Wednesday 22 February 2017

The Ion Age - Two 15mm Shia Khan Pioneer packs and platoon pack with free extra miniature released!

“Legion are bad enough. Let me beat on Maligs all year along instead of Legion. But those Pioneers they are way worse. They might not have those rigs the Nox have but those plates can still deflect a burst of Moth Rifle fire with no problems. I remember one time with the 658th a few months back. We were in this place, must have been a zero ball stadium or something, big and oval shaped with stripped out seats. They even had a burned out Happy Burger shack. Shame that, I used to enjoyed that gloop. Anyway there we were all set up nice and ready. No Anvils, Bodkins or Rons with us but command figured we had the Moth Type 12's with those 40mm grenades and our rifle rounds would be plenty. After all we had seen the six Tesserans coming down the bust up Rubbacrete strip towards us and we were just waiting. Fixed on the entry tunnel levelled barrels.

In they came. I saw the green suits, Medusa Legion, just for a moment before the comms signal to fire came. We opened up with everything and I watched the entry tunnel turn to powder and flame. Three seconds and we ceased. I expected green mist and nothing twitching but that ain't what happened, not at all. Turns out those alien scum bags had put in two Tesserans of Pioneers first and they had just sat down wrapped in those damn armour plates when we rained on them. Sure we dropped a couple of them but at that range and without AP it wasn't enough. As we reloaded they stood up and gave us a kiss back with a dozen Flora pattern grenaders. I lost some mates that day.

As I said Legion are bad enough but the Pioneers....screw that...that's a job for those shiny Retained lads!”

Majoris Killian Jones, Camarthen Prime, 4331IC



On our website at the end of last week and now with its actual release news we present all of our releases for February 2017. Two new 15mm Khanate packs and a new platoon pack with an extra free unique miniature. All building towards the next Patrol Angis book called The Khanate Return. Check out our blog article HERE to read all about the ideas and concepts going on with this title. Here are the details of the new releases and remember you get IMP42 Commander Gongji free in every order, worth 0.60GBP, automatically as well as your Reward Points on your account with us. Go HERE or read on for more.




IAF124 Legion 3rd Pioneers
This month the Shia Khan Empire expands again with a third code of 15mm Legion Pioneers in their distinctive Segmentum armour plates. This code contains eight new white metal poses composed of an Ordo (officer) in cloak armed with a Cupid 0.5Kw Pistol and Juno 2.0Kw Laser Rifle and seven different Discens (privates) armed with the Juno 2Kw Laser Rifle. Your core rifle squad. The suit worn by Pioneers lacks the reactive glimmer of Legionaries but has the same auto-aid ability and breather function plus the protection of the Segmentum armour plates. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as single miniatures or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 4.00GBP per pack.




IAF125 Legion 4th Pioneers
This month the command for the Khanate Pioneers is released. A code of eight 15mm Legion Pioneers in their distinctive Segmentum armour plates. White metal poses composed of senior officers, comms, banner bearer, medic and casualties too. Your command and personalities squad. The suit worn by Pioneers lacks the reactive glimmer of Legionaries but has the same auto-aid ability and breather function plus the protection of the Segmentum armour plates. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as single miniatures or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 4.00GBP per pack.





IAFP09 Pioneer Ordos Platoon Pack (with unique miniature) 
This platoon pack contains a full Ordos of miniatures as well as an additional free unique miniature found only in this code. An Ordos of thirty two Pioneer type Legionaries composed of four Tesserans of eight Segmentum armour clad Legionaries plus one Pioneer melee expert with powered sword. A full force for your wargaming table. This platoon pack is composed of the following packs: IAF012 Pioneers 1st Tesseran (Maia Mpis), IAF019 Pioneers 2nd Tesseran (Flora Grenade Guns), IAF124 Pioneer 3rd Tesseran (Juno Rifles) and IAF125 Pioneer 4th Tesseran (Command and Casualties). Lastly the melee expert Pioneer. The Legions of the Shia Khan Empire are the main fighting force of the Empire. Legionaries are their core who command themselves and oversee the hordes of Malig Space Goblins and instruct the hulking Warlords too. Organised into standard Tesserans (8 Troops) and Ordos (32 Troops) they are a flexible and effective fighting force. Legionaries are respected by the Retained, equals of the Muster and feared by the Planetary Militia. This code comprises thirty three different poses of 15mm scale white metal miniatures. You have the option of purchasing a pack or three packs with a 10% saving applied on screen. Supplied Unpainted and without Bases. Go HERE 16.00GBP




