Tuesday 31 December 2013

December 2013 and welcome 2014 for The Ion Age!

Not all but most of what we have created since September 2013!
Its time for a round up of the month on this blog and this time its a round up of the year too!  Hard to believe that we have only been in gaming existence since the end of August this year but its true.  So in two parts here is what we did in December and then a wee peek at the entire year.  I can say that although I have been in the middle of and the driving force behind The Ion Age I was still surprised at just how much we have done in a quarter of a year.  Read on!

So picking up where I left off in November 2013 we announced a new free miniature and then went on to make the following releases:

IMP04 Santa Desteria.  The monthly free miniature in all orders.  Ho, Ho, Ho!
PIA02 Matter Gateway Nox.  Our second art print in A3.
IAFL03 Retained Pistoleers.  A limited edition code.
IAF017 Ellen and Ripley.  Two character miniatures.
IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol.  10 Muster Infantry.

This was a quieter month that previous (though November and October was manic!) and we through we kept to the weekly releases we also made a festive offer which you can read about HERE.  The reception to the second poster print was rather nice and we have another one coming up soon.  There was also a storm in a tea cup over the 'pomp' of The Ion Age releasing limited 15mm codes but I enjoyed this as it backed up what I had said in the summer on my personal blog HERE.  Sam Croes outdid himself with the IAF017 pack with Commander Ellen being one of the finest 15mm female miniatures ever in my opinion.  Lastly we made an initial release which will feature heavily in 2014 and that is IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol.  Feedback from IonFan's indicated that the most desired expansion of the Muster was a dedicated scout force to face the Shia Khan Empire.  So 'Patrol' it was.  We will have more packs next year which will see command and also vehicles for the Patrol.  That was it for December and I will be sad to see Santa Desteria go; it makes me giggle every time I see it!

So what has The Ion Age done since its launch this summer?  I don't want to list everything here but I do want to provide links to the other monthly round up's so you can see the detail and I want to prove that what I said on launch day HERE has come true.

November 2013 Round Up
October 2013 Round Up
September 2013 Round Up

Including those codes transferred from Alternative Armies and 15mm.co.uk we now have the following on our website....

15mm Ion Age
92 Unique 15mm Human Miniatures (Retained and Muster). 
1 Unique 15mm Human Battlesuit Kit (The Havelock)
6 Unique 15mm Human Resin Items (Hab Dome, Fallen Battlesuit, Fabricator Spire etc)
42 Unique 15mm Shia Khan Miniatures (Legion, Pioneers, Nox, Maligs)
1 Unique 15mm Khanate Vehicle (Canthus Monocycle Set)
(we began with just over 30 miniatures and no resin or vehicles at all!)

28mm Ion Age
128 Unique 28mm Human Miniatures (Retained, Muster, Nobles, PM and Desteria)
71 Unique 28mm Khanate Miniatures (Legion, Nox, Maligs, Betrayers, Warlords)
(all transferred from Alternative Armies)

Ion Age Paint Rack
63 Studio Acrylic Paint Colours
12 Inks and Mediums Acrylic
4 Paint Brushes for Miniatures
(Used to paint all of our miniatures on the blog and website)

Ion Age Art
Two High Quality A3 Poster Prints

That was 2013 folks and well 2014 is going to be a blast and I want to thank you all for your support, your custom and your words of praise and encouragement to myself and Sam Croes and the rest of the team.  It means a lot to us and we are carrying on in style with a post upon the morrow, New Years Day, about IMP05 Winter Musterman...the January free miniature.

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Monday 30 December 2013

Ion Age Miniature of the Year for GBS

The Master Sculpt and the Blue Test Casting
I wanted to share with you all The Ion Age miniature / model of 2013 that most sticks in my mind.  While there have been many releases (just check back through the blog to see the fifty plus new miniatures since late August) there is one that means more to me than any other.  IAF015 Hab Dome.

