Alternative Armies
Encyclopedia
Alternative Armies is a miniature gaming and modeling company located in Scotland. It produces a range of different games and model ranges, the most famous of which is the game of Flintloque.
Third Age of Valon
Fourth Age of Valon
Fifth Age of Valon
In the Game world ancient magic, old Gods and monsters from the mists of time are common as well as mere men and women.
Erin allows the players to take the role of a Hero of ancient Myth and to lead the War band that they assemble through Legends of triumph, glory and tragedy. Their Hero and War band may one of five types:
The game is currently in its second edition.
It is set in the days of Greek myth and allows players to play the parts of three main types of warrior bands:
Many of the monsters of Greek myth are also present in the game; currently the included monsters are:
This is a bi-monthly fanzine published by the makers of Flintloque that supports the game and the other systems produced by Alternative Armies. This printed publication in the form of a loose sheaf 18th Century English newspaper contains fiction, scenarios, information, reviews of the latest miniatures and artwork. It also accepts fan submissions gladly.
Currently all those who ask for a copy of the newspaper get it sent to them free all over the world.
Games Based in The World Of Valon
(See Flintloque Article)Third Age of Valon
- Darke Storme - Fantasy Skirmish Game, 28mm scale miniatures.
Fourth Age of Valon
- Flintloque - Napoleonic Fantasy Skirmish Game
- Slaughterloo - Napoleonic Fantasy Battle Game
- Trafalgore - Napoleonic Fantasy Naval Game
Fifth Age of Valon
- Frontear - Napoleonic, American Civil War and Wild West Fantasy Skirmish Game
Erin
Erin is a skirmish Wargame based on the 'Invasion Cycle' of Celtic Ireland. Its intent is to portray the feel of accurate Celtic mythology and is played with a range of 28 mm models.In the Game world ancient magic, old Gods and monsters from the mists of time are common as well as mere men and women.
Erin allows the players to take the role of a Hero of ancient Myth and to lead the War band that they assemble through Legends of triumph, glory and tragedy. Their Hero and War band may one of five types:
- MilesianMilesians (Irish)Milesians are a people figuring in Irish mythology. The descendants of Míl Espáine, they were the final inhabitants of Ireland, and were believed to represent the Goidelic Celts.-Myth:...
- The Milesians are a numerous people with many kingdoms, they fight for territory or for revenge but often their Heroes will undertake a Legend of the sublime kind an 'Epic' or near impossible task. - SidheSídheThe aos sí are a supernatural race in Irish mythology and Scottish mythology are comparable to the fairies or elves. They are said to live underground in the fairy mounds, across the western sea, or in an invisible world that coexists with the world of humans...
- The Sidhe are a whimsical race. What seems trivial to a Man they find significant, what Man mocks they cherish. To a Sidhe Hero even the pursuit of a poignant tune can be a lauded quest. - Fomorian - The Formori are the sea dwellers who come to the land to conquer, with little in the way of lofty ideals, it is for avarice and cruelty that they quest.
- Firbolg - The Fir Bolg are warriors with little notion of Magic and the joys of Legend they shun the finer things and embrace the rage of the primeval. They fight for personal recognition and their wicker shields run with taken life.
- Nemedian - The Nemed; now they run with the forests and creatures of Erin. The great Stags, they sing of freedom and the destruction of the vileness that continues to seek their enslavement. Nemed will fight for justice and a peaceful glade.
The game is currently in its second edition.
Typhon
Typhon is what Alternative Armies describes as a 'Heroic Scale' Skirmish game with 50 mm scale miniatures.It is set in the days of Greek myth and allows players to play the parts of three main types of warrior bands:
- The Hoplites - Men who serve the Gods of Olympus.
- The Shades - Those who died who now serve Hades.
- The Cyclopeans - Creatures with the mind of Men who serve only themselves.
Many of the monsters of Greek myth are also present in the game; currently the included monsters are:
- The HydraLernaean HydraIn Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra was an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast, with reptilian traits, that possessed many heads — the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint, and for each head cut off it grew two more — and poisonous breath so virulent even...
of LernaLernaIn classical Greece, Lerna was a region of springs and a former lake near the east coast of the Peloponnesus, south of Argos. Its site near the village Mili at the Argolic Gulf is most famous as the lair of the Lernaean Hydra, the chthonic many-headed water snake, a creature of great antiquity... - The MinotaurMinotaurIn Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
of MinosMinosIn Greek mythology, Minos was a king of Crete, son of Zeus and Europa. Every year he made King Aegeus pick seven men and seven women to go to Daedalus' creation, the labyrinth, to be eaten by The Minotaur. After his death, Minos became a judge of the dead in Hades. The Minoan civilization of Crete... - The ChimeraChimera (mythology)The Chimera or Chimaera was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her...
- The GriffinGriffinThe griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
- The CadmusCadmusCadmus or Kadmos , in Greek mythology was a Phoenician prince, the son of king Agenor and queen Telephassa of Tyre and the brother of Phoenix, Cilix and Europa. He was originally sent by his royal parents to seek out and escort his sister Europa back to Tyre after she was abducted from the shores...
DragonDragonA dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern... - The Harpies
- The CyclopsCyclopsA cyclops , in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead...
- The MedusaMedusaIn Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
- The Nemean LionNemean LionThe Nemean lion was a vicious monster in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea. It was eventually killed by Heracles. It could not be killed with mortal weapons because its golden fur was impervious to attack...
Miniature Ranges
All the games produced by Alternative Armies are backed up by their own range of models mainly in 28mm scale, except for Typhon which uses 50mm 'Heroic Scale' models, which are produced under the 'Vulcan Models' range. They also produce Generic fantasy models, terrain features, accessories and a range of 15mm scale models for other gaming formats.Publications
The NotablesThis is a bi-monthly fanzine published by the makers of Flintloque that supports the game and the other systems produced by Alternative Armies. This printed publication in the form of a loose sheaf 18th Century English newspaper contains fiction, scenarios, information, reviews of the latest miniatures and artwork. It also accepts fan submissions gladly.
Currently all those who ask for a copy of the newspaper get it sent to them free all over the world.