Free Worldwide shipping at The Ion Age this weekend!

It is the high summer Bank Holiday Weekend here in the UK and in celebration of a short holiday in the sun the three pillars of wargaming excellent called Alternative Armies, 15mm.co.uk and The Ion Age are having a free postage on all orders event!  Four days of free postage fun!

From now until 9am GMT Tuesday 30th August 2016 we are having a free worldwide postage on all orders over 10.00GBP in product value!  This applies to our three websites and all our 6mm, 15mm and 28mm miniatures and game systems in fact everything on our websites you can put in your cart (not downloads).  All you need to do is add to the cart and the website will do the rest.  Click on the links to go to each site.  As many orders as you like to anywhere in the world.  Remember that any special offers that are currently running are included in this promotion.

So if you like Flintloque, High Fantasy, Ganesha Games and other 28mm scale ranges such as Grinning Skull and Asgard check out Alternative Armies.  

If you like 15mm scale including HOT Fantasy, HOB 15mm Fantasy Buildings, Sengoku Japanese Fantasy, TTF Fantasy, HOF Science Fiction, Laserburn, Altuos Renaissance, Pony Wars and ACW, Isarus Dark Age, Medus Medieval along with 6mm sci-fi and a lot more go to 15mm.co.uk.  

Space Opera science fiction wargamers should look to the unique range and setting of The Ion Age for excellent 15mm and 28mm miniatures, vehicles and rule systems.  Excellent!

Combining Orders

Our three websites are having a free postage event.  If you place an order for more then ten pounds (10.00GBP) the shopping cart will automatically give you free shipping worldwide. While the vast majority of wargamers are happy to place orders in this way we know that some of you would like to place a combined order by email and receive a paypal invoice to pay.  This is totally fine with us and here is what to do for a combined order by email.  Firstly choose your point of contact.  Is it Alternative Armies, 15mm.co.uk or The Ion Age?  Choose one and email us on sales@alternative-armies.com, sales@15mm.co.uk or info@theionage.com.  Make your email title 'combined order' and give us your name, your shipping address, your paypal email address and a list of codes and quantities that you want to order from across our ranges.  We will then reply with a total and a paypal invoice.  You will get a free monthly miniature if you have Ion Age codes and you will get any other items offered free if applicable from the other websites if you have codes from its ranges in your order.  We typically reply quickly but be assured you WILL NOT miss the free postage on your combined order as we will honour it as long as your email comes in to us before the offer ends.  

Thanks and enjoy the event!

Gavin Syme (GBS)

The Afara Strider 15mm mecha kit parts laid out

It was pointed out to me...my fault...my error...my apologies...that during the release of the mighty IAF128 Afara Strider three kits there was no image displayed of the parts which make up the mecha in their raw form.  This has now been remedied upon the website and here in this short article.  The image is laid on a centimetre grid.  Enjoy!

It is a very easy to assemble light mecha which once built stands 55mm tall.  Articulated at the foot, hip and shoulder it has several pose options and takes about five minutes to put together (even by me...I am well known for being awful at kit building).  Below is an image showing two build Afara's with a 15mm Retained Knight for scale.  You can learn all about the Afara on our blog HERE.

There are no more releases in August and we will shortly be running a weekend offer in conjunction with our two sister brands Alternative Armies and 15mm.co.uk.  It has begun now though...free postage on all orders over 10.00GBP product value plus your normal Reward Points and Free miniature currrently IMP36.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

15mm Ion Age Universe range expands with Security Droids and Entertainers packs!

“Allow me to create a society around the Prydian Precinct.  One that exists with the threat of the Prydian Civil War within and the Shia Khan Empire without.  The people, the law, the machines and the creatures that populate the planets, the star ports, outposts and even the seedy bars where Retained Knights would fear to tread.”

Our last releases for August 2016. This month we add two more brand new packs to the growing range on The Ion Age sculpted by Dave Foley called the 15mm Ion Age Universe Characters.  It is my own and Mr Foley's intention to create a 15mm scale figure range that will allow you to get the 'people' of your wargaming on your table regardless of your setting. There were already five packs (twenty five different poses) in this range and now we present ten more original miniatures in two new packs: IAF120 Security Droids and IAF121 Entertainers.  Go HERE or read on.