The image above shows the original sculpt of the Hab Dome held in the hands of Sam Croes its designer along with a light blue test casting (which is now one of the painted ones in some of our pictures).  This was our first resin release, our first resin building.  A lot of firsts and that is why it stays with me.  I am so proud of this building.  Its unlike anything else out there on the market and its the core piece of an expanding line of parts such as the IAF015 Top Mounts.  It was evident that many hundreds of wargamers agreed with me and we are now into the third generation of molds for it.

Notice the new piece to be released in 2014?
The Hab Dome is my model of the year as it illustrates just what can be done with some effort and a new brand of unique science fiction wargaming in a medium that Alternative Armies had not worked with before.  Roll on 2014!

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Friday 27 December 2013

Arachne of Clyde IV - Artwork by Sam Croes

Lady Arachne of Clyde IV
The Four Day Xmas Event is now over and I extend my thanks to all of you who placed an order during the festive season fun with us.  All of these orders will be sent out once work resumes in early January 2014. The year is almost at an end and to end it I thought I would take advantage of this post to bring you a brand new piece of pencil art by Sam Croes.

Above you can see Lady Arachne of Clyde IV.  She is a pencil drawing done during the festivities of Christmas by the talented Mr Croes.  What of her story, of her legacy?  I do not know.  She is very much a product of our work here at The Ion Age this year on female Retained Knights and the release of IAF017 this week.

IAF017
We have more female miniatures waiting for release but before you ask...Lady Arachne is not among them she is currently just the fevered dream of our designer.  Much like, soon, this year that saw our launch upon the wargaming world will be for us all.

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Christmas Offers 24th to 27th December 2013

Merry Christmas everyone! We have a special four day offer running from 24th to 27th December 2013. Two new releases IAF017 and IAF022 at 10% off (or 20% if you take three packs) and six of our most popular codes also at 10% off (or 20% if you take three packs). All of the offer products are on our Early Supporter Page.

Click on the products you like the look of and remember you will get Reward Points on all purchases AND automatically you will get IMP04 Santa Desteria (worth 2.00GBP) in your package. Get into The Ion Age this festive season!

Here are the two new releases out today at 10% (and 20% off three packs) off list price for the four days of the event!

IAF017 Ellen and Ripley
Two unique character miniatures to lead your Retained Knights. Female personalities for your IAF016 Retained Post Delta perhaps? Perfect for battling aliens! 



IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol
Ten different poses of miniatures in light armour and scout helmets. Our first expansion to the Muster ranks of the 15mm Ion Age since our launch with IAF003. 



Here is a list of the other codes which are at 10% (and 20% off for three packs) off list price for the four days of the event. You can see all these just now during the offer period on the Early Supporter Page.

IAF003 Muster 1st Squad (10 Infantry)
IAF008 Retained Post Charlie (10 Retained Knights)
IAF013 Murdo and Galaine (2 Desteria Knight characters)
IAF018 Legion 3rd Tesseran (8 Khanate Legionaries)
IAF007 Canthus Monocycle Set (3 Khanate Miniatures)
IAF023 Fallen Havelock Battlesuit (1 Resin Terrain piece)



Information Burst!
Its Christmas Time there's no need to be afraid (well unless you are caught up in the ongoing Prydian Civil War or the fight against the Khanate) and we have two new releases for you. In response to wargamers requests after IAF016 Retained Post Delta was released Sam Croes has made two female personalities and mighty fine thy are too. Suitable as characters or simply commanders for normal Retained posts or lances. We have now also kicked off the start of our Muster expansion with the first pack of Patrol poses. There is a lot in store for the Patrol in 2014 as they feature heavily in the Patrol Angis rules system. So, once you have munched and otherwise done all the festive things take some time to yourself and visit us. You will get Reward Points on all purchases (and those already with points can redeem them during this offer too) and with a week left to get IMP04 Santa Desteria free automatically in your package now is the time.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS

May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Monday 23 December 2013

IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol Released!

“You want to get into the Patrol lad?  Well its not for everyone but lets see how you measure up eh.  Ok.  First off where you from and how long you been in?”

