tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90668528743278319922024-03-13T22:56:30.695-07:00Society of Ancients NewsJustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069768379610510986noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-55555193605300112062024-02-19T11:04:00.000-08:002024-02-19T11:39:38.896-08:00Slingshot 350 is with the printers ... <p> <span style="background-color: white;"><i>...
and should be dropping into your mailbox anyday now! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRExqmY7oI67Xcxb3DUPfZzg6Er-gUot6pTATWA1jfkGXeKLiT7Qgi5UUGcivSEk9nJwCwuBq8TqQOXxkapkV1eFFQ5mc0M6VXsPgwGKm9yThRQRr-hgbctB1l9Xd5nlo3tmsiysNffSb7-TtlOIkafYtap_-DSfQEpic8y_PRh6IKgGgV5f52h53ySE/s785/Slingshot%20350%20cover.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="553" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRExqmY7oI67Xcxb3DUPfZzg6Er-gUot6pTATWA1jfkGXeKLiT7Qgi5UUGcivSEk9nJwCwuBq8TqQOXxkapkV1eFFQ5mc0M6VXsPgwGKm9yThRQRr-hgbctB1l9Xd5nlo3tmsiysNffSb7-TtlOIkafYtap_-DSfQEpic8y_PRh6IKgGgV5f52h53ySE/w281-h400/Slingshot%20350%20cover.png" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"You'd look depressed too, if you were crewed by a bunch of weekend sailors! <br />We're never going to win the West Mediterranean Regatta at this rate."</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><i> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Editorial </b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Which begins, "Salve mi mare amicis!". To which I might perhaps reply, "Hello sailor, yourself". But then I'd just be revealing my execrably poor grasp of Latin so I'll just read on.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A Word from our New President Richard Lockwood </b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">As is customary on these occasions. Informative, generous and encouraging but brief. So pretty faultless. I was mainly referring to the article but these epithets may well apply to Richard too.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Battleday 2024 Update </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">A final Reminder for this Year’s Society Battle Day, which will take place on Sunday 24th March, 2024 at Hermitage Village Hall in Berkshire (postcode RG18 9WL). And it's worth spreading the word that the Battle Day is open to both members and non-members. Entry costs £10 per person.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Alala Ruleset Launch </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Alala! Is a set of tactical wargames rules by Simon MacDowall for classical hoplite phalanx warfare and consists of a rulebook, separate quick reference sheet and a deck of cards (the God Pack). PDF files for QRS and cards are available for download and home printing.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Wargaming News </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">News about new figures, rulesets, books, etc., including: </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Blue Moon 3rd - 5th Century Romans 15/18mm</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">WiP Games and Miniatures Ancient Greeks 28mm</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Conquerors and Kings, 2nd edition rules for ancient battles by Peter Pig</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Acemhöyük, another new set of rules, these with a slant towards myth and all things Hittite!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Crusader Castle: The Desert Fortress of Kerak. Published in January 2024 by Pen & Sword.<br /></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Simon MacDowall Interview on Alala Ruleset Development </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">In advance of the release of ‘Alala’ in March this year, the editor found time to catch up with Simon to ask how the ruleset came into existence and his insights to the design.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Editor’s Prizes for 2023</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Let's be clear about this upfront, no one is in with a shout here who hasn't contributed material to Slingshot but don't be disappointed, that in no way detracts from the pleasure of reading this article. I mean, where else are you going to read about dried frog pills?</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Blood Red Roses Ruleset Development by Adrian Nayler </b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Blood Red Roses is a simple though slightly unorthodox game for two players to fight battles representative of the Wars of the Roses. If any of that is your thing then take a look under the hood in company with the author. Abstractions, perspectives, mechanisms, interpretations. Nothing is left to the imagination. (Except the bit where you get your helmet split by a poll axe, as this is not an age restricted publication.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Gaugamela Part Three by Damian Baxter </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">This time, "Command and Control". All armies of all Ages are limited by command and control ... And I for one have every sympathy with that statement, especially as I regularly play DBA. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Slings and Slingers by John Hogan </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The humble sling is probably the second oldest projectile weapon after the throwing spear ... and the ammunition is cheap. John explores the whole topic: types, techniques, ammunition sources, range, effectiveness, use in sieges, limitations and decline. Not to mention a look at slingers in army lists.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Fact vs Fun by Connor Truby </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">"Fact vs fun is frankly a purposefully contentious headline." No! Surely not. In a previous issue the editor suggested that historical accuracy and fun might be on a sliding scale. Where accuracy increases, fun de-creases and vice versa. Connor takes a careful look at the question and then, like a good student of history, proceeds to "discuss".<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Galley Warfare at the Society’s Convention (2022) by Michael Lane </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Michael charts his voyage. From land lubber to lord of the middle sea. From ships on the beach (aka lead pile) to a formidable ancient navy. Along the way he takes in building the fleet from Skytrex 1/600th models; testing and adopting David Manley's rules for ancient galley warfare, "Ad Mare Nostrum"; and developing a scenario from the sources for the battle of Side (otherwise the Eurymedon River) in 190 BC, fought between the Rhodians and Rome's old enemy, Hannibal, commanding a Seleucid fleet.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Tactica Part 5 - Alexandrian Macedonians v Later Achaemenid Persians by Simon Watson </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Simon and friends continue to rewrite history, this time for Alexander and Xerxes, with the help of Arty Conliffe's Tactica 2 rules.</span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Blood Red Roses - a Battle Report and Review (of sorts) by Gordon Garrad </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Now we've read about the rules, let's hear how they play.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book, Game & Figure Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of:<span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Developing the Portable Wargame - book review by Martin Smith </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Romes Third Samnite War - book review by Gavin Pearson </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Rome Rules the Waves - book review by Jim Webster </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Empires of the Steppes</span><span style="background-color: white;"> - book review b</span><span style="background-color: white;">by Chris Hahn <br /></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>And Finally… </b></span> <br /></p><p>A postscript from the Editor.</p><p><b>Coming up in Slingshot 351:</b></p><p>• Battle Day reports and thoughts<br />• A return to the Dark Ages<br />• Base discussions<br />• Alexandrian shenanigans<br /></p><br /><br /><br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-37409263298764047842023-11-09T08:55:00.007-08:002023-11-09T11:29:33.587-08:00Slingshot 348 is with the printers ... <p> </p><p> <span style="background-color: white;"><i>...
and should be dropping into your mailbox anyday now! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud4zlp7AuJXhWFuZBR6c0ZvKK4MNNy4qfmlw-mtnNqaPZCKoqS9_Y7VPIXzV1YgIaLTd6hq0qoKDcpYZdWN1waMtLneZWLODYQ2EmTkcHWpflsEjMI1jMP5g432E0MCFXEEHim8ROXVfjLnmEwy-tQIm3SdS48tAY3prAynUJlVAim-Fj3DTvfOJtQ8A/s1076/348%20Cover.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud4zlp7AuJXhWFuZBR6c0ZvKK4MNNy4qfmlw-mtnNqaPZCKoqS9_Y7VPIXzV1YgIaLTd6hq0qoKDcpYZdWN1waMtLneZWLODYQ2EmTkcHWpflsEjMI1jMP5g432E0MCFXEEHim8ROXVfjLnmEwy-tQIm3SdS48tAY3prAynUJlVAim-Fj3DTvfOJtQ8A/w283-h400/348%20Cover.PNG" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"You've got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em.<br />Know when to walk away. And know when to run."</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Society Notices</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Politics*, money and elections. (*Well, the committee. So not really politics. More like a friendly scuffle on the steps of the Senate.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Editorial</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The Editor reflects on a year in the chair. <br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Wargaming News</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">News about new figures! News about new rules! News about new books! And Christmas coming up. So just in time.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Gaugamela - Deployment and Plans Part One by Damien Baxter</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The purpose of this article, and I quote: "is to understand the deployments and plans of both sides at Gaugamela so as to undertake a tabletop game" of the battle. Oh yes! How does it go? "Bring me my Bows (8Bw, preferably), my rules unfold. Bring me my chariots with scythes." Or something like that.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Adrianople 378AD using Armati Rules (SOA Battle Day 2022) by Roy Boss and Matt Bennett</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Adrianople was once held to be a ‘Decisive Battle of the Western World’. To have introduced the mounted knight to the battlefield. To have been the levering away of the keystone that held up the Roman Empire and to have been the forerunner of the introduction of a virile Germanic strain to what would become the nations of the West who would go on to dominate the world. Yeah, OK, let's go with Roy and Matt and take a look under the hood. <br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Wargaming in the British Heroic Age (A Dying Light in Britannia Part 4) by Dave Hollin</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Here is the next part of Dave's series of articles on the Late/Post-Roman period of British History up to and including the death of Cadwallon of Gwynedd (635AD). Particularly interesting for me as it includes a very helpful review of possible rulesets for the period as brief coverage of the more important battles.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A Society Convention 2023 Battle Report by John Drewienkiewicz</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Both last year and this year John and co. ran a knockout Command and Colors Ancients Game at the Society's Annual Convention at Madingley. Not a hugely sophisticated game but one that’s easy to pick up and with results obtained in about 75 minutes. Read on to find out how it was organised and how it played out.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Society of Ancients Convention 2023- an overview report by Simon MacDowall</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">An interesting run through and overview of the various activities going on at this year's convention, together with some very nice eye candy.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Magnesia on My Mind by Chris Hahn</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">What would a history of <u><b><i>wargaming</i></b></u> the 190 BC contest between the outnumbered Roman and Pergamene army under Lucius Cornelius Scipio and the outclassed as well as eclectic Seleucid army led by King Antiochus III (sometimes called “Antiochus the Great”) look like? What format or structure would it have? Would it be organized chronologically ... Read on to enjoy this fascinating take by Chris on how the battle has been gamed over the years!<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Empire (a Society of Ancients boardgame) - run through game by John Graham-Leigh</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Otherwise titled 'Empire, “A very simple game”. But don't let that fool you. By recounting a brief, solo play-through, John provides an enjoyable introduction to a very clever and versatile game which is still a frequent purchase from the Society web-store.<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Tactica 2 Games - Part 3 - Neo Assyrians vs Neo Babylonians by Simon Watson</b></span><br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Simon and friends continue to rewrite Biblical history with the help of Arty Conliffe's Tactica 2 rules.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book, Game & Figure Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of:</p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Three Ages of Rome, rules review by Dave Hollin<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Peter Pig Parthian Peltasts, figure review by Steven Neate</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Lancer Miniatures Greek Psiloi, </span><span style="background-color: white;">figure </span><span style="background-color: white;">review by Duncan Head<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">The Trojan War - Tragedy and Aftermath, book review by Jim Webster<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">The Perfect Sword - Forging the Dark Ages, book review by Duncan Head <br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Armies of Anglo-Saxon England 410 - 1066, book review by Dave Hollin<b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>And Finally </b></span><br /></p>A postscript from the Editor!<br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-29565761856667474062023-08-07T05:34:00.013-07:002023-11-09T09:45:36.087-08:00Slingshot 347 is with the printers ...<p> <span style="background-color: white;"><i>... and should be with you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8GcFde9clK_RwGHYZYiB9vstrbNIKmo7hqiyaa0t_wLmwUc7UiGj0ehDajBmElK8PpzGiYbtIbGLKQDlOEOU-guMuczd6dv8raQFtSXo5QTtBfVXu8PP8eSztecIGXijo_f-R1UodOgZILF8_0dFwj5mn0sKz18T4qEtG5cDoE1Twwgp24hOCtAhLjQ/s885/Cover%20346%20.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="631" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8GcFde9clK_RwGHYZYiB9vstrbNIKmo7hqiyaa0t_wLmwUc7UiGj0ehDajBmElK8PpzGiYbtIbGLKQDlOEOU-guMuczd6dv8raQFtSXo5QTtBfVXu8PP8eSztecIGXijo_f-R1UodOgZILF8_0dFwj5mn0sKz18T4qEtG5cDoE1Twwgp24hOCtAhLjQ/w285-h400/Cover%20346%20.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>"By Alexander's chamber pot, Antigonos, how <br />we ever lost to the Romans when we have such <br />long, sharp, pointy sticks I'll never know"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Editorial</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The view from the Editor's Chair, including apologies, errata, more errata and "thoughts". Oh, and some news! In summary, "Mea culpa! I think. And, by the way."<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wargaming News <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">What is says on the tin.