Baron Book update and snippet one

The month is drawing to a close and The Ion Age ends it with a short update on the progress of the fourth book for Patrol Angis namely Baron. Baron was outlined HERE on the blog in an article and this month I have been attending to several parts of the build of the book. This included assembling the play test results of exotic weapons and new equipment as well as organising the feedback from the Alternative Armies Tabletop Wargaming Group on Facebook where we had been chatting it over with IonFans. The selection process for which star systems will be detailed in the book is over and the selection of which Condot Mercenaries will feature is done too. Notes have expanded to form in the story of the Civil War and lastly some very over powered mechanics for the Starvaulters were rejected! Starvaulters are the best of the best but one versus a Battlesuit was a little much. 

I want to share with you a little snippet...from the exotic weapons and equipment section which is part of the advanced rules in 'Baron'. Here are the first few hundred words.... 

“You want this little sparkling box? You want to try and take it from me? Don't even think about it. My father gave me this when I joined up. Told me to use it when the time came. It’ll turn you into a wet stain on this grey dirt before you even get your rifle up. It's my box of tricks.” 

Private Ricky Falacan, 403rd Regiment, Fulton Prime. 4322 IC 

There are places in the Prydian Precinct which were never the remit of Humanity. Places where other creatures ruled and something of their technology remains behind them. Sometimes such things are unearthed or relics from the dim past of the Ban of Prejudice are found. Many of these rare weapons and items of equipment find their way into the hands of far traders, rich nobles or sons and daughters of the original locator. A lot of them are located to the edge of the Precinct that leads to the Galactic Core. Cost in points is given and follow the special rules as laid out. 

Note: If you wish to add any of these items to an existing template type of infantry, infantry scale vehicle or vehicle you can do so using the rules for them if allowed. Simply remove a weapon and its points cost and replace it with your choice modifying the points cost total appropriately. 

Clade Dancers: Often coming up illegally among Far Traders for sale these large slab like objects are too heavy for ten men to lift and are thought to have originated in one now totally ruined and abandoned temple complex on Clade Prime where they were its floor tiles. They are inert and can be fitted into structures or larger vehicles. They have no effect upon machines but they tamper with the complex minds of Humans. When one is nearby to people they describe strange visions of dancing shapes which grow stronger with proximity with an influence much like excessive alcohol when very close. They can be destroyed and are so when the structure (a Hab Dome) or large vehicle (like a Mullo or Taranis) is destroyed. When one is in play there is a chance of losing Activation Tokens during the Initiative Phase...... 

I intend another update on the book at the end of October with another snippet but I hope you enjoyed the above and the pictures too...man I had some fun with the new Cold Climes planetary militia. They use the exact same rules as the typical Planetary Militia which are in The Khanate Return but geared up for Arctic conditions. I want to thank everyone for their support of The Ion Age and my living from it. 

We will be back on the 1st of October with more new awesome and a new month long offer too. Until then check out what we were talking about over the last few weeks namely IAF102F Taranis Lifter MBT Laser Turret and the Valerin Laser system plus all the free files for Patrol Angis as well as Ymel Sandworms in Patrol Angis free article plus those codes too and the big release of the Cold Climes platoon and packs as well

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Cold Climes Planetary Militia platoon and packs released with Twenty Six new poses

The 37th Planetary Defence Regiment lost thirty percent of its strength in the first moments of the Khanate invasion of Faercycle II.  In the years since the abortive Prang raids the governor of the world had increased the military presence in the capital Ismere where the starport is located and also in other major cities such as Darga and Amatrall.  Cities like these sat atop deep mines sunk into the frozen planet in search of ore for the much in demand titanium for which the whole star system was known Precinct wide.  News of the fall of Camarthen had reached Faercycle in 4331 IC less than two months after the relief fleet had taken the war back to the Shia Khan Empire there.  What was not known was just how many Dragon Ships had fled from Camarthen Prime and plunged into deep space heading for nearby stars such as Faercycle.  Without Ancep Drive the transits would take years, giving time to prepare, but equally it meant there was no way to track the aliens before they arrived in system.  As it turned out it was a total of seven Dragon Ships which arrived at more than half the speed of light in 4338 IC rapidly decelerating before plunging into the atmospheres of Faercycle II and Faercycle  III.  The lack of orbital support prevented any of the large starships being destroyed before reaching the ground but warnings were sent out system and all space fold capable ships immediately evaded and left local space so as to prevent capture by the enemy. Ismere was the only place on Faercycle II which was bombed during the landings and this was thought to be in an effort to prevent effective air support of more remote locations. Being stationed on the rubbacrete landing fields the 37th Regiment was mauled by the projectile and destabliser rounds dropped in passing by Invader Alpha; the designation of that Dragonship.