The gnarled Sarj looked the young Muster trooper up and down.  He noted the slight fade on the cloth of the trooper's uniform and the dents on the Aketon ribs  that protected  his torso from ballistic and blade based attacks.  The Sarj had been measuring troopers in all their dimensions for more than two decades and he was proud of his skill in picking those right for duties in the Patrol.

“Rikergast sir.  Two years sir.”

That got the Sarj's attention.  Not only that the trooper easily had the one year service in Muster ranks needed for application but that he was from the now destroyed moon of Rikergast.

“You got the time trooper.  Shame about your home though.  I been to R'gast back in 19' nice place.  So seen any active?”

The trooper's gaze hardened at this.  Not many had been to his home.  An out of the way place known for ore mining.  Or at least it had been until the League of Yordan had cratered the domes and vacced the whole place.

“I was on Hakke and I did a tour with the 903rd taking down the droid works at Farnborough VII.  So yeah, I seen some action.”

Nearly there though the Sarj.  The trooper had the time in service needed and he had seen a tour with combat.  That was two of the three requirements and now for the third and most over overlooked by those wishing to enter patrol service.

“You got the scars trooper.  How you feel about about leaving your friends in the ranks and going where it's sharpest?”

The trooper had been expecting this question.  If you joined the Patrol it was not only a way to leave all you ever knew as the Patrol were like the Retained and were sent any and everywhere but also a quick way to get dead.  The death rate in this arm of the Muster was higher than any other.  But there was no finer place for adventure, for potential rewards and also for advancement.  More than anything the trooper wanted to join the Retained as a Varlet and being in the Patrol was the best way to do it for him.

“Sharper the better Sarj.  Any time, any how, any where.  Sign me up.”

The Sarj gave a wide grin and lifted the data pad hooked to his belt.

“Put your mark here lad and its done.  You just did the best thinking of your days.”

Sarj Layatt Jones.  Central Command New Glastonbury.  4326IC

IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol
IAF022 rear view
IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol
This week sees the first of many planned releases into the most glamorous and dangerous arm of the Muster; The Patrol.  The Patrol is a vast number of regiments of troopers who all have time served combat experience and act as a front time aid to Retained Knights and also in their own right.  This squad of ten brand new white metal 15mm poses is composed of a low ranking officer with Moth Pistol, several poses of trooper with Moth Rifle, with Tumbler SMG and a couple of with heavier weapons the Anvil 888 and Charlatan 22mm Launcher.  Wearing Aketon armour and Patrol helmets this is a central squad for a patrol platoon.  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.   Price 5.00GBP per pack.


This is our first Muster new release and its the first of several that will feature in the first quarter of 2014.  We plan on expanding the Muster Patrol with a command pack and other packs allowing an entire platoon's worth of miniatures all in unique poses.  If you have suggestions such as female Muster Patrol then drop us a line we would love to hear from you.


Information Burst!
This pack will be released on December 24th 2013 as part of our Xmas Releases and Special Offers set across four days (24th to 27th) at a 10% or 20% saving but unlike the special offers this pack will continue to be around forever after the event ends.  IMP04 Santa Desteria is around until 1st January 2014 before being retired and you get it free with any and all orders.  Remember when you place an order with us you will be prompted to join the loyalty scheme which will earn you Reward Points on all purchases which can, once accumulated, be redeemed for discounts and special miniatures.  This loyalty scheme is well worth joining and so far we have hundreds of customers and more than a hundred thousand points that have been redeemed.

Thanks for your Time.

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS

May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Sunday 22 December 2013

IMP03 Knight of the Dead as Baron Samedi


I got an email from Chad Thorson this morning with a link to his blog.  As an IonFan he got a casting of the free IMP03 Knight of the Dead during November 2013 in his order and he has gotten around to painting, picturing and writing about it online.   Here is an extract from his posting to go with the above image.

Baron Samedi Marcher Baron of Muspelheim IV, leads the Black Watch Knights against the rule of Prydia.   