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interview with John Lambshead by Gordon Garrad <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">From Fall of the West, a supplement for Warhammer Ancients, to One Hour Skirmish Wargaming</span><span style="background-color: white;">, John has done some interesting stuff. So something for everyone.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">What are the Chances—Pikes vs Bows in DBA 3.0 by Nick Harbud <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Which starts with the claim that "a number of readers requested a further in-depth example of the techniques for calculating (the) probabilities" but don't let that put you off. This fascinating article looks at what happens when a pike phalanx (Pk) takes on an element of massed bowmen (Bw) under version 3 of the De Bellis Antiquitatis ancient rules (DBA 3.0). Perhaps the Achaemenid version of a West Point tutorial?<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Alexander the Great; The Complete Conqueror by Julian Lorriman <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">In an idle moment Julian dangerously looked up on the internet who was the greatest military leader of all time. To his surprise, there was Alexander the Great languishing in tenth place. Which was all the encouragement that Julian needed to put pen to paper and set the record straight, with this article on Alexander. Read how he achieved, perhaps after Genghis Khan, the greatest conquests of any single military leader in history.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Wargaming 4th Century BC Hoplite Warfare using ‘Strength & Honour’ by Richard Speed <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Strength & Honour rules are written and designed for the period 105BC to 200AD. So, in true wargaming style, Richard looks at how they might be adapted for an earlier periods, in this case Greek Hoplite warfare of the 4th Century BC.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">A Little 2nd Mantineia (6mm) by David Kay <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">With quite a few Greeks in his 6mm army collection, David thought to have a go at putting on 2nd Mantineia, the subject of this year's Battleday, as a solo effort at home over that weekend and using his own rules. So let's see whether history was rewritten in his account of the battle. (Which was always going to be written by the winner, of course.)</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Tactica 2 Games Through The Ages Part 1 - Ancient Sumer; Umma v Kish By Simon Watson <br /></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Exactly what it says and with lots and lots of eye candy! </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pleasures and Pitfalls of Writing a Scenario By Ian Piper <br /></span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">In the closing moments of his first SoA conference in 2021 and no doubt overcome by euphoria, Ian courageously (or maybe rashly) volunteered </span><span style="background-color: white;">to put on a game in the future. Here he describes how he went about developing the scenario and answering the three critical questions. W</span>hat battle, real or fictional? Did he have the models? (A bit of a nail biter.) Which rule set?</p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>A mini - 15mm comparison follow up by Dave Hollin <br /></b></span><p><span style="background-color: white;">A really quick update on the Editor's dark age 15mm figure musings from Slingshot 345.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book, Game & Figure Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of:</p><p>Khurasan 15mm, figure review by David Smith </p><p>Essex Nubian and Libu Infantry in 15mm, figure review by Steven Neate <br /></p><p>The Macedonian Phalanx, book review by Duncan Head</p><p>The Greek Hoplite Phalanx, book review by Duncan Head</p><p>The Rise of Persia & the First Greco-Persian Wars, book review by Jim Webster & David Mason</p><p>The Galatians, book review by Stephen Brennan</p><p>The Battles of Antiochus the Great, book review by Kenneth Bell</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">And Finally <br /></h4>Coming up in Issue 347! Just a little taster.<br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-87543623465037866302023-06-15T07:54:00.002-07:002023-06-15T08:14:27.270-07:00Slingshot 345 is with the printers ... <p> <span style="background-color: white;"><i>... and should already be winging its way to your mailbox! (Or possibly even dropping into it as I'm running rather late with this. Sorry.) Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjQHeXaHKPhTe8dhbYoCLhez0EZaWH9RBJoXod7kyG7Qi0OlnaXgLjYJgTMlyqu1LCB-vxHafYtN44zXPvBPigU9kTuAg2pwi_feB9fTF3f4Sfa6bPSzDv42vXtcAE9saqrDzTyO2iAQ-UhWBpX6p1vzOxCaymP0Bddl2tkMs03cBRQTtCZ2H01QZ/s842/Slingshot%20345%20cover.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjQHeXaHKPhTe8dhbYoCLhez0EZaWH9RBJoXod7kyG7Qi0OlnaXgLjYJgTMlyqu1LCB-vxHafYtN44zXPvBPigU9kTuAg2pwi_feB9fTF3f4Sfa6bPSzDv42vXtcAE9saqrDzTyO2iAQ-UhWBpX6p1vzOxCaymP0Bddl2tkMs03cBRQTtCZ2H01QZ/s320/Slingshot%20345%20cover.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>"Do you think that this muscled cuirass makes <br />me look just a bit like Gerard Butler in '300'?"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Society of Ancients Convention 2023 update by Richard Lockwood <br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">The 2023 Society of Ancients Convention (formerly known as the Conference) will take place once again at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, over the weekend 20th-22nd October 2023 and we are delighted that we have been able to hold the prices at the 2022 level. Visit the <a href="https://www.soa.org.uk/joomla/conference" target="_blank">Conference</a> page at the SoA website for more details.</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Editorial and Wargaming News</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The view from the Editor's chair plus extras!<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Guardroom</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Justin and Andreas swap opinions. (Like Pompey and Caesar at Pharsalus.)<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interview with Simon McDowall by Gordon Garrad</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Simon is the author of numerous rules for the Ancient Period including Comitatus, covering the European Dark Ages, and Legio, covering the period of Republican and early Imperial Rome. Simon's emphasis is on the psychological aspects of battle on the behaviour of armies. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you go down to the woods today by Nick Harbud</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Ancient and medieval wargames often start with a flat table upon which players places various small pieces of terrain. For many battles this may be a realistic interpretation of the terrain upon which they were fought. But not always. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">This article is all about the difficulty in wargaming battles where the predomi-<br />nant battlefield terrain is woods. History is written not so much by the victors as by the literate. Yet even when the literate side won, there is little beyond the general location and what a great victory it was for the commander. The impact of all the greenery is scarcely mentioned. Nick aims to put that right.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Raining Arrows - the debate about the medieval arrowstorm by Anthony Clipsom</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Longbow tactics are one of those wonderful subjects that keep on giving for the medieval military historian. Always an audience. Never any certainty. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">One such topic – the arrowstorm</span><span style="background-color: white;"> - </span><span style="background-color: white;"> has recently been the subject of an intense debate </span><span style="background-color: white;"> on the Society forum. This article results from that discussion.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">A Dying Light in Britannia - Part 2 by Dave Hollin</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">This second part of Dave's article on Roman Britain and its transition to Anglo-Saxon Britain <br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">15mm Figure Comparisons and Wargaming the Dark Ages Part 2 by Dave Hollin</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">A direct quote from Dave. "I looked at a total of 21 figure manufacturers .. and assessed 22 examples from them .." Now this is my kind of figure review.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">2023 SOA Membership Survey by John Graham Leigh</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Survey .. of wargames rules. Twenty years on from the previous published survey, what's changed? Well, there are a lot of rulesets about, for starters. Read on to discover more.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">SOA Battle-Day Round Up</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">So the Society’s Battleday was held on the 1st April to great fanfare, or at least a cup of tea and a few hobnobs. This section is devoted to a few of the sights and experiences of the day, incuding ..</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mantinea with Alala Ruleset by Simon MacDowall</span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Simon plays an interesting twist on an old but classic set of wargame rules, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Dark Age Infantry Slog*, to</span><span style="background-color: white;"> put on a game of 2nd Mantinea at the Society Battle Day.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">*Old, because they </span><span style="background-color: white;">written back in the '80s by Andy Callan. Classic because they incorporate mechanisms that have influenced rules writers such as Daniel Mersey and Simon MacDowall ever since. A great choice for an interesting take on hoplite warfare and all embellished with some fabulous photos of beautifully painted, 1/72nd ancient Greeks from the collection of Pete O’Toole. <br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mantinea with Spartans and Successors by Nick Harbud</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">A scenario for 2nd Mantinea at the Battle Day using Spartans & Successors, a set of wargames rules specifically for battles from Marathon through to Raphia, by Graham Evans.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Harry Hudrow Does Battle-Day by Harry Hudrow</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Three games of 2nd Mantinea played </span><span style="background-color: white;">on a 2' x 4' table on the patio in Long Beach, California </span><span style="background-color: white;">by a</span><span style="background-color: white;"> former lock, tight head prop & drop kicker. Is this society eclectic and international or what?<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hoplites in Messene by Duncan Head</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Detailed, thoughtful and erudite. Thanks Duncan.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Naval Gazing - a Comparison of Naval Rulesets by Mark Wilson</span></h4><p>Mark says he has "struggled to find a set of naval rules that are suitable to use and be integrated into a campaign game". Yep, me too. Go on then, I'm all ears to hear how you get out of this one.<br /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">15mm Figure Review - Peter Pig Midianite Camels by Steven Neate</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Specific topic, I've got to say.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ruleset Review - Hail Caesar 2nd Edition by Jeremy Giles</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Jeremy's claim - "an accessible and relatively fast play set of rules, covering a wide time period and for playing amongst friends". Read the article to get the full supporting arguments and judge for yourself. </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book, Game & Figure Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Hail Caesar 2nd Edition ruleset review by Jeremy Giles</span></p><p>A Military Life of Constantine the Great book review by Jim Webster</p><p>The Legiones Cannenses book review by Duncan Head </p><p> Last Great War of Antiquity book review by John Graham-Leigh<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Why does it matter?</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">A plea from the Committee. Yes, your society needs you to keep the barbarians from the gates and save the Republic from the evils of tyranny. Read on for the full, rousing recruiting speech!<br /></span></p><p><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><b></b><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-59952394625124747262023-04-17T02:45:00.005-07:002023-04-17T02:49:35.548-07:00Slingshot 344 is with the printers ... <p><span style="background-color: white;"><i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GYFiOrYS24pxs01ky8qZzuIT-5W18WylyF2vcwYgsdpMMNSTeB77yrxJRcKMTjpzvECguOEwLVIs7en-eOWplRP7orcEfgWBvmScjr97Rrix6jiuXGZd5P8zXwDVJ95OGTWrumKojB7nN2eP7cDla22_314K6ZWJwWor_khGHAZIoKDehFOUU26T/s1754/Slingshot%20344%20Jan%202023%20front%20page.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GYFiOrYS24pxs01ky8qZzuIT-5W18WylyF2vcwYgsdpMMNSTeB77yrxJRcKMTjpzvECguOEwLVIs7en-eOWplRP7orcEfgWBvmScjr97Rrix6jiuXGZd5P8zXwDVJ95OGTWrumKojB7nN2eP7cDla22_314K6ZWJwWor_khGHAZIoKDehFOUU26T/w226-h320/Slingshot%20344%20Jan%202023%20front%20page.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>"Romans, stand firm against these barbarian dogs!<br />Remember, you fight today for your homes, your families <br />and my phenomenally expensive shield!"</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><i></i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Editorial</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The view from the Editor's Chair. Maybe not one for those of a nervous disposition.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Society Officer and Committee Member Nominations notice</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">What is says on the tin.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Refighting 2nd Mantinea using Lost Battles and Legion II by Philip Sabin</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Phil Sabin describes two, solo refights of this battle, each of which offers </span><span style="background-color: white;">some very interesting insights </span><span style="background-color: white;"> into the challenges and dilemmas faced by the opposing troops and commanders, as well as two entertaining game narratives. <br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Battlefield of Adrianople 378AD by Dave Watson</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">A short but informative look at the site, in modern Turkey, of this ancient battlefield. <br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Galloping Horse and Bounding Chariot by Richard Andrews</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Following on from his thoughts about Philistine infantry in Slingshot 337, in this article Richard looks at the nature and evolution of Philistine chariots.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Roman Special Forces and Special Operations by Simon Elliott</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Simon's article puts us onto the trail of Roman elite forces, describing the typical "behind the scenes" clandestine activities that were always underway deep behind enemy lines. Then as now, their role was to disrupt chains of command and lines of supply, provide vital intelligence, and assassinate opposing decision takers. Overall, a wealth of neat scenario ideas for the ancient skirmish gamer.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interview with Neville Dickinson by Gordon Garrad</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Neville Dickinson. One of that happy band who between them brought so many of us into wargaming and so tirelessly popularised the hobby. The creator of Minifigs, too. An original. Nay, a legend!