Friday 26 February 2016

SLAP Miniatures Kickstarter

I’ve been running SLAP Miniatures for some 3 or 4 years now, having taken the initial decision to produce niche figures for table top gamers and painters, the sort of things most manufacturers would not consider. The main reason was that such figures were not available to people and therefore I’d be plugging some missing gaps in the market. (Some of you might even have heard about the infamous Pewter Ponies…a rather niche subject if there ever was one).

This business plan has worked out fairly well so far, there has been just enough interest to keep me busy and to make a little profit, but it seemed to me going forward that I should also be aiming at a bigger audience of table top gamers. I still desired to create something that would also be of interest to me personally, and having bought and enjoyed gaming with 15mm figures recently I decided that was the route to take! As a result of this new initiative, Dropship Horizon who are one of my favourite websites, have generously allowed me to post here.

I’ve just launched a new Kickstarter: “Global Defence Forces – 15mm Sci-Fi Table top Miniatures” which I’d love for you to take a look at, comment on, and hopefully join in with.



It’s a result of wanting to do something a little different with 15mm figurines. Unlike the larger scale plastic kits of soldiers where posing is easy to do, 15mm figures generally come as one piece castings, and often limited to about 10 or so poses, sometimes even less. To counteract the issue of many figures being a duplicate of one another I’ve created a starting army with 60 different poses available straight out of the box!

As rifleman are more often than not the mainstay of any army I’ve created 30 of them, trying to get in some classic poses from a well-known range of figures I used to collect and love (the older metal Cadians and Mordians) plus hip firing and aiming poses. 


And then to mix in with your squads of rifleman are what I’ve dubbed specialists. All the specialised weapons and equipment any infantry force might need such as rocket launchers, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, chainswords and communications equipment.

So far I’ve sculpted one of each specialist to show what the range will be likeand there will be a further 24 specialists produced as part of this Kickstarter launch.


So ultimately even with larger armies, every squad has the possibility to appear unique once you’ve bolstered your rifle squads with the specialist troopers.

As you might have guessed, there is a little background ‘fluff’, a timeline of events and even a game behind these figures. My cousin, Michael Keown (who is an avid gamer himself) who I have been in league with has been working on a full-blown game and set of rules - needless to say when we get it finished you’ll be sure to hear all about it!

On the Kickstarter site there are some more photos of unfinished figures from other factions I am working on, and additional information regarding the future of this range if you’d care to take a look.

Stuart PowleySLAP-Minis

Free PDFs from The Ion Age


This week presents two really fun items from The Ion Age. Both the Xin and the Prang have been treated to free PDF force lists to go with their recent releases.





A free expansion by PDF for Patrol Angis and today is the day. The Ion Age is happy to present The Prang Raiders in Patrol Angis as a four page PDF which contains fiction, statistics, tables, rank structure and optional test rules along with some photos using the miniatures. You will need the Patrol Angis book but aside from that all you need is in the PDF. 




You can download the free PDF from our Dropbox account by clicking on this link HERE. Enjoy!



A free expansion by PDF for Patrol Angis and today is the day. The Ion Age is happy to present the Sanbao or Trade Fleet Troops of the Xin Hegemony in Patrol Angis as a five page PDF which contains fiction, statistics, tables, rank structure and optional test rules along with some photos using the miniatures. You will need the Patrol Angis book but aside from that all you need is in the PDF.




You can download the free PDF from our Dropbox account by clicking on this link HERE. Enjoy!

Free Worldwide Postage This Weekend



Alternative Armies


From now until early morning 1st March 2016 (when we switch to the new month) we are having a free worldwide postage on all orders over 10.00GBP in product value! This applies to Alternative Armies, 15mm.co.uk and The Ion Age on all our 6mm, 15mm and 28mm miniatures and game systems in fact everything on our websites you can put in your cart (not downloads). All you need to do is add to the cart and the website will do the rest. 