Rumor has it that his flagship Surtur space fold system failed and ended up bouncing ship and crew through a hellish gateway.  Forever altering Samedi's body giving him the grim glowing green skull face, striking terror in his enemies.  It's also known that the Black Watch Knights that accompanied the Baron on the Surtur were forever sealed inside of their armor.  Nobody knows how they eat or live but some supernatural force has given them powers unknown to humans.

Good work Chad!

If you have pictures or fiction about Ion Age products then drop me a line I would love to see what you have been up to and I know others would too.

GBS

Saturday 21 December 2013

IAF017 Ellen and Ripley Released!

I have served my lady for near a decade and we have honoured the Code Gallant in battle a hundred times or more.  Ask me of these deeds and I shall tell you.  I shall sing songs of the Gurtan Activation and the Spectre Raising of Talla II, of Bosworth and a dozen other worlds too.  Even those most recent against the Khanate foe here on Camarthen Prime and my Pardoner's part in securing my lady's diligence in clearing hab domes and other structures of Maligs.  These deeds have brought honour to Prydia and to the Princess too.  It is my lady's ambition to do such deeds here against the Legions that the Princess will call her unto the ranks of the Starvaulters themselves for the greatest of quests.  I shall accompany her if it is her desire.

Those rumours of Knight Commander Ellen and the Reords of New Glastonbury are without foundation.  Ask me not of those.  I shall say nothing more than the guidance of a Reord is an honour to receive and not to be taken lightly and that to be spoken to by six of them is near legendary.  My lady is chosen and her armour marks her as such.  No quest was given to my lady to be undertaken here in search of an artefact.  I shall speak no more upon it.

Squire Grace Ripley.  Camarthen Prime.  4331IC

IAF017 Front  View
IAF017 Rear View
IAF017 Poses for Single Purchase
IAF017 Ellen and Ripley
Knight Commander Dana Ellen and Squire Grace Ripley are combat veterans and often find themselves facing vicious aliens such as the Shia Khan Empire or worse.  Two excellent personality miniatures for your Retained Knights of the Prydian Army or any Marcher Baron force in 15mm scale white metal.  Commander Ellen is dressed in elaborate and specialised Alwite powered armour and carries an Octa powered sword while Squire Ripley sports Alwite armour and a Pardoner Flame Projector. 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. Price 1.20GBP per pack.

IAF016 Retained Post Delta
Combine these miniatures with all other Prydian Army codes such as IAF016 Female Retained Post Delta for an all female force in play.  As you might have guessed from the name of this pack both myself and Sam Croes are big fans of the brilliant actress Sigorney Weaver who has made many movies awesome in the sci-fi genre and named these miniatures after some of her characters...see if you can work out which ones.  Also I have to add that Knight Commander Ellen is one of the finest miniatures I have seen in recent years in 15mm scale, highly detailed, unique and rather attractive as a little metal lady too.


Information Burst!
This pack will be released on December 24th 2013 as part of our Xmas Releases and Special Offers set across four days (24th to 27th) at a 10% or 20% saving but unlike the special offers this pack will continue to be around forever after the event ends.  IMP04 Santa Desteria is around until 1st January 2014 before being retired and you get it free with any and all orders.  Remember when you place an order with us you will be prompted to join the loyalty scheme which will earn you Reward Points on all purchases which can, once accumulated, be redeemed for discounts and special miniatures.  This loyalty scheme is well worth joining and so far we have hundreds of customers and more than a hundred thousand points that have been redeemed.

Thanks for your Time.

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Friday 20 December 2013

Sam Croes drinking at work


I thought I would share this photo with you all by way of a little look inside The Ion Age and the latest awesome that we have been working on in the midst of winter.  As you can see its a little glimpse of the work desk used by lead designer Sam Croes.  What is of interest?

Well firstly that you can see some great 15mm female Retained Knights from IAF016 on the screen and that Sam uses an empty Irn-Bru can to hold his work in progress.  It is well known that Irn-Bru, soft drink champion of Scotland, gives almost super human abilities when it comes to sculpting miniatures and this is to all of our advantages when you then consider the items of 'green' on wire attached to the can.

What you can see are four of the many pieces which I will be telling you all about over the next month or so that assemble into our next major release; the next Early Supporter Offer. A gauntlet, a head, an emblem shield and a gauntlet with shield.

Would it be cruel not to tell you what these greens are part of...most likely.  So I will tell you.  They are the first pieces of our next Battlesuit....The MkIII Duxis 'Royal Gift' Battlesuit.

So until the next Duxis concepting post I give you drinking at work!

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Thursday 19 December 2013

Christmas 2013 Releases and Offers Pre-View

There is no release this week and instead we are giving you an advanced look at the two new releases and the several special offers on existing codes which will feature in our four day Christmas Special next week from 24th to 27th December 2013.  So have a look and then visit us on Christmas Eve to grab these new products and offers before the offer runs out.  There will be full details on our Ion Age Blog next week when the event begins.  Oh, and of course you get a free IMP04 Santa Desteria Miniature in all orders!

Lets begin with a peek two new releases which will come out on Christmas Eve at 10% off retail price (20% for three packs) for the four days of the event!

IAF017 Ellen and Ripley
Two unique character miniatures to lead your Retained Knights.  Female personalities for your IAF016 Retained Post Delta perhaps?  Perfect for battling aliens!

IAF017 Ellen and Ripley
IAF017 Rear View
IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol
Ten different poses of miniatures in light armour and scout helmets.  Our first expansion to the Muster ranks of the 15mm Ion Age since our launch with IAF003.

IAF022 Muster 1st Patrol
IAF022 Rear View
Moving on lets now look at the existing codes which will be at 10% off during the offer period (that's 20% off if you click 'buy three packs' instead of the usual 10% for three packs).  You can learn more about each of these on our Ion Age Blog with a quick search by code.

IAF003 Muster 1st Squad (10 Infantry)
IAF008 Retained Post Charlie (10 Retained Knights)
IAF013 Murdo and Galaine (2 Desteria Knight characters)
IAF018 Legion 3rd Tesseran (8 Khanate Legionaries)
IAF007 Canthus Monocycle Set (3 Khanate Miniatures)
IAF023 Fallen Havelock Battlesuit (1 Resin Terrain piece)

Information Burst!
A week to go until the Christmas Day offers and releases (yes I know its four days but hey everyone needs some time on their own after the Turkey is finished off).  Two new packs and six offers too cracking!  Bookmark us for the 24th December.  Thanks everyone for your support with IAFL03 Retained Pistoleers in the past week its our fastest selling limited code so far.  Also thank you for the kind words online and by email too in light of the sometimes cruel comments on forums about our limited edition policy it means a lot to us.  We agree with our customers, a bit of fun and something a bit rare makes wargaming more interesting and yes we have had forty requests for it so a  normal pack of Pistoleers has been added to our 2014 design schedule.  We will also soon be having some teaser posts about some new releases in January 2014 which will be our next Early Supporter Offer stay tuned to the blog.  IMP04 Santa Desteria is around for another two weeks and you get it free with any and all orders.  Remember when you place an order with us you will be prompted to join the loyalty scheme which will earn you Reward Points on all purchases which can, once accumulated, be redeemed for discounts and special miniatures.

Thanks for Reading!

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS

May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Thursday 12 December 2013

IAFL03 Retained Pistoleers released!

Kitt Malory felt the rubbacrete bounce against his back as rounds impacted against it. He breathed in deeply ignoring the dust and smoke, poised himself and then ran full tilt for the next rubbacrete pillar. Bullets whined and sparked after him but he was fast, very fast and he made it to the next pillar and slammed his back into it before the stitching rounds followed him beat into its worn surface. Though he knew both his custom fitted Angis 12.5mm AP Pistols were loaded and ready he spared a moment and checked once more. His life depended on it. Some thought those knights who chose the path of the pistoleer were mad. Not as mad as Knight Errants who would forgo all but the sword but still against several squads of rebel Muster he was quite a disadvantage in terms of fire power. Those who were not of the Code Gallant however did not understand that in taking up the path of Errant or Pistoleers the intense training that went with the path made such knights masters of their chosen arms. Also that unlike the Knight Errant, pistoleers worked in pairs.