Ismere Starport was attacked by some forty five thousand Shia Khan troops from four different Legions once Invader Alpha had landed nineteen miles outside of the heated zone of the starport.  They were faced by more than eighty thousand planetary defence force personnel as well as two thousand Retained Knights of the Lindworm Company and two dozen Starvaulters.  Of the local forces stationed at the sprawling starport city only half of them were combat ready with the rest being pilots and other professions not useful in the battle due to loss of equipment and other reasons.  Making use of their heated Aketon Mk III non-powered armour with synth fur outer layer and artic training what was left of the 37th along with the 9th and the 25th regiments engaged the aliens out in the tundra beyond the heated zone. The wind and freezing conditions lessened the numerical advantage held by the Legions and their screen of goblinoid Maigs were unable to break through.  A retreat was called under intense pressure from Pioneers supported by Warlords and Psycoborgs for whom the temperature seemed less of an issue.  In a battle which lasted four days the Khanate were eventually halted and repelled back into the snow and ice after a high water mark reached of the commercial district of Ismere.  With the starport and its integral city burning and suffering power losses a choice was made not to pursue the aliens back to their starship...for the moment.  With only patrols watching the swirling snows the rest of the military in Ismere set about assisting in ensuring fusion plants and other energy sources kept the underground heating systems in operation.  They prevented a freezing which would have doomed hundreds of thousands of people.

Reports came in from across Faercycle II and from the rest of the stellar system too.  This was in no small part due to the valour expected of the Starvaulters who had repelled waves of Legionaries who were assaulting the primary dish array in the centre of the curtained area of the landing pads on the western edge of the starport.  Those who survived were hailed rightly as heroes having accounted for more than a hundred times their own number.  It seemed the third planet in the system had fallen to the Khanate after resisting and its signal went dark after a harrowing last stand which was broadcast live to Ismere.  Amatrall city had also fallen after being burned almost to ashes. The city of Darga on the other hand had repelled the small force which had mounted an attack upon it and its own wings of Jangle verticopters and Punk dropships had come through completely intact.  Governor Tumault of Ismere made the choice to allow Darga to take some of Ismere's troops and to then use its intact air transport to harass the aliens elsewhere distant on the planet.  Ismere had the largest concentration of Dragon Ships and enemies nearer to it than other major centres of inhabitation so it kept back and then also brought in every Gytrash Quad Strider as well as every Steornede Battlesuit which could be taken from elsewhere.  The governor made it known that the large force he had amassed would be setting out overland to destroy every enclave and starship the Khanate had one by one.  This would be a mighty challenge indeed and it took several weeks for the regiments to be outfitted and organised ready to march.

In three snaking columns composed of hundreds of Hazelwurm Patrol Cars, Colebretta Carriers and other wheeled vehicles as well as quad striders and the extreme weather purpose designed Tohlic Crawlers set out.  Their targets were Invader Alpha and then Invaders Beta, Charlie and Delta. The crawlers would take the most distant target. One by one they would free Faercycle II.      To be continued...

Ismere Starport, Faercyle II, Camarthen Cluster  4338 IC

Its well into September and all of the releases for this month for The Ion Age are now online in all their glory!  Some of the finest 15mm science fiction miniatures created by Sam Croes in my opinion. Super sharp and crisp and with excellent poses too we have new packs and a platoon for you.  A brand new Planetary Defence Force comes into being with the Cold Climes Militia.  Two squad packs of ten different poses, a five pose command pack and a platoon pack with all of these and an extra free unique female sniper in it.  Go HERE or read on for all the information and to see some in game photos from our testing with these figures when we were trying them out against the Khanate, the Prang and those damned Ymel Sandworms too.  Plus I hope you liked the little snippet of new fiction which introduced these figures.  You did!  Good.  It will continue next month.

IAF142 Cold Climes 1st Squad

This is core rifle squad for your Planetary Militia Cold Climes 15mm defence forces. Pacification and Xeno Combat in remote and central locations.  This pack contains ten different 15mm scale white metal miniatures including eight armed with Moth Type 6 Rifles, one with Pardoner Fire Projector and a lesser officer with Tumbler SMG. 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.