IAF120 Security Droids

The sixth pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range.  Droids do the dirty work that people don't want and even though they no longer have sentience since the Gurtan Activation they do have dense limited programming making them suitable for repetitive and dangerous jobs.  Personal and location security are such tasks and this often puts these droids in harms way. Sculpted by Dave Foley this pack contains five different 15mm scale white metal miniatures in the following poses.  Stocky and short announcer droid with stun prongs, a Human droid operator for complex tasks with harness, a light crowd directing droid, a heavy security 'bouncer' droid and lastly a high speed patrol security droid. These miniatures are great for any science fiction or suitable genre of wargaming in 15mm scale when you want something other than warfare or soldiers on your table.  As always this code can be bought as a pack or as single miniatures or select the three packs and save 10% options from the drop down menu on the page.  Go HERE.  Price 2.50GBP per pack.

IAF121 Entertainers 

The seventh pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range.  On planets across the Precinct there are people who need to be entertained after a hard day of work or dangerous military roles and that becomes the paid for task of these musicians, singers and dancers.  Happy Burger gives you the eats and these entertainers give you the heats! Sculpted by Dave Foley this pack contains five different 15mm scale white metal miniatures in the following poses.  Male lead guitarist, female singer in dress, female singer in one piece waving, female singer swaying to music and lastly a male guitarist finger in the air. These miniatures are great for any science fiction or suitable genre of wargaming in 15mm scale when you want something other than warfare or soldiers on your table.  As always this code can be bought as a pack or as single miniatures or select the three packs and save 10% options  from the drop down menu on the page.  Go HERE.  Price 2.50GBP per pack.

If you like these character packs here are the details of the previous releases:

IAF108 Precinct Starport Staff

The fifth pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range.  While the mighty vessels of the Prydian Army and the Marcher Barons sail the inky blackness they do have to dock somewhere as do far traders and civilians too.  There are many starports in the Precinct from the gigantic New Glastonbury Tor to the multitude of smaller and tiny ports scattered across the inhabited systems. These ports all require staff and some are better than others but all exist to serve the migrant populations that pass through their airlocks.   

IAF107 Precinct Far Traders

The fourth pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range.  Far Traders operate within the outer parts of the Prydian Precinct but also beyond it interacting with Marcher Barons, rebels and even aliens all in the name of trade and profit.  Skilled and well armed they can be scouts, or carriers of passengers and deal in rare minerals or information.  These Far Traders are excellent civilians and rogues for your collection. 

IAF106 Precinct Dignitaries

The third pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range.  Moving around the worlds of the Prydian Precinct are those who wish to conduct government work, to support those who need their views represented and to meet with each other to discuss high matters.  These Dignitaries are excellent civilian important persons for your collection. 

IAF105 Precinct Police

The second pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range.  Precinct Police are the local law enforcement on the worlds and colonies of the civilised Prydian Precinct who try to maintain order without the use of deadly force if possible.  A first line of law and order. 

IAF104 Precinct Adventurers

The first pack of 15mm characters in the Ion Age Universe range at The Ion Age.  Precinct Adventurers are the kind of fellows you need in a scrap or to carry out some dangerous work in a place where the law is a little loose.  

Go HERE.

As it is our birthday month we have a great offer for you until month's end. The IAF028 Khamel Tracked Bike set is 25% off the pack of three miniatures (Bike with Rider, Bike alone and Rider on foot) and there is 25% off the Bike with Rider on its own for those wanting to build a big force!  As well as this we have recently committed to new molds for this code and when we did we added in a third weapon mount option!  Every bike supplied now comes with one of the following: A Moth Type 12, a Ron 32mm and now a Minstrel Taser too!  You can read the original release article on the blog HERE.  You need do nothing but add to your cart the special prices and new weapon is already there.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

Uniforms of the Prydian Precinct Poster released!