Across the pillared room, once part of a prosperous guild frabricatory, the Yordist Muster kept up their fire with their aim being to keep the solitary Retained pinned in front of them. Pinned while they brought up the Charleton's and Anvil's which would be able to blast apart the rubbacrete barriers which were Malorys refuge from the gun fire. Malory was ready now and in his mind he calculated and counted the bullets and as the fire slackened at his lack of appearance and in readiness of magazine changes he sprung his own assault.

In a single fluid movement he turned to face the pillar with a pistol in each hand, his face rounding the pillar for an instant registering targets, his arms expending and the large heavy calibre hand guns going round the rubbacrete as his head came back in. With the Angis Pistols set to single shot he pulled each trigger four times in less than a second and a half. The pistols were back at his side by the time the first Muster fell dead to the ground. From the sound and the screams he estimate he had killed four, wounded three and missed once. Malory chastised himself, perhaps he was nervous after all. But then he had not slept in two days it may well have been fatigue. Hopefully Igraine had not seen him shoot.

Despite the fallen troopers the Muster re-doubled their efforts and the rubbacrete pillar began to loose great shards to the 9mm rounds. They must be really losing it with fury now Malory thought as he huddled as close as possible to the centre and away from the tumbling edges of the pillar. Thousands of bullets for one foe, madness. But then it was this madness that Malory was counting on to save him. Focusing on him and him alone would give his partner time to work around the back of the Muster. A thunder of 12.5mm rounds announced Igraine's arrival.

Kit Mallory emerged once more from the greatly thinned pillar and added his own expert marksmanship to what was now a totally reversed situation. Not a single Yordist survived and as the last one of the enemy slumped to the ground Malory saw Igraine standing with a grin as wide as a Cassilis on her face, reloaded pistols already back on her magnabelt. He spoke softly and across the top of the heap of bodies.

You took your time. Nearly cost me an arm.”

Igraine Malory continued to grin and replied.

My dearest I got here as fast as I could. After all I had to deal with the support squad that was inbound as well. But I see you can cope well enough..apart from that shot you missed of course.”

Kitt Malory returned the smile.

Igraine. As usual you don't miss a thing”.

Exeter II, Foster City, Prydian Army Comms Channels, 4325IC

IAFL03 Retained Pistoleers
IAFL03 rear view

IAFL03 Retained Pistoleers
This is the third limited edition Ion Age 15mm code release. Code IAFL03 contains two unique 15mm white metal miniatures depicting two Retained Knights both armed with twin Angis 12.5mm AP Pistols one male and one female. Great as officers, as characters or just variety in your Posts and Lances these are not named personalities rather a pair of interesting knights. This code is restricted to 500 numbered packs before the molds containing it are destroyed. This code can be bought as a pack or in a multiple for a saving. Price per pack is 2.00GBP. 


AIAF02 The Maligs
We are not having an Early Supporter Offer this month instead we are having new releases and some super special offers on some codes too. See the Information Burst for more on this but following last week's Nox offer we are offering 10% off the Malig miniatures on the website. So until the 19th December the discount is applied on the page, just add to your cart and yes this is applied on top of the normal 10% off for three pack purchase. Verminous Villainy Fun! 


Information Burst!
Its now full swing in the spirit of festive time fun...yes indeed! As its a bit of fun and our first festive season as a separate brand from Alternative Armies and 15mm.co.uk we are going to be doing a one off offer between Tuesday 24th December and Friday 27th December (as a bit of light relief from the celebrations). This offer will see two new codes released at 10% off and also several other codes at a special price too. We will be giving more information on this next week so set your browsing times and don't miss out. Remember when you place an order with us you will be prompted to join the loyalty scheme which will earn you Reward Points on all purchases which can, once accumulated, be redeemed for discounts and special miniatures.

Thanks for Reading!