Combined Orders
So if you like Flintloque, High Fantasy, Ganesha Games and other 28mm scale ranges check out Alternative Armies. If you like 15mm scale including HOT Fantasy, TTF Fantasy, HOF Science Fiction, Laserburn, Altuos Renaissance, Pony Wars and ACW, Isarus Dark Age, Medus Medieval along with 6mm sci-fi and a lot more go to 15mm.co.uk. 


Our three websites are having a free postage event. If you place an order for more then ten pounds (10.00GBP) the shopping cart will automatically give you free shipping worldwide. As many orders as you like across one, two or all three of our websites at www.alternative-armies.com, www.15mm.co.uk and www.theionage.com. While the vast majority of customers are happy to place orders in this way we know that some of you would like to place a combined order by email and receive a paypal invoice to pay. This is totally fine with us and here is what to do for a combined order by email. Firstly choose your point of contact. Is it Alternative Armies, 15mm.co.uk or The Ion Age? Choose one and email us onsales@alternative-armies.com, sales@15mm.co.uk or info@theionage.com. 


Make your email title 'combined order' and give us your name, your shipping address, your paypal email address and a list of codes and quantities that you want to order from across our ranges. We will then reply with a total and a paypal invoice. You will get a free monthly miniature if you have Ion Age codes and you will get any other items offered free if applicable from the other websites if you have codes from its ranges in your order. We typically reply quickly but be assured you WILL NOT miss the free postage on your combined order as we will honour it as long as your email comes in before the offer ends. Speak to you soon. Thanks. 


Gavin Syme (GBS).

Friday 19 February 2016

More Skullduggery Press faction previews

Here are a few more of the retro advertisements for the forthcoming ranges from Skullduggery Press.
Looks like they have a really interesting and unique catalogue on the way!










Thursday 18 February 2016

Skullduggery Press factions

Skullduggery Press have revealed a few pictures of the factions they'll be making in their 15mm SciFi range.
These are a series of adverts that are inspired by the old school ads that appeared in Dragon back in the day.
With the previews of the ship's released last month, this looks like being a range that is going to set new standards in 15mm sculpts! 
Exciting stuff!









http://skullduggerypress.com

Tuesday 16 February 2016

Fantastic Horizons - Battle Valor Games





Battle Valor Games LLC

It is not often that I get to report a completely new, never been released before line of 15mm fantasy miniatures but today i get to do just that. Battle Valor Games just sort of popped up out of nowhere for me and when I went to their site, I expected to find a few offerings. Was I ever wrong.


Frigian War Mammoth and Crew

Battle Valor Games is a fantasy miniatures company that appears to have hit the ground, not just running but bounding. With a rules system in the works, they have several ranges of fantasy goodness well along and are adding new ranges and new packs to their existing ranges. 

Orcians Axemen with shields (35) - $23.00

Moving on past their admittedly derivative faction names, I found a range of fantasy figures that strives to present a number of options familiar and new in a style that seems cohesive and well planned. They have orcs, dwarves, elves and all the usual suspects along with plans for many others that do not quite sit in the tidy check boxes we have seen before. There seem to be a number of races of men in their plans and the Frigians (picture below) are a good example, sitting somewhere in between historical vikings and fantasy barbarians.
Frigian Swordmen with shields (35) - $23.00

Whether or not you have any interest in a new set of rules, this line of miniatures promises to have a huge variety of new figures to add to any army or to start new ones. I look forward to watching the growth of this line and to see their world expand.

To check out more pictures of released miniatures, soon to be released and upcoming faction descriptions go - HERE

Saturday 13 February 2016

Wulfshaede Miniatures - AI Mech Faction Kickstarter

Kicking off a range of 15mm sci-fi wargame miniatures with a faction of Artificially Intelligent mechanical beings.

Our friend Sean Harrison has kicked off his own project to get some of his own creative designs out into the world. Sean has sculpted 15mm projects for Loud ninja Games (Yan'drassi) and ClearHorizon Miniatures and in other scales for many different companies, including Games Workshop and Privateer Press. He is a master of the craft and is skilled in sculpting, model making, and even the production side of the process (molding and casting). 

This extensive knowledge and my own personal experiences with his work, as well as the endorsement of my friend and fellow miniatures maker, Harold Crossley (ClearHorizon Miniatures), leaves me with absolutely no doubt that this project will be a giant win for its backers. 

Eli Arndt
Loud Ninja Games


Wulfshéade MIniatures 15mm Sci-fi


The AI Mech faction is the start of a new range of 15mm science-fiction models in the style of my favorite modellers; Kow Yokoyama, Makoto Kobayashi and Kazuhisa Kondo.

The range will be expanded in the future with both new and larger models. I also have planned Kickstarters for several other Alien races, some of which are already being sculpted.

The models will be cast in metal, the larger Heavy Support Tank in resin.



Here's a pic with a size comparison of each mech body next to one of Clearhorizon's Helldiver miniatures.

To read more about the project and to look at all the models involved, visit the Kickstarter page - HERE







Thursday 11 February 2016

The Ion Age - Xin Trade Fleet Troops, Warrior Monks, Youxia, Battlesuit and Platoon released!


The Xin Trade Fleet codes are all now released! A platoon pack with extra free unique miniature, four packs of trade fleet troops, warrior monks, wandering knights and a battlesuit.  Space Opera Chinese.  Nothing else like them out there in 15mm scale. These are all of our releases for February 2016.  Also you get a free Monkey Bot in every order place plus Reward Points.  Click through to see all and read more.  To quote a phrase 'You Buy Now!'  


For details and information, click - HERE


Thank you.  GBS

Monday 8 February 2016

Say Goodbye to the 15mm Charger APC and Maginot Defence Tower



Yes say goodbye to the popular HOF27 Maginot Defence Tower and the HOF28 Charger APC models in our HOF 15mm Science Fiction range. They will be withdrawn from sale at the end of February 2016. But wait you say! Why withdraw them when everyone loves them? Well we have decided to re-master both of these models and then release them once more into the HOF Range in the late spring. Its a great time to do this as we plan to expand the propulsion options on the Charger and weapon mount on the Maginot too. Don't fret though since these new versions will be 100% compatible with the original models. The new versions are also designed by Sam Croes who came up with the originals.







If you want to get your hands on the current Charger and Maginot before they become extinct and sought after you can go HERE.

Both of these models feature large in the Human Colonial Armies of the Alien Squad Leader rules system and are part of the sub-set of the HOF Range that is Security Force Alpha. Click HERE to see all the SFA codes. The SFA range contains more than fifty different poses of 15mm white metal miniatures and vehicles allowing a wargamer to assemble a cohesive force for their campaigns. A whole integrated range within HOF which will be expanded even more.

All across the Human Colonies and on Terra itself there is a need for security after, during and even before the high rollers and expensive kit arrives in the battle zone. Security Force Alpha is just that force filling in as police, paramilitaries, mercenaries and planetary militias too. They are the faceless grunts that do the thankless jobs needed by all those who govern, control or enforce. Use them as you will from the near to the far future! 


Thanks for Reading,


GBS

Thursday 4 February 2016

First Look at the 15mm Xin Trade Fleet coming releases!

The Xin Precinct is made up of the eight central star systems along with a number of smaller outposts all contained with a constricted pocket of stellar space that has only now become accessible once more after a thousand years of isolation caused by the detonation of the Aldan Crucible during the first Khanate War. Contained by Dolorous Clouds that resulted from the detonation which also decimated the Prydian Precinct there is now a slim open passage for navigation by Ancep Drive. Our knowledge of the Xin comes from archives that are from ancient times and also a more recent partially successful expedition mounted in 4303IC by the Starvaulters and of course from the Great Trade Fleet dispatched to Prydia in 4327IC. Commanded by Grand Admiral Hong Tu Quin the hundreds of vessels that make up the fleet have visited a third of the systems in the Precinct thus far. Trading in exotic goods, rarities as well as information and technology they have made allies and some enemies.


While the hegemony maintains its own imperial army and fleet officially under the command of Princess Xin Meiying the grand admiral has his own military that is embarked upon his starships. Collectively known as the 'Sanbao' the gifts or protectors we refer to them as Trade Fleet Soldiers for the most part. Refer to other entries in AAT Series 77 for the Sanbao in detail. These troops are very effective and have aided our regiments in actions against the Khanate Empire. The Xin hegemony is centred on the three core planets in the central Xin Precinct system of Jinhong. From the lotus throne on the planet of Wei the princess rules in troubled seclusion while the planets of Zhao and Yan are in an uneasy alliance. We know of the rebel Prince Tang and his efforts to marry the princess though these actions seem to be taking place in the holdings of all three planets of the Jinhong system outside of the core system. All three core planets have the other systems in the Xin Precinct split between them. Refer to other entries in AAT Series 77 for details.


The Council of Addans has deemed the Xin Trade Fleet has a nominal ally though it is up to each Knight General and Marcher Baron to establish their own relations with the vast fleet as it passes through. As yet Grand Admiral Hong Tu Quin has not responded to the ongoing campaign in the Carmarthen cluster.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 77, New Glastonbury, 4335IC 




On the 11th of February 2016 the Ion Age will be releasing an entire new space opera Chinese themed force into the 15mm range. This article gives you the first look at all the new miniatures along with a list of the coming codes and some fiction too. These miniatures are all sculpted by our lead designer Sam Croes and are white metal typically in one piece. Here is the list of coming codes with the number of contents. Visit the Xin page HERE.


IMP30 Xin MonkeyBot (Free in Every February Order)


IAFP06 Xin Trade Fleet Platoon (20) 
(IAF113-IAF116 + Unique Free Officer) 


IAF113 Xin Trade Fleet Rifles (5)
IAF114 Xin Trade Fleet Support (5) 
IAF115 Xin Trade Fleet Assault (5) 
IAF116 Xin Trade Fleet Command (5) 


IAF117 Xin Warrior Monks (3) 
IAF118 Jade Ape Battlesuit (1) 
IAF119 Xin Youxia (3) 


Exciting! Here are pictures of these codes for you to look at each with its code and title and a short fiction extract placing it in The Ion Age. Click on the images to enlarge them.













The Xin Trade Fleet has a military arm under the direct command of Grand Admiral Hong Tu Quin. They are called the Sanbao or 'protectors'. These troops commonly called 'Xin Trade Fleet Troops' are a separate entity to the hegemony army in their own Precinct and their primary role is the defence of the vessels that make up the fleet. Second to this role is the protection of the merchants and their stores in any locations where they choose to trade. They have the additional task of armed action against threats which the Grand Admiral deems worthy of destruction. An example of this would be the encounter with the Shia Khan in the Neraga System in 4332IC. Typically deployed at the five member fire-team, platoon or company level alongside the merchants the Sanbao make use of Kuijia MkIII powered armour which is roughly comparable to older Alwite in protection but with less bulk and features a compact and variable jump jet system. They are highly mobile troops and a primarily energised plasma weapon system is used by them. The Gonglu Blast Rifle alongside an SMG version which is often wrist mounted to leave the hands free and a heavier support version make up the bulk of Sanbao weapons. Xin troops favour powered blades of many kinds and often prefer close range combat situations. They make use of robotic auxiliaries brought across from cargo loading and management duties for battlefield use such as the Onyx Monkey and Onyx Serpents. The use of dual purpose support continues with the Jade Ape battlesuit which is an effective war machine and cargo loader both. Highly motivated they are a match for any Muster regiment and have proven capable of defeating the Retained Knights of the rebel Baron Everest in 4328IC. While Sanbao are the mainstay of the Xin military in the Prydian Precinct they have with them other warriors including heavily armoured Monks and far ranging Youxia.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 77, New Glastonbury, 4335IC 