Noble Knight Games
Our North American Agent carries all of our products in all scales along with a lot of products from us and Alternative Armies too. This includes our entire 28mm and 15mm lines. So if you already use this great company or you want to since you are in the USA or Canada you can get your Ion Age products there. Browse from the main page link to all of our products on NKG. Go HERE.




Information Burst
The Xin have their month on our calendar and so we welcome the 42nd free monthly 15mm miniature and month of our little space opera setting. Commander Gongji is free in every order every time all month before being retired. This miniature is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value. It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website for this month only too before being withdrawn on the first of next month. We are into Year Four now and if you missed it you can see the Year Three Collection on the website. This month's miniature is a superb character by Sam Croes. Standing 17mm to the eye line it is a heroic officer for your Xin forces at the platoon or squad level. Armed with a powered sword. There is a growing page on the Ion Age website where the current and all former IMP series free miniatures are shown so that you can see what came before. Enjoy looking at what came before. This miniature is worth 0.60GBP. Go HERE.


Thanks for Reading,


GBS

Friday 17 February 2017

Free Worldwide Shipping to celebrate our Merger until 20th February 2017

Alternative Armies is delighted to announce that the merger of our sister site 15mmcouk back into our own online place is complete. All the fantasy, historical, science fiction and publications for 15mm scale are all now at home in the 'Our 15mm Ranges' list on our home page. It has been a complex and actually rather emotional process but tabletop gamers have been very supportive of our choice and the reasons for it. As a result we wish to reward this kindness and to celebrate the merger and so we have a Free WorldWide Shipping event (orders over 12GBP product value) now online which will end at 9am GMT Tuesday 21st February (we know we said Monday but this is to account for the time difference around the world). Go HERE and have a look or read on for more.




We now have a vast array of 28mm and 15mm lines to offer you from Flintloque to 28mm High Fantasy to Mythological and unique like Grinning Skull and Ganesha Games as well as 15mm in the forms of many historical periods and fantasy plus science fiction and Laserburn. Our pricing is excellent and during this promotion all you need to do is add to your cart and as long as your product total is more than 12.00GBP then postage is free worldwide. This is automatic. This is standard airmail and domestic postage and if you wish to add a 'signed for' option this remains at 10.00GBP flat charge. Go HERE.

Get yourself some campaign supplies for the early spring in 15mm and 28mm scale!




Additionally our sister website The Ion Age is also running this promotion with free postage on all orders over 12.00GBP so visit them if you love space opera wargaming and have a browse. If you wish to combine orders from Alternative Armies and The Ion Age by email then contact us on sales@alternative-armies.com letting us know who and where you are plus your code list and we will sort you out. Any emails which arrive before 9am GMT Tuesday 21st will qualify for the offer even if it takes a little longer to get the order processed and in place.




We will be shipping out orders all the way through this excellent weekend offer and then beyond it. We will then return to a new normal with our regular releases for many lines including Flintloque, Fantasy Monsters, HOT 15mm Fantasy, Sengoku and more.

Thanks for reading,

GBS

Thursday 16 February 2017

The Ion Age - The Khanate Return for Patrol Angis Ideas and Concepts



"A matter gateway is active on Carmarthen IV. Losses are mounting, send everything; everyone. Send them now. The Khanate have returned." 


