves and this is the second or middle wave.  The last wave will come out later this month so look out for this.  While the first wave focused on your core warriors this second wave has more warriors along with larger infantry and character cavalry.  The biggest and strangest models are in the last wave.  All the miniatures are online as singles and there is a value pack too containing one of each in this wave.  We offer 15% off the value pack and until the end of the month all the new singles are 10% off too!  Go HERE.


Below is a list of the codes released and if you wish to visit the Ganesha Games website for resources you can do that HERE.

FIFU 007 Archer
FIFU 008 Multi-Pose
FIFU 009 Matanagar
FIFU 010 Spell Caster
FIFU 012 Vampire Fungus 
FIFU 016 Greater Sporeling
FIFU 017 Spore Monster Heavy Infantry
FIFU 021 Flying Eye Fungus
FIFU 028 Rotting Heart Mushroom Master
FIFU 029 Reaper
FIFU 033 Andrea Underfoot and Davey Snoutbottom
FIFUW02 Fighting Fungi Value Pack Two (13 miniatures) Save 15%

Its a great time to be a fantasy wargamer!

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Friday 11 March 2016

56124 Dead Horses 28mm scale released!

“We lost our last mounts as we neared the river. Though frozen by the deep chill of the weather we had hoped that our horses would carry us safely across to the other side to escape our pursuers; but it was not to be. Though short of both powder and shot I thought it a mercy to end my beloved Genevieve's suffering with a pistol to her skull. I owed her that after these long weeks in the retreat, my life owed to her several times over. We must move on and it doubt we will reach the river before the enemy catches up. Its been mere minutes but already the horses stiffen and freeze. Will we be the same before the sun falls this day?” 

Alternative Armies is proud to present a release that like our three barrelled cannon is ideal not only for Flintloque but also for any historical wargame system as well. A pack of dead horses which have given their last in any of a million different battles. Go HERE or read on for details. 


56124 Dead Horses 
This pack contains two different resin 28mm one piece miniatures depicting dead horses. These are useful for any 28mm scale army which uses horses in its campaigns. The horses are laid on their sides with saddle and tack along with saddle bags and roll. They are wearing face covers to protect against adverse weather conditions. Ideal for casualty markers in Flintloque or Slaughterloo or as diorama pieces too. Price is 4.00GBP per pack. Go HERE


We also have other Battlefield Bits and Items including Dead Riding Pigs, different Riding Rhinos, Camp Fire, Debris, Musket Pack, Tankards, Pistols, Exotic Fruit and much more to choose from. Have a look HERE


Remember that all of the Dogmen Cavalry codes from singles to packs to units and divisions in the Ostarian and Finklestein armies are currently 15% off list prices due to the addition of the new resin horse to the codes If you wish to expand your Dogmen then have a look HERE until the end of this month. 

Lastly we have other releases this month including a character pack for the Army of Pudigrochumsberg and the second and then final phase of the Fighting Fungi from Ganesha Games too. Watch out for news on these as the month progresses. We may also have a first look at a coming Flintloque set too! 

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Tuesday 1 March 2016

This month all Flintloque Dogmen Cavalry codes on special offer with new resin Horse!

The Ostarian Empire is the largest single power in Urop with more troops than the Confederation of Finkelstein and the Elves of Armorica and yet it loses battle after battle.  Why is this when its soldiers are capable and its generals at times inspired?  The answer is that the Dogmen of Ostaria are ruled over by a mad man; the Emperor Klaffenhund.  The Ostarian Army is powerful and as long as its ruler stays off the field it has a chance of beating the Usurper Mordred.


Welcome to March 2016 and all of this month Alternative Armies is celebrating spinning up resin horses for all Dogmen codes in the Flintloque and Slaughterloo range by taking 15% off the price of codes.  All of the cavalry and command (any codes that use the riding horse) along with Divisional Army Packs in the Ostarian Army and the Confederation of Finklestein are on offer.  Click on the links to see each army.  Prices are shown reduced and you need only add to cart.


Above is an image of the new horse.  Its just like the original white metal horse except we adjusted the pose of the legs and re-positioned the tail.  It is still the same big horse and all the riders fit it well. The limber horse remains in white metal.  Here is a list of the codes now with the new horses and on offer:

56508 Dogmen Cuirassiers
56509 Dogmen Hussars
56524 Dogmen Lancers
56510 Dogmen Command
56537 Dogmen Engineers
LE032 Prince Swartzenbarch
56600 Ostarian Dogman DAP
56601 Confederation Dogmen DAP


Thanks for the emails from Flintloque players about this new horse.  I think it came out rather nicely.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS