October 2013 for The Ion Age!

Playtesting Began in October 2013

Last month I did a round up of the first month plus of our existence as a wargaming brand.  The posting was well received and I got several emails asking me to do it again and indeed provide a round up every time the month and the current free miniature period was about to end.  Why?  Well we make a release or releases every week and a good number of people liked the idea of a snapshot of the month to take it all in.

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

IMP02 Retained Knight with Bionic Fist.  The monthly free in all orders miniature. 
IAF011 Legionary 2nd Tesseran.  8 Shia Khan Legionaries, Apollo ADS.
IAF012 Pioneers 1st Tesseran.  8 Shia Khan Legionaries, Maia Mpi.
IAF013 Murdo and Galaine. 2 Desteria Knight Characters (Male, Female).
IAF014 Retained Post Command Beta. 5 Retained Knights, command poses.
IAF015 Seroc Hab Dome.  1 Resin Building.  Our first structure!
IAF016 Retained Post Delta.  10 Female Retained Knights, mixed weapons.
PIA001 Ylona of Prydia. 1 Poster Print, A3 format.
IAF015A Sentry Gun Turret.  Top piece for IAF015 Hab Dome.
IAF015B Comms Spire Mount. Top piece for IAF015 Hab Dome.
IAF015C Hurwent Generator Mount. Top piece for IAF015 Hab Dome.

Releases that expanded both the Prydian Army and Shia Khan Army in 15mm scale and brought us into the resin terrain business too.  On top of that we struck a welcome blow for women's promotion with female miniatures and kicked off our artwork range too with Ylona.  Have a look to read and see a lot more on all of the above.

During the month we had other things going on alongside our weekly releases which we detailed on the blog.  The most salient points in the month were as follows:

Patrol Angis Playtesting.  We assembled a talented group of just over twenty playtesters for our 2014 planned 15mm skirmish title (first in a series) set in The Ion Age.  Each week playtesters sent in reports and pictures.  You can see these on Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four and lastly Week Five.  Lots of interesting material to read and great pictures to look at.  Testing ends in November. 

Hab Dome Early Supporter Offer.  We had our first early supporter offer (eso) lasting two weeks in October offering two bundles.  a 15% discount and a 25% discount on one or three domes with an unreleased 15mm Noblesse miniature thrown in.  The response to this was frankly huge, thank you all, and we blogged about it as well.  The Noblesse, well she will appear in 2014 as part of a noble code.  We are doing another ESO in November.

Female Retained Concepting.  In response to wargamers pleas we moved our first release of female miniatures in 15mm right forward.  Sam Croes produced a green sculpt and concept art for a blog post in late September and the response to it was good so he went ahead on another nine and working fast got them ready in time for release as IAF016 in October.  Really good going for a few weeks work.  It makes for excellent reading so have a look. 

1000 Views on a Blog Post.  Quite simple this one.  I was really proud of the fact that the release of IAF016 got more visits more quickly than any other post in the month.  We did a wee bit of art to celebrate the 1000.  Its now well past 1500.

Poster Prints and Sci-Fi Art.  I really love science fiction art and a lot of our customers do too so The Ion Age decided to get into the grand old poster print game.  High quality and great art.  A blog post showing the first print as an image and a physical product was done.  We will be doing more!

You would think we never slept...well we do a bit.  Even though we run 15mm.co.uk and Alternative Armies as well.  See you about on the blog during November...its gonna be a spooky awesome month!

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

IAF015 Top Mounts (Sentry Turret, Comms Spire, Hurwent Generator) Released!

“Can you see them yet?”

The nervous voice of the young Muster Private had repeated the question for the best part of an hour. Wearily his Sarj scanned the horizon once again and prepared to reply no to the private, but he hesitated. Upon the rise above the small cluster of Seorc Habitation Domes dark shapes had appeared. It was an atrocious night. Wet and with high winds too. Luckily the Sarj's platoon were out of the weather; holed up in the domes. While most of the domes were the typical five person sleep and live models three were not. The settlement had a comms spire for reporting to the district command and it had the small 'bubbler' type Hurwent Generator that put a hazy field over all of the domes and it had one sentry dome with a Moth 88 Rotary Cannon in a turret mount. It was this turret's visual system that the Sarj was using to scan the horizon.