That above is the line which began the idea which has now become 'The Khanate Return'. Later this spring in 2017 the third book in the Patrol Angis series of 15mm tabletop gaming will be published by Alternative Armies in The Ion Age. This third book will fully bring back in the enemies of mankind first introduced all the way back at the dawn of the 1990's; the Shia Khan Empire. I had always been interested in massively expanding the Khanate both in terms of the miniatures for them but also their lore and their story. After all just who are they? Lets learn a little more....


Shortly after I launched the new Ion Age and its website we released IAF006 Legionary 1st Tesseran, sculpted by Sam Croes, which turned to 15mm scale the 28mm miniatures we already had. This began the process which was building towards the coming book. Over the last three years or so we have released more Legionaries, Warlords, Nox and Pioneers plus Malig space goblins making an excellent force for the Khanate but all working towards a much larger goal. We will be releasing a lot more codes before, alongside and after the new book to make the Shia Khan a full all arms force in The Ion Age. What we have right now in February 2017 you can see on the website HERE.




This article gives you a look at some excerpts from the manuscript of the book as well as its general contents plus some extra special early looks at both concept art and sculpts which are coming up. We are at the point of playtesting the new troop elements and vehicles in the book and we expect to finish this during February all being well. We hope to have the book ready in time for the April offensive which we do every year. So what are these concept pieces first, second and third shown.





The first concept sketch shows you our idea for the MkII Psychoborg. Updating on the original robotic terror machine with a metal human skull and massive shoulders we kept the look but changed the style to make it better suit the newer miniatures which are coming beyond the original ideas. The Psychoborg is one of the two reasons that the Prydian Precinct came up with Battlesuits...to put them on an equal footing. These robots are twice the height of a man. This and the 'humanscare' ability of these robots which drives soldiers away in terror makes them formidable foes. We intend an easy kit with several weapon options and posable head. The second concept sketch is an experimental one for bringing in female characters to the Khanate Empire. Drawn in non battle dress rather than the full glimmer suit worn by all legionaries it shows the Elvish nature of Legionaries. Above her is a sketch concept of a maser weapon which we are considering putting into the statistics tables. The third sketch is now outmoded in that we have moved beyond this in our designs for the Khanate vehicles which will go up against our Adders, Mullo's and of course Taranis tanks. The 'bulbous shoe' design was replaced with a conjoined tri-wheel arrangement which better suits the narrative of the setting in that every soldier and every vehicle these aliens possess must be brought through a comparatively narrow Matter Gateway from far across the galaxy. The Matter Gateway is the central focus of this new invasion.





While we have just completed having a full 'Ordos' (platoon pack) for each Khanate troop type with a Pioneer Ordos we have now turned most of our 15mm scale concept sketches into miniatures which will be released across this spring into summer. No confirmed release dates at this time but as a treat here are a couple of photos of sculpts with a little information on each. 

Were you a fan of the excellent computer game 'Joust' way back when? I was. Our goblin Maligs love the crazy dangerous aspects of space opera warfare and as a result they have insane vehicles such as the Infernus Ball Tank with twin flame throwers and the Orba ball bike which is very difficult to control. We are ramping this up by another notch with the 15mm scale Skrak Terror Birds above. These vicious giant birds each take a single goblin rider into the fray...unless they decide to eat the rider that is. We will have a pack of these cavalry with bird only option plus a handler and nest pack too.

The second image shows you parts from one of the two portable weapon platform code sets which are coming for the Khanate. Operated by Legionary gunners the 'Selen' platforms are much like the Espaten ones for the Retained Knights in that they have options for different weapon mounts. These weapons include the Maia Cannon and the Juno Laser Cannon among others. There is also a second platform with a 'slaved' operator called the 'Hypnus' with several other weapon options.

Look for these codes and others for the Khanate from March onwards at The Ion Age.

But what about the book...the loved 'fluff' that consumes a thousand hours of my life each time it is published. What will be in the Khanate Return title? Read on in part two of this article below with excerpts of the fiction and a look at the working cover of the book. We then end with a little surprise.




