Franciscan Monks new 15mm Renaissance releases

Men of faith and of compassion have now made their 15mm scale appearance into our huge 16th Century Renaissance Range.  Six different poses of Franciscan Monks on foot which are ideal to add to the camps of your Italian Wars armies.

The new codes are MR174 through to MR179 and depict robed monks walking, marching, praying, standing, kneeling and with holy cross. They are all single miniatures like the rest of the range for maximum choice.

Sculpted by Sam Croes they join the array of infantry, cavalry, command, gunners, artillery, personalities as well as scenic pieces in the range.

Furioso is a set of wargames rules that covers European warfare in the sixteenth century. The rules allow players to fight large scale land battles with a simple to use and enjoyable gaming system.  Furioso can be played using any scale of miniatures. There are two books the core rules and army lists and the Italian Wars expansion with battle scenarios, Da Vinci’s machines and much more.  Print and Digital Download.  If you wish to get started quickly we have pre-assembled army packs which come with a saving and free element bases included.

Furioso English Civil War is pride of place in our 17th Century 15mm Renaissance Range.  Fight the battle of a British Civil War with ease in any scale and aid either the rise of Parliament or resist them on the side of the Royalists and the King.  We have many miniatures in this range for infantry, injured, casualties, command, cavalry, gunners and artillery as well as ruined brick scenics.

Thanks for your Time.

Five new resin slot codes added to our wide array of bases

With the welcoming of Halcyon Miniatures to Alternative Armies we took on our first miniatures without integral bases of their own.  Thus ‘slot bases’ were created by us to be supplied for free with every Halcyon figure; which have ‘tabs’ under them.  We originally had no intention of offering them on their own but you asked and we provide!  

Now on our Bases for Miniatures pages are five sizes in two types of slot bases in resin.  A small 20mm round base ideal for familiars and very small creatures.  A 30mm round base for Human sized miniatures and a 40mm round base for Ogres and other larger miniatures.  The other type is denoted ‘W’ for Wide and comes in 30mm and 40mm round with a wider slot for those miniatures with thicker tabs.  All these can be had in packs of ten or select a single base in any amount on the page.

We have a wide array of resin bases in our range from 20mm round to 100mm round and 20mm square to 50mm square plus others such as Troop Element Trays, Lifter Bases, specialist sized bases and Sengoku Monster Hunter Tokens.

As well as those offerings we have many different sizes of metal bases as well for those who wish weight under their miniatures such as the popular thin 16mm round for 15mm scale miniatures. Also flying bases for bikes and plastic display domes for your painted miniatures.

Our Battlefield Bits Range has loads of things to liven up your table.  Many different mounts such as the shown Highland Cows (riding and limber), Boars, Pigs, Dodo, Lizard, Camel and Horses as well as bits and sprues (fruit, pies, carrots, feathers, weapons etc) of more than twenty choices.  Wheels, Tents and Barrels and other scenics.

Thanks!

Furioso and War Game Scenarios the Italian Wars by Rodolfo Verginella

We were delighted at Alternative Armies to be involved with supporting a new book on the Italian Wars 1494-1559 which would involve the Furioso wargame rules by Steve Danes and the 15mm scale large range of miniatures we make for the period.  The author Rodolfo Verginella gifted us a review copy of the book as printed by Amazon and this article is our look at the book and how it links into Furioso on the table.

You can find Wargame Scenarios the Italian Wars on AMAZON.

You can find Furioso and Furioso the Italian Wars in print and digital on our WEBSITE.

The book itself is a well produced ninety eight page perfect bound full colour title.  It contains an introduction, how to read game scales, orders of battle, rule sets to use, links and bibliography which are all well presented.  The meat of the book are the TWENTY full scenarios of historical battles beginning with Seminara 1495 through Ravenna 1512 up to Scannagalio in 1554.  Each scenario is either small or large based on history and features information on who and what happened and their forces as well as map and guide to armies for three different rule systems.  These are Impetus, Pike and Shotte and Furioso.  For Furioso you are told units and their sizes plus special notes.  This gets you to the table and then the game rules take over.

This title is an impressive piece of historical research by a fluent Italian speaker and is very easy to follow.  It has garnered excellent feedback from wargamers on those groups which deal with the Italian Wars.  Many of these members are customers of ours and players of Furioso.  Our own copy is now dog eared from use and will be referred to again and again.  It is well worth purchasing if you play this period as specialised resources such as this can be thin on the ground.  There are some spelling errors and a slight re-organisation of sections (attaching captain's value to scenarios) would be helpful but these are very minor detractors.

Our 16th Century Renaissance Range in 15mm scale features in Rodolpho’s book and while you can play Furioso in any scale from 28mm to 6mm it is our chosen scale to use  Over 150 poses as singles plus horses, buildings, ruins, encampments, tents, walls and historical characters such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Cesare Borgia.  We also have packs of bases for Furioso and army packs which come with free bases and all you need to field a sizable force.  One of the largest selections of 15mm Landsknechts on foot, mounted and artillery anywhere to be found.

If you have any questions we welcome them to sales@alternative-armies.com and we are happy to do our best to assist you.

Thank you for your attention.

Gavin Syme (GBS)

ECW 15mm Walking Wounded released and Furioso postponed

Unfortunate news for you and some new releases too to kick off October too. We have decided to postpone the English Civil War rules by Steve Danes (Furioso book three) publishing until the new year.  Our loyalty to our local suppliers remains and we apologise to those looking forward to the new book sooner.  

It will be worth the wait and we shall let everyone know in plenty of time before a pre-order is revealed.  This is beyond our control and the best outcome we can have due to circumstances.  

The Free 15mm Ruined Arch will be put automatically in all orders until the 17th October as promised and the 20% auto off at checkout on the entire 17th Century Range and the entire 16th Century Range will be in placed until the 12th October as outlined.  This update supersedes that made earlier at the end of September.

New releases!  These have been brought forward a wee bit as a treat.  Three new 15mm scale miniatures depicting the walking wounded and are great for peppering into your regiments to add flavour to the infantry.  They are online now and take the new English Civil War poses up to forty five in total!

MR168 English Wounded Sling Arm 17thC

MR169 English Wounded Walking Staff 17thC

MR170 English Wounded Bullet in Arm 17thC

I wanted to remind everyone that the 15mm Turkish Ottoman army is in the 17th Century Range and features infantry, cavalry as well as command and sappers plus a great bombard and crew.

Thank you for your time.

GBS (Gavin Syme – Creative Manager)

Over 40 new 15mm miniatures released Furioso English Civil War

Historical month builds at Alternative Armies with over 40...yes 40 new additions to our huge 15mm Renaissance Range.  There are now over 300 different miniatures for 15th to 17th century!

These are not in the 16th Century part of the range but rather the 17th Century and are for the English Civil War to go with any system including the upcoming third Furioso title by Steve Danes.  See our BLOG if you missed that news the start of this month.

All of the new miniatures were sculpted by Sam Croes (our lead designer and creates our 15mm Ion Age range as well) including three pike, twelve musket, three halberd as well as four command for infantry, four artillery crew, three riders, three dragoons, three lobster cuirassiers and three pistoller cavalry. There is also cavalry command plus a Royalist and a Parliament brigade commander to lead. Variety of head gear and pose gives variety to your troops.

It is not possible to show you all of these miniatures close up here but proceed to the website and you will find pictures both front and rear of every code.  As with the rest of the range every miniature is a single except for command and artillery four figure sets (which you can choose singles from if you wish too). 

Following the release of the brand new 15mm Brick or Stone scatter terrain last week we wish to remind that the MRS8 Broken Arch is free and automatically included in every shipped order this month.  You need do nothing but order and when your package leaves us the Arch will be included.  It along with the other pieces are on the website.

Lastly until the middle of October both the 16th century range and the 17th century ranges have 20% automatically off them (discount will appear on screen during checkout) and that includes all miniatures, the books, army sets, terrain; everything.

Thank you for your attention.

GBS (Gavin Syme – Creative Manager)

New 15mm Terrain brick and stone plus tents campfire and more!

Our range of terrain suitable for Horse and Musket, Napoleonics, late medieval, fantasy and renaissance era tabletop gaming expands again with brand new and remastered pieces as well as a value pack with saving.  See it all on our 16th Century 15mm Range and in our 17th Century 15mm Range,  Brickdust 15mm Napoleonic Range plus the HOB 15mm Fantasy Buildings Range.  

Lots to choose from and most useful. During September 2023 MRS8 Broken Arch is free automatically in every order shipped out; our gift to you.  Just place your order(s) and we will put it in when it ships from here in Scotland.  Here are the details.

The new releases are ruined and broken piles of brick or stone depending on how you paint them and are ideal to populate a gaming table.  As singles plus a value set of all the single codes.

MRS8 Broken Arch (Two pieces) 

MRS9 Ruined Chimney

MRS10 Ruined Corner 

MRS11 Broken Pile

MRSP01 Ruined and Broken Set (MRS8, MRS9, MRS10, MRS11) with saving

As well as the brand new codes we have remastered the existing 15mm terrain we have (not the 15mm Buildings which have already been put in new molds) but rather the more ‘on campaign’ items as follows.

MRS1 Stone Well 

MRS2 Campfire 

MRS3 Logpile

MRS4 Folded Blankets and Cloth Piles (Two pieces)

MRS5 Wedge Tent 

MRS6 Herald Tent 

MRS7 Pavilion Tent 

Until middle of October 2023 we are giving away the MRS8 Broken Arch a symbol of the shattering of England at the start of the English Civil War.  It is in all orders shipped automatically and a useful piece.  No limit on the number of orders placed and if you purchase it you will still get it free too.

With the release of this new terrain we complete the first part of the promise of Furioso Month here at Alternative Armies. Next week we will be releasing a very large number of brand new 15mm scale English Civil War miniatures onto the website. Infantry (one of them MR145 previewed above), Infantry Command, Cavalry, Cavalry Command, Artillery Crew, Senior Command; some forty poses.  All sculpted by Sam Croes and for the upcoming rules set by Steve Danes later in September for pre-order. 

Thanks for Reading,

GBS (Gavin Syme – Creative Manager)

Furioso ECW Month is here and free new 15mm Broken Arch in all orders

“England was an arch bolstered strong by Kingly divinity. Seldom had gentlefolk thought it to be otherwise but in the King’s cruel acts upon Parliament the notion of sovereignty awoke.  England stood in fire and in smoke of battle; countrymen fought each other and in those actions the arch weakened and like England broke.”

September and into October is 15mm historical month which will see not only the release of the anticipated Furioso English Civil War rules but also a massive English expansion to our 17th century range to go with it.  On top of this we have twenty percent off auto at checkout on both our 16th Century Range and our 17th Century Range (no code needed and discount appears on screen during checkout) and brand new 15mm scale terrain releases including the Broken Arch a two piece code which is free in all shipped orders until 17th October.  Here are the details.

Free in your order, as many orders as you wish; the only condition being that the order is shipped out by us until month change on 17th October 2023 as a package (no digital download orders only sorry!). MRS8 Broken Arch contains two different 15mm scale resin pieces which can be painted as brick or as stone for your table.  Useful in many settings from horse and musket to pike block and fantasy too.

The third book in the Furioso series of wargaming rules by Steve Danes will release late in October with an offer in print (20% off as with the rest of the 17th century range) and two ready made armies each with free element bases.  At that time we will ship out pre-orders (any order with the book in it) and release Furioso English Civil War as a paid digital download too. 

The 17th Century 15mm miniature range has expanded massively with the following forty new metal miniatures in support of Furioso English Civil War.  Every miniature is a single code or a small set (Command, Artillery) and features infantry, cavalry, artillery and command. 