“Yeah. I see them. Looks like at least two platoons of Yordists.'

The small figures up on the rise had arrayed themselves with their weapons pointing toward the fizzing and hazy field extended over the cluster of domes. The Hurwent Field generated by the dome was nothing like that of even a small town. Those fields could halt any form of attack and could withstand so much that ground assault was often the only option. This Hurwent Field was much weaker and while it could and would stop incoming fire and play havoc with powered armour that got near it eventually it would burn out its micro fusion generator and collapse. The Sarj knew it and the Yordists knew it. Anvil 888 rounds boomed out from the rise and exploded against and then within the Hurwent Field. For four minutes the rounds impacted and exploded and the Muster within the domes readied themselves as best they could.

“Get the ammo cans for the cannon ready. Gonna be any time now.”

His voice was steadier than he felt on the platoon channel but the Sarj needed his raw Prydian Platoon to be calm now. The Hurwent Shield was going to blaze out any moment and then only the Moth cannon would be able to slow the Yordists. Without the rain the shield would have lasted longer but those were the breaks. Back up was an hour out so it was the cannon and then the rifle once again. Hopefully the rebels would be put off closing in by five long barrels of fun.

In a sudden shock of white light the Hurwent Shield blazed out and by the time the first rain drops were hitting the rubbacrete of the domes the Moth 88 Rotary Cannon was firing long bursts of explosive shells at the rise and the Yordists were dying. The weight of their Anvil fire had dropped the shield and now the killing began.

“Are we ok Sarj? The Moth 'ill stop the Yordies won't it?”

In the green glow of the turret's visual system the Sarj trained the cannon across the rise and watched the Yordists die. An Anvil round struck the outside of the dome but failed to crack it. The Sarj gritted his teeth and continued to shoot.

“Be ready with that ammo kid. Can't fab any more now. Just be ready.”

Derby III, South Trentland, 672^nd Prydian Regiment, 4327IC

IAF015 Top Mounts for Hab Domes!

IAF015A Sentry Gun Turret

Put a Rotary Cannon turret on your Hab Dome and strike out at your enemies on the battlefield. Fitting to the universal circle on the top of the IAF015 Hab Dome this top mount can also be used as a separate scenic item too. As always you can purchase one or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Price 2.50GBP.

IAF015B Comms Spire Mount

Call in the troops or signal to space with the comms spire for your dome. Fitting to the universal circle on the top of the IAF015 Hab Dome this top mount can also be used as a separate scenic item too. As always you can purchase one or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Price 2.50GBP.

IAF015C Hurwent Shield Generator

Just like the cities of the Prydian Precinct you can fit your dome with a protective shield generator. Fitting to the universal circle on the top of the IAF015 Hab Dome this top mount can also be used as a separate scenic item too. As always you can purchase one or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Price 2.50GBP.

IAF015 Hab Dome

Our first 15mm resin building and it gives form to the structures of The Ion Age. Fabricated by the Seorc Guild Hab Domes have many uses and can be found all across Prydian space. The Hab Dome is the starting point for a whole series of resin structure system for The Ion Age in 15mm scale. The Hab Dome is the basic unit for future stackable and adaptable units. It can be used on its own or with other IAF15 series releases. It is a high quality grey tone resin one piece casting which is 65mm wide and 30mm tall with a high degree of external detailing. Suitable for use in any science fiction setting as well as The Ion Age. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as a single or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Price 7.00GBP.

Information Burst!

It's the last week of October 2013 and you have only TODAY to get your IMP02 Retained Knight Bionic Fist free in any order before its retired permanently. What a month its been for The Ion Age. We hope that you enjoyed both the release of the Hab Dome and also these brand new top mounts for it. We meant what we said, the Hab Dome is the bottom of the mountain for our scenics range. There will be much more for it and beyond. Personally I am going to use my own IAF15C Hurwent Generator mount on its own as a part of my playtesting of Patrol Angis. Here's to the end of a big month for The Ion Age! Remember when you place an order with us you will be promoted 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

Patrol Angis Week Five Round Up!