A thousand years ago the Ban of Prejudice was lifted when in the climactic battle for Aldan IV the accursed Templars detonated the Aldan Crucible and in doing so created a both a dark age and the end of the Great Khanate War. Their matter gateway in the Aldan system destroyed the Shia Khan Empire had no easy way to reach the worlds that became the Prydian Precinct as their empire lay so far away that no Dragon Ship could navigate to that region of space without immense difficulty. Gradually the Shia Khan became a memory and then a legend held by folk as a tale and nothing more. 

Had it not been for the occasional wreak and discovery of artefacts they would have remained that way. Had it not been for Hugo Sevaris the Khanate would have faded away. But Sevaris became the most notorious traitor in human history when he used arcane knowledge to activate the matter gateway in the Camarthen star system.

Despite a desperate action in the deep Belkus Labyrinth the Camarthen Planetary Militia with the aid of the few hundred Retained Knights of Prydia on the planet could not stem a tide of Shia Khan troops which emerged from the purple light of the matter gateway. A civilian fusion reactor taken from a nearby city was detonated and the Belkus Labyrinth destroyed burying the gateway and those coming from it under hundreds of feet of stone and earth. A message was sent to New Glastonbury at the fastest possible speed.

"A matter gateway is active on Camarthen IV. Losses are mounting, send everything; everyone. Send them now. The Khanate have returned." 

It did not take long for the Legions of the Shia Khan Empire to dig their way to the surface and begin once more their determined drive to conquer mankind.

Knight General Obermann. Fleet Command. 4329IC




Amy Barker was terrified. She faced death and knew that her life was at an end. The last hour had been a fleeting panicked flight from an ever escalating battle which it was clear the Camarthan planetary militia were losing and losing badly. It was hard to believe that she had only been on this planet for two weeks and now she was alone, kneeling next to a reprogrammed fusion reactor that had only just arrived from Pelacan city. It had been by sheer chance that she had taken this research posting and also chance that she had ended up in this small sealed chamber while all those she had met since her arrival were either dying or already dead.

With a shrill note her com-tel wrist communicator burst into life. Amy pushed the small button on its side to accept the incoming private call. Immediately it's small speakers echoed to the rattle of gunfire and shouting voices. All those sounds had been blocked by the heavy door to the chamber in which Amy now knelt.

“Amy. Can you hear me? It's Professor Turner. You have to activate the overload circuit on the reactor. You have to do it now or all of his has been for nothing. Amy can you hear me!”

There was a pause as a voice shouting orders next to the professor made him stop momentarily before continuing. Amy opened her mouth but Turner continued first.

“Amy. You must do it, the Wicca Protocol must be implemented. They are nearly here. I can see them. I...”

With a howl of distortion the transmission cut out and a moment later Amy felt more than heard the booming echo of very nearby energy weapons fire. It made dust fall from the roughly hewn ceiling of the chamber, some of which landed in Amy's now filthy blond hair and also upon the squat frame of the reactor. She lifted her hand and let it hover over the inert flat display screen in the middle of the reactor's casing. Could she make herself, will herself, to press the button that would activate the already set programme to overload the portable fission reactor and create an explosion. She glanced at the door, the only way into the chamber. Outside that door was something supposed long vanquished but very real indeed. Forces unchained by their greedy and naïve curiosity. 

Looking intently at the cracks in her fingernails Amy held her hand steady but unmoving over the display. Her thoughts tried to rally, tried to overcome the rising blind panic that threatened to overcome her. She realised that her whole body was shaking and despite her best efforts she could not prevent the movement or even reduce it. Her mind continued to seek for a way out, an avenue of escape, but it was pointless. Professor Turner had been in the chamber beyond the one next to where she was. There was one door into each of those chambers and beyond that she knew were kilometres of tunnels before she could even begin the long ascent towards sunlight. She was trapped. Well and truly.