<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Third Battle of The Mandubian Hills by David Kay</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">In </span><span style="background-color: white;">Slingshot 331, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Chris Hahn began to explore the problem (aka opened the can of worms which is) how to recreate the operation of a Roman legion in a triplex acies formation. Here David Kay picks up the gauntlet and provides us with his own take on the problem and what he learned from wrestling with it. <br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Centrefold Miniature Painting Showcase by Society Members</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Eye candy! A full two page spread of it. Wallow in admiration and jealousy.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Teutoburger Wald AD9 Evening the Odds by Andy Offen</span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now that's a challenge. I'm going to look forwards to reading this one.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">A Dying Light in Britannia Part 1 by Dave Hollin</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">A Welshman, living in Wales, forces himself to write with sympathy and no little erudition of "Brittania". What a hero! One worthy of a seat at the table. The article is pretty darn good too. (Right, that's enough toadying to the editor.)<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Testing My Resolve rules review and battle report by Gordon Garrad</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Test Of Resolve cover the Wars of the Roses and claim to deliver “period characteristics without undue complexity”. How well do they manage that? Read on and see what Gordon discovered.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Deus Vult rules review Part 2 (Making the rules work) by Mark Wilson</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">An article all about "how I tweaked the rules". It's like looking deep into the mirror of Galadriel. I'm going to keep my therapist's number handy.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book, Game & Figure Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of:</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Plastic Soldier Company 15mm Huns, figure review by Steve Neate</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">25mm Lamming Miniatures, figure review by Dave Smith</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">15mm Comparison of Celtic Chariot Miniatures, figure reviews by Lawrence Greaves</span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Alexander the Great, book review by Martin Stephenson<br /><br />Romans at War, book review by Duncan Head<br /><br />Deception in medieval Warfare, book review by Jim Webster<br /><br />Sparta’s Second Attic War, book review by David Mason<b><br /></b><br /><br /><br /></span></p>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-6145844967166399932023-02-20T04:43:00.012-08:002023-02-20T05:28:14.476-08:00Slingshot 343 is with the printers ... <p> <span style="background-color: white;"><i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBpuMUBIbKL32jNKCwMPLILB2irjNyFiSSa7eqUi-dNQaYGYnuGV0Z84xhaRzRolFn4ryj9AJt88HuRWzAN3j35bDBTBDWonVgg9xS74bRIhSfMyuwSVX2QonKtxRx6W72xWeI-xuGaQXAt7vPX6kwZ_c_vc5HfhvoFyJqd0k9mQCPp_zY_QI_v8a/s796/image.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="557" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBpuMUBIbKL32jNKCwMPLILB2irjNyFiSSa7eqUi-dNQaYGYnuGV0Z84xhaRzRolFn4ryj9AJt88HuRWzAN3j35bDBTBDWonVgg9xS74bRIhSfMyuwSVX2QonKtxRx6W72xWeI-xuGaQXAt7vPX6kwZ_c_vc5HfhvoFyJqd0k9mQCPp_zY_QI_v8a/s320/image.png" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Hah! Let my opponents tremble for I have with me <br />my red die of doom, my blue dice of despair, <br />my green dice of decay and my black dice of death!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i> </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Editorial</span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the editor's chair. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Slingshot contributions advice</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">What
it says on the can. So now we have one less excuse for avoiding
writing that article we always meant to submit. (Yes, I'm looking in
the mirror too.)<br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Society’s online forum</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some encouraging words to persuade you to dip in a toe, in case you haven't been there yet.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The SOA 2022 Championship result by Peter Barham</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Read all abaht it! A round up of the </span><span style="background-color: white;">2022 SOA Wargames Championship. 1</span><span style="background-color: white;">68 games played by 52 members</span><span style="background-color: white;"> in 5 different countries</span><span style="background-color: white;"> and deploying, with the inevitable varying success, 197 different armies.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Read it and weep, Caesar.<br /></span></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Still Wargaming in Lockdown by Gordon Garrad<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Yes,
OK, it's a period piece but hey, that's ancient wargaming. And anyway
there's the added bonus of some thoughts about Mortem et Gloriam.
What's not to like?</span><br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hiccups for Hoplites by David Kay<br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And
here we have an article that offers "a few potential solutions to your
more serious problems of fighting with hoplites". Oh yes! Sign me up.</span><br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Invitation to take part in the SOA 2023 Ruleset Survey (and a chance to win some dice!)<br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ask yourself, can you afford to be without your "(insert colour) dice of (insert fate of unwary opponent)"?</span><br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Deus Vult Ruleset Review (Part 1) by Mark Wilson</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">That rare beast, a fairly detailed (two page) review of a ruleset by someone who has</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"> actually played some games with it.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> <br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interview with Mark Backhouse by Gordon Garrad</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mark has been a frequent contributor to Wargames Soldiers and Strategy magazine and has recently become a published rules author. His "Strength and Honour" rules (which were reviewed </span><span style="background-color: white;">in Issue 342</span><span style="background-color: white;">) focus on the wars of the late Roman Republic and Early Empire at very large scale, so that players control armies representing tens of thousands of warriors.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">DBx - DB’Wildered by Gordon Lawrence</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">An article that starts with a quote from Les Dawson* and continues as it begins.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">*You probably have to </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">be a Brit of a certain age to really appreciate the Les Dawson reference but the article itself is a much more cosmopolitan piece. Honestly.<br /></span></span></i></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Home Grown Rules by David Kay</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Way, way back many centuries ago long before three, and then four, letter acronyms were assigned to Ancient Wargames Rules, most wargamers created their own rules. This is a fascinating glimpse into that odyssey</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">.<br /></span></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The 2nd Battle of Mantineia (SOA Battle Day Pack) by Duncan Head</span><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The </span><span style="background-color: white;"> subject of this year's SOA Battle Day, </span><span style="background-color: white;">the </span><span style="background-color: white;">second battle of Mantineia was fought in the Peloponnesian district of Arkadia between a Spartan-led coalition and a Theban-led coalition in 362 BC. This article recapitulates a talk which Duncan gave at the Society conference in October 2022 and will be of use to anyone with an interest in the battle of the war as well as providing the "battle pack" for the day for those who may be attending the Battle Day itself.</span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of: </p><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">SAGA (2022)<span style="background-color: white;">, rules review by</span> Ken Butt</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Test of Honour, <span style="background-color: white;">rules review by</span> Steven Neate</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h4><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Thracians and Dacians, book review by Denis Grey</span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Venetian War of 1487, book review by Duncan Head </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Ancient Battle Formations, book review by Andreas Johansson<br /></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">The Galatians, book review by Stephen Brennan</span></h4>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-69185132309081037652022-12-14T12:35:00.012-08:002022-12-15T12:23:36.817-08:00Slingshot 342 is with the printers ... <p><span style="background-color: white;"><i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.<br /> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv883GTjWSI7na6iVt5p_7yb81MefqAQrJBlOlqklWI62p9VmVPwdfoopCwEpGu-Z51u38BFLMwwXlHIaRo6uapdA6YPCN9JM9k-UBTVofr00zcgY8GquA9LRyVeO75OtIVINxyDtzZYZVGlrGBn2qgT_2kI1_9IM-w8zG5HQhgVaeuZJoLBr-iIXF/s1077/Slingshot342covercapture.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="759" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv883GTjWSI7na6iVt5p_7yb81MefqAQrJBlOlqklWI62p9VmVPwdfoopCwEpGu-Z51u38BFLMwwXlHIaRo6uapdA6YPCN9JM9k-UBTVofr00zcgY8GquA9LRyVeO75OtIVINxyDtzZYZVGlrGBn2qgT_2kI1_9IM-w8zG5HQhgVaeuZJoLBr-iIXF/w283-h400/Slingshot342covercapture.PNG" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>("Oh no, it's raining on the first bound. <br />All the Plough will be Rough Going. <br />Varlet! bring me my Hunter wellies.")</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Committee election notice and Editorial <br /></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the editor's chair. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interview with Lorenzo Sartori by Gordon Garrod<br /></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lorenzo is the author of the Impetus series of Rules covering Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance periods, first released in 2008. He started out wargaming in the 1990s in Italy and is the owner and editor of the Italian wargames magazine Dadi & Piombo. He is also responsible for organising the Italian wargames conventions CovoGames, Dadi.com and MilanoWargames.<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Newbury and Reading Wargames Society and Colours - a short history by Nick Harbud<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Or perhaps, "Armageddon - delving back into ancient times"?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Westbury Wars 2022 - a convention report by John Graham-Leigh<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">For many years DBM open competitions with 25mm armies have been popular. The first John attended was in 1997. This year’s competition had a record turnout, with players fielding lots of historical or at least contemporary matchups from </span><span style="background-color: white;">armies spanning the period 3,000 BC to 1500 AD. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Polybian Romans against Carthaginians and each other, Wars of the Roses English against Venetians with Swiss allies, Achaemenid Persians against Macedonians.</span><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Lamian War Part 2 by Bjorn Floderus</span></h4></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white;">Part 1, in Slingshot 340, told about the background to the Lamian War and how it started. Alexander the Great’s death as the trigger for a Greek rebellion led by Athens and Aitolia. The allied states started the war strong, twice beating their opponents in the field. First, a combined Boiotian and Euboian army at Plateia then later a Makedonian army under Antipatros near the city Lamia. But an old war-horse like Antipatros is not easily beaten and he retreated to Lamia with his army intact. There Antipatros had a stroke of luck, with the death of the Athenian general Leosthenes. Could this be the break Antipatros was waiting for? Read on and find out.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hoplites at the SOA Conference 2022 by Simon MacDowall</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The Society of Ancients Conference has a long history of showcasing new rule ideas and for playing games that are a bit out of the ordinary. With the upcoming Mantinea Battle Day in mind (25 March 2023) Simon has developed a new set of rules for Hoplite warfare called Alala! which he used to put on a demonstration game. The game was a straight forward Theban v Spartan bash-up using mostly 1:72 scale plastic figures with all players and umpires having lots of fun. </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Command & Colours Knockout Tournament at the SOA Conference 2022 by John Drewienkiewicz and Andrew Brentnall</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Although the ‘main events’ of the annual conference didn’t start until Saturday morning, more than 20 attendees arrived</span><span style="background-color: white;"> on Friday evening</span><span style="background-color: white;"> in good time for some ‘beer and pretzels’ games and some not-too- demanding dice rolling, including this Command and Colours knockout for four pairs using the Zama scenario.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">My First Society of Ancients Article - from a longstanding member by Baird McClellan</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">Ah me, a nostalgic wallow of the best kind. Plastic figures, putty and pins. And even a mention for Bob O'Brien. Read and remember.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Selecting my Sassanid Aesthetic by Gavin Pearson</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">If you're going to ride down your enemies, ride them down in style.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">How I became the first non-UK member to win the SOA Championship by Harry Dudrow</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">It's said that in Southern California Harry is now being called "World Champion" but, being modest, he demurs, though he'll happily answer to "SOA Champion". Read on to find out why.<br /></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">A Hex on your terrain by David Kay</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The “River Deep Mountain High” thread on the Society’s forum, has been a great source of debate and reflection about terrain usage and practices. Here is one member's personal take on the question of terrain aesthetics vs practicalities.</span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Horse Archer Units in Armati by Roy Boss</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">This article was originally written as a preface to the army booklet that each participant in the annual Bournemouth ‘Armati by the Sea’ event is given. As all the armies used are supplied by the event, and players take a different army each round, the booklet is a great reference and a souvenir to take away! This is the first of what we hope will be a number of related articles.