MR140 English Pike 17thC

MR141 English Pike Middle Rank 17thC

MR142 English Pike Front Rank 17thC

MR143 English Musket March 17thC Wide Hat 

MR144 English Musket March 17thC Hat

MR145 English Musket March 17thC Pot Helmet

MR146 English Musket Loading 17thC Wide Hat

MR147 English Musket Loading 17thC Hat 

MR148 English Musket Loading 17thC Pot Helmet

MR149 English Musket 17thC Wide Hat  

MR150 English Musket 17thC Hat 

MR151 English Musket 17thC Pot Helmet

MR152 English Musket Firing 17thC Wide Hat 

MR153 English Musket Firing 17thC Hat

MR154 English Musket Firing 17thC Pot Helmet

MR155 English Halberd 17thC Wide Hat

MR156 English Halberd 17thC Hat

MR157 English Halberd 17thC Pot Helmet

MR158 English Foot Command 17thC (4 poses) (Officer, Drummer, Fifer, Standard)

MRX25 English Artillery Crew 17thC (4 poses)

MRC83 English Cavalry Command 17thC (Officer and Standard)

MRC85 English Dragoon Wide Hat 17thC

MRC86 English Dragoon Hat 17thC

MRC87 English Dragoon Pot Helmet 17thC 

MRC88 English Curiassier / Lobster Sword Raised 17thC 

MRC89 English Curiassier / Lobster Sword Ready 17thC 

MRC90 English Curiassier / Lobster Attacking 17thC 

MRC91 English Pistoller Loading 17thC

MRC92 English Pistoller Firing 17thC

MRC93 English Pistoller 17thC. 

MRC94 English Rider Sword Raised 17thC 

MRC95 English Rider Attacking 17thC 

MRC96 English Rider 17thC. 

MRC97 Royalist Brigade Commander.

MRC98 Parliamentarian Brigade Commander 

Our 16th century 15mm range not only features Furioso and Furioso the Italian Wars but also a massive array of infantry, cavalry, artillery, command, personalities, scenics, buildings and more.  We have Da Vinci, Borgia, Machiavelli, Von Frunsberg and the Venetian Ambassador too. Until 17th October everything in this range is 20% off automatically at checkout (no code needed, discount is automatic at checkout on screen) and that includes the Furioso Bundle with two armies and the army packs.

New 15mm Terrain is released!  Adding to the existing Stone Well, Campfire, Log Pile, Cloth Bundles as well as Tents there is the Broken Arch which is free in all shipped orders this month plus other brick or stone style codes plus a value pack containing them all. This terrain features in 16th and 17th century ranges and includes our HOB buildings as singles and a value set.

In other news for September we are currently remolding the classic Tabletop 15mm Fantasy dungeon adventurers and will have new pictures of them as singles and the great skirmish packs too.  The 28mm Ion Age range will see the return of a little known code from the 1990’s which was about the last thing added to the original range...the Perimeter Borg. Our current Deals and Offers will end when the Furioso event does (including HOT35 Giant Hydra) so have a gander there for 5% to 50% off list prices before they change.

Thank you for Reading,

GBS (Gavin Syme – Creative Manager)

Bakewell Winter Warmer DBA Tournament 2023

It was our pleasure to sponsor the lads at Bakewell for their Winter Warmer tournament of DBA. They had a fine turn out and we provided 15mm miniatures as prizes for the winners. Alternative Armies is happy to consider any event for sponsorship and we have resources for several a month if desired. See below for Simon's account of the event and if you are into DBA and its sister systems our historical ranges are well suited to this role. 

 

See the Isarus 15mm Ancient and Dark Age as well as the Medus Medieval Range and the mighty 15mm Renaissance 16th Century range. Over to you Simon! 

 

The theme was “Run for the Hills!”. All armies had to have a home terrain of “Hilly” and the usual terrain placement rules were replaced by a house rule that made sure there were lots of difficult hills to contend with. Players used their own armies on odd rounds and opponent’s on even rounds. There were six rounds in total. 