Amy was brought from her thoughts jarringly back to the present by a hollow boom that reverberated around the chamber. She looked to the door. Had it moved. No, she realised the rock wall around the door had splintered and been pushed towards her and she could see flames licking around the gaps. They were here and with tears steaming down her face Amy knew she was the only human now left in the Belkus Labyrinth. It was time. They would pay for the dead, for their needless killing. With that Amy strangely felt at peace. The choice has been made. She brought her hovering hand down hard on the activation stud and the display lit up. It was a short sequence and it had begun. It could not be stopped.

A thrumming drone began to fill the chamber as the reactor reached its operating levels and then began to exceed them at an increasing rate. Another boom followed by the crashing fall of rock threw Amy to the ground. With blood in her eyes she managed to rise to her knees as hulking shapes entered the scarred chamber. Amy knew only seconds remained and as they surrounded her and then the now pulsing and glowing reactor. Amy grinned through red rimmed teeth.

“Welcome to Carmarthen IV; you alien bastards. Your gonna' have a blast!”

The illuminated green digits of the display ticked down the final few seconds to zero and then near everything for twenty kilometres all around was vaporised into a heavily radioactive dust cloud.....




“Make your rounds count. Auto-Targeters off, I want manual sighting and aim for the upper chest and heads. We have one chance before they make haste for our demise.”

The ten Retained Knights, all that was left of the 6th Lance, were ready in a single line and the final reminder over comm link into their helms was not necessary. All had their weapons ready and aimed at the chipped rubbacrete entrance to the abandoned building. Once it had held children who had gone about their daily learning without knowledge that they would soon die and all that would remain would be faded pictures on grimy walls. The Retained knew that three Warlords were about to come through the entrance. Warlords, the toughest of the slave races used by the Khanate each with the might of five men and carrying guns that were the envy of portable weapon teams. Prydian remote drones had picked up the trio who were evidently not expecting to find enemies in the building. Even so Warlords were very hard to kill even with 12.5mm AP rounds from an Angis Rifle.

“Here they come. Take the lead one first'”

Stooping to get in the first Warlord entered the long dusty room its ten foot tall frame filling the whole entrance and the lowered barrel of its Maia Scatter Cannon noisily scrapping the floor. As it straightened up the next Warlord came in behind and as it did so the first alien saw the knights and immediately started to raise its weapon. Without a command the ten Retained opened fire. The air was filled with over a hundred Angis bullets which tore great holes in the Warlord's lorican armour and then into its body. The 12.5mm rounds detonated with a bang and then the Warlord's head simply exploded and it pitched forward into the floor with a wet crash. Behind the fallen foe the next Warlord had its Mars 20mm Chain Cannon almost to the right level to open fire and its multiple barrels were spinning. A number of the Angis round struck it and giant paused. The pause was fatal as the two Retained, one either end of the line, each armed with an Anvil 888 launcher let fly their own projectiles. They had waited until the first enemy had dropped and the two TX9 Hollow Charges, essentially just really big 60mm bullets, hammered into the second Warlord just as its finger activated the chain cannon. Its left arm was thrown away and its right leg blown off at the knee which caused the 20mm shells of the chain cannon to rip into the wall and ceiling of the room missing the knights.

“Reload. Free Fire!'

There was blood as mist in the air and it would take the Retained a number of seconds to eject the spent magazines from their rifles and load more. They had brought down two of the monsters but now the third was in the room and its Helios 80kw Atomic Destabliser went off with a scream of super heated vapour. In the blinding flash of loosed energy six of the knights were obliterated, their powered armour no protection at the destabilising of bonds at the atomic level. The remaining four Retained on the right of the now gone line fell sideways as the red and white peeled and blistered from their titanium alloy armour. But their hands were slamming magazines in all the same. It would take the Helios time to charge again and perhaps the Humans would get lucky....perhaps.