The Ion Age takes place in the Prydian Precinct and that is a region of space which sees its fair share of space opera warfare.  We have now added a new poster print to our webstore.  A  fantastic resource for fans of The Ion Age created for us with cooperation by Aris Kolehmainen over in the mighty USA...a poster of thirty uniform schemes for Muster, Retained and Desteria along with their titles from the Prydian Army to the Marcher Barons and the Condots along with many more.  Essential and already on my own wall!  Go HERE or read on.

Uniforms of the Prydian Precinct

From the Prydian Army to the Leagues of Yordan and Canlaster as well as system defence and mercenary companies too this poster gives you all their uniforms to use on your figures or just to put on your wall for inspiration as you plan your games.   Digitally drawn by Aris Kolehmainen this poster print was made locally here in Scotland on high quality 200gsm paper using rich inks.  Its a premium product to grace your wargaming walls with.  Bare or in a frame.  Supplied in a purpose designed postal mailing tube.  The image is exactly A3 size (300mm by 420mm) while the full post it sits on has a white framing border making the total dimensions 320mm by 450mm. As with all of our other products we offer you several purchase options.  You can purchase one poster print at a great price or three of the same one and automatically save 10% on screen. Go HERE.

Here is a list of the uniforms on the poster.  Some of these feature in Patrol Angis and in Callsign Taranis while others will fight the good fight in forthcoming articles and books:

1. Prydian Army

2. League of Canlaster

3. League of Yordan

4. The Quarrel Company

5. Barony of Castella

6. The Hotspurs Company

7. The Merfold Company

8. Barony of Malmesbury

9. League of Tilbury

10. The Rheged Company

11. The Sein Company

12. The Bezant Company

13. Fauconbergs Raiders

14. De Vere's Company

15. The Chard

16. Barony of Caerwent

17. The Gryllus Company 

18. Barony of Carhaix 

19. Barony of Messena

20. The Geolu Company

21. Towton System Defence

22. Blore System Defence

23. Barony of  Linnuis

24. The Flame Company

25. The Midnight Expanse

26. Barony of Caerleon 

27. The Barghest Company

28. The Hemlock Company

29. The Lindworm

30. The Naranga Company

We have two other poster prints which you can choose from and we will have more in coming months as well.  They are PIA001 Ylona of Prydia and PIA002 Gateway Nox.  Both super pieces of art, inventive and great for your wall. You can see our poster prints HERE.  

As it is our birthday month we have a great offer for you until month's end. The IAF028 Khamel Tracked Bike set is 25% off the pack of three miniatures (Bike with Rider, Bike alone and Rider on foot) and there is 25% off the Bike with Rider on its own for those wanting to build a big force!  As well as this we have recently committed to new molds for this code and when we did we added in a third weapon mount option!  Every bike supplied now comes with one of the following: A Moth Type 12, a Ron 32mm and now a Minstrel Taser too!  You can read the original release article on the blog HERE.  You need do nothing but add to your cart the special prices and new weapon is already there.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

Patrol Angis AAR by Rod Forehand

A little while ago my attention was drawn to an excellent AAR (After Action Report) written by an American IonFan and excellent chap Rod Forehand for his games and taken on Patrol Angis after he picked up the new larger format version of the core rulebook.  I have reproduced his entire blog post here after this introduction and you can see the original post and leave him a comment HERE.  If you like what you see and want to know more then visit our website HERE for the 15mm Publications page and links to free resources.  Thanks.  GBS

Rod's Mini Dream Worlds Blog

Just my little blog about wargaming, miniature painting, 

and dreaming up little alternate realities

Patrol Angis - An AAR and Thoughts on the Game

I have gotten several games of Patrol Angis played through now.  4 solo games and 1 with my buddy Darby using the miniatures from the starter set I bought a while back.  First I'll let you have a look at the game I played this evening.

Scenario:  The Prydian Forces (Red/White) are planning to break through a defensive position setup by the League of Yordan (Green/Yellow).

League of Yordan starting positions...

The Prydian Assault....

