Slingshot 313, July/August 2017
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Containing articles on
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Now available to buy as a back issue.
About the Society
The Society of Ancients is an international amateur society for the promotion of the study of ancient and medieval military history and wargaming the period 3000 BC to 1500 AD. It is run by volunteers for the benefit of its worldwide membership. The Society publishes a bi-monthly journal, Slingshot, and sponsors various events, including wargames tournaments.
The Society was formed in 1965 by Tony Bath with 20 or so founder members. Our membership is now over 1100 worldwide. Membership is open to all, and lasts for 6 issues of Slingshot. Most of the content is contributed by Society members on a wide range of items related to Ancient and Medieval military history and wargaming.
An introduction to the Society is also available on YouTube.
The Society also publishes a number of games and booklets which are available from our web store below:
Slingshot 312, May/June 2017
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Now available to buy as a back issue.
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Gladiolus£30This game of classical single combat is for two players who each have either a gladiator or a wild animal. Play is challenging and entirely without dice, relying upon a player’s ability to outmanoeuvre and bluff his opponent. Games are fast, with a typical combat taking 10-15 minutes and an entire multi-combat tournament can be conducted in an evening. In our hearts, who is not, in some way, Spartacus? This luxury remake of the Society’s most successful board game includes sturdy, pre-cut counters and no fewer than 140 ready-to-go cards – no cutting and pasting required. Suitable for ages 12 upwards.
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Slingshot 311, March/April 2017
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Containing articles on
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Should be sent out at the end of April
Society of Ancients Conference
When: 14-15 October 2017
Where: Chesford Grange Hotel Kenilworth
Cost: £189 for two days, including Saturday night accommodation and dinner
The Society of Ancients Conference 2017 will take place over the weekend 14th and 15th October, at the same venue as the 2016 Conference, the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
We are limited to 40 places, so after the success of the 2016 Conference you are advised to book early to avoid disappointment!
Those who attended this year will know that we like everyone to get involved! We also need volunteers to run a session. Sessions can either be a presentation to the Conference on a subject, which with a subsequent discussion will last around an hour, or else can be running games, rules workshops, or anything else you may choose to come up with! Please send your ideas to Richard Lockwood at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. In addition, even if you are unable to make the conference in person, we would welcome submissions of presentations and/or papers either by post or electronically which we will do our utmost to get presented at the conference.
The cost for the weekend is £189, which includes the two full days at the Conference, buffet lunch both days, the Conference Dinner on the Saturday evening, bed and breakfast Saturday night, and teas and coffees, biscuits and cakes etc throughout the days. Single day attendance, including the lunch, is available for £45 per day.
For those arriving on the Friday evening we have negotiated a Conference bed and breakfast rate of £105, which should also be booked in advance though us.
Because the Society is required to pay the venue in advance for the Conference we will require full payment four weeks before the Conference. However, in order to reserve your place we will initially be taking £45 deposits, either by the Society website PayPal route or by cheques made out to the Society of Ancients and sent to the Treasurer. These deposits are non-returnable unless we are able to find someone else to attend in your place.
Balances may be paid to the Society either electronically by using the add to cart buttons at the bottom of this page or by writing to the Society Treasurer at
Mabar
Blackheath Lane
Wonersh
GUILDFORD
GU5 0PN
enclosing a cheque payable to The Society of Ancients.
Help make the Society a Society and come along to the Conference!
Deposit (£45) - this is also the cost of a single day so please indicate if this is Saturday or Sunday by adding one of the two options below as well if that is all you are booking for: |
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Note that the full payment amount already assumes that you have paid the deposit. If you have not yet paid the deposit, that's not a problem - just add the deposit above to your basket first, then add the full conference to you basket. |
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Full weekend balance payment - Accommodation Saturday night, conference Saturday and Sunday, dinner on Saturday night (£144)
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Friday night bed & breakfast - Accommodation Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning (£105)
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Saturday day attendance (£0)
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Sunday day attendance (£0)
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Sunday day attendance (£45) - only if you are attending Saturday and Sunday, but not staying overnight or for the Conference dinner (and how likely is that?)
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SoA Battle Day 2017 - Arsuf 1191 AD
Battle Day 2017 duly took place on Saturday 1 April at the usual venue of Sycamore Hall, Bletchley. Around 40 wargamers refought the Battle of Arsuf, 1191 AD across eight different wargames using eight different sets of rules.
The day started with a very well-received expert introduction to the battle and the challenges of wargaming it, given by Society member, academic and author Matt Bennett.
Then the refights started, and the general hubbub in the room reflected the fun and excitement in the games themselves. Some games were played twice in the day, and across the room there were wins for both Crusaders and Saracens; honours broadly even. All the rule sets got properly road tested with this “attack on a marching force” style game, and it will be interesting to read their battle reports in future Slingshots to see how they fared.
The Black Hat Miniatures Prize for Best Terrain was awarded to Mark Craddock for the terrain he produced for the Armati game. The Warlord Prize for Best Game went to Richard Jeffrey-Cook and the game featuring his new rule set “Lap of the Gods”.
The battle chosen for next year is Paraetacene 317 BC, fought by Eumenes of Cardia and Antigonus Monopthalmus (“One-Eye”), two of the great generals of the Successor Wars following the death of Alexander the Great. The date will be confirmed in due course.
Slingshot 310, January/February 2017
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Containing articles on
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Now available in the web store...
Slingshot 309, November/December 2016
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Containing articles on
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Now available for back order.
More Articles ...
The Society needs you!
The Society of Ancients is a volunteer organisation, and relies on its members. It's very easy to join -– just go to the join page, add a membership to your cart and check out using Paypal. You can alternatively download a postal membership form here. Membership costs £27 for 6 issues of Slingshot (normally a year).
Renewal
Membership now runs for six issues from the point that you subscribe from, rather than annually. The Join page will tell you the first issue you will receive and your membership number will tell you the issue after which you need to renew. Renewal is easy - just purchase a new subscription in the webstore and the membership secretary will match up your details.