Gullyville Edu Fact, Taranga District, Camarthen Prime 4330IC




These excepts are taken from the discovery of the alien artefacts on Carmarthen IV (also known as Carmarthen Prime) and from the story of the fight to stop the Khanate in the Belkus Labyrinth deep underground. Then lastly the hopeless campaign to save Pelcan City from the advance of the Legions as they try to take the planet. It is a really cool story and campaign giving a great number of tabletop gaming scenarios for you to play Patrol Angis. The book has still to have its final contents confirmed as, with every project I take on, I always create too much content and then have to trim it down but here is what currently will be in the book. These are broad sections to give you an idea of just how this Army Book for Patrol Angis will expand your Ion Age gaming.

THE KHANATE RETURN
The third book in the One Hour Wargame series is our first Army Book for
Patrol Angis. You will need the core rule book to make full use of it as well
as Callsign Taranis as it gives campaign and army lists for a new setting. Here
are the main sections what will be in this sixty four page book:

THE CAMARTHAN CAMPAIGN
A Matter Gateway is now active, and the Shia Khan Empire has once more
returned to the Prydian Precinct. A second Khanate War has begun in the
Camarthan star system!

THE SHIA KHAN EMPIRE
Army Organisation along with the Armoury

ARMY LIST FOR THE KHANATE EMPIRE
Full statistics for Troop Types, Armour, Weapons and Vehicles

ADVANCED RULES FOR THE KHANATE EMPIRE
Special skills as well as unique abilities for use in play

THE PLANETARY MILITIA
An addition to the Prydian Army you can field the Planetary Militia in “The
Khanate Return” and in your other games of Patrol Angis. Troop Types,
Armoury and Advanced Rules.

CAMARTHAN CAMPAIGN SCENARIOS
Get your games of Patrol Angis off to a flying start as the Khanate Empire
features in three great scenarios set in the Camarthan Campaign.

This is a lot in a packed sixty four pages I do hope you enjoy it. I have had a blast writing it! Now for the news....






This month's releases are actually online right now and the news for them will happen next week in detail. Brand new Shia Khan Pioneers two new eight figure packs plus a Pioneer platoon pack (33 miniatures) with extra unique free miniature in it. Plus we have free postage this weekend in conjunction with Alternative Armies in celebration of the merger of 15mmcouk back into the now massive choice Alternative Armies website. Check out the new releases HERE and all orders over 12.00GBP get free worldwide shipping plus Reward Points on their account and this month's free monhtly miniature too. Offer ends 9am GMT Tuesday 21st February 2017. Excellent!

Thanks for Reading and ask any questions you have here or on the blog or by email to info@theionage.com.


GBS

Thursday 9 February 2017

Latest from GZG - TWENTY new packs of 15mm infantry, including a complete NEW force!

ALL PACKS ARE THE USUAL 3.00 GBP each (including VAT), or 2.50 GBP ex-VAT for customers outside the EU.

First up, an ALL-NEW Stargrunt 15mm force - the Brethren of The New Light, some devout fundamentalist light infantry well supplied with heavy support weapons (with more to follow!) for effective smiting of the faithless!

SG15-BR01                Brethren Riflemen pack A - 8 figures as 2 each of 4 different poses, all with standard combat rifles


SG15-BR02                Brethren Riflemen pack B - 8 figures as 2 each of 4 different poses, all with standard combat rifles


SG15-BR03                Brethren Light Machine Gunners - 8 figures as 2 each of 4 different poses, all with LMG/SAW


SG15-BR04                Brethren Light Support Weapons - 8 figures as 2 each of 4 different poses, 2 with shoulder-fired light antitank rocket, 2 with sniper rifle


SG15-BR05                Brethren Command and Comms - 8 figures as 2 each of 4 different poses - standing officer with binocs, kneeling observer, kneeling comms operator and Officer/Field Preacher with book and pistol


SG15-BR06                Brethren Heavy Autocannon teams - 2 guns and tripods (plus optional 2-part tripods without bases), 4 crew figures (2 per gun), plus bonus sprue of spare ammo cans


SG15-BR07                Brethren Multiple Rocket Battery teams - 2 launchers and tripods (plus optional 2-part tripods without bases), 4 crew figures (2 per weapon team) PLUS bonus comms figure!