A full skirmish well underway between Prydia and the Khanate

Legionaries advance on Hab Domes

Retained Knights mount an offensive taking the Domes back!

Some pictures from my own testing this week. Its the fifth week of Patrol Angis playtesting and its been a week for the outer limits of the game system. Following up on last week there were some twenty lots of feedback and this took me two evenings to go through with some interesting questions.  As before I have put the main themes into salient points for you to have a look at:

Should there be Shooting 'Beyond Range'?

Some testers asked why (and have done so since week one) there is a 'beyond range' entry for all weapons in the stats tables.  Well in early drafts beyond range shooting was allowed at the cost of weapon strength and change to hit.  I may put it back in if demand is there.  If you can see it you can shoot it.

Does an Ordos being bigger than a Platoon matter?

Real division on this.  Some testers believe that a bigger force gives the Khanate an advantage, other think that the bigger force is needed as most Khanate troops are poorer in quality than Retained.  Personally I think its the second line of through that wins out.  Of forty reports of an Ordos vs a Lance or Platoon the Khanate have won 45% of the time and this points to fairness.

Get Rid of Templates all together!

More and more testers are suggesting that all templates for AoE weapons are done away with and instead a system of 'number of hits on a Troop Element'.  I like this, it makes the rules easier to flow in play.  Perhaps even a ranking system for different number of hits depending on target type such as Infantry and Infantry Size Vehicle. 

Make Maligs really cheap in terms of Points Cost

They will be don't worry!  Maligs are the fun guys of the Ion Age.  But they die quick under fire!

Will there be YouTube videos of Play Examples?

No.  There is limited time and really I think you would all like more miniatures, terrain, books, content and so on rather than a few tutorial videos.  But there is merit of course in the example of play idea.  I could do a couple of blog posts with LOTS of pictures and text to show a turn or three played out.

Presentation of Tables in the final Patrol Angis book

Suggested by three testers is the idea that in the final Patrol Angis book the outline of troop types and weapons along with amour and such should be compartmentalised rather than presented in long collected list as in the testing.  I agree.  It makes it more accessible and allows wargamers to go directly to the Retained or Battlesuits or Muster etc.

Are Female Retained different in play?

No.  In Patrol Angis there is no gender difference in play.  Training, equipment, discipline and so on makes all Retained the same in ability.  I can see it in a small RPG like game but not in general play.  Don't ask me if Maligs count as children!

The number of images coming in is dropping off but that is ok.  I understand everyone is busy and often the testing was so specific that images were not needed.  I have given out suggested colour schemes for several Hab Domes and also for female Retained Knights to playtesters and I expect to see both in images sent in. That said here are some piccies for you to enjoy:

Ian Hoffman witnesses the Khanate Warlord assault!

Canthus Monocycles smash the Retained.  Ian Hoffman

A tricky solo play game from Bob McAlister

Paul Jackson continues the fight on Stanfords world

Chris Pryme shows off his PA Rosters

Huggable sets up for Patrol Angis fun!

The extra files from last week went down really well and only a few quibbles were found with the solo play rules and with the Shia Khan Empire stats and bolt on rules.  There is only a week left in the core testing and I have enjoyed it a lot.  Once it is over I am going to ask a select few if they would like to try out additional Patrol Angis concepts and mechanics across the Festive Period.  After all there are structures and larger vehicles to come next year...

GBS

Havelock Type 57 Battlesuit - Concepting

Concept Art - IAF020 Havelock Battlesuit

“We call them the 'Tall and Strong' you know, after the Old Earth Legend. The Havelock's are a real life saver on the battlefield. Out in the open the Desteria Knights can cut us up real bad and it takes a lot to stop them. But with a Battlesuit at your back the job's a lot easier. It's like taking the artillery with you. Anda Missile Pods, Valerin Laser Cannon, Angis AP Cannon and more. Just point those Knights out and let the Tall and Strong do the work. So, yeah, I adore them. Being in the Muster is all the better for having the Havelock.”

Emeritas Jeff Kildare, 703^rd Regiment Prydian Army, 4322IC

Got to love concept art.  Really got to love it.  Like the concept art above.  Have a click on it and adore the heavy hitter that is the 15mm scale Havelock Battlesuit for the Prydian Army.

Digitally drawn by our lead designer Sam Croes the Havelock Type 57 is a mobile gun platform for the Muster not only of the Prydian Army but the Marcher Barons too.  Six different weapon systems and a massive Impact Fist.  Piloted by a single Muster trooper.

So do you like it?  We really do.  Should I tell you that you will have to wait months for this concept to become something solid, something for your gaming table?  I could do that, I could tease you with it....but no.

I will tell you instead that come first few days of November 2013 we will be doing an Early Support Offer set on this white metal kit miniature which right now, right now...actually exists and will be going into production this week!

Not very good at this teaser stuff am I? 

GBS

1000 Views on an Ion Age Blog Post...Thank You!

Just a quick note to thank you all for 1000 and still climbing views and reads of our release post from last week.  It means a lot to us here that so many of you are enjoying and following what The Ion Age is doing.

15mm Female Retained Knights and our first Poster Print struck a cord with science fiction wargamers from across the world.  Its really positive to me that it did because The Ion Age is aiming to be a unique brand and encompasses a space opera setting unlike any other with a cracking range of miniatures to match.  No grim darkness and uber hate here thank you very much.

Sam Croes was so happy about this he penned the above sketch.  This Female Retained Knight has a banner to show her joy.  Perhaps we will use it again in the future for our next 1000 view post.

Oh and all of you who snapped up the IAF016 Retained Post Delta miniatures and the Ylona poster print...all the orders are in the mail as of today!

GBS

IAF016 Retained Post Delta and PIA001 Ylona of Prydia released!

Bill Dalton checked the magazine on the Tumbler SMG for the third time. Sixteen rounds, just sixteen left. There would be no more ammunition and he had taken the last of it from the bleeding and now still body of his friend Numan. The pair of them, separated from their Planetary Militia platoon, had taken refuge in building after building gradually ending up now in a stock room in what once was a Happy Burger store. Numan had fallen with a laser bolt in his chest less than two minutes earlier. Dalton had dropped the Malig that had shot him with a burst of 9mm rounds. The pair of them had seen no Fabricator Spires along the way, well at least no spire that was functional, so resupplying had been impossible. They had picked up a few survivors of the Khanate assault on the Zone along the way; a woman with two small children.

A heavy click announced that the Tumbler magazine with secure and with that Dalton took his eyes off the corridor that linked to the stock room and looked at the three survivors huddled in the corner as far as they could be from the door. Dalton was a big man, a powerfully built former ore miner who had come to the Camarthan sector to make a living. He had also signed up for the PM too thinking, rationally, that the extra florins an annum would be welcome in return for little effort. How wrong he had been and now he was in the depths of a hopeless situation. His arms shone with razzer tattoos, the thick muscles flexing changed the patterns as they moved. Dalton smiled at the cowering woman who clutched the children tightly. He could say nothing reassuring. They did not smile back.

Footsteps in the corridor brought Dalton back to the present and he saw a pair of Maligs edging around the corner, their weapons jutting forward and plainly visible. Maligs were stupid but they were also bloody dangerous and cunning with it too. Dalton had learned that over the last three days. He pushed the nearby 'cleaning in progress' floor sign forward with his left foot and then kicked it hard at the Maligs. It skittered up the corridor with a scraping screech and had the desired effect. The two Maligs jumped in fright and in doing so fell into the corridor, their Maia Mpi's dropping to the rubbacrete floor tiles. Dalton took aim and blasted them apart with two pulls of the Tumbler's trigger. On the second pull the weapon roared and then thudded empty in his hand. He was now unarmed aside from a long knife at his waist, but at least the coast was clear for the moment.

