Website News

What, three blogs on one server? Actually it’s just an easy way of providing news feeds and there’s a deliberate decision to avoid having news from one source bump major society news off the main page. I’ll use this one for simple updates on changes/fixes to the website. Hence, the entries are going to be fairly short, much as this one is.

Slingshot 262

The latest issue of Slingshot (number 262, January 2009), the bi-monthly publication of the Society of Ancients, has gone to the printers. My expectation is that it will be mailed out to society members around 12 February. The issue also includes results forms for the Society championship.

This issue is 60 pages long, not including the cover pages. It's published in the same format introduced with issue 258

The contents of Slingshot 262 are as follows. For games articles, I've indicated the relevant rule set where it's not immediately obvious from the title; with historical articles I've tried to indicate period if a similar issue applies.
• “He moored the ships of Meluḫḫa, Magan, and Tilmun at the quay of Agade”, by Alastair McBeath
• The Army of Massalia, by Jim Webster
• Amazed am I ere I made Zama, by Patrick Waterson
• Food, land and fertility and the troops you can support, by Jim Webster
• In the Field with Belisarius, by Paul Burton
• Elephants and Things, by David Edwards
• Callinicum 531 AD, Battle Pack 2009, by Richard Lockwood, Phil Halewood & Jim Sye
• Zenobia on the Field of Glory, by John Hogan
• Refighting Cannae in DBMM, by Michael Campbell
• “Is Eight the Magic Number?” – Army sizes in AMW, by Graham Evans
• The Greeks invade Rome…and a plan doesn’t come together…in WAB, by David Carruthers
• Rules Design Forum: Lost Battles, with Philip Sabin
• Wheeling Units in AMW: an Analysis by Graham Evans
• Comparative Religion 102: Field of Glory and DBMM Rules Compared on the Wargames Table, by Ray Briggs
• Figure Reviews: 15mm Eastern Islamic, 28mm Caesarian Romans, Normans, Medieval Spanish, Imperial Romans and Celts, by Richard Lockwood and Mark Watson

Discounts for members

Good news from Curteys Miniatures - they are now offering SoA members a 10% discount on all their ranges - which include 1st Corps and Kingmaker Miniatures as well as their own Curteys range. Don't forget to quote your membership number. Many thanks to the guys at Curteys.

Society of Ancients confirms 2009 bonus project

A FAIR AND OPEN BATTLE


The Society of Ancients has confirmed that its 2009 member publication project will be an updated version of Paul Burton's award winning series 'A Fair and Open Battle'.

A wargamer's tour through an illuminating series of historical ancient and medieval set-piece clashes from Medway and Mons Graupius to The Wars of the Roses, 'A Fair and Open Battle' was written with army suggestions for DBM and Warhammer Ancient Battles
Now an illustrated 24 page A4 booklet, in a new departure, this updated version will come with a bonus CD which extends the coverage to include Field of Glory, Armati and other games together with additional supporting material.

A Fair and Open Battle will appear in the spring, and will be pre-released free to all 2009 Society of Ancients members who have subscribed by February 1st. Limited stocks are thereafter expected to go on sale at £6.00 including postage.

If you are interested in the Society of Ancients, £20 brings 6 issues of the all new Slingshot in addition to the bonus publication, and access to the wide range of member services, invitations and discounts. With Paypal on the website, joining up couldn't be easier: subscribe by Feb 1st for the full range of benefits.

Society of Ancients Roll of Honour 2008

The Society of Ancients would like to thank all the participants, organisers, and sponsors who made its 2008 events a success, and the authors and contributors without which Slingshot would not be possible.



