Containing articles on

• The Battle of Thapsus - by Aaron Bell
• 6mm Accessories with 3D Printing - by David Kay
• Over by Vespers: a Mediaeval Scenario Game - by Anthony Clipsom
• The Battle of the Kalka River - by Periklis Deligiannis
• Inventing Early Bronze Age Scenarios - by Steven Neate
• Arausio Refought with DBA - by Andy Offen
• The Long, the Short and the Flat: the Origin of the Longbow - by Anthony Clipsom
• Slingshot Figure Reviews: 15mm early Imperial Roman Equites Auxiliares - by Mark Grindlay
• Slingshot Figure Reviews: 28mm Viking Age Scots - by Thane Maxwell
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Roman Heavy Cavalry (1) - by Duncan Head
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Ptolemy I Soter, a Self-made Man - by Jim Webster
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Pandemic, Fall of Rome - by Gavin Pearson

As well as all the usual features.

Containing articles on

• Guardroom
• DBA3 - Improving the Simulation - by Joe Collins
• Coals to Newcastle: Playing Welsh DBA Lists in Wales - by Martin Smith
• The Early Japanese Army: Reexamining the DBA 3.0 Army Lists - by Nicholas Spratt
• Battle Day Reports - by Roy Boss and Duncan Head
• Simple Campaign for Danelaw Britain: A Solo or Programmed Campaign for DBA 3, Part II - by Paul Stein
• The Battle of Montgisard, 1177AD - by Nicholas Harbud
• Slingshot Figure Reviews:
• Baueda 40x40mm Isolated Tower
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews:
• Two Handed Sword: History, Design and Use - reviewed by Anthony Clipsom
• Antipater's Dynasty: Alexander the Great's Regent and his Successors - reviewed by Duncan Head
• Roman Legionaries: Soldiers of Empire - reviewed by Aaron Bell
• With Alexander in India & Central Asia: Moving East & Back to West - reviewed by Andreas Johansson

As well as all the usual features.

Containing articles on

• Guardroom
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As well as all the usual features.

Containing articles on

• Editorial
• Guardroom
• The Campaigns of Kwanggaeto the Great - by Nicholas Spratt
• Paraitakene in California Times Three - by William Butler
• Setting up a Painting Station - by Mark Grindlay
• Gerald the Great on Battleaxe Hill: Part 1 - by Mick Hession
• Rue the Day - by Anthony Clipsom
• Revenge of the Scythians - by Chris Hahn

As well as all the usual features.

Containing articles on

• Guardroom
• Gerald the Great on Battleaxe Hill: Part 2 - by Mick Hession
• Wargaming Knockdoe - by Mick Hession
• When the Going Gets Tough - by David Kay
• Paraitakene with Big Battle DBA - by Paul Murgatroyd
• The Chronicles of the Teutonic Knights - by Paul Stein
• Carthage vs Rome with Hail Caesar - by Steven Neate
• The Continuing Story of DBM - by John Graham-Leigh
• The Play’s the Thing - by Gordon Lawrence
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: The Last Years of the Teutonic Knights - by Andreas Johansson
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: The Great Illyrian Revolt - by Duncan Head
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Roman Legionaries: Soldiers of Empire - by Aaron Bell
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Ancient Dynasties: The Families that Ruled the Classical  World, circa 1000 BC to AD 750 - by Andreas Johansson

As well as all the usual features.

Containing articles on

• Committee Report - by Roy Boss
• A Wargaming Rant - by Simon Watson
• From the Ground Up - by Chris Hahn
• The Field of Cynoscephalae: Battlefield Archaeology using Google Maps - by Richard Taylor
• Chances Are - by Nick Harbud
• Early Mediaeval Picts - by Hugh Coleman
• Wargaming My Way - by Gordon Lawrence
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece: A Guide to their History, Topography and Archaeology - by Richard Taylor
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Armies of Celtic Europe, 700 BC-AD 106: History, Organization & Equipment - by Duncan Head
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: The Pope’s Army. The Papacy in Diplomacy and War - by Jim Webster
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: The reign of Emperor Gallienus. The Apogee of Roman Cavalry - by Jim Webster
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: Lost Legion Rediscovered. The mystery of the Theban Legion - by Jim Webster
• Slingshot Book & Game Reviews: The Battle of Edgcote 1469 - by John Curry

As well as all the usual features.