Dalton had been tricked. Maligs are nothing if not callous and expendable. The Shia Khan Legionary who had used the noise of their death to cover its approach above the flimsy ceiling units now dropped to the floor directly in front of him. It raised a Cupid laser pistol and Dalton barely managed to grip its arm in time and force the weapon sideways where it scored a line of burning holes in the wall. He drove a punch that would have given a prize fighter pain into the Legionaries mid section but either its auto aid or glimmer suit blocked the blow and the alien seemed hardly to notice. Bringing back his fist again the alien stuck him in the side with its gloved hand as Dalton hammered it in the face plate of its helmet. He was in pain now but all the force he could manage had cracked one of the eye pieces in the helm and the alien stepped back grunting. Dalton dropped the Tumbler and raised both fists. The Legionary however had not going backwards out of pain, it was just trying to bring its pistol up to kill all the Humans in the room.

There was no way to see if the alien was smiling but Dalton, blood dripping from where the Legionary's spiked glove had cut his side, swore that it must be. It raised the laser pistol and brought it to point at his face. But before it could pull the trigger it fell forward, dead, as a booming echo of a heavy calibre round went around the small room. Behind the alien stood a Retained Knight in red and white powered armour an Angis 12.5mm AP Rifle in hand. Several more Retained were in the corridor and Dalton could hear more Angis fire nearby.

Reaching to their neck seals the small group of Knights removed their helmets. As they did so their hair, released from the confines of their helms, fell to their shoulders. Dalton stood a good foot taller than the Retained in front of him but a grin broke across his face as wide as the horizon when he saw that they were all women. He knew that there were a lot of female knights but he had never seen one. Hell he had never seen any before now. The Knight that had saved his life spoke and then she returned the genuine smile.

“We thought we would find no one alive trooper. The Styx Legion have this place locked down tight. I have some extra magazines for that Tumbler if you want them.”

Dalton accepted the offer of more ammunition and taking it and the retrieved weapon he loaded the Tumbler and asked if his small group could accompany the Knights.

“By The Code of course you can. Stay with the civilians and protect them. Behind us if you would. After all its a dangerous world out there.”

Bill Dalton, 33^rd Camarthan Planetary Militia Regt, Camarthen Prime, 4331IC

IAF016 Retained Post Delta

Its been known for a month that this day was coming and now its is here! Yes, our forth Retained Post of ten brand new poses of 15mm white metal space knights but unlike the last three Post Delta is entirely female. Female Retained Knights for use in your Lances! IAF016 contains ten Retained in female pattern Alwite powered armour armed with a variety of weapons including Angis 12.5mm Rifles an Anvil 888 Launcher a Moth Type 12 Launcher a Minstrel Taser and a couple of Hermit Plasma Rifles too. All but two poses are without helmets so you can see their faces. Excellent on their own or for mixing into other Retained forces. 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.

PIA01 Ylona of Prydia

Another first for The Ion Age as we bring you the first poster print of our artwork! Back in the days of science fiction yonder poster prints were greatly desired and even now posters from films such as Bladerunner and Star Wars are on peoples walls taken from the cinema lobby's of the world. We wish to give this same feeling of looking at inspiring sci-fi artwork in a non-digital, tangible way to you with our own new Poster Prints. 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. PIA01 Ylona of Prydia was inspired by introducing female miniatures into The Ion Age and was created by Sam Croes. 

The Poster Print held by AJS!

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!

Information Burst!

October is three weeks in now and its been a big month. So many IAF015 HabDomes, it is still affecting me, thanks again everyone. There is only a week left to get the second free monthly miniature IMP02 Retained Knight Powerfist by Eli Arndt before it vanishes forever, one free in every order. We do hope that you enjoy the new ladies and the poster print too. This week also saw the arrival of the whole, two hundred plus miniature, 28mm range of Ion Age miniatures to us from the Alternative Armies website so we are now complete! It feels great and we will be expanding the 28mm range soon. Remember when you place an order with us you will be promoted 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 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

Patrol Angis Week Four Round Up!

Khanate Legion Support Tesseran takes aim!

The Muster get the drop on the Styx Legion

Week Four of the Patrol Angis and this week the playtesters were into all kinds of things.  Following up on last week and then on the receiving of the Solo Play bolt on and Shia Khan Empire army lists the playtesters went all out.  Some even submitted two reports!  Now that is dedication.