</span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Shield Patterns at Second Mantinea by Duncan Head</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p><span style="background-color: white;">The battle chosen for the Society’s Battle Day 2023 is the Second Battle of Mantineia, 362 BC so here is a short piece that might help if you are painting armies for the Battle Day (or, of course, selecting which hoplite figures to use from your already extensive collection).</span></p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><p>Including reviews of: <br /></p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">SAGA - Age of Alexander supplement, review by Ken Butt</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></h4><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">Age of Hannibal, rules review by Steve Neate</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">Strength and Honour, rules review by Richard Jeffrey-Cook</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Long War for Britannia, book review by Dave Hollin</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Field Campaigns of Alexander the Great, book review by Jim Webster</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">Septimius Severus and the Roman Army, book review by Duncan Head</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">Empire of Horses, book review by Dan N. Hazelwood</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Battle Day 2023 - 2nd Mantinea 362 BC</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">"<i>Meanwhile Epaminondas led forward his army prow on, like a trireme, believing that if he could strike and cut through anywhere, he would destroy the entire army of his adversaries. For he was preparing to make the contest with the strongest part of his force, and the weakest part he had stationed far back, knowing that if defeated it would cause discouragement to the troops who were with him and give courage to the enemy.</i>" </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Renowned Theban general Epaminondas makes his famous deep deployment of his hoplite phalanx aimed at crushing the Spartan army. </span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;">The nineteenth annual Society of Ancients Battle Day will be held on Saturday 25 March 2023 at<br />Newbury Rugby Club, Monks Lane, Newbury RG14 7RW. W</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">e once again invite you to a unique day’s wargaming. Don’t miss out – come and be part of it! The Battle Day is open to both members and non-members of the Society of Ancients. </span><br /></span></h4>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-39373058845990250722022-10-08T12:44:00.001-07:002022-10-08T12:47:32.178-07:00Slingshot 341 is with the printers ... <p><span style="background-color: white;"><i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.<br /> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcqMSWYmnbyVbiLuoDsWhX7fuyB5SRznOv-9gaf7gn9__oBuYLVhCbMJYlwlgTbelgob0WtWNy5K4G7uvM9qP2E7i5c0hvCttcb4R2Cf7GRh35LrqPnTvN4grDfNdqUAU86BEdbYm0GKgtZH7pPqHDxZbgU_fezdve-5izjL1aIK4GUX98jmw1gBv/s866/Slingshot%20341%20cover.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="609" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcqMSWYmnbyVbiLuoDsWhX7fuyB5SRznOv-9gaf7gn9__oBuYLVhCbMJYlwlgTbelgob0WtWNy5K4G7uvM9qP2E7i5c0hvCttcb4R2Cf7GRh35LrqPnTvN4grDfNdqUAU86BEdbYm0GKgtZH7pPqHDxZbgU_fezdve-5izjL1aIK4GUX98jmw1gBv/w281-h400/Slingshot%20341%20cover.png" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"So, er, is all this carnage about restoring New Rome or are we refighting <br /></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Adrianople?</i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Cos I'd just like to know what I'm risking life and limb for ."</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /> </i></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i></span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">President’s Foreword <br /></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the president's chair. </span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Society of Ancients Conference</span></h4><span style="background-color: white;">An update on the Society Conference that will take place over the last weekend in October. There is still plenty of room to attend, so please hurry and <a href="https://www.soa.org.uk/joomla/conference" target="_blank">sign up through the Society website</a> or contact Richard Lockwood directly at conference@soa.org.uk<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Goths (2): From Alaric to Theoderic the Great. By Michael Fredholm von Essen<br /></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Michael provides a brief overview of this, the second of two books that describe the Goths, their arms and armour, dress and equipment, army organisation, campaigns, battle tactics, and strategy. This second volume deals with the Goths after their entry into the Roman Empire. The emphasis lies on the Goths themselves, the kingdoms they established, and their military history, rather than their part in the Late Empire’s history<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Restoring New Rome - the strategy and military of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-1100s. By David Harvey<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The Byzantines identified as Romans living in Romania, the "Basileia tôn Rhōmaiōn", with their capital at Constantinople, the New Rome. In August 1167 the forces of the King of Hungary were decisively defeated by the Roman field army at Semlin (near modern Belgrade). Peace followed on the victor’s terms, confirming Roman dominance of the Balkans not seen since the sixth century. What was the strategic and military context of the mid-12th century Roman state? Who were the soldiers of Emperor Manual I Komnenos (1143-1180) at Semlin? How were they organised ? How did they fight?<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Refighting Adrianople 378 AD with DBMM. By Jens Peter Kutz<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">After having dealt with the shape and size of the Gothic wagon laager in detail in Slingshot 334, Jens Peter now broadens the perspective to examine the Battle of Adrianople as a whole. In particular this article deals with the question of how this battle can be refought using Phil Barker’s rules "De Bellis Magistrorum Militum (Version 2.1). </span><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">LEGION II FAST PLAY EXPANSION By Philip Sabin</span></h4></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">Legion, a hex-based simulation of ancient warfare, was first published by the Society in 1997 and followed in 2015 by a deluxe, full colour edition that is still available to purchase. Professor Sabin has now expanded </span><span style="background-color: white;">the </span><span style="background-color: white;">fast play version of the original rules to </span><span style="background-color: white;">cover all 35 engagements originally modelled in Professor Sabin's book, Lost
Battles. T</span><span style="background-color: white;">his expansion, termed </span><span style="background-color: white;">Legion II, </span><span style="background-color: white;">is the subject of this article.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i></i></span></div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-69774532588414354332022-06-01T04:57:00.010-07:002022-06-01T05:02:16.517-07:00Slingshot 340 is with the printers ... <p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><p><i></i></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_tXcmjvagAR5ufjBqarpZf9MuxPyG7tfkKqszSdNGueeLxsrwiPjFfmyIwGNucSA85SJcZ3NWy9s-n7pp3iYDGjl0OAKOOYlyX-YRIiGAFMZK3npx0JfqMsgOwWWM9PslgM3A70CfJgHh8Fz1EYD0RLVTIZ8eFmubzfd4G4wuVZmUI1v8glCoQBB/s907/cover-issue340.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="641" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_tXcmjvagAR5ufjBqarpZf9MuxPyG7tfkKqszSdNGueeLxsrwiPjFfmyIwGNucSA85SJcZ3NWy9s-n7pp3iYDGjl0OAKOOYlyX-YRIiGAFMZK3npx0JfqMsgOwWWM9PslgM3A70CfJgHh8Fz1EYD0RLVTIZ8eFmubzfd4G4wuVZmUI1v8glCoQBB/w283-h400/cover-issue340.PNG" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Horse: "Jeepers! Careful mate, you could have my eye out with that!"<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /> </i><p></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">President’s Foreword <br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the president's chair. This time without the bragging about some Galatians.<h4 style="text-align: left;">Adrianople with Comitatus by Simon Macdowall</h4>Published hot on the heels of his previous article about design considerations for gaming Adrianople, we start with Simon Macdowall’s report on his own refight of Adrianople at the SoA Battleday using his Comitatus rule set.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Pikes across the Millennia Part 2 by Philip Sabin<br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The second part of Philip Sabin's exploration of the rise, fall, rise ... etc. of the pike as a
battlefield weapon by comparing two pike battles, widely separated in
history. This time we have Gabiene from 316/5 BC and Lützen which occurred AD 1632. <br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">10mm miniatures and an odyssey to wargame Dark Age Britain in the ‘Age of Arthur’ by Dave Hollin<br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Those who visit the SOA forums will probably know of Dave Hollin's enthusiasm for 10mm miniatures. Here Dave describes his lockdown project to build a brand-new Dark Ages army in this scale. Enthusiasm or is it more than that? You be the judge.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Lamian War Part 1 by Björn Floderus<br /></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Alexander the Great’s death created a huge power vacuum in his newly created empire. He didn’t have an adult heir and there were no male relatives that were considered fit enough to rule. Confusion reigned among his generals. Who was in command? Who was going to be the next king? Read on to find out but beware, it may lead to unplanned figure purchases!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Interview with Hervé Caille by Gordon Garrad</h4></div>Hervé is a French wargamer who has been publishing rules since 2008. He started with WW2 rules, helped translate Field of Glory into French, and then moved to writing the popular L’Art de le Guerre rules, now in their 4th Edition. He has also written rules for Napoleonic wargames.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Alexander’s Successors at War: How Eumenes Defeated the World’s Most Famous Commander by Tristan Hughes <br /></b></h4><div style="text-align: left;">When Alexander the Great died, on 11 June 323 BC, he left behind one of the largest empires the world had yet seen. An empire that theoretically stretched from Greece to the Indus River Valley. But by the spring of 320, less than three years later, this empire was in chaos. A great Macedonian civil war had erupted, fought between several leading figures who had come to the fore following Alexander’s death. The First Successor War was underway. Tristan Hughes takes us through these tumultuous events in an article that provides plenty of information for those interested in exploring this gaming opportunity.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>This
issue, a review of: </p><p>Leuctra 371 BC: The Destruction of Spartan Dominance written by Murray Dahm and illustrated by Seán Ó’Brógáin. Reviewed by Steve Neate.</p><p>The Iliad and the Odyssey: The Trojan War: Tragedy and Aftermath by Jan Parker. Reviewed by Jim Webster<i>.</i></p></div></div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-33772562026190447862022-03-02T06:28:00.012-08:002022-03-02T07:18:04.057-08:00Slingshot 339 is with the printers ... <p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><p><i></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3ZWkndtFw3osRIxTrqvqhukVgS2RWhYsSXDUw6x45YNNcuPiefcrj2Tb1nqUL_ODGFESueeSXav5LfjxOEGvWEbnJQ1kr3zuzNDE_YJkoH3biXgN7FqoTBKPDkf8geECyUIQc4yIMBYkmU_q8IHp2IulImGDJ-kwMZTxGd0xqPwvagYHEjfTv8HWn=s906" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="642" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3ZWkndtFw3osRIxTrqvqhukVgS2RWhYsSXDUw6x45YNNcuPiefcrj2Tb1nqUL_ODGFESueeSXav5LfjxOEGvWEbnJQ1kr3zuzNDE_YJkoH3biXgN7FqoTBKPDkf8geECyUIQc4yIMBYkmU_q8IHp2IulImGDJ-kwMZTxGd0xqPwvagYHEjfTv8HWn=w284-h400" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The SoA Battleday, guvnor? 'S at Newbury. That way, I fink.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><br /> </i><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i> </i></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">President’s Foreword <br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the president's chair, including a bit of bragging about some Galatians.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Where the back and forth continues, good naturedly, between Simon
Mason and Antony Clipson about Antony's article on ‘Game mechanics and
Realism‘, from issue 337.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Graham Fordham Remembered</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Graham Fordham, who served SoA in many roles including Treasurer and Competition Team member and who was a doyen of the Society stand at shows, sadly passed away last year. This memorial borrowed from the ‘Not Quite Mechanised’ blog gives a vivid portrait of his life.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Pikes across the Millennia Part 1 by Philip Sabin<br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">An article that pushes the boundaries of our period (well, super-extends them, actually) to explore the rise, fall, rise ... etc. of the pike as a battlefield weapon by comparing two pike battles, widely separated in history. The earlier is Paraitacene, a battle from the wars of the Successors of Alexander fought, in 317 BC between two of the Successors, Eumenes and his rival Antigonus. The later is Breitenfeld, a battle from the Swedish phase of the Thirty Years War, in which Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, fought against the catholic Imperialists at Breitenfeld in 1631-2. (See what I mean about super-extending the boundaries?) But the comparison makes for a really amazing study, especially as it includes insights into the use of two of Phil's rulesets, <i>Lost Battles</i> for the ancient period and <i>Horse & Foot</i> for the Pike and Shot era.<br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Shields and Armour in Mycenaean Warfare by Robert Heiligers<br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">An article inspired by Allan JC Smith’s Master’s thesis entitled "Mycenaean Warfare and the Mycenaean Tower Shield", which provides excellent information on the use of the large body-shields <br />and armour in that period.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Wargaming Adrianople by Simon MacDowall<br /></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adrianople profoundly changed the status quo of the Roman Empire, with a large and militarily victorious body of barbarians now settled permanently in the Empire as unreliable allies. Simon shows gaming the battle might produce a very different outcome...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Airfix Nostalgia by John Graham-Leigh </b></h4><div style="text-align: left;">A real trip down memory lane for those of us of a certain age. When every know troop type in the ancient and medieval worlds could be (had to be?) made from some combination of figure parts from Airfix' Ancient Britons, Imperial Romans, 19th C Arabs and the combined Sherrif of Nottingham & Robin Hood sets, with the ACW range thrown in for good measure - and Plasticine too, of course. With lots of photos! Lots!<b><br /></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>This issue, a review of: The Highland Battles: Warfare on Scotland’s Northern Frontier in the Early Middle Ages” by Chris Peers. Reviewed by Duncan Head.