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS

May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Monday 9 December 2013

Customer Questions - Ordering Single Miniatures on the Ion Age Website

On the whole the order system on The Ion Age website has been understood and is working well some three months into our existance.  But there have been questions asked about the mechanics of the website and these were answered in an earlier posting here on Customer Accounts, Free Miniatures, our Mailchimp mail list, buying three packs and saving 10% and the shopping cart and so on but another question has now been asked be half a dozen customers.  With that number of asks another posting comes to the fore and this is it!



Buying Single Miniatures on The Ion Age Website
You might not always wish to purchase a full pack of miniatures...and why not, selecting what you want is all the fun!

Look at the images above.  These are screen grabs from the IAF016 Retained Post Delta on the website.  In the first picture you can see the product and I have selected the 'poses' image which is typically last in the line of images for a code.  It has a number next to every miniature in the code; this is the pose number.  In the second picture above I have clicked on the drop down purchase options list underneath the price (5.00GBP) which has a little down arrow next to 'Pack of Ten Miniatures'.  All products have this drop down menu with some being longer than others.  The drop down menu you can see in the picture above tells you that you can buy a pack, buy three packs and save 10% or choose single poses as Pose 1 through Pose 10.  By clicking on an option from the list you select it and the price changes.  You then select your quanity and add to cart.  You can then choose again or move away from that code as it will all be in your cart at the end of the choosing process. 

For example I chose IAF016 Retained Post Delta.  Then looked at the poses.  I like Pose 1 a fiesty lass with a huge Anvil 888 Launcher on her shoulder so I want five of her.  I clicked on the drop down menu, selected Pose 5 at 0.50GBP each and changed the quanity to five.  I added to cart for a total of 2.50GBP and five of IAF016 pose 1.  Oh and I got my free miniature from the IAF series (December 2013 is Santa Desteria! with 2.50GBP on its own).

I hope this has been helpful to you all and as always please feel free to email me with other questions or ask them in the comments section below.

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS

Thursday 5 December 2013

PIA02 Matter Gateway Nox released!

Perhaps history would have been different but for Hugo Sevaris.  He had opened the door, he had activated the Matter Gateway and he had passed through it.  He was the only man to have seen the world it connected to, perhaps the only man ever to see a Khanate world.  No one will ever know for the only part of him to return to the vast underground cavern was his head and along with it came the start of a seemingly endless invasion.

The sparkling connecting beam was cut more than halfway through when the head of Sevaris was thrown through the gateway to bounce and roll to the feet of the now cowed group of scientists and researchers.  They had already sent a runner with an urgent message to bring every soldier of the Camarthen Planetary Militia to the Belkus Grand crater and to destroy or otherwise seal up the now active matter gateway.  Those militia troops were now approaching from all over the planet aboard their grav platforms and the nearest were even entering the far end of the cavern as the severed head was propelled through.  It was less than a minute before more creatures followed the remains of Sevaris back through the gateway and into Prydian space.

Blinking into existence from the purple light of the gateway came ten figures dressed in shimmering red suits, their faces covered with helms and their hands holding vicious looking rifles and carbines.  Their suits flexed and glimmered in many shades of red as they moved almost as if it was their very skin.  One removed his helm with a hiss of broken pressure seals, its eye pieces changing from an illuminated yellow to a dead black as silken threads snapped apart.   Placing the helm in the crook of its arm the Khanate soldier simply looked at the cowering humans.  Its two eyes a vivid lilac and its ears peaking to points the soldier turned its gaze to the rest of the platform and the boundaries of the cavern that receded into the dim distance.  None of the aliens spoke and though humanoid in appearance they could not be men; their faces along the length of their arms and legs plus the curious grace with which they moved marked them out as something else altogether.   

The gateway blinked once more and a group of short and evil looking creatures clutching pistols and stubby carbines emerged on to the platform.  Wearing some sort of quilted metallic jerkins their dark green skin made them look imposing even as their eyes gleamed with a fanatical zeal.  These things also were alien they had a foul smell and spat continually onto the black surface of the platform.  They gibbered to each other in a tongue that make no sense to human ears and waved their weapons in the direction of the researchers.  A single look from the graceful alien who had removed his helm brought them to instant silence and order.