So what was going on this week?  I will put it into a number of bullet points so that you can get a feel for the results this time.  I will say that it has taken me nearly twenty hours to read and reply to everything but I ain't complaining no sir! I love The Ion Age:

• Bigger Guns beating on Little People

Some p[laytesters, in using weapons such as the Angis AP Cannon as part of their Lance on a Portable Weapon Platform, were concerned that they were too powerful and should be reduced.  Others played on and were happy with the results. Bigger weapons on bigger mounts will be more than a match for infantry and this is only proper.  Restrictions and points costs will reflect this.

• Over 61cm in Solo Play

Three playtesters suggested a modification to the workings of the Solo Play bolt on mechanics for silent players forces at more than 61cm distance to bring combat on all the faster.  I agree and I am working on it.

• The Apollo Atomic Destabliser

The Prydian Army has the Anvil 888 for squad popping and some testers found that the Shia Khan have their own in the shape of the Apollo ADS (Atomitc Destabliser).  Great fun and these can be found in IAF011. Using heavier weapons is key to victory.

• Duxis Battlesuit vs Desteria Knights

This week saw a lot of playtesters bring out the Battlesuits.  I knew that some of them had been biting their nails in anguish waiting!  Up until this point in the testing the Desteria Knights ruled supreme but the testers results in using the Havelock Battlesuit for Muster and the Duxis Battlesuit for Retained were very informative.  Battlesuits are powerful things in fact they are the most powerful single miniatures in PA for now.  But they are not invincible.  Squad heavier weapons will do the job and remember their actions are limited.

• More Close Combat Alternate System Ideas

I will not go into detail but two more alternate systems for close combat or melee were suggested for Patrol Angis.  This now gives me nearly a dozen.  I accept that of all the facets of the PA rules close combat is the weak spot.  I will try them all and choose the best one.

This week was slimmer than before for images from the testing and virtually all the testers said the same thing to this.  'Sorry GBS, no images this week...I am too busy painting up my Hab Domes from the Early Support Offer.'  That's cool and no problem so here are a few pics including one sent in from Huggable which is a little bit of a laugh on the side.

Bob Minadeo plays Solo

David Korabell sees off the Khanate Empire

Ian Hoffman storms a downed Cassilis in a massive game

Huggable shows us a Yordan allied Hab Dome in play

Huggable's sense of humour...  :-)

Alexander Wasburg's Scenario Map

I am working on some extra files which I am going to send to the group towards the end of the play test period.  What are they?  Well I am not going to spoil the surprise but they will be a lead in on additional areas for Patrol Angis to expand into during 2014.  Hurwent Generator anyone?

Happy Testing Everyone!  

GBS

Ion Age Poster Prints are Coming!

Ylona of Prydia

See the lovely lady above.  Well she caused some amount of stir among fans of the Ion Age.  So much stir in fact that we all got together here a couple of weeks ago and decided that we were going to get into the Art world.  Now I do not mean galleries and the Tate Modern instead I mean to carry on the grand old tradition of science fiction Poster Prints!

Ylona of Prydia will be our first subject.  Digitally drawn and coloured by Sam Croes she will be released as an A3 high grade Poster Print.  Below you can see the actual work held by my good lady wife.  Printed in deep rich inks on proper 200gsm poster paper with a white margin they are made locally in Scotland and are ideal for pinning to your wall or even framing.  I intend to frame my own.

The A3 Ylona Poster Print!

If this experiment works out, and I hope it does as it seems to me the artwork once held so dear in the 1980's and 1990's in wargaming books is slipping by the way now, we will consider a regular series of poster prints.  Bringing the Ion Age closer to us all with awesome big pictures for our walls.  Each poster print will be priced at a very reasonable 5.00GBP and packaged in purpose made poster tubes for mailing. We would like IonFans to benefit from the posters in relation to playing our games and as such we will not put a premium art price on them.