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Yumi at War by Leslie Ian Mitchell<br /></h4><p>A facinating look into the practice of archery in Japan by a wargamer who is also a practitioner in the Japanese way or art of the bow (yumi). Worth reading. Especially the comment that the power of the yumi is not as important as the man using it. A little like those killer wargames armies that sit on my shelf waiting to be massacred again.<br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Interview with Daniel Mersey by Gordon Garrad</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Daniel Mersey has been writing and publishing war games rules since the 1990’s, and his interests and publications cover a wide historical range. He is probably best known for his series of historical and fantasy rules published by Osprey, which focus on relatively short periods of history or small geographical areas. He has also written a number of “wargamers guides” to specific historical campaigns, covering ancients to World War 2.<br /></div></div></div><br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-65435652074928559572022-01-23T07:08:00.010-08:002022-01-23T07:25:41.507-08:00Slingshot 338 is with the printers ... <p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3tXS2dPjxcp9PjAmvno65kjBzA39ytZJ_O1lV3BF21f38zsusEGlM9bg19BIroc9mTJ8fkyQ8-2DTJimwfBare6Bg-kR_H61PTPHIJp9IbxgKFlei93IoBWHVmNhl1DyYfpCq4tVHEDQdv-gzkxknlzDBRpaJlipOwM8VNIESVtYpmeEpFq1G1F2T=s542" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="383" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3tXS2dPjxcp9PjAmvno65kjBzA39ytZJ_O1lV3BF21f38zsusEGlM9bg19BIroc9mTJ8fkyQ8-2DTJimwfBare6Bg-kR_H61PTPHIJp9IbxgKFlei93IoBWHVmNhl1DyYfpCq4tVHEDQdv-gzkxknlzDBRpaJlipOwM8VNIESVtYpmeEpFq1G1F2T=w283-h400" width="283" /></a></div><br /><i><br /> </i><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> <br /></i></p><p><i> </i></p><h4 style="text-align: left;">President’s Foreword <br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the president's chair, including a round up of 2021 and a look forward to what's coming in 2022.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Simon Mason responds to Antony Clipson’s article on ‘Game mechanics and Realism‘, from issue 337, with some interesting alternative views. (Of course, or this wouldn't be Guardroom.) <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Ancients Awaken from Slumber aka Lockdown Smackdown or A Day of DBA by Harry Dudrow and Andrew Gledhill</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">In which Harry Dudrow (who stands atop the 2021 SoA Championship list, or did at the time of writing) and Andrew Gledhill try out DBA armies they painted during the pandemic and had never had a chance to use, vis a Thracian army (list I/48), Tibetans (list III/15) and Northern Sung (list III/62a).<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">First Class Warriors at the Birth of the Roman Republic by Dr Simon Elliott<br /></h4><div style="text-align: left;">In which Simon covers the transition from the later Etrusco-Roman monarchy to the early Republic before considering the panoply of the Etrusco-Roman hoplite as depicted in early regional artwork. <i>(Ah me, the opportunity for temptation. Perhaps I should simply pass over it. But surely, just a cursory glance can't do any harm? And there's definitely a space in the figures cupboard. Somewhere.)</i><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Rise and Fall of Nomad Military Power, part 2 c. 1200 AD – c. 1600 AD - by Michael Fredholm von Essen</h4><div style="text-align: left;">In part 2, Michael looks at the circumstances that led Temuchin to change nomad strategy and create the greatest land empire in history. He then examines the causes of the downfall of nomad military superiority.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Bosworth with Tree of Battles by Simon MacDowall<br /></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Read all abaht it! Read all abaht it! It was a long time coming but finally the 2020 Bosworth Battle Day came to pass in August 2021. Gasp! when you read about the splendid new setting at Newbury. Stand amazed! at the fabulous array of games. Every one a re-fight of Bosworth, under different rules and in many scales, from 6mm to 54mm. Definitely worth a look.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>This issue, a review of: Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth by Mike Ingram. Reviewed by Duncan Head. <br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot interviews Phil Barker - by Gordon Garrad</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Phil Barker has been a major figure in wargaming since the late 1960s and is a former President of the Society of Ancients. Over the past 50 years he has written wargames rules covering many periods. Through the Wargames Research Group he and his co-authors have published many respected reference books on the armies of ancient history, covering most of the globe from 3000 BC. Gordon Garrad talks with Phil Barker and takes the opportunity to ask about how it all started, his approach to writing wargame rules and where he might be going next.<br /></div></div></div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-51723686909460981972021-07-19T11:47:00.006-07:002021-07-19T12:14:23.870-07:00Slingshot 337 is with the printers ... <p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><p><i></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pai6eMAYcoM/YPW82nlwOEI/AAAAAAAADSQ/qftQaqAsDPYo0dVvVz1HINkAeAtyG_ZvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s989/Slingshot%2B337%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pai6eMAYcoM/YPW82nlwOEI/AAAAAAAADSQ/qftQaqAsDPYo0dVvVz1HINkAeAtyG_ZvwCLcBGAsYHQ/w283-h400/Slingshot%2B337%2Bcover.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><div><b><i>"Right, you chaps, get ready. This is where</i></b></div><div><b><i>we do the whole 'crush your enemies' thing!"</i></b></div><div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /> </i><p></p><p></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i></p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Editorial</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the
editor's chair including thanks to those who responded to his pleas for articles to replenish the stock and a reminder about the wealth of interesting material that originates in that other source of erudite debate, the Society Forum (<a href="http://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php" target="_blank">check it out</a>).</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Stephen Brennan serves up some fascinating material about late medieval Hebridean mercenaries as a useful extension to that provided by Anthony Clipsom in his recent article, "An Archer’s Tale".<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Rise and Fall of Nomad Military Power, part 1 c. 1000 BC - 1200 AD - by Michael Fredholm von Essen</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Asiatic nomad armies created some of the greatest empires the world has ever seen. Michael Fredholm von Essen analyses the nomad strategy that eventually transformed them from tribal federations content with opportunistic raiding into empire builders.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Solo Wargaming - by John Hastings</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Given the scattered nature of the Ancients wargaming community, plenty of wargamers have no choice but to adopt schizophrenia as a recreational modus operandi and play against themselves. John Hastings discusses how it is done.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot interviews Simon Hall - by Gordon Garrad</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mortem et Gloriam has become a very popular ruleset in the Ancients community. Slingshot interviews its creator, Simon Hall, and asks him about his wargaming background, rules writing career, his experience with MeG, his futures plans, the meaning of life, and so on...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Philistines are upon you - by Richard Andrews</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Heavily-equipped but unwieldy Philistines vs. lightly-armed but agile Jews is a classic gaming setup where terrain makes all the difference. Richard Andrews analyses the historical composition of the two armies and how it applies to the wargaming table.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Game Mechanics and Realism - by Anthony Clipsom</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone knows that realism and playability are at odds with each other. But is that really the case? Anthony Clipsom makes the argument that you can have your cake and eat it, with sufficiently plausible realism happily wedded to enjoyable gameplay.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Murder of Evesham - by John Graham-Leigh</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Evesham ended the hopes of Simon de Montfort’s supporters (and the life of de Montfort himself). John Graham-Leigh plays a refight of the battle using DBM, with a convincing result.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Assyrian 'Kallapani' - by Daniel McLaughlin</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kallapani have been a standard part of Assyrian army lists but with highly variable properties. Daniel McLaughlin examines the evidence to see if we can know anything certain about them.<h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Including reviews of: </p><p>Commands & Colors Samurai Battles by game designer: Richard Borg</p><p>Hellenistic and Roman Naval Warfare, 336BC-31BC by John D. Graingerenn.</p></div></div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-65085658374972685332021-05-25T06:54:00.002-07:002021-05-25T06:58:18.071-07:00The War & Diplomacy Podcast: ‘What is Medieval Military History?’<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/anchor-generated-image-bank/production/podcast_uploaded400/7608442/7608442-1600167242979-4d885069986d3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/anchor-generated-image-bank/production/podcast_uploaded400/7608442/7608442-1600167242979-4d885069986d3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://anchor.fm/cwdlancaster/episodes/What-is-Medieval-Military-History---with-Dr-Matthew-Bennett-e111g5g " target="_blank">The War & Diplomacy Podcast: ‘What is Medieval Military History?’, with Dr Matthew Bennett.</a><br /><br />From the Centre for War and Diplomacy at Lancaster University. The CWD provides the historical context and strategic analysis to inform understanding of today's geopolitical challenges through discussions with leading experts and researchers.<br /><br />In this episode, Dr Matthew Bennett, leading expert in medieval military history, discusses the technology, economy, and ideology of warfare in the medieval age with Dr Sophie Ambler, Deputy Director of the Centre for War and Diplomacy at Lancaster University.<br /><br />Dr Bennett describes the connections between warfare, trade and finance in the medieval West, as well as military technology – from bows to armour, artillery and fortifications – and explores the concept of chivalry, the treatment of prisoners of war, and how knights and common soldiers fared differently on the battlefield. He also explains the role of mercenaries and sets out some of the eternal truths of warfare that can be identified in the medieval period.<p></p>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-36681043352975471052021-05-05T09:50:00.003-07:002021-05-05T10:56:31.937-07:00Slingshot 336 is with the printers ... <p> </p><p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3-D1FGQC78/YJKtKVc3iiI/AAAAAAAAC_o/okwUmECqC_gEHaQymmvgjh6Iwhj2eYinACLcBGAsYHQ/s992/slingshot%2B336%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h3-D1FGQC78/YJKtKVc3iiI/AAAAAAAAC_o/okwUmECqC_gEHaQymmvgjh6Iwhj2eYinACLcBGAsYHQ/w283-h400/slingshot%2B336%2Bcover.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"And then Lurcio, me old mate, after wading through <br />all those Picts doesn't the bloody GPS pack up? <br />Ye gods, it could only happen in the IXth!"</i><br />Cover Picture: Edge of Empire. Illustration by Graham Sumner.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Editorial</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the
editor's chair including news about the virtual conference weekend, the Battle Day and the (real) annual Society Conference!</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Extras about archers and some corrections about Teutons. Oh! and actual details about the Battle Day. No, really.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Roman Britain’s Lost IXth Legion - by Dr Simon Elliot</h4><div style="text-align: left;">So what really happened to the Ninth? Simon Elliot puts forward four plausible hypotheses: the legion was lost in Scotland; it was annihilated/disbanded in a London revolt; it was destroyed on the Rhine or in the east. He examines the evidence and one hypothesis emerges as most likely...<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">When the Rules Don’t Work - Wargaming Hoplite Battles With Hail Caesar - by Gordon Lawrence</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Historical inaccuracy is the eternal bugbear of rulesets and Gordon Lawrence digs up quite a few of them in Hail Caesar, such as fixed unit sizes, Greek hoplite support lines, different parts of a phalanx moving at different speeds, and so on. Answer? A little rules tinkering...<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Morale of the Armies at Cannae - by Andrew Parrock</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone knows that morale is one of the most important elements in an army, but what exactly morale is and how it affects the different aspects of a unit’s cohesion and fighting ability is something that needs a closer look. Andrew Parrock does some close looking.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Computer Wargaming - by David Mason</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Covid lockdowns have curtailed over-the-table wargaming to a great extent, with the result that internet gaming has become much more significant. David Mason examines computer wargaming and reviews the more popular Ancients and Mediaeval PC games.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">A Quick Trawl of the Net - by Retiarius</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Retiarus helps fellow lockdownees find a couple of the more useful websites that deal with pre-gunpowder wargaming, with the promise of more to come.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Timoleon Brings the Thunder - by Chris Hahn</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Chris Hahn takes a close look at the Battle of Crimisus from the historical perspective in order to fine-tune the composition of the armies of Carthage and Timoleon as well as devise scenario-specific rules for the battle, to be played with l’Art de la Guerre.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>The Second Punic War in the Classroom - by Dr Max Nelson</b></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">One good way to motivate students to study military history is get them to play it. Dr Nelson tries Professor Sabin’s Second Punic War simulation on his own class, with great success.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Test of Resolve - Wars of the Roses - by David Knight</h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Test of Resolve - Wars of the Roses is a newly-released ruleset designed specifically for that era, with careful attention paid to historical accuracy as well as playability.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Wargaming through Lockdown - by Gordon Garrad</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Quite a few Ancients and Mediaeval wargamers have taken to using video conferencing software like Skype, Facetime and Zoom to play games. How does it work? Gordon Garrad describes how.<br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Sui-Eet Chinese Range - by Steve Neate</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Outpost Wargames and Essex Miniatures have a very impressive range of 15mm figures for the Sui and Tang Chinese dynasties, as the photos supplied by Steve Neate demonstrate.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Including reviews of: </p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The Army of Maximinus Thrax: The Roman Soldier of the early 3rd Century AD by Dr Jan Eschbach;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The Goths From Berig to the Battle of Adrianople by Micheal Fredholm von Essenn.</p></div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-63910932181068969192021-03-25T13:11:00.009-07:002021-03-26T12:55:34.453-07:00Slingshot 335 is with the printers ... <p> </p><p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey2LQ7-TRXY/YFzgrfv34MI/AAAAAAAAC5g/cY0eAoUk1akH70WbaUkRdkFX8-iKSIYXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s838/slingshot%2B335%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slingshot 335 cover" border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="594" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey2LQ7-TRXY/YFzgrfv34MI/AAAAAAAAC5g/cY0eAoUk1akH70WbaUkRdkFX8-iKSIYXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w284-h400/slingshot%2B335%2Bcover.jpg" title="'Are you looking at me? Are YOU looking at ME?'" width="284" /></a></div><br /> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"> </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Editorial</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the
