Flintloque by Alternative Armies, Unit 6, Parkway Court, Glaisdale Parkway, Bilborough, Nottingham, NG8 4GN. Price at the time of writing £ 18.99

This is a fun game. A Napoleonic Fantasy Skirmish with 25mm metal figures! What, I hear you say.

For your money you get 16 well-moulded figures - French voltigeurs (elves) and Sharke's Company of Rifles (Orcs). There is e 32 page long rule book in a well-presented package about the size of a comflakes packet. This is a team production by Mac Coxhead (concept, design, writing and development), Steve Blease (rule system and scenario development), Pete Knifton (cover art, logo and internal illustration), Heather Paling (creative writing, game development and proof reading) and Tm Pollard (typesetting, layout and editing). Portions of the book may be copied from indicated areas for gaming convenience of purchasers.

The whole story is based on a fantasy version of the Richard Sharpe adventures by Bernard Cornwell, and the names of the characters reflect this: Lt. Sharpe, Harpy, Hagmun, 'Arris and so on. There are three scenarios included, 'Sharke's Rifles', 'Sharke's Gold' and 'Sharke's Sword'. The huge Bog Orc Harpy carries a volley gun, and Sharke has a huge sword besides his Bakur (sic) rifle.

The rules are fairly simple skirmish rules and quick reference sheets are part of the book. The rules aim at Role Play too, and quite rightly say that this kind of play makes for more fun. That's what wargaming is all about, isn't it?

I showed the whole kit and caboodle to three older experienced wargamers (and they're all younger than me). Their reaction was that it was a bit of a steep price for the metal and rules, bur wargamers always say this. They said that they would have fun with it if a member of their club brought it along on a 'spare' club night, that is, one not designated for Borodino or Poltava, etc.

Love It or Not?

Well, you are either going to love it or not. 'Historical' gamers may dismiss it - I think they would be wrong. 'Fantasy Fanatics' might also say that it falls between two stools. To my mind, any gaming is Fantasy. Personally (and how else can I put it?) having enjoyed Skirmish wargames and Wild West shootouts in the past, what's wrong with taking the suspension of disbelief a little further.

The figures of the Voltigeurs were pronounced very good by all the gamers who saw them. The Rifles were pronounced the better type of Fantasy figure. So there we are; I like the figures myself - particularly 'Arris for some reason. All the Rifles are great characters. Flintloque - The Skirmish is a good game and could become a cult if enough people buy it. Give it a go: you may find it brings the sparkle back to your wargaming.

More Reviews:

The Sandler Collection (book)
On The Fields of Glory (book)
Battleground Waterloo (computer game)
Flintloque (miniature figures/rules)