A third and final flash from the gateway brought forth one more alien creature.  A giant, fully over three metres tall.  Its whole body humanoid in appearance but even under the same sort of shimmering suit the graceful aliens wore the humans could see great bunches of muscle driving it forward.  Each step sounded with a thump as it advanced away from the purple sphere of whirling energy.  As it moved it swept a very large nine barrelled weapon in front of it.  Stopping to the right of the still silent helmet less alien there was not a sound to be hear other than the eerie crackling of the active matter gateway.

Silence fell over this meeting of two civilisations, but only for merest moment.  The alien soldiers in red open fire with bolts of blue laser fire upon the cutting laser that was working furiously to sever the connecting beam that kept the gateway active.  It exploded into a myriad of fragments leaving the beam intact and the gateway open.  The giant stepped forward and the barrels of its weapon began to spin.  The researchers screamed and scattered just as the first salvo of Anvil 888 rounds from the Camarthen Militia lobbed from the edge of the platform impacted all around them and the Khanate soldiers.  With a sound like a demon being tortured the multi-barrelled weapon fired; its muzzle flash more than two meters long.  The researchers died and many of the rounds crossed the cavern and impacted on the far wall where more than a dozen platoons of Planetary Militia were passing through the door while others desperately tried to close it.

Extract from 'The Khanate Return' by Gavin Syme GBS for publication in 2014.

The Poster print held by AJS!
PIA02 Matter Gateway Nox
Its been some six weeks since we released our first post print of artwork from The Ion Age and as we said then, and its been proved with some very happy customers, wargamers want good posters for their walls. We present our second poster print by Sam Croes of a Nox Trooper emerging from a Matter Gateway. Printed on high grade 190gsm poster paper with rich inks here in Scotland each poster is just over A3 in format with a white border. Perfect for your wargaming walls or office. 

Features in our Wargames News blog advert
The Matter Gateway Nox was inspired by the story of the the traitor Hugo Sevaris in the history of The Ion Age.  Each Poster Print is 5.00GBP and as always we offer a 10% discount for three purchased at the same time plus as a special treat you can get them signed by the artist too!

If you would like to see the first Ion Age Poster Print PIA001 Ylona of Prydia you can see it HERE on the Ion Age website.  Its proved rather popular so far.

AIAF01 The Nox
We are not having an Early Supporter Offer this month instead we are having new releases and some super special offers on some codes too.  More on this next week but for the moment we are offering 10% off the Nox miniatures on the website.  So until the 12th December the discount is applied on the page, just add to your cart and yes this is applied on top of the normal 10% off for three pack purchase.  Awesome!  Perfect with the new poster print.


Information Burst!
The Knight of the Dead is gone and while it was our most popular free miniature so far it is now the time of IMP04 Santa Desteria.  This adorable armour plated gift giver is free in all orders until 1st January 2014 when it will be retired and replaced.  We will not be having Early Supporter Offers (ESO) this month but rather some specials on existing and new releases the first of which is on The Nox as explained for one week.  We will be continuing the release schedule as normal with only a small break in late December for Chrisrmas and a few days rest for us all. Remember when you place an order with us you will be prompted to join the loyalty scheme which will earn you Reward Points on all purchases which can, once accumulated, be redeemed for discounts and special miniatures.

Ion Access Port
The fiirst article in the Ion Access Port will be appearing once I have it ready.  Due to work commitments for Alternative Armies its not quite ready yet. 'Fabricators in the Ion Age' will be followed up with a concepting post on the pride of the Retained...the Duxis Battlesuit.  The article will be published to the blog so make sure you bookmark or follow it.

Thanks for your Time.

GBS

PLEASE READ THIS
May 2019 and The Ion Age has been taken back into Alternative Armies.  It continues with new releases into the future!  Go to Alternative Armies for Ion Age pages of the 15mm Range the 15mm Terrain Range the 28mm Range the Publications range and the Free Downloads collection too for the latest.  All links to the ion age site are now defunct sorry!  If you wish to see something or ask a question email me on sales@alternative-armies.com.  GBS