... 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.
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| ("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
Interview with Lorenzo Sartori by Gordon Garrod
Newbury and Reading Wargames Society and Colours - a short history by Nick Harbud
Westbury Wars 2022 - a convention report by John Graham-Leigh
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.