IAF017 Retained Post Delta - 10 Female Knights

This Thursday also sees the release of a set of 15mm white metal ladies of the Retained which have been discussed on this blog already.  With more than a thousand wargamers looking at the original post and the follow up post on the blog we had a lot of kind words and support to keep us happy while getting these miniatures ready.  Its going to be a big week for women in The Ion Age.  More on this on Thursday.

So Poster Prints and Female 15mm Retained this week.  Both big releases.  I think I will put them both together here on the blog and the website but I will send them to forums and news websites as two separate items.  Not for more impact, not for a 'look we sneezed and it's news' approach but more to see if the art rather than the metal gets more attention.

All comments and thoughts are welcome!

GBS

Migrating in 28mm and Digitising the Blog

28mm Desteria Knight, Retained Noble, Musterman, Planetary Miltia and Female Betrayer

28mm Rear View.  For sizing the FemaleBetrayer is 32mm to top of head

The Ion Age has taken another step towards world domination!  Well not really but we have migrated all of our 28mm original range from Alternative Armies to the new website.  That is all two hundred plus miniatures dating from 1991 right through to 2012 and the printed and electronic publications too.

You can see the miniatures of the Prydian Army and Marcher Barons and also the Shia Khan Empire which are being supplied now in their blister pack IB codes within which you can choose either to purchase three packs and save ten percent or select single poses.  Sound Familiar?  Just like the brand new 15mm Ion Age range.  We also have the MOTH and Firefight 2.0 game systems on the 28mm Publications page.  Excellent!

There is a new page on this blog too.  The Ion Age Digital Content page.  Further to my aim of making this blog the top place to go for Ion Age material this page has the free links to download files for MOTH and Firefight 2.0.  It also has the paid for download links to buy the PDF Ion Age Handbook and MOTH as well.  Have a look.

So from now on and for the first time since its inception you will no longer purchase a 28mm Retained Knight direct from Alternative Armies online...instead you can get it from the very Ion Age itself.

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

Adding the Shia Khan Empire to the Patrol Angis playtest

This week marks the start of week four of the playtesting of Patrol Angis and it also means more files for the playtesters to make use of.  Following up on the solo play we have the Shia Khan Empire files.

Shia Khan Empire Maligs

The Shia Khan Empire uses an Ordos which is their version of a platoon in play.  These Ordos are made up of Legionaries, Pioneers, Nox, Maligs and specialist troops too though often only specialists such as Portable Weapons or Warlords are mixed with Legion and Maligs preferring to keep to their own kind in battle.  Ordos are made up from Troop Elements such as Tesserans which all add up to a number of troops or miniatures as outlined here. There is a lot of flexibility in the make up of all platoons and examples follow but essentially as long as you stick to the building rules and troop maximums here you can arrange your miniatures as you wish.  After all you might not be of the feared Styx or Cyclopes Legions you might be of the outcast Viper Legion who follow their own path.

The Shia Khan Empire is vast and its confines are unknown to Humanity but in the Prydian Precinct the limitations of a Matter Gateway's size means that typical Ordos have a lot of troops but few heavier options and vehicles.  The Khanate lack fabrication facilities so all portable weapons and vehicles must be brought from beyond the gateway making them far less numerous than those used by the highly motivated fleets of the Prydian Army. 

While the Shia Khan will not feature in the Patrol Angis book itself they will feature in the follow up title hence the playtesting now.  I am looking forward to hearing the rests of the carnage, in fact there are two reports in already!  

There will be other areas of testing in Patrol Angis too but more on that later.  Let's say it ties into the Hab Dome of last week.

More playtest feedback in detail later in the week.

GBS

IAF014 Retained Lance Command Beta and IAF015 Hab Dome Now Released!