IAF143 Cold Climes 2nd Squad

This is the support squad for your Planetary Militia Cold Climes 15mm defence forces. Dealing with tougher targets than civil unrest.  This pack contains ten different 15mm scale white metal miniatures including three armed with a Moth Type 6 Rifle, several loaders and four armed with the heavy Bodkin AP Rifle plus a lesser officer with Tumbler SMG. 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.

IAF144 Cold Climes 1st Command

This is the platoon level leadership and specialist poses for your Planetary Militia Cold Climes 15mm defence forces.  Co-ordinate the efforts to keep civil law in place on your planet.  This pack contains five different 15mm scale white metal miniatures including a senior officer with Tumbler SMG and data slate, banner bearer with pole (bare, no flag included) and Moth Type 6 Rifle, medic with gear, comms specialist and a casualty trooper laying face up. 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.

IAFP11 Cold Climes Platoon

This pack gives you a full platoon of Cold Climes Planetary Militia as well as a unique miniature only found in this code.  If you want to field a full force suitable for skirmishing then this is the code for you.  Twenty five different miniatures which are IAF142 Cold Climes 1st Squad, IAF143 Cold Climes 2nd Squad and IAF144 Cold Climes 1st Command. On top of this you get the unique miniature which is a female Cold Climes PM Sniper with a modified Moth Type 6 Rifle in cloak which is found only in this pack and what's more its free within the pack.  Excellent!  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 12.50GBP per pack.

We hope you like the new Cold Climes and we certainly do.  Go HERE.  Want to know more about them?

They are closely related to the Planetary Defence Forces (PDF) or Militias detailed in IAB03 The Khanate Return and they use the same statistics, weapons and a lot of the same vehicles which you will find in that book. You can see the Patrol Angis game system on the website HERE including the third book in print and as a digital download.  

You can see the other Planetary Militia on the website HERE and their vehicles HERE.  We have a platoon pack, squads, command, battlesuits, portable weapon platforms and gunners as well as larger vehicles like Patrol Cars and Carriers.

Below are a series of pictures of the Cold Climes doing battle with various foes using Patrol Angis taken from our collection.  There is a caption with each one telling you what is going on.

The Above Three Images show an Cold Climes fire team being ambushed by Canlastrian Retained Knights among the Geo Shelters of an attacked settlement.

A Cold Climes fire team lays down some hurt against advancing Khanate Legionaries in the shadow of a smashed Red Adder Combat Lifter.

A Colabreta Patrol Carrier is temporary home to banner element of the Cold Climes 87th Regiment.

Cold Climes troopers prepare to loose Bodkin shots at advancing Maligs shown from two directions.

A Prang Army rescue team confronts Yordist allied Cold Climes 

as they attempt to enter a Command Dome.

Frosty chicks!  The sniper from IAFP11 next to Missiletoe Claus from the Year Three Collection with a Skylark on its Cradle behind them.

Confront your fear!  Cold Climes infantry defend 

a Power Spire against a pair of terrifying Psychoborgs!

Lastly we have some close up photos of poses from the new packs for you to see.  A standard Cold Climes Trooper, a Trooper with Pardoner Fire Projector, a Trooper with Bodkin AP Launcher, A Comms Specialist Trooper and a senior Officer of the Cold Climes. It ends with the free female sniper from the platoon pack. From packs IAF142,IAF143,IAF144 and IAFP11.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Ymel Sandworms in Patrol Angis free article plus those codes online

We are delighted at The Ion Age to now carry the two packs of Sandworms sculpted by Kieran Billings from Alternative Armies on our website too!  We have a pack of five Sandworms in five different poses and we have a single Greater Sandworm too (VNT codes).  They are resin single piece miniatures and we have an offer on them of 10% off normal price until the end of this month!  Lastly read on for details and for a link to the website plus a free article for playing them in Patrol Angis too.  Go HERE.

Choose your monsters!

VNT35 Greater Sandworm

Seen in stories and legends across the globe you must be fearful when the soil under your feet shivers at its approach.  The Greater Sandworm. This pack contains a single one piece high quality grey tone resin miniature which is around 50mm tall and works in multiple scales for any game setting. Supplied unpainted and without a base (shown on a 40mm round base) with no assembly required. Go HERE.  4.00GBP

VNT36 Sandworm Swarm

The brood, the young or just the typical these Sandworms hunt prey through the sands and dry river beds seeking by the vibration of footsteps.  This pack contains five different one piece high quality grey tone resin miniatures which are between 5mm and 20mm tall.  They are emerging from the soil and then attacking.  Supplied unpainted and without bases (shown on a 20mm round base) with no assembly required.  Go HERE.  5.00GBP

If you are a fan of Patrol Angis you are in for a treat now.  A new official free article for using the Sandworms in your games.  Click on the article to download from our website.  I had great fun writing it.  Enjoy!

