From Alternative Armies, Unit 6, Parkway Court, Glaisdale Parkway, Bilborough, Nottingham, NG8 4GN. Made available by Partizan Press. Price (a.t.o.w.) £ 18.99.

This is a fun game. A Napoleonic skirmish with 25mm metal figures! What? I hear you say. For your money you get 16 well modelled figures - French Voltiguers (Elves) and Sharke's Company of the Rifles (Orcs). A rule book 32 pages long in a well presented package about the size of a cornflakes packet. This has been a team product by Mac Coxhead - (concept, design, writing & development), Steve Blease - (rules system and scenario development), Pete Knifton - (cover art, logo & internal illustration) and Tim Pollard - (typesetting, layout & 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 Sharke, 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 rifle. The rules are fairly simple skirmish rules and Quick Reference sheets are part of the book. The rules aim at role-playing too and quite rightly say 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, a bit steep price for the metal and rules. (Wargamers always say this). That they'd have fun with it if a member of the club brought it along on a "spare" club night i.e. not one designed for Borodino or Poltava etc. 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 it falls between the two stools. To my mind any gaming is Fantasy.

Personally (and how else can I put it?) having enjoyed skirmish wargames and Wild West shoot-outs in the past, what's wrong in taking the suspension of belief a little further? The figures of the Voltiguers were pronounced very good bay all the games who saw them. The Rifles were pronounced the better type of the Fantasy figure. So there we are. I like the figures myself - particularly 'Arris for some reason. All the Rifles are great characters. "Flintlogue - The Skirmish"" &#reg is a good game and could become a cult - if enough people buy it.

More Reviews:

28mm Seven Years War
25mm Japanese Civilians
25mm Zulus
20mm War of the Roses
Flintlogue Fantasy Figures and Rules