For the first turn of the scenario, I gave the Prydian forces the initiative.  They did a normal die roll to determine the number of activation tokens to be issued out to the two sides.  The Prydian forces move up one of their assault rifle teams and hit the enemy team on the hill.  The fire is devastating, killing over half the enemy team.  They fail morale and lost their activation token.  A good start for the Prydians!

The League of Yordan troops send in the Duxis battlesuits and hit the assault rifle team pretty hard. This takes up their one activation for the turn.  The Prydians had put 2 activations on their support weapon team, so they moved up and on the second activation hit the Duxis battlesuits managing to put down the suit with the howitzer.  Things are looking even better!

During the 2nd turn, using a their jump jets the Prydian close assault team gets in a close as they can to hit the support weapon team on the hill.  Sadly their fire is pretty ineffective (only 1 casualty) due to having to snap-shot on the run.

The 3rd turn is a hard swing in favor of the League.  They have too much fire power.  Especially with the Espaten team on the far hill.  The large mounted lasers rip the assault team to shreds leaving only 1 survivor.

The remaining Duxis have also been doing some cleanup work on their end.  Finishing off the Prydian support weapons team and the assault rifle team.

The Prydian leader calls for the retreat.

Meanwhile, the poor soldier left on the hill offers the enemy a chance of surrender...

Patrol Angis Thoughts...

I have to say I really like this game.  It definitely holds to it's claim of being a One-Hour Wargame.  The action is fast and brutal.  Cover is very important for survival, but it basically comes down to the fact that if you can shoot someone, they can shoot you back.  So if you don't like taking heavy casualties, this game will be tough  for you!

Another thing that's pretty important in this game is winning initiative.  Not only do you get an extra activation.  But you get to pick all the casualties that a both sides take during that turn.  As in the case of the first round when the Prydian support unit managed a total of 5 wounds on the 3 Duxis battlesuits.  Each Duxis has a total of 5 damage points it can take before being destroyed.  If the Yordan player had the initiative, they could have distributed the 5 wounds between the 3 Duxis figures and kept them all in action.  Instead the Prydian player had initiative and was able to put them all on one Duxis, and also picked the one with the indirect fire weapon (that ignores cover bonuses)!

There's quite a bit of flexibility in how you can create your forces.  It certainly lends itself to a space opera feel.  One thing I have noticed with the starter though, is that it's pretty easy for this game to get imbalanced.  5 games so far and the Prydians have lost every game.  I think I can even it up pretty soon with a few tweaks once I get some new troops painted up.  But the warning here is if you don't have friends that like a gentlemanly game, it could be very frustrating. I'm looking forward to tweaking my armies and getting some more games in.  I also picked up the new vehicle rules, Callsign Taranis, so I'm sure there will be some more heavy hitters appearing on the battlefield as well.

Have a good week friends!  Rod

Year Three Collection Released!

Year Three Begins!  Now that our third year of The Ion Age is at a close its time to release the twelve monthly free miniatures as set which can be bought as a set or as singles.  From September 2015 to August 2016 each of the IMF 15mm scale code monthly free were given away with all orders month by month. So if you missed any or want more just check out the Year Three Collection now.  Its been added to a new page that also has the Year One Collection, the Year Two Collection and others things upon it as well as the current month's free miniature keeping the 'years collections' all in one place.  Go HERE or read on.

It has been a fun and challenging year for the tiny team that brings you The Ion Age (almost everything you see is myself and the awesome Sam Croes along with input from a few other designers such as Bob Naismith).  I am always grinning when working on this universe and the emails and comments of wargamers keep on telling me that we are doing the right things.   A small team here in Scotland that works hard following its own path for a massive vision of a far future space opera setting.  All of the money you spend with us creates honestly priced new miniatures from a team that loves wargaming.  That now said the 15mm range has over three hundred different sculpts spread across Retained, Desteria, Muster and Planetary Militia along with Shia Khan Legion, Nox, Pioneers, Maligs and Nox and more including the Prang and Ion Age civilians too.  We have about forty different vehicles and a range of buildings with two dozen different pieces.  We have Patrol Angis and Callsign Taranis too as our books.  We will keep on getting better!