SG15-BR08                Brethren Antitank Missile teams - 2 twin-missile launchers and bases, 4 crew figures (2 per launcher) plus bonus sprues of crated reload missiles





Next, a much-requested addition to our popular Xar ("Chitters) aliens…..

SG15-X37                   Xar (Chitters) unarmed - pack of Xar warriors attacking with claws, no weapons or equipment (3 figures, all different poses)



Another pack in the expanding range of NSL Jaeger Colonial Light Infantry…..

SG15-N44                   NSL Jaeger Light Infantry (new sculpt) special weapons - sniper rifles and portable missile launchers - 8 figs, 2 each of 4 poses




TWO more packs for the ARMOURED POLICE (SWAT) range…..

SG15-SW03                Armoured Police sniper/marksman teams - 2 each kneeling and prone teams, each of rifleman and spotter with binocs (8 figures)



SG15-SW04                Armoured Police Command/Specialists - officers with pistols (standing and kneeling), kneeling Comms operator with datapad and figure with Door Breaching Ram (8 figures, 2 each of 4 different)






 FIVE new packs for the ESU Naval Infantry, including a bunch of Heavy Support Weapons….

SG15-E16                   ESU Naval Infantry SAW Gunners IN CAMO CAPES - 8 figs, 2 each of 4 poses.

SG15-E17                   ESU Naval Infantry Special Weapons (Snipers and Portable Missile Launchers) troops IN CAMO CAPES - 8 figs, 2 each of 4 poses


SG15-E18                   ESU Naval Infantry Tribarrel Autocannon teams - 2 guns with light wheeled carriages, 4 crew figures (2 per gun), plus bonus sprues of spare ammo cans AND optional gun carriages without bases (ideal for vehicle-carried "portee" gun teams)


SG15-E19                   ESU Naval Infantry Medium Mortar teams - 2 mortar tubes with light wheeled carriages, 4 crew figures (2 per mortar), plus bonus sprues of spare ammo cans


SG15-E20                   ESU Naval Infantry Anti-Vehicle Missile System (AVMS) teams - two complete weapon teams, each consisting of launcher (with optional parts to assemble as 2-round or 4-round system) on light wheeled carriage, 2 crew figures and pack of 4 reload missiles



Last but not least, three packs of Heavy Support Weapons for the Islamic Federation range….. these use the same light wheeled weapons carriages as the ESU heavy weapons teams, but the actual guns, mortars and missile systems are slightly different from the ESU ones….

SG15-IF16                  Islamic Federation Tribarrel Autocannon teams - 2 guns with light wheeled carriages, 4 crew figures (2 per gun), plus bonus sprues of spare ammo cans AND optional gun carriages without bases (ideal for vehicle-carried "portee" gun teams)



SG15-IF17                  Islamic Federation Medium Mortar teams - 2 mortar tubes with light wheeled carriages, 4 crew figures (2 per mortar), plus bonus sprues of spare ammo clips


SG15-IF18                  Islamic Federation Anti-Vehicle Missile System (AVMS) teams - two complete weapon teams, each consisting of launcher (with optional parts to assemble as 2-round or 4-round system) on light wheeled carriage, 2 crew figures and pack of 4 reload missiles



All 20 of these new release are available now on the GZG webstore, www.gzg.com or https://shop.groundzerogames.co.uk

Thursday 2 February 2017

IMP42 Commander Gongji of the Xin Hegemony free for all February 2017

Hello Ionfans! Before we begin the shortest month of the year I want to relate some news from our much bigger sister Alternative Armies. There is a new Alternative Armies Facebook group for tabletop gamers who among other things play Patrol Angis or just like us at The Ion Age click HERE to join up and I will welcome you as I run it. Plus Alternative Armies has a new look and more news to come. Now...onto our news! Welcome to February and the Chinese year of the Rooster. This month we have a new Xin personality for you free in every order.