Editorial - In Memoriam Patrick Waterson

Guardroom

Bosworth Field 1485 Battle Pack - by Richard Lockwood

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.

The French at Bosworth - by Duncan Head

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.

Tactica II - A Personal Perspective - by Simon Watson

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.

Providing Your Warhorses - by Jim Webster

Heavy cavalry has always been expensive, but Jim Webster shows just how expensive it was for the Frankish kingdom to raise good quality warhorses.

Numbers in Some Roman Battles - by Julian Lorriman

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.

Trouble in Paradise - by David Beatty

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.

In One Side, Out the Other - by Chris Hahn

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.

Guardroom
The debate continues over the credibility (and availability) of primary sources.

Zhizhi's Last Stand by Nicholas Spratt
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 hapax legomenon in the Hanshu’s description has been interpreted as suggesting that China faced Roman Legionaries on the battlefield that day.

An Alternative Rant by David Kay
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.

Have at Thee, Varlet! by Anthony Clipsom
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.

The Red Dragon and the White Boar by Chris Hahn
In the absence of a Battle Day with subsequent battle reports, here are several home games of Bosworth using Armati, l’Art de la Guerre and To The Strongest! Chris Hahn makes it clear that if Richard doesn’t throw away the battle with his charge, Henry is in real trouble.

Tactica II: A Ruleset Analysis by Paul Innes
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.

Slingshot Book & Game Reviews
Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece: A Guide to their History, Topography and Archaeology
Cities of the Classical World
The Wars of Alexander’s Successors 323-281 BC. Volume II: Battles & Tacticsblurbs

Guardroom

News and views

Honour and Loss

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.

Sumerian Military Camel Riders

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.

What a Wheelie

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!

In the Lab with Legions 

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.

Making 15mm Siena Military Companies

Siennese Contrade make for an interesting army list, comprising militia spearmen, pavesari, crossbowmen, javelinmen, archers and knights—and not forgetting the carroccio. Richard Lockwood describes how he created an army that is as pretty as it is authentic.

Refighting Cannae

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.

Aquae Sextiae with DBA

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.

Slingshot Book & Game Reviews

• The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece
• Hoplites: the classical Greek Battle Experience
• Greek Warfare: Myths and Realities
• A Storm of Spears: Understanding the Greek Hoplite at War
• Reinstating the Hoplite: Arms, Armour and Phalanx Fighting in Archaic and Classical Greece
• Men of Bronze: Hoplite Warfare in Ancient Greece
• Hoplites at War: a Comprehensive Analysis of Heavy Infantry Combat in the Greek World, 750-100 BCE
• Armies of the Hellenistic States 323BC – AD30, History, Organisation and Equipment.
• The Ancient War Game
• Carthage’s Other Wars: Carthaginian warfare outside the ‘Punic Wars’ with Rome
• The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin

Containing articles on

• An Amazing 50 Years
• Battle Day Reports – Hydaspes 326 BC
  • with Armati
  • with DBMM
  • with Field of Glory
  • with Sword & Spear
  • with Scutarii
  • with Command & Colors Ancients
  • with Lost Battles
• Another Battle of Thermopylae
• Slingshot Book & Figure Reviews
• A Digital Slingshot

Containing articles on:

• The Empire is Dead, Long Live the Army (2), by Justin Swanton
• Visiting Warwick Castle, by Peter Barham
• Agricola Against the Ordovices (2): Agricola’s Campaign, by John Hastings
• Glasgow Armati, by Mark Grindley, John Bradley & Vincent Auger
• Mesopotamian Warfare Notelet (8): Warriors of Ebla, by Alastair McBeath
• ‘Alf a League Onwards, by David Kay
• Authors’ Forum, by Aaron Bell
• Three Against One: Modelling Metaurus, by Chris Hahn
• Impetus in Buenos Aires, by Jorge Chehede
• Living Memory, by John Hastings
• Stories from the Jungle, by Mark Fry