Battlesuits are a common sight on the battlefields of the Prydian Precinct and indeed since the resumption of the war against the Shia Khan Empire the number and types of battlesuit have increased greatly. The largest size of powered armour which is worn rather than being piloted the battlesuit gives mobility and great strength to a soldier. The grand trade fleet of Hong Tu Quin has its own battlesuits in the ranks of the Sanbao the most common of which is the Guaiwu II or 'Jade Ape'. Larger than a Duxis Battlesuit but with near as much mobility and faster than a Havelock with less fire power the Jade Ape it is a suit with two purposes. It is primarily a manual work suit for moving and stacking cargo as well as assembling encampments with its secondary role being in combat. Fitted with a three barrelled heavy Gonglu support blaster on a tracking mount it can deal with enemies at distance. However the Jade Ape comes into its own in a close combat situation where it would give good trial to a Duxis bladesman variant. Its upper body is very powerful and its large fists can smash or grip with huge force. It is deployed in ones or threes alongside Sanbao platoons.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 77, New Glastonbury, 4335IC 




The Warrior Monks of the Xin Precinct are common in the forces of the Trade Fleet or the 'Sanbao' often being deployed to toughen up a hard combat situation or to show some muscle in trade negotiations. To enter the ranks of the Warrior Monks a soldier must first pass a test given by an experienced monk which is both physical and mental then take an oath of loyalty. Passing these gives entry into training which prepares the new monk for wearing the super heavy Kuijia MkIII powered armour which is roughly comparable to the Noblesse worn by Desteria Knights. Weapon training to handle the Chan Quing or 'Double Ended Monk Spade' which combines a powered blade at one end and a Gonglu heavy blaster rifle at its other end. Lastly training to move quickly in the armour. Once fully trained the Warrior Monk is part of a brotherhood that sits apart aboard the vessels of the fleet. They are often deployed in small fire teams.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 77, New Glastonbury, 4335IC




The Youxia are men and women who have devoted themselves to a search for adventure through continual wandering. They have a superficial resemblance to our own Knight Errants though only superficially. There is no quest or baronial loyalty for a Youxia and no requirement to aid a fellow Knight in peril. These highly trained and equipped Xin warriors serve no specific master but follow their own code centred around the idea of righting wrongs where ever they may be found. Travelling with the Grand Trade Fleet has given Youxia access to the stellar systems of the Prydian Precinct. In return for the transit they do offer their services to Grand Admiral Hong Tu Quin when he asks for them. They wear personalised Kuijia MkIII powered armour and carry Gonglu Blasters and other weapons favouring exotic energy blades such as twin hook swords. Skilled warriors to be treated with respect when encountered.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 77, New Glastonbury, 4335IC




The arrival of the Xin Trade Fleet commanded by Grand Admiral Hong Tu Quin in a star system often brings great excitement to the peoples who live on the planets there. The hundreds of vessels that make up the fleet will divide up and visit every world with smaller shuttles and landers descending to the ground before laying out their goods to entice and to trade. While the troops of the fleet the 'Sanbao' are only used when a threat is encountered there are other more discrete means of self defence. Foremost among these are the Onyx robots such as the Onyx Monkey. Programmed and built to move around cargo, to retrieve orders and to climb into places Humans would have a problem reaching there are hundreds of non-sentient bots aboard every Xin vessel. When trouble is encountered a robot such as the Onyx Monkey can be switched to a different mode and controlled by Xin merchants, officials or commanders to fight an enemy. The monkey bot has a long tail it uses for carrying but it can act as a whip as well. A hidden but valuable asset when the time comes. 

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 77, New Glastonbury, 4335IC 


Missed the announcement on IMP30 Xin Monkey Bot? See it HERE.


Thanks for Reading,


GBS

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Brigade Models - No Polish Vehicles.

Brigade Models has released three new vehicles.

PolishSupportRelease

Two are fire-support variants with a heavier gun in a fixed superstructure. The ‘Mlotek’ model has a short barrelled howitzer, while the ‘Lucznik’ model has a high-velocity light anti-tank gun.

SF15-1303f

The third new model is the ‘Szlachta’, an armoured command vehicle.

All three variants are on our website now.

SF15-1303f – Suwalska ‘Szlachta’ Command Vehicle – £8.00 
SF15-1303g – Suwalska ‘Lucznik’ Anti-Tank – £8.00 
SF15-1303h – Suwalski ‘Mlotek’ Fire-Support – £8.00