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 




The Xin have their month on our calendar and so we welcome the 42nd free monthly 15mm miniature and month of our little space opera setting. Commander Gongji is free in every order every time all month before being retired. This miniature is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value. It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website for this month only too before being withdrawn on the first of next month. We are into Year Four now and if you missed it you can see the Year Three Collection on the website. 



IMP42 with Xin Trooper and Jade Ape Battlesuit

This month's miniature is a superb character by Sam Croes. Standing 17mm to the eye line it is a heroic officer for your Xin forces at the platoon or squad level. Armed with a powered sword. There is a growing page on the Ion Age website where the current and all former IMP series free miniatures are shown so that you can see what came before. Enjoy looking at what came before. This miniature is worth 0.50GBP.




We ask you to sign up for a website account with us on your first order. Why? For one reason only. Not to send you emails (we never will. If you want our emails sign up for our Mailchimp list on the right top of the blog home page) or to pester you; but only to keep track of the Reward Points that all orders with us earn. Reward Points through our online partner Sloyalty which can be used once accumulated to get discounts or free stuff at any point in the future. Learn more about this HERE. Every order earns Reward Points! Yes free extra value. Part of our promise to keep the fun in wargaming. 




Lastly we have a new month long special offer...this time it is on the exotic warriors of the Hegemony namely IAF119 Xin Youxia. A pack of three miniatures at 50% off list price allowing you to get some really special sculpts by Sam Croes. If you like the Xin and wish to get a full force in 15mm scale then we recommend IAFP06 Xin Trade Fleet Platoon which gives you twenty infantry plus an extra miniature only found in that pack for free. Oh and check out the metal monster that is IAF118 Jade Ape a battlesuit which is among the most popular of our codes. Click on the links to learn more. 






As always if you are reading this bulletin later in the month or further into the future please do have a look at our blog and use it as a time machine to read all the excellent content that is there going right back to our start. Try February 2016 for instance where you can find a free PDF for using the Xin in Patrol Angis to download. 


Thanks for your support and for enjoying The Ion Age!


GBS

15mm.co.uk to merge back into Alternative Armies during February 2017

This is a major announcement by Alternative Armies concerning the future of its fellow website 15mm.co.uk. 





About ten years ago Alternative Armies decided to separate off its 15mm ranges and to place them in their own website. In our strategic review we have decided to bring all the ranges that make up 15mm.co.uk back to Alternative Armies. They will be placed in their own new sections of the Alternative Armies website and gradually removed from 15mm.co.uk. The process will continue until all the ranges are taken across and then we will shut down 15mm.co.uk. Both of these websites are part of the same great company and the fulfilment of orders and contact with customers will continue as normal. The email address sales@15mm.co.uk will not be deactivated and we will send out messages during the process inviting Tabletop Gamers to join the Alternative Armies community and mail list if they have not already done so.


You will have noticed that the Alternative Armies website has a new look and is now even roomier. This is purposeful for the planned merger and features a new headline list of pages called '15mm Ranges'. We ask you to support us over the coming weeks of this merger and we will be happy to answer any questions you have. Contact us on sales@alternative-armies.com. We took this decision for many reasons including the maintenance time in multiple large websites, the commonality of customers across them and also our plans for the scales of 15mm and 28mm which we have for this and coming years. We know this is a surprise but all will be well and we are the same great people you already know and all of the miniatures, game systems and more you are familiar with will continue on. The team that runs both websites will continue as it is with one much larger website.




You can continue to order from 15mm.co.uk as the ranges migrate across and if a range has migrated it will be on its own new section of Alternative Armies with a link. 

We will keep you informed of progress. We have have some great new products and rule systems coming in 2017. We began with 5024 Escape from the Dark Czar a new beginners set for Flintloque and we will soon have new 15mm miniatures to show and a rule set too...


Thanks for Reading.


GBS