Containing articles on:

• The Thessalian Cavalry, by Robert Heiligers
• Killing Elephants and Frightening Horse, by Phil Barker
• Mesopotamian Warfare Notelet (7): Warriors of Kish, by Alastair McBeath
• Agricola Against the Ordovices (1): Setting Up the Campaign, by John Hastings
• Destrier Rides Again!, by Matthew Bennett
• Expedition to Srivijaya, by Nicholas Spratt
• Visiting Berkeley Castle, by Peter Barham
• Tarrington Tourney DBA 2014, by Martin Smith
• Of Horse Archers and Their Bases, by David Kay
• The Empire is Dead, Long Live the Army (1), by Justin Swanton

46 pages, including articles on:

• Hydaspes Battle Pack, by Richard Lockwood
• The Society of Ancients Championship, by John Graham-Leigh & Martin Smith
• Command & Colors on the Tabletop (3), by Steven Neate
• Mesopotamian Warfare Notelet (6): Three Mysteries of the East, by Alastair McBeath
• New Works on Early Byzantine History, by Jim Sye
• Virtual Triremes, by Richard Taylor
• Visiting Skipton & Corfe Castles, by Peter Barham
• Behind the Curve – Archery in Wargames, by Nick Harbud
• The Battle of Dunnichen 685 using Dux Bellorum, by Steven Neate
• Light Infantry in the Ranks of Cavalry, by John Hogan
• Follow That Leader, by David Kay
• The China Game, by Mike Haran

46 pages, containing articles on:

• A Siege in the Desert, by Nicholas Spratt
• All at Sea – A Viking Ship from a Toy, by Anthony Clipsom
• America’s Greek Connection, by Mike Haran
• Visiting Old Sarum, by Peter Barham
• War, Games and Wargames (3), by Richard Taylor
• The Crosby Garrett Helmet, by Stephen Ede-Borrett
• Book Reviews, by Mick Hession, Karl Heinz Ranitzsch, Duncan Head & Luke Ueda-Sarson
• Mesopotamian Notelets (5), by Alastair McBeath
• Magnesia: Modified and Muddied, by Chris Hahn
• The Stuttgart Psalter, by Roy Boss
• 1166 And All That (3) - King Henry, by Mick Hession
• Hands in the Sea – An Interview with the Designer, by Aaron Bell

46 pages, containing articles on:

• Society Battle Day 2015 - The Hydaspes 326 BC
• A Short History of the Iberian Peninsula – the Start of the Reconquista
• Command and Colours Using Figures on the Tabletop
• Mesopotamian Notelets – Gudea’s Plan
• The Age of Augustus
• 1166 And All That - King Dermot
• Armati 101 – Hints and Tips
• Society UK DBA League 2012-2013
• Slingshot Game Review - Pax Romana
• Slingshot Book Review – Conquer and Govern
• Negative PIPs

46 pages, containing articles on:

• The Age of Augustus (Part 1), by Paul Burton
• Mesopotamian Notelets (2), by Alastair McBeath
• Tinkering with Byzantines, by Perry Gray
• Battle of Towton, by John Graham-Leigh
• The Proto-Manipular Legion, by Rodger Williams & Patrick Waterson
• Reconstructing the English Formation at Crécy, by Anthony Clipsom
• What Happened to the Velites? by John Hogan
• The Trojan War Moved! by Patrick Waterson
• Rome’s (Not Quite) Last Battle, by Justin Swanton & Patrick Waterson

46 pages, containing articles on:

• Byzantine Armies – A Quick Summary by Perry Gray
• The New Cavalry Formations of the Sylloge Tacticorum, AD 904 by Ilkka Syvanne
• Depiction of Horse Archers by Perry Gray
• The Battle of Melitene AD 576 by Ilkka Syvanne
• Battle Reports and Wargaming Analysis By Perry Gray
• Anglo-Norman Army: 1066-1181 by David Blanchard
• The Alexander Sarcophagus by Roy Boss & Patrick Waterson

46 pages, containing articles on:

• Ruspina