 

Tournament rankings and armies brought were as follows: 

 

1 Stephen Finn Cilician Armenian IV/2 

2 Mark Skelton Mapuche IV/84a 

3 Pete Duckworth Samurai IV/59a 

4 Richard Pulley South Welsh III/19c 

5 Ken Gordon Guti Revolt I/46 

6 Phil Johnson Lydian I/50 

7 Tom Whitehead Thracian I/48 

8 Colin O’Shea Cilician Armenian IV/2 

9 Andy Wheeldon Celtiberian II/39 

10 Simon Wilson Dacian II/52 

11 Keith Murphy Samurai IV/59a 

12 Mark Johnson Dacian II/52 

13 Paul Murgatroyd Illyrian I/47 

14 Robert Rush Guti Revolt.1/46 

15 Baldie Paionian I/63 

16 Neil Mason Guti Revolt 1/46 

17 John Saunders Early Japanese Yahoi 1/64a 

18 Stevie Andrews Dacians II/52 

 

Stephen was overall winner and took home the prize of several packs of 15mm Renaissance figures kindly donated by Alternative Armies. Details of other DBA Tournaments can be found HERE on Fanaticus.

 

 

Names of players for the team photograph are: 

 

Back row left to right: Stephen Finn (Winner), Stevie Andrews, Pete Duckworth, Ken Gordon, Rob Rush, Richard Pulley, Baldie, Colin O’Shea, Andy Wheeldon, Paul Murgatroyd, 

 

Front row left to right: Phil Johnson, Mark Skelton, Neil Mason, Tom Whitehead, Mark Johnson. Keith Murphy 

 

Thanks for the support!

MRP04 Venetian Ambassador 15mm Renaissance release

An Ambassador was a figure of governance and of civility in 16th century Italy.  Sent between powerful nobles and great houses to conduct the art of treatise and negotiation.  Sometimes seen at court or on the battlefield perhaps with the gainful notion of getting their own lord to contribute their troops to the cause.  This Ambassador is of Venice though he could be of Florence, Rome or any other likely place.

Now released a fifth 15mm scale personality on foot and same miniature mounted with horse.  Joining Leonardo Da Vinci, Cesare Borgia, Niccolo Machiavelli and Georg Von Frunsberg the Venetian Ambassador is in our Furioso Renaissance Range.  It joins over two hundred other codes of single miniatures, army bundles with free bases, rules sets, battlefield scatter terrain and buildings including tents.

Sculpted by Sam Croes and very useful as a nobleman or merchant as well as an envoy from one prince to another MRP04 Venetian Ambassador comes with the popular MRH02 Horse included.

Written by Steve Danes Furioso is a set of wargames rules that covers European warfare in the sixteenth century. The rules allow players to fight large scale land battles with a simple to use and enjoyable gaming system.  Furioso can be fought using any scale figures from 6mm to 28mm though we at Alternative Armies use it in 15mm scale.  It can be had in print and as paid digital download too.  

Furioso the Italian Wars is a supplement to the Furioso Rule Book for 16th century warfare which gives you a deep setting, historical battle scenarios, solo play rules and much more including the inventions of Da Vinci the master.  As with the core book it is in print and digital too.

Likely one of the most famous machines of war in history (though it never took to the field as far as we know) the Turtle or Tank has rules in Furioso Italian Wars and is a great wee 15mm model to put in your collection.  HOT101 Da Vinci's Tank.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

New Italian 16thC Infantry for Furioso 15mm Renaissance range

The Italian Wars of of 1494 to 1559 is a fertile place for wargaming and for historical flavour with giants of history such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Cesase Borgia and Machiavelli living as the city states as well as the French and Hapsburg battling for control and dominance.  Alternative Armies 15mm Renaissance range puts you in control of those armies as it continues to expand.  This time new early 16th century Italian Pike and Armoured Infantry. Go HERE and have a browse through pages or define by period.

The range covers the late 15th century to the 17th century primarily focused upon Europe but there is also an entire Ottoman Empire selection plus artillery, buildings, tents and more such as foot and mounted personalities.