editor's chair including (further) news about the Battle Day and of a new Slingshot publication about the Goths.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">A lively exchange of views about 'The Gothic Wagon Laager at Adrianople', featured in the extensive yet thoughtfully developed article of that title from issue 334.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Roman Army Medical Service - by Dr Nick Summerton</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Just how good were Roman military medics at treating the sometimes horrific wounds suffered by their fellow-soldiers, as well as the many diseases and ailments common at that time? Dr Summerton examines the evidence and concludes that they were not bad at all.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Bosworth with Bloody Barons - by Mark Wilson</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Designed for the Wars of the Roses, Bloody Barons makes for an interesting recreation of Bosworth in which the setup rules create a different scenario each time, with different problems to solve, requiring cunning deployment, good timing, and a healthy dose of luck!<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Teutonic Order in the 13 Years’ War - by Andreas Johansson</h4><div style="text-align: left;">After the disastrous battle of Tannenberg in 1410, the army of the Teutonics Knights was a very different animal from what it had been before, now consisting largely of mercenaries with very few actual Knights, but still good enough to hold off its enemies for more than a decade.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Norman Tactics - by Matthew Bennett</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Why Norman troops of the 11th century were so effective across Europe has usually been attributed to the impetuous charge of their heavy cavalry. In fact, the knights were disciplined and tactically aware and part of a combined arms system with infantry spearmen and a range of missile types.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Tertii and the Quadii - by Mark Wilson</h4><div style="text-align: left;">These famous tribal troop-types have dominated the wargaming table for ages, persisting in rulesets up to the present even though the sources indicate they never actually existed.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">An Archer’s Tale - by Anthony Clipsom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">How is the appearance of a miniatures figure determined and what kind of research goes into deciding how he is clothed and armed? Anthony Clipsom uses an Agincourt archer as an example of how a foundry gets a figure right and (in some particulars) wrong.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>The Great Revolt of the Egyptians - by Jim Webster</b> </h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the battle of Raphia in 217BC, native Egyptian soldiers in the Ptolemaic army revolted against Ptolemy Philopator, seizing the territory around Thebes. Jim Webster looks at the revolt and the kind of armies they and the Ptolemies were able to raise against each other.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Interviews Rick Priestly - by Gordon Garrod </h4></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone knows Rick Priestly wrote the rules for Warhammer, but here we get a reminder that he also created Black Powder and Hail Caesar. He answers interesting questions such as how to resolve the eternal dilemma of historicity vs playability in historical gaming.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><h4 style="text-align: left;">Arabs vs Byzantines - by Ray Briggs </h4><div style="text-align: left;">Breach and Scutcheon (Slingshot 333) delivers in this game between two historical opponents, where the battle sways one way and then the next, and the outcome remains uncertain until the dramatic finale. <br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Including reviews of: </p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Rome, Blood & Power: Reform, Murder and Popular Politics in the Late Republic 70-27 BC by Gareth C. Sampson, reviewed by: Aaron Bell;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Militarism and the Indo-Europeanizing of Europe by Robert Drews, reviewed by: Andreas Johansson;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The Army of Ptolemaic Egypt 323-204BC. An institutional and Operational History by Paul Johstono, reviewed by: Jim Webster.</p></div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-61888569417754664182021-02-15T08:08:00.008-08:002021-02-15T10:53:43.372-08:00Slingshot 334 is with the printers ... <p> </p><p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFCEPis77Bs/YCqTpKfnkuI/AAAAAAAAC2I/xqcc95YgwJgBED8oppvNigXc0-KAoh01wCLcBGAsYHQ/s841/slingshot%2B334%2Bcover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slingshot 334 cover" border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="595" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFCEPis77Bs/YCqTpKfnkuI/AAAAAAAAC2I/xqcc95YgwJgBED8oppvNigXc0-KAoh01wCLcBGAsYHQ/w283-h400/slingshot%2B334%2Bcover.jpg" title="Liburnian and Quinqireme Roman ships" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Editorial</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the
editor's chair and brief news about the Battle Day, responses to the plea for articles, the forthcoming virtual Society conference and the Slingshot contributors’ prizes.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Yet more, erudite exchanges between members about recent articles. Passionate yet polite. Informed yet open minded. Still, there's time. It's been a cold February but the Ides of March approach.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Sea Eagles of Empire - The Classis Britannica, Roman Britain’s Regional Fleet by Simon Elliott</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The Society’s new chairman examines Britain’s first navy that was Roman and proved crucial - and highly effective - in the Empire’s piecemeal conquest of most of the island and in its subsequent invasions of Scotland.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">T’ang Fastic Outpost by Steven Bowns</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The T’ang Dynasty took China to its greatest territorial extent. Steven Bowns examines the T’ang troop types available in 15mm at Outpost Wargames and takes us through his creation of a complete DBMM T’ang army. Have a close look at how he makes spears: it’s brilliant!<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Arthurian Campaign by Martin Smith</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Looking for campaign rules for post-Roman Britain that are simple, easy and, above all, fun? Martin Smith’s system perfectly fits the bill, not only as regards the campaign aspects but also the battles themselves, fought with some unique mechanisms that produced a number of surprises.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Gothic Wagon Laager at Adrianople by Jens Peter Kutz</h4><div style="text-align: left;">How big was the Gothic laager at Adrianople? What was its shape? How was it constructed? How many warriors could it accommodate? Jens Kutz investigates these questions using careful historical research and comes up with some fascinating answers.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Roman Tactical Acumen at Cannae by Justin Swanton</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Hannibal’s Italian campaign is commonly viewed as a military genius who effortlessly defeated Roman armies one after the other. Hannibal however did not always win in Italy, and at Cannae he would need luck as well as ability to beat Paullus’ shrewd generalship so overwhelmingly.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Placing Table Terrain for Double DBA3 by Neville Dickenson</h4><div style="text-align: left;">Neville Dickenson offers an original way of setting up terrain for double DBA, with a new method of using dice to make the process fun. DBA fans are encouraged to try it out and let us know how it works for them.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Including reviews of: </p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Greece Against Rome: The Fall of the Hellenistic Kingdoms 250-31 BC by Philip Matyszak, reviewed by Duncan Head;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Talons and Fangs of the Eastern Han Warlords: A study of warriors and warlords during the Three Kingdoms era by Lu Yimin, reviewed by Duncan Head;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The Crisis of Rome: The Jugurthine and Northern Wars and the Rise of Marius by Gareth C. Sampson, reviewed by: Jim Webster.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>And last but not least the ...</i></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Results of the SOA Championship 2020! <br /></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-84738708645007584982020-12-30T12:51:00.016-08:002020-12-31T09:07:21.798-08:00Slingshot 333 is with the printers ... <p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKsE8MukC9c/X-zcqVOGsmI/AAAAAAAACxQ/Sxr95HcjemkfQlx4xqKBodPYTyLDCitewCLcBGAsYHQ/s990/slingshot%2B333.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img alt="Slingshot 333 cover" border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKsE8MukC9c/X-zcqVOGsmI/AAAAAAAACxQ/Sxr95HcjemkfQlx4xqKBodPYTyLDCitewCLcBGAsYHQ/w283-h400/slingshot%2B333.jpg" title="Cover Picture: Probable Roman copy of an equestrian statue of Antiochus III. Wikimedia Commons Licence" width="283" /></a></div></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Editorial</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the editor's chair but also, again (I suspect, though he hasn't actually said it), a plea for more articles! Maybe it'll be OK. Maybe lots of members are scribbling, typing, sketching, researching and so on, but I doubt we've refilled the bucket yet. Gosh, I mean, the editor has even asked me so he must be desperate. I
fobbed him off with an excuse but the guilt is getting to me. Ah me, where's my quill and parchment?<i><br /></i></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Not this issue! The Guardroom antipasti is held over to issue 334 to make room for all the 'carne' (or should that be carnage) to be found in the main articles, which are ...<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Over the Top - by Nick Harbud </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Nick Harbud analyses the last battle of the Hundred Years War, at the very end of the Society’s historical period, and discusses how to game it with some popular rulesets.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Does Armour Matter? - by Mark Wilson </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Armour is important, obviously, but just how useful were the different pieces of armour as fighting men with more means were better encased? Do rulesets accurately represent this? And do they accurately represent anything about warfare at all? And should they? And...<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Once More into the Breach! - by Ray Briggs </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Wargamers, naturally, cannot help themselves when it comes to not liking everything about their favourite ruleset. And fixing it. And turning it into a new ruleset.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Seleucid Elephants in 150BC - by Jim Webster </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The Seleucids are commonly believed to have had no elephants between 162BC and 145BC. Jim Webster brings forward evidence that this was not the case and suggests tweaks to DBMM army lists for the Seleucid Empire that could be adapted to other rulesets.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Absent Generals - by David Kay </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Creating an authentic fog of war joined to an equally authentic command structure has always been a big problem for wargamers. David Kay comes up with a creative solution, producing a trial scenario that got a thumbs up from his playtesters.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Characene - by Jim Webster </h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Characene, as a distinct and sometimes independent political entity, existed for three and a half centuries and was an important regional power. Jim Webster suggests some amendments to army lists that better reflect its capabilities, especially its naval strength.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">How to Use Elephants in Tactica 2 - by Simon Watson</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Before Xanthippus used them as a steamroller at Bagradas, elephants were usually deployed by Indians and later by the Successor States as an infantry screen. Simon Watson looks at why this was so, using Tactica 2 to demonstrate the efficacity of the elephant screen.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And just like the Guardroom antipasti, the Formaggi e Frutta and the Dolce of...</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Figure Reviews</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">along with the Caffe e Digestivo of ... <br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4>... are also held over to issue 334, probably to