On the edge of the Dolo Clouds beyond the Mim stellar system sits the dim star called Ymel around which circles one hot planet; Ymel Prime.  Chasing a solitary Dragon Ship a small contingent of Prydian Army troops crashes on the planet after successfully shooting down the Khanate enemy. Both sides are now trapped on Ymel Prime in the blazing sun.  A dead world...or is it?  Add Sandworms to Patrol Angis with prey seeking mechanics and random appearances.  Download now HERE.

Above are the four pictures which were taken in playtesting.  We played twice.  Once with Prydian Army Retained Knights and once with a mixed Khanate Force of a Pugnus and some Legionaries. Great fun!

The actual Ion Age releases for the month...Cold Climes Planetary Militia...will happen soon!

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

Incoming 15mm Cold Climes Planetary Militia this September

“Faercyle II is nowhere. I mean it. I had to look it up. Right out there on the edge of the known Precinct in the least wanted star system of the Camarthen cluster. The Faercyle system ain't like Camarthen itself or the beautiful Myrdan and Ambrosia systems with their beaches and lush farmlands. No, that planet is a near permanent frozen rock just inside the habitable zone of its little sun. Nothing there, nothing living. But one thing we want. Lots of titanium. A damn lot and easy to mine as well through the ice just got to scrape it off. Height of summer you can walk about with just protective clothing, spring and autumn heated Aketon armour is fine but the winter, your choice is indoor or icicle. The heated town and farmlands of Ismere are nice most of the time due to the under soil pipes. Anyway I was put out there back in '21 when the first ore converters were set up. To train a Planetary Militia you know. Not a big contingent but enough for the expected half million population. Took us a year and I was glad to the leave. Cold Climes ain't no fun for a trooper. I took the shuttle to orbit and never looked back. Still can't put ice in my drinks.

So three weeks ago I get a vid call from regional command telling me and the other instructors that we are shipping out along with elements of the 202nd and the 608th ,both good regiments, for Faercyle II. To back up the 'PM' against a new foe. I asked was it the Cannies or the Yordists or some grasping rim baron trying to muscle in on the mining. No answers though. Not until the 'Kildare' jumped in system and I saw we had three other warships with us as well as regimental transports. A big task force with a lot of space borne fire power. Made me sweat. Swapping shots on the ground fine but not up there. Nothing though next to what we were told was actually going on. First contact, real aliens. I had heard of the xeno digs on Camarthen Prime but there was nothing there; only dust. This was different. Seemed that Faercyle had been raided from space. People carried off, buildings destroyed, refined titanium stolen. Alien raiders had attacked the planet.

I swore I would never come back here. But all it took was five years and an alien presence and it was back to the frozen funfair. Two days ago the Kildare spotted incoming ships. Several of them. Smaller than our crates but coming in a a sustained three standard gravities. Like needles straight at the planet. Wanting another shot at the ore or perhaps more. Command has named them 'Prang', no idea why. No idea what they look like and the locals ain't saying much. I am back with the Planetary Militia in my cold climes gear. In Ismere the only star port on this rock, dug in deep. We are ready this time. We will let them land and then see what happens. See what these Prang, these Raiders are all about. If nothing else it will keep the chill off. Man I hate the cold.”

Sergeant William Harris, 202nd Muster Regiment, Ismere Starport, Faercyle II. 4326IC Militias.

This month The Ion Age will release a whole new sub-force into the 15mm ranges.  Cold Climes Planetary Militia the defence forces who gear up for the working in the frozen and in the mountains as well as anywhere else in the Prydian Precinct where snow and ice prevail.  Worlds like Faercycle II and Bargle III which are valuable and have breathable atmospheres but are too cold for normal habitation have these troops present to fend off raiders, condots and invasions by Humans and aliens alike.  We will be releasing twenty six new 15mm scale poses sculpted by Sam Croes in the form of two ten figure squads and a five figure command team as well as all of these in a platoon with an extra free special miniature..the female sniper you can see here.  Yum!

We will be releasing all the codes later this month in one lot along with some great images of them. Above is a typical trooper in cold climes gear without his helmet and carrying the standard load out of a Moth Type 6 Rifle.  You can find the full story of the Planetary Militia in IAB03 The Khanate Return and if you want to get some free content there is the playtest Planetary Militia in Patrol Angis which is hosted on our website.  