“We give honour to the fallen of the 34^th Regiment. They died so that we might live. In the early times our army was outnumbered and out gunned almost everywhere and before the Princess gave us hope we just did what we could. On Mendal V it was just such a battle that destroyed the bravest Knights of the 34^th. Yordan scum assaulted the high passes as we retreated back to the Cassilis. A sneak attack in a place where our Bantam platforms could not aid us and our support was cut off by a few well placed Anvil 888 rounds. Some of us had to turn and face them, to hold the Yordists back while the others made for safety. By the Code Gallant choices were made an a Retinue of several Lances of the bravest was formed. As we marched away we heard the roar of battle and helm feeds showed us the fight. Red and white dwindled as green came on. Soon enough there were only a few left and we saw the stuff of legend occur. Clustered around their banner of the 1^st Gauntlet the veterans fought on as the white rose of Prydia whipped in the wind above them. Their flag carrier was the last to fall and by then Bantams had lifted us out of the fray zone. They saved us all. We honour them now and to be fair to the Yordists too for a moment for they raised the white rose over the broken heap of bodies. They were of the Code too; they knew bravery against hopeless odds.”

Jupon Russ Hart, 34^th Regiment Prydian Army, 4328IC

IAF014 Retained Lance Command Beta

IAF014 Rear View

IAF014 Retained Lance Command Beta

Our miniature release this week adds more command poses to the Retained Knights. The Retained get a lot of love from IonFans and so they should being the scourge of the Khanate. IAF014 contains five new poses of 15mm white metal miniatures including a Knight with Angis Pistol (Officer), a Knight with Angis and Banner (plain pole), a kneeling knight as comms specialist, an Esquire Medic with datapad and a poor soul who has departed life laying on his back dead (casualty). Great for characters and for commanding anything from a Demi to a Lance and beyond. 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 2.50GBP per pack.

IAF015 Front View

IAF015 Rear View

Hab Dome with Retained Lance Command Beta

Side View

Concept Art for The Hab Dome system

IAF015 Hab Dome

Early on in the initial expansion of Humanity back to the stars within the Prydian Precinct it was noted that although large cities could be built given time in the short term a need was logged for structures which could cope with variable terrain and planetary conditions.  Designing such structures was beyond the abilities of all but the core systems who turned to the pioneers who created the ubiquitous Rubbacrete and Golglass.  These pioneers created materials which revolutionised construction and brought about massive improvement in lives all across the Precinct; The Seorc Compono Guild.

Seorc Compono Guild (SCG) brought their finest minds to focus on the challenge and created one of the miracles of the century the Habitation Dome Riser System (HDRS).  The HDRS would be standardised and shipped aboard vessels heading off world anywhere in the Precinct where they could quickly accommodate a sizeable population.   It would be more than housing though as the HDRS featured additional modules which could expand the living area and turret or assembly mounts for specialised purposes.  These purposes varied but typically they included self defence, fortification, repulsar platform landing pads, spire communications, hurwent shielding and power generation among others.

The HRDS can be found on more than fifty planets and countless vacuum environments (it is a pressurised structure system) and is utilised by everyone from the Prydian Army to the lowest of the Marcher Barons and civilian authorities too.  Single Hab Domes to small groups and hard points right up a city of a hundred thousand people all in HRDS towers.  In some locales they never got around to replacing them before the Civil War began.  Camarthan Prime was one of those places.

Quincy Portent, SGC New Glastonbury, 4330IC

This week we release our first 15mm resin building and give form to the structures of The Ion Age. Fabricated by the Seorc Guild Hab Domes have many uses and can be found all across Prydian space. The Hab Dome is the starting point for a whole series of resin structure system for The Ion Age in 15mm scale. The Hab Dome is the basic unit for future stackable and adaptable units. It can be used on its own or with future releases. It is a high quality grey tone resin one piece casting which is 65mm wide and 30mm tall with a high degree of external detailing. Suitable for use in any science fiction setting as well as The Ion Age. Decorate your wargame table. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as a single or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page.Price 7.00GBP.

Information Burst!

Thanks everyone for your massive support in the Early Supporter Offers on the now released IAF015 Hab Dome. So October is going really well for the Ion Age, thank you especially those who came in for half a dozen domes at a time. As a side note it is no good asking us for the Noblesse that was included in the deal she has gone away now not to be seen until next year as per the offers. As well as the Hab Dome we have a new Retained code by popular request to expand the lance level command options for players in the Prydian Civil War setting. The rest of the month will see a lot more new by way of new material so keep an eye to the Ion Age Blog. Next week we are all about the ladies. Remember when you place an order with us you will be promoted 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 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