make room but maybe just to remove these temptations to wargaming extravagance and take the pressure off your finances following Christmas! <div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-21533715372386713332020-11-03T07:18:00.004-08:002020-12-30T12:10:53.513-08:00Slingshot 332 is with the printers ... <p> <i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYKo2L-PK1g/X6ArCZhJSFI/AAAAAAAACWE/2FkrFJWO46wdZ7Ew1mPLYu98V4h_zJF_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s841/slingshot%2B332%2Bcover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slingshot 328 cover" border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="593" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYKo2L-PK1g/X6ArCZhJSFI/AAAAAAAACWE/2FkrFJWO46wdZ7Ew1mPLYu98V4h_zJF_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/slingshot%2B332%2Bcover.jpg" title="Mural from the late Tang Dynasty depicting the victory of Zhang Yichao over the Tibetans in Dunhuang." /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Editorial</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The view <span style="font-size: small;">from </span>the editor's chair but also a plea for articles. It seems we're running short. Time to put quill to parchment, pen to paper, fingers to keys, whatever method floats the boat. Hmmmm, that probably means me, too. Dang.<i><br /></i></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Guardroom</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Featuring further, gripping developments in the continuing debate about those little cubes of fate that dog our every gaming move. The cold, cold hand of fate, the cruel talons of the dice demons or simply random fluctuations in the quantum field? However you see it, Lawrence Greaves adds his take to the lively discussion about probabilities in wargames that was kicked off by Nick Harbud's article 'Chances Are' from Slingshot 328.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Every Man’s Hand - by Matthew Bennett and Roy Boss</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Mediaeval jousts originally did not consist of lists and two knights charging each other with couched lances, but of open fields in which groups of knights, supported by infantry, fought mini-battles. Here is a ruleset that recreates this older and more military form of jousting.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Garamantes - by Jim Webster</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The Garamantes were a nation of oasis-dwellers who lived south of the Roman frontier in Libya. Though not capable of fielding a heavyweight army, they did put interesting troop-types on the battlefield. Jim Webster uses their history to fine-tune the DBMM army list.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Going Back to Gaugamela - by Chris Hahn</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Playing Gaugamela with l'Art de la Guerre produces an interesting game in which Alexander's Companions perform much like their historical counterparts whilst Parmenio's left flank does much more than just hold the line. Is that enough to defeat the Persian host? Read to find out...<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Sound of Battle - by Anthony Clipsom</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">How effective was a general's ability to control his troops through sound signals like musical instruments and shouting on a Mediaeval battlefield? Anthony Clipsom does the research and comes up with some interesting answers.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">An Armati List for Cyrus the Great - by Rodger Williams</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The Persian armies between 550-530 BC are rather under-represented in Armati army lists. Using DBM as a starting point Rodger Williams makes up for that defect.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Counting the Enemy - by John Hastings</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">How big was the Caledonian army at Mons Graupius? In answering the question John Hastings tackles the problem how how much trust can be placed in the primary sources when they give the size of friendly and hostile armies, and shows that the sources can actually make good sense.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Telamon in Anaheim - by Andrew Gledhill</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">DBA is alive and well in Southern California, where a refight of Telamon produced an interesting and pretty game that was clean and exciting, in the best tradition of DBA. A second Telamon was fought after lunch. Another battle report is hopefully in the works?<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">T’angoed! - by Nicholas Harbud</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">The T'ang dynasty marked the territorial apogee of ancient China. Naturally, conquering so much real estate required the services of a very effective army. Nicholas Harbud breaks down the composition of the T'ang miliary machine and his recreation of it in 15mm.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Warfare in Antiquity Conference - Rodger Williams</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Rodger Williams outlines the topics discussed at the King's College conference that cover fields of particular interest to pre-gunpowder wargamers.<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Figure Reviews</h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Peter Studd reviews the new range of plastic 15mm ancient figures produced by the Plastic Soldier Company in connection with Simon Hall’s Mortem et Gloriam wargames system. (I really, really mustn't read this. I shan't. I ... . Aiieeee! Somebody, anybody, hide my wallet!)<br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </h4><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Including reviews of: </p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Mortem et Gloriam, Battles of the Great Commanders, 1. Age of Attila by Richard Jeffrey-Cook (hmmm, that name, it sounds familiar);</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Mari: capital of Northern Mesopotamia in the Third Millennium (The archaeology of Tell Hariri on the Euphrates) by Jean-Claude Margueron;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Jean de Bueil: Le Jouvencel by Craig Taylor & Jane H.M. Taylor;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>The Armies of Ancient Persia by Marek Adam Wozniak;</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p>Infamy, Infamy! by Too Fat Lardies (A review of the rules by Nick Harbud? Or maybe a cunning and unexpected flank move, by which means Nick brings reinforcements to the battle of 'Chances Are'? You can make your own mind up when you read it.)</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-63051425756659913542020-07-25T10:10:00.003-07:002020-07-25T10:10:45.262-07:00Slingshot 331 on the way<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Slingshot 331 will hit the postboxes shortly. Here is a summary of the contents:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guardroom</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Notices</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honour and Loss - by Prof Phil Sabin</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Phil Sabin recounts his long and stimulating acquaintaince with Patrick Waterson that spanned 15 years and was the occasion of many fruitful discussions and debates.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sumerian Military Camel Riders - by Simon Watson</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simon Watson takes a closer look at the standard assumption that camels were used in armies only from about 1000 BC and produces arguments for their being used by the Sumerians domestically and hence probably in a military context a millennium and a half earlier.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Lab with the Legions - by Chris Hahn</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How does one model the triplex acies legion on the gaming table? Chris Hahn sifts through Tactica II, Armati, Hail Caesar, Impetus and l'Art de la Guerre to ascertain which ruleset best replicates the iconic formation that created the Roman Empire.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making 15mm Siena Military Companies - by Richard Lockwood</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Siennese Contrade make for an interesting army list, comprising militia spearmen, pavesari, crossbowmen, javelinmen, archers and knights—and not forgetting the carroccio. Richard describes how he created an army that is as pretty as it is authentic.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Army Strengths in 13th Century Prussia - by Paul Stein</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just how large where the Prussian tribes that opposed the Teutonic Knights? Paul Stein uses smart research and reasoning to supply a surprising answer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Refighting Cannae - by Dan Hazelwood</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As every wargamer knows, Cannae is one of the toughest battles to recreate on the wargaming table in a way that even remotely replicates history. Using l'Art de la Guerre, Dan Hazelwood sets up a game scenario that promises not only historicity but also balanced gameplay.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a Wheelie - by Simon Watson</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chariots anyone? Here is an overview of a skirmish-level game that covers every aspect of the troop type that dominated warfare in the Fertile Crescent for millennia. And the rulest itself is downloadable for free! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aquae Sextiae with DBA - by Andy Offen</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using Big Battle DBA, Andy Offen manages to recreate an historical outcome between Marius's legions and their historical enemies, the Teutones and Ambrones, though the question of whether Marian Romans were better than Polybian Romans is still to be answered.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews</span></b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hoplites: the classical Greek Battle Experience</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greek Warfare: Myths and Realities</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Storm of Spears: Understanding the Greek Hoplite at War</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reinstating the Hoplite: Arms, Armour and Phalanx Fighting in Archaic and Classical Greece</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Men of Bronze: Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hoplites at War: a Comprehensive Analysis of Heavy Infantry Combat in the Greek World, 750-100 BCE</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Armies of the Hellenistic States 323BC – AD30, History, Organisation and Equipment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ancient War Game</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Carthage’s Other Wars: Carthaginian warfare outside the ‘Punic Wars’ with Rome</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069768379610510986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-63598831483005514152020-04-14T22:29:00.001-07:002020-04-15T01:32:27.724-07:00Slingshot 330 is on its way...<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...with an Irish stew of articles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Guardroom</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The debate continues over the credibility (and availability) of primary sources.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Zhizhi's Last Stand</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>by Nicholas Spratt</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gan Yanshou’s victory in 36BCE is famous, not just because it was the only time a Chinese army would kill a Chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire, or because the Han army would have to travel 3400km from the capital to get there, but because a <i>hapax legomenon</i> in the Hanshu’s description has been interpreted as suggesting that China faced Roman Legionaries on the battlefield that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An Alternative Rant</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>by David Kay</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">David Kay follows Simon Watson’s lead and has a look at the more problematic elements of current wargaming play mechanisms, troop classifications and other bones of contention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Have at Thee, Varlet!</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>by Anthony Clipsom</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For most of us, ‘varlet’ is just a quaint, old expression for an example of degenerate scum. Anthony digs up the fascinating Mediaeval origins behind the word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Red Dragon and the White Boar</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>by Chris Hahn</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the absence of a Battle Day with subsequent battle reports, here are several home games of Bosworth using <i>Armati, l’Art de la Guerre</i> and <i>To The Strongest!</i> Chris Hahn makes it clear that if Richard doesn’t throw away the battle with his charge, Henry is in real trouble.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tactica II: A Ruleset Analysis</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>by Paul Innes</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A former editor makes a good case for why Tactica II is one of the most historically accurate and playable large battle rulesets out there, among other things creating nuanced troop types using troop category and quality, and catering for details like Roman line relief.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece: A Guide to their History, Topography and Archaeology</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Cities of the Classical World</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>The Wars of Alexander’s Successors 323-281 BC. Volume II: Battles & Tactics</i></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span><br />
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Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069768379610510986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-66466372841622191892020-03-13T11:22:00.001-07:002020-03-13T11:35:53.827-07:00Slingshot 329 is about to land...<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are the goodies inside:</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Editorial - In Memoriam Patrick Waterson</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Guardroom</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Bosworth Field 1485 Battle Pack - </b><i>by Richard Lockwood</i></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bosworth Field is one of the most significant battles in English history, yet some details of the engagement are frustratingly unclear, even to the location of the battlefield—until recently. Richard Lockwood gives the findings of contemporary research.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The French at Bosworth - </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">by Duncan head</span></i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The French contingent at Bosworth was an important part of Henry’s army, but how large was it and how was it equipped? Duncan trawls through the sources to give a nuanced picture of mixed-arms infantry that were the beginnings of a French standing army.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Tactica II - A Personal Perspective</b> - <i>by Simon Watson</i></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For Simon Watson, Tactica II strikes the ideal balance between ease of play, historical feel, the player’s decision-making, aesthetics, and the richness of troop diversity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Providing Your Warhorses</b> - <i>by Jim Webster</i></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Heavy cavalry has always been expensive, but Jim Webster shows just how expensive it was for the Frankish kingdom to raise good quality warhorses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Numbers in Some Roman Battles</b> - <i>by Julian Lorriman</i></span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The standard wisdom is that Gallic armies consisted of vast numbers of warriors. But reading between the lines in the sources, Julian Lorriman comes up with a different picture.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Trouble in Paradise</b> - <i>by David Beatty</i></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A good bout of bloody warfare in the peaceful islands of Hawaii where visitors in the 15th century were more likely to be met with spears than wreaths.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>In One Side, Out the Other</b> - </span><i><span style="color: #990000;">by Chris Hahn</span></i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Interpenetration—one unit passing through another—in most wargaming rules is limited to psiloi and sometimes light horse. But in the past other troop types possessed this ability. Chris Hahn examines the evidence to see which ruleset best replicates the historical record.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Slingshot Book & Game Reviews </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: black;">To give participants in the Society Battle Day time to prepare, the Bosworth Battle Pack can be downloaded ahead of time <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/tiotw7u1vohztfn/Society%20of%20Ancients%202020%20Battle%20Pack%20Bosworth.pdf?dl=0&fbclid=IwAR1P5kb4vpXX8Dkr1uOktkwg4uKQgqwu_a3IR_MzfmmS9p0OrV5lySgJUlQ" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. </span></i><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12069768379610510986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-29904372935522411022020-02-15T11:32:00.000-08:002020-02-15T11:36:15.795-08:00Society news & other items of (possible) interest to members as of: Janu.., oops, let's make that February (sorry) 2020<br />