The new codes are as follows and you can find them on page two of the range or by seeking the codes in the search box.  They fit in nicely with any city state or mercenary army fighting in Italy:

MR133 Italian Pike Middle Rank  Early 16th Century

MR134 Italian Pike Front Rank Early 16th Century

MR135 Italian Armoured Crossbow Early 16th Century

MR136 Italian Armoured Arquebus Early 16th Century

MR137 Italian Armoured Halberd Early 16th Century

MR138 Italian Armoured Sword Early 16th Century

MR139 Italian Armoured Sword and Buckler Early 16th Century 

During 2020 and 2021 we added over fifty new miniatures for a Landskecht Army including infantry armoured and unarmoured with a variety of weapons as well as cavalry and command sets foot and mounted.  An artillery crew, Organ Gun and Handbuchse Light Gun as well.  All of these can be found on the LANDSKNECT search tag and the ARTILLERY tag in the range.

Written by Steve Danes the popular Furioso rule system allows you to fight battles in the 16th century with any scale of miniatures and five settings and army lists.  It has a supplement 'The Italian Wars' which gives extra material for mercenaries, historical scenarios, solo play rules, solo campaigning, blessings on troops as well wondrous inventions and outrageous artillery and other 'fantastical' sections dealing with 'what if' Da Vinci's war machines had actually been reality.  Both books in print and as paid digital downloads plus we have pre-made army packs which have a saving and include free element bases.

Out HOB1 Human Starter Settlement is a great way to put quirky 16th century style buildings on your gaming table with a saving.  Find this and buildings and tents as singles in the range.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Georg Von Frunsberg foot and mounted joins our 15mm Renaissance Range

It is with great delight that we present our final new release for the year in the Altuos Renaissance Range.  Joining Leonardo Da Vinci, Cesare Borgia and Niccolo Machiavelli in our 15mm personalities is the most famous commander of Landsknechts often called their 'father' Georg Von Frunsberg.  Go HERE for the range of infantry, cavalry, artillery, buildings, tents, scenics and of course the Furioso rule system too.

From the late 15th century to the dawn of the 17th century including the Italian Wars and the English Civil War plus the Ottoman Empire.

MRP03 Georg Von Frunsberg: his pack contains three 15mm scale metal miniatures.  On Foot and Rider on Horse. The famous commander of the Landsknecht in the service of the Holy Roman Empire and Imperial House of Habsburg.  An ideal leader for your blocks of pike and arrays of dopplesoldners too.

Over the last two years the poses of Landsknecht in the range has gone from four to a mighty forty six including Sword, Halberd, Crossbow and Pike in both armoured and unarmoured.  This includes Cavalry as well plus armoured and unarmoured command sets.  There is also MRH20 Barded Armoured Horse and two new artillery pieces.  MRX24 Handbushen with gunners or on its own and the MRX23 Organ Gun joining the cannons in the range.

Add interest to your gaming table with our HOB 15mm Buildings.  While they can be used in fantasy wargaming they are quirky stone structures ideal for Renaissance Europe as well.  Five different buildings and a value pack of all five with a saving.  See the hovels and houses in the range codes HOB1 to HOB5.

The troops have encampments and we have you under canvas for that.  See the range for different tents as well as a campfire and log pile type scenic pieces.  Codes are MRS1 to MRS7.  

There are some two hundred poses in the range depicting the men who fought in the wars of the period.  Added to these are several personalities of history to give your army a stamp of authority.  We also have the 'imagi-nations' brought to reality of HOT101 Da Vinci Tank if you want to use the expansion to Furioso; the Italian Wars which contain rules for its use.

Written by Steve Danes the Furioso rules system in print and as digital download allows you to fight battles in the period.  Supported by packs of element bases and pre-made (with free bases included) army packs for the game which you can find in the range.  They offer a saving over single purchase too.

Lastly for those wishing a larger scale to paint or to display upon their mantle we have the V120-02 Landsknecht Dopplesoldner in 120mm scale resin and metal kit.  This figurine was the inspiration for the cover art of Furioso.

Thank you for Reading,

GBS