If you are reading this after September 2017 you can find all of the Planetary Militia troops on the website HERE and their vehicles HERE.

We will be further expanding the Planetary Militia in October before phase two continues with more alien releases.  I hope you enjoyed this little first look at the Incoming for this month and above is the Planetary Militia Platoon in standard uniform (IAFP07).

Thanks for Reading,

GBS

On Offer the Valerin Taranis Hover MBT

This month at The Ion Age our twenty percent off deal lasting for all of September is on a main battle tank in 15mm scale.  We call them lifters, but Hover or Blower or any other term for a hoverskirt will suit the IAF102F Taranis Lifter MBT Valrerin Laser Turret.  A superb vehicle in three resin pieces designed by Bob Naismith and Sam Croes.  Click through to see it or read on to learn about the Valerin weapon system (an extract from the book 'Baron' which is in the works right now) and see more.

Valerin Laser Weapon System

Recognised as one of the most familiar weapon system families used throughout the Prydian Precinct the Valerin sits alongside the Angis, the Moth and the Anda as being in service in one form or another with almost all troops.  It is the primary light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, focused light or laser weapon system varying in size from a hand gun to rifle and support as well as light vehicle all the way up to super heavy vehicle and fortification grades.  Among the Muster and Retained most Valerin lasers are of the 3Mw Rifle or the 15Mw Cannon which are used at a platoon or lance level and for Espaten portable platforms and are rarer when compared to projectile type weapon systems.  The only infantry who make extensive use of Valerin are the Starvaulters who each carry a 3Mw or a 9Mw rifle as well as a 2Mw pistol preferring the range and hitting power of a laser against select targets to the more brutal close range armaments of the Retained.  It is the Valerin 15Mw Laser Cannon which features on the Havelock and Duxis battlesuits as well as being the normal load out of the up armoured SuperBlue Adder and Afrara Strider variants.  There are two models of Valerin lasers which are found on heavier ground vehicles such as the Taranis main battle tank and the Magog.  These are the more typical Valerin 50Mw Laser Cannon which has superb range and pinpoint accuracy with no degradation of effectiveness in low gravity or outra-atmos battle environments.  The 'Eage' is a super laser cannon and at 85Mw it is the most powerful Valerin found on the battlefield.  It can be centrally mounted into Taranis hulls but more often this is the usual anti-armour turret on Cassillis and Moat portable castles.  Beyond this and ground warfare the Valerin 900Mw turret can be used against starships at effective ranges of up to one light minute for intercept or a million kilometres for direct line.  Characterised by long armoured barrels with stubby flanged cowls Valerin weapons all have a similar look.  The 50Mw Laser Cannon has these features as well as some not found in the smaller variants namely the Layton 07 argon cooling system which prevents overheating and allows the cannon to fire continually while sighting targets.  The Valerin is fabricated on three dozen worlds in tremendous numbers and while there are planetary differences in finer finishing the general reliability of these lasers is excellent.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 52, New Glastonbury, 4335 IC

The Taranis is a god of war and at The Ion Age we have more than twenty 15mm kits with four different means of propulsion and different functions and turret main guns.  See them all HERE on the website.  In the above picture you can see our Valerin armed Taranis preparing to fire its main gun at a distant target while dead Legionaries give testament to a recently won encounter (from IAF123) and a small team of Taranis Runner Drones (IAF081)give protection to the tank as well as counter measures and small repairs.  Below it is the Retained Knights of Prydia who now benefit from the protection of Taranis in a scene which suggests battle is far away.  A strategist (the free special miniature from IAFP02) examines data behind the tank while a Noblesse (IAF057) takes a walk into caves which may never have seen Human steps before.

The third picture sees the Planetary Militia get backed up by the mighty Taranis which is using its lifter skirts to traverse a shallow but fast flowing stream.  There is trouble ahead as the troopers (from IAFP07) can see signs of enemy fire with a smashed Adder Combat Car (IAF037) and a cratered Hab Dome (IAF015I) being now nothing but destroyed litter upon the ground.

If you like the look of this month's special then have a gander at Callsign Taranis the expansion to Patrol Angis where you can learn all about the bigger vehicles.

Enjoy the special offer and remember that when you order from us you set up an account with the website.  Not for emails but rather that you may get the Reward Points which each order earns that you can trade in later for discounts and free things.  Extra value from The Ion Age. Excellent!

Thanks for Reading.

GBS