Over at <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://daleswargames.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dales's Blog</a></span> there's a developing thread on the topic of '<a href="http://daleswargames.blogspot.com/2020/01/playing-one-hour-wargames-virtually_28.html" target="_blank">Playing One-Hour Wargames Virtually</a>' (the link is to the second post in a series which happens to focus on playing a medieval game, so I felt justified in including it). This post and those prior all have some interesting and potentially very useful information for gamers who might be thinking along these lines.<br />
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While at <a href="http://soawargamesteam.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ancients on the Move</a>, Phil Steele gives a pretty thorough <a href="http://soawargamesteam.blogspot.com/2020/01/25th-january-penarth-vale-of-glamorgan.html" target="_blank">review of the UK DBA League - the 2020 Welsh Open</a>, held at this year's <a href="http://www.penarthwargames.co.uk/crusade/" target="_blank">Crusade Show</a>, run in Penarth, South Glamorgan ('oh for a glass of Brains Dark, the true, the richest Hippocrene, with creamy head and ... ah me, the memories), by the aptly named <a href="http://www.penarthwargames.co.uk/about-penarth-wargames-club/welcome-to-penarth-district-wargames-society/" target="_blank">Penarth & District Wargames Society</a>. Of course. the surprise discovery in this oyster full of pearls is that Phil, ex-SoA President and avid DBA player, had hitherto never been to the show.<br />
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And for those who may have missed it, at the same blog, a '<a href="http://soawargamesteam.blogspot.com/2019/12/2019-review-of-year.html" target="_blank">Review of the 2019 Year</a>' for the Society's Shows North team.<br />
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A quick reminder that there's lot's going on for Ancient and Medieval Wargamers under the auspices of the <a href="http://www.bhgs.org.uk/news" target="_blank">British Historical Games Society</a>.<br />
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Check this link to get news of <a href="http://www.bhgs.org.uk/the-bhgs-challenge-2020.html" target="_blank">The BHGS Challenge 2020</a>, to be be held at the NEC in Birmingham, alongside UK Games Expo, over the weekend of 30th & 31st May and including events focussed on games with FoG:AM, DBMM and L'Art de la Guerre, in a variety of scales.<br />
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And also <a href="http://www.bhgs.org.uk/britcon---periods-being-played.html" target="_blank">Britcon</a> (7-9th August, Manchester), The <a href="http://www.bhgs.org.uk/london-gt-historical-teams.html" target="_blank">London GT BHGS Historical Teams</a> at the end of June, and of course the almost-sold-out <a href="http://www.bhgs.org.uk/roll-call-2020.html" target="_blank">Roll Call</a> coming up this April.<br />
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Over at <a href="https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/forums/forum/ancients/" target="_blank">The Wargames Website Ancients forum</a>, news of more <a href="https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/forums/topic/15mm-plastic-romans/" target="_blank">15mm plastic Romans</a> (Imperial, by the look of the pictures) but this time from Grenzer Games. Where will it all end? With a lighter wallet, most likely.<br />
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Meanwhile, the <a href="https://devonwargames.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Devon Wargames Group</a> have been bathing in blood, figuratively speaking, with a goodly sized skirmish, using Daniel Mersey's 'Lion Rampant' rules, between <a href="https://devonwargames.blogspot.com/2020/01/lion-rampant-scenario-bloodbath-huns-v.html" target="_blank">plucky Romans and pesky Huns</a>. Or vice versa. Hmmm, what's the correct name for the fear of seeming Hun-phobic?<br />
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And to close, some <a href="https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/forums/topic/english-spearmen/" target="_blank">nicely depicted medieval eye-candy</a>, complete with rock garden.<br />
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<br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-55361556982956957682020-01-02T03:21:00.003-08:002020-01-02T03:23:35.901-08:00Slingshot 328 is with the printers ... <br />
<i>... and should be posted out to you all in the next few days! Here is the
cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary
of each article.</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1DtDXDLkcc/Xg3MIF292MI/AAAAAAAAAg0/tuTKNvXNuwUDFyJ5XE7Og50cDyBjYpE5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/slingshot%2B328%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="On the cover, the original 8 hoof drive, all terrain Roman crusher with optional rotary drier!" border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1DtDXDLkcc/Xg3MIF292MI/AAAAAAAAAg0/tuTKNvXNuwUDFyJ5XE7Og50cDyBjYpE5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/slingshot%2B328%2Bcover.jpg" title="Slinshot 328 cover" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the cover, the original 8 hoof drive, all terrain Roman crusher with optional rotary drier!</td></tr>
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Committee Report - by Roy Boss</h4>
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A Wargaming Rant - by Simon Watson</h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Simon Watson writes a Grumpy Guide to Wargaming. Like many other historical wargamers, he has issues with some rulesets in that the marriage between historicity and playability seems ever to be an unhappy one. And all those dice throws. Rules writers, take note!</span> <br />
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From the Ground Up - by Chris Hahn</h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Following on the ‘When the Going Gets Tough’ article in Slingshot 327, Chris Hahn gives an overview of terrain from the perspective of the importance wargamers attach to it, how it is treated in the major rulesets, and what the ancient writers actually had to say about it.</span> <br />
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The Field of Cynoscephalae: Battlefield Archaeology using Google Maps - by Richard Taylor</h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to Google Maps and Google Earth, it is becoming easier for wargamers to form a fairly accurate idea of what the terrain actually looked like at battlefield sites. Richard Taylor runs through the use these tools with Cynoscephalae as an example.</span><br />
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Chances Are - by Nick Harbud</h4>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this article, based upon a presentation given at the Society of Ancients Conference in November 2019, Nick Harbud outlines the science behind the Cosmic Cube of wargaming.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Early Mediaeval Picts - by Hugh Coleman</span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Many wargaming army lists have Picts suddenly change into Caledonians with substantial alterations to their clothing and weaponry. Huge Coleman makes the case that in military terms Picts and Caledonians were pretty much the same.</span><br />
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Wargaming My Way - by Gordon Lawrence</h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Like many wargamers Gordon Lawrence plays solo, but unlike many (the Editor for example), he has a fully equipped wargaming HQ shed and over 20,000 figures. Read and envy...</span><br />
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Slingshot Book & Game Reviews</h4>
<span style="font-size: small;">Covering: 'Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece', 'Armies of Celtic Europe, 700 BC-AD 106', 'The Pope’s Army. The Papacy in Diplomacy and War', 'The reign of Emperor Gallienus. The Apogee of Roman Cavalry', 'Lost Legion Rediscovered. The mystery of the Theban Legion', 'The Battle of Edgcote 1469</span><i><span style="font-size: small;">'.</span></i>Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-27043944242772935372019-12-28T04:27:00.001-08:002019-12-28T04:27:18.908-08:00Society news & other items of (possible) interest to members as of: December 2019There's an interesting discussion going on over at the <a href="http://fanaticus.boards.net/" target="_blank">Fanaticus Forum</a> (where the focus is anything even vaguely to do with DBA), concerning the <a href="https://www.theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/" target="_blank">Plastic Soldier Company</a>'s plans to start releasing a series of 15mm ancients ranges early in the new year. Read it <a href="http://fanaticus.boards.net/thread/2388/plastic-figures-coming-spring-2020" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Some further <a href="https://doctorphalanx.blogspot.com/2019/12/commands-and-colors-medieval.html" target="_blank">thoughts on playing 'Commands and Colors Medieval'</a>, this time from Richard aka <a href="https://doctorphalanx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Doctor Phalanx</a>. This is beginning to sound like another game that I should get access to, the only question being how I can do that without reducing investment elsewhere? Hmmm, decisions, decisions.<br />
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And talking of medieval (well, early Medieval, as the cognoscenti would have it now), some of <a href="https://www.beastsofwar.com/news/victrix-dark-age-ancient-previews-future/" target="_blank">Victrix' forthcoming Dark Age & Ancient ranges</a> are previewed over at <a href="https://www.beastsofwar.com/" target="_blank">Beasts of War</a>. My advice is don't look, it won't end well for your wallet.<br />
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Meanwhile, at <a href="http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Paul´s Bods blog,</a> here's a little something for those of a certain age (i.e. much the same age as me) - a <a href="http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2019/12/airfix-medieval-seige-bod-conversions.html" target="_blank">wonderful series of conversions from the Airfix Robin Hood and Sherrif of Nottingham sets</a>. Looking at the picture of Paul's initial pile of figures I'm reminded that I have almost exactly the same set of figures languishing in my own spares box (right down to the Roman auxiliary archer).<br />
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Maybe that's enough about figures but what about some new rules. Here, over at the <a href="http://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wargaming Miscellany blog</a>, is a review (well, more just a mention) of Graham Evans' relatively <a href="http://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2019/10/to-ur-is-human.html" target="_blank">recently published rules 'To Ur is Human'</a>, a set of rules focussed entirely on the wars of Sumerian Mesopotamia. A topic about which even Michael Caine knows little. So maybe one for the specialist round in your New Year quiz?<br />
<br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9066852874327831992.post-11775218700281957072019-11-20T03:59:00.001-08:002019-11-20T04:39:55.524-08:00Slingshot 327 is being posted out ... ... and should land in your postboxes in the next few days! Here is the cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary of each article.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZi_-XbJB6w/XdUfL569jAI/AAAAAAAAAfw/Q28x2-8-K3EDG2TiUgpKM_864ph1bus6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/slingshot%2B327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="597" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZi_-XbJB6w/XdUfL569jAI/AAAAAAAAAfw/Q28x2-8-K3EDG2TiUgpKM_864ph1bus6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/slingshot%2B327.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Come any nearer and I'll throw it, I'm warning you!'</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">Contents</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">Editorial</span></h4>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Guardroom</span></h4>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Gerald the Great on Battleaxe Hill: Part 2</span></h4>
Mick Hession concludes his fascinating analysis of warfare in 16th century Ireland, with a focus on the battle of Knockdoe ...<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">Wargaming Knockdoe</span></h4>
... and then gives some insights on how it can be recreated as a wargame using DBMM.<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">When the Going Gets Tough</span></h4>
A thread on the Society’s forum prompted David Kay to consider the role of terrain and its representation on the wargames table, and to suggest aspects for further investigation or discussion.<br />
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<i>(Perhaps a timely article? Does terrain on ancient wargames tables sometimes seem to lean towards 'sparse'? If so, does this reflect a degree of terrain phobia among gamers or is making terrain just another job that's hard to get to the top of the lead pile?)</i><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">Paraitakene with Big Battle DBA</span></h4>
Paul Murgatroyd suggests that Big Battle DBA hits the sweet spot between the panorama of a large game and the playing speed of a small one, even for complex armies. He also explains how and why.<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">The Chronicles of the Teutonic Knights</span></h4>
No, not by Dan Brown but even better, the only English translation of the little-known 'Chronicle of the Prussian Lands' (by Peter von Dusburg), which is the oldest account of the origins and spread of the Teutonic Knights. Translation by Elaine Graham-Leigh with comments by Paul Stein.<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">Carthage vs Rome with Hail Caesar</span></h4>
What it says on the tin and illustrated with some great looking photos of a very attractive battlefield (almost an echo of points made in David Kay's article). By the way, don't be worried by the pictures, I'm sure no Teddy bears were harmed during the making of the terrain. Article by Steven Neate.<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">The Continuing Story of DBM</span></h4>
Despite being considered old school by many, DBM remains a popular ruleset that has stood the test of time. John Graham-Leigh gives some reasons for that longevity.<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">The Play’s the Thing</span></h4>
A wonderful piece of one-to-many counselling, from Gordon Lawrence, for those of us (well me, for sure) who suffer from wargamer-modeller's <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/list-of-phobias#az-list-of-fears" target="_blank">catagelophobia</a> (particularly, for wargamer's, the fear of not meeting the required standard of painting and basing).<br />
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<span style="color: #660000;">Slingshot Book & Game Reviews</span></h4>
Covering 'The Last Years of the Teutonic Knights', 'The Great Illyrian Revolt', Roman Legionaries: Soldiers of Empire' and 'Ancient Dynasties: The Families that Ruled the Classical World'. <br />
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<br />Chris Helmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13524176522366626487noreply@blogger.com1