Congratulations to the prize winners:
SoA Doubles Masters
1. Dave Handley/Nic Sharp, 2. James Hamilton/Martin Wilkinson, 3. Bruce Brown/Paul Cummins
Northern DBA Cup (Hosted by Triples)
1. Aislinn Smith, 2. Pete Scholey, 3. Richard Pulley
English DBA Open (co-sponsored with Magister Militum)
Open 15mm: Martin Smith, Open 25mm: Andrew Fisher' Junior (15s): Robert Dowling
Society of Ancients/BHGS GB Armati League
Bill Wilson

Society of Ancients/BHGS National Champion

Bruce Brown (Field of Glory)
(top scoring UK tournament player, any rules set)

Society of Ancients/Armati by the Sea

1.Malcolm King, 2. Roy Boss, 3. Matthew Bennett
Society of Ancients Anderida Trophy
Paul Fencott
The special award winners:
Tony Bath Award
Will Whyler for his sterling services in maintaining the Society presence in Northern shows, and unsung service as auditor over several years.
John Westwood Trophy
Richard Pulley for his work in promoting the hobby among young people.
Deryck Guyler Award
Graham Evans for the Trebia participation game (first run at Campaign)

... And to the Slingshot contributors:



Editor's Prize
Jim Webster
Charles Grant Prize
Awarded for the best article covering a B.C. topic: awarded jointly to Alastair McBeath, for the Mesopotamian Warfare Notes series of articles, and David Karunanithy, for his "off-cut" articles about Macedonia.
The Ian Greenwood Prize
Awarded for the best article 0 to 1000 A.D: Duncan Head for his article on the Army of the Zanj Revolt (Nov 07.)
The Alan Nickels Prize
Awarded for the best article post 1000 A.D.: John Walsh for The Bahmani Sultanate (Nov 07.)
Best Wargames Article, sponsored by Gripping Beast:
Paul Burton, for his Campaigns for Wargamers series.

Thanks also to the BHGS for administrative help, and to Gripping Beast, Magister Militum and Ancient and Modern Army Supplies for sponsoring prizes

Richard Sullivan (Osprey) presents the Persian Helmet to Pete Dalby
The Persian Helmet (Britcon Sportsmanship)
Pete Dalby

The Society of Ancients is always keen to consider good ideas for events and projects, and welcomes offers of prizes and awards from traders and partners. Please get in touch with us via the website or the blog if you want to get involved.
Membership of the Society of Ancients costs £20 per annum including 6 issues of Slingshot. If you subscribe for 2009 by the 1st of February, you will receive a free copy of our forthcoming booklet/CD 'A Fair and Open Battle' (revised with new illustrations and army lists)

www.soa.org.uk

SoA Wargames Championship 2009

Following an increasing level of interest from members, the Society of Ancients will be running its Wargames Championship again, in 2009.

Once so well established, amongst ancients players, it was known simply as The Championship. Technology has now opened more opportunities for interaction and enjoyment through the Society's website, its Yahoo Group, and members' personal blogs.

The format will be very much the same as in previous decades - players are responsible for organising and reporting their own games, and may play the same opponent not more than twice. Both players must be Society of Ancients members, and any recognised set of rules or gaming principles may be used. Result of games will be accepted by post or email. Full rules can be found here ....

Current members of the Society of Ancients are encouraged to contribute their ideas about the Championship to the organisers through the website, or in debate with members through Slingshot and the mailing list.

Non members can find out more about the Society at http://www.soa.org.uk/ (a new Society year begins on Jan 1st, and membership can be taken out through the website)...

The Society of Ancients at Warfare 22-23/11/08

The Society of Ancients will be at Warfare this weekend. We will be presenting two games over the course of the event. On Saturday we will be refighting the battle of Issus using Philip Sabin’s Lost Battles. On Sunday we will be featuring a medieval encounter using Neil Thomas’s Ancient and Medieval Warfare. Both games will be large, 28mm, presentations and there will be opportunities to join in.

We will also have a membership stand attached, where you can find out more about the Society of Ancients, browse recent issues of Slingshot etc. Membership of the Society of Ancients costs just £20 per annum, worldwide. We can now take subscriptions either for 2008 or 2009.

As a special package available at Warfare, new members signing up at the show for 2008 can register for 2009 at the same time for a combined fee of just £30. You will get the first 5 issues of 2008 from the stand. This big discount is funded by the savings we make on postage, so, unfortunately, is only available in person, at shows.

Come and see the Society of Ancients at Warfare: join in the games, join up or renew, just have a chat about ancient warfare and wargaming. We’d be pleased to see you …

Find out more about the Society of Ancients at

www.soa.org.uk