Slingshot 342 is with the printers ...

... 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.
 

("Oh no, it's raining on the first bound. 
All the Plough will be Rough Going. 
Varlet! bring me my Hunter wellies.")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee election notice and Editorial

The view from the editor's chair.

Interview with Lorenzo Sartori by Gordon Garrod

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.

Newbury and Reading Wargames Society and Colours - a short history by Nick Harbud

Or perhaps, "Armageddon - delving back into ancient times"?

Westbury Wars 2022 - a convention report by John Graham-Leigh

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 armies spanning the period 3,000 BC to 1500 AD.  Polybian Romans against Carthaginians and each other, Wars of the Roses English against Venetians with Swiss allies, Achaemenid Persians against Macedonians.

The Lamian War Part 2 by Bjorn Floderus

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.

Hoplites at the SOA Conference 2022 by Simon MacDowall

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.

Command & Colours Knockout Tournament at the SOA Conference 2022 by John Drewienkiewicz and Andrew Brentnall

Although the ‘main events’ of the annual conference didn’t start until Saturday morning, more than 20 attendees arrived on Friday evening 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.

My First Society of Ancients Article - from a longstanding member by Baird McClellan

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.

Selecting my Sassanid Aesthetic by Gavin Pearson

If you're going to ride down your enemies, ride them down in style.

How I became the first non-UK member to win the SOA Championship by Harry Dudrow

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.

A Hex on your terrain by David Kay

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.

Horse Archer Units in Armati by Roy Boss

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.

Shield Patterns at Second Mantinea by Duncan Head

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).

Slingshot Book & Game Reviews 

Including reviews of:

SAGA - Age of Alexander supplement, review by Ken Butt

Age of Hannibal, rules review by Steve Neate

Strength and Honour, rules review by Richard Jeffrey-Cook

The Long War for Britannia, book review by Dave Hollin

The Field Campaigns of Alexander the Great, book review by Jim Webster

Septimius Severus and the Roman Army, book review by Duncan Head

Empire of Horses, book review by Dan N. Hazelwood

Battle Day 2023 - 2nd Mantinea 362 BC

"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."  

Renowned Theban general Epaminondas makes his famous deep deployment of his hoplite phalanx aimed at crushing the Spartan army. 

The nineteenth annual Society of Ancients Battle Day will be held on Saturday 25 March 2023 at
Newbury Rugby Club, Monks Lane, Newbury RG14 7RW.  We 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.

Slingshot 341 is with the printers ...

... 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.
 

"So, er, is all this carnage about restoring New Rome or are we refighting  
Adrianople? Cos I'd just like to know what I'm risking life and limb for ."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Foreword

The view from the president's chair. 

Society of Ancients Conference

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 sign up through the Society website or contact Richard Lockwood directly at conference@soa.org.uk

The Goths (2): From Alaric to Theoderic the Great. By Michael Fredholm von Essen

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

Restoring New Rome - the strategy and military of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-1100s. By David Harvey

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?

Refighting Adrianople 378 AD with DBMM. By Jens Peter Kutz

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).

LEGION II FAST PLAY EXPANSION By Philip Sabin

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 the fast play version of the original rules to cover all 35 engagements originally modelled in Professor Sabin's book, Lost Battles. This expansion, termed Legion II, is the subject of this article.

Slingshot 340 is with the printers ...

     ... 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.

Horse: "Jeepers! Careful mate, you could have my eye out with that!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Foreword

The view from the president's chair.  This time without the bragging about some Galatians.

Adrianople with Comitatus by Simon Macdowall

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.

Pikes across the Millennia Part 2 by Philip Sabin

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.

10mm miniatures and an odyssey to wargame Dark Age Britain in the ‘Age of Arthur’ by Dave Hollin

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.

The Lamian War Part 1 by Björn Floderus

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!

Interview with Hervé Caille by Gordon Garrad

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.

Alexander’s Successors at War: How Eumenes Defeated the World’s Most Famous Commander by Tristan Hughes

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.

Slingshot Book & Game Reviews 

This issue, a review of:

Leuctra 371 BC: The Destruction of Spartan Dominance written by Murray Dahm and illustrated by Seán Ó’Brógáin.  Reviewed by Steve Neate.

The Iliad and the Odyssey: The Trojan War: Tragedy and Aftermath by Jan Parker. Reviewed by Jim Webster.

Slingshot 339 is with the printers ...

    ... 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.

The SoA Battleday, guvnor? 'S at Newbury. That way, I fink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Foreword

The view from the president's chair, including a bit of bragging about some Galatians.

Guardroom

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.

Graham Fordham Remembered

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.

Pikes across the Millennia Part 1 by Philip Sabin

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, Lost Battles for the ancient period and Horse & Foot for the Pike and Shot era.

Shields and Armour in Mycenaean Warfare by Robert Heiligers

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
and armour in that period.

Wargaming Adrianople by Simon MacDowall

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...

Airfix Nostalgia by John Graham-Leigh 

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!

Slingshot Book & Game Reviews 

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.

The Yumi at War by Leslie Ian Mitchell

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.

Interview with Daniel Mersey by Gordon Garrad

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.

Slingshot 338 is with the printers ...

   ... 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Foreword

The view from the president's chair, including a round up of 2021 and a look forward to what's coming in 2022.

Guardroom

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.)

Ancients Awaken from Slumber aka Lockdown Smackdown or A Day of DBA by Harry Dudrow and Andrew Gledhill

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).

First Class Warriors at the Birth of the Roman Republic by Dr Simon Elliott

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.  (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.)

The Rise and Fall of Nomad Military Power, part 2 c. 1200 AD – c. 1600 AD - by Michael Fredholm von Essen

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.

Bosworth with Tree of Battles by Simon MacDowall

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.

Slingshot Book & Game Reviews 

This issue, a review of: Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth by Mike Ingram.  Reviewed by Duncan Head.

Slingshot interviews Phil Barker - by Gordon Garrad

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.