So what is the Year Three Collection?  You can see it HERE. Here is a list of the miniatures by month in this collection:

IMP25 Muster "Cutter" Trooper (September 2015)

IMP26 Female Nox Trooper (October 2015)

IMP27 Florian Pumpkin Spore (November 2015)

IMP28 Missiletoe Claus (December 2015)

IMP29 Cold Climes PM Sergeant (January 2016)

IMP30 Xin Monkey Bot (February 2016)

IMP31 Padraig O'Malig (March 2016)

IMP32 Hand of the Duxis (Female Tech) (April 2016)

IMP33 Planetary Militia Female Officer (May 2016)

IMP34 Happy Burger Clownbot (June 2016)

IMP35 Cybernetic Retained Knight (July 2016)

IMP36 Prefecta Aimar of the Styx Legion (August 2016)

Each miniature is 0.60GBP or the whole set for 7.00GBP or you can purchase three sets and save 10% by selecting that option on the drop down product menu.  That is a very diverse collection of characters and fun 15mm miniatures.  Year Four will be full of promise and fun and the first miniatures which will become IMP37 to IMP40 are already designed...you will love them!

As it is our birthday month we have a great offer for you until month's end. The IAF028 Khamel Tracked Bike set is 25% off the pack of three miniatures (Bike with Rider, Bike alone and Rider on foot) and there is 25% off the Bike with Rider on its own for those wanting to build a big force!  As well as this we have recently committed to new molds for this code and when we did we added in a third weapon mount option!  Every bike supplied now comes with one of the following: A Moth Type 12, a Ron 32mm and now a Minstrel Taser too!  You can read the original release article on the blog HERE.  You need do nothing but add to your cart the special prices and new weapon is already there.

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

IMP36 Prefecta Aimar of the Styx Legion free for all August 2016!

The Styx Legion is our name, our term, for the Shia Khan formation numbering we estimate in excess of ten thousand battle ready aliens holding key ground on Camarthen Prime.  Their glimmer suits are distinctive and deep red in colour trimmed with black fittings and while the majority of the Styx Legion seems to be composed of Legionaries armed with the Juno and Apollo weapon systems there are other troops in the ranks.  Be aware we do not count the Goblin Maligs in the total for this legion as there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of these foul creatures which are treated as entirely expendable.  Legion Prefecta's lead Pioneers as well as legionaries and have been seen in command of Warlords and other as yet uncategorised aliens and death machines.   It is the standing order to all Prydian troops to attempt to capture a Prefecta alive as up to this time we have been unsuccessful in doing so as they always fight to the death.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 58, New Glastonbury, 4333 IC 

Did you enjoy July?  We did and if you missed the release of the Afara Strider you can see our first mecha on the link; it fits right into Callsign Taranis.  August is here and it is the anniversary of our third year in this new and improved Ion Age which means celebration.  We begin with the thirty sixth free monthly miniature and this time it is a 15mm Khanate Empire character the power sword armed Ordos (platoon) officer of the Legions.  It is free in every order every time all month before being retired. This miniature is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value.  It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website for this month only too before being withdrawn on the first of next month.  It is the final member of the twelve of the now released 'Year Three Collection'.

IMP36 Prefecta Aimar of the Styx Legion is ideal to lead your forces on the table if you play as the Shia Khan Empire and like to collect Legionaries or Pioneers or even to command your Maligs.  This miniature is in one piece and stands approx 16mm tall.  We realise that some of you may wish to purchase the currently free miniature to get multiples of it without placing a lot of orders so you can do just that.  Go HERE.  There is a growing page on the Ion Age website where the current and all former IMP series free miniatures are shown so that you can see what came before.  Enjoy looking at them and go HERE. 

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

This is our first article of the month and other events, releases, ideas and wargaming fun will occur across the month and they will all feature on our blog and in our emails.  If you are coming across this article later in the month or further into the future have a look at our blog and see what has been happening since.

This miniature is free in all orders until the early hours of the first of next month!

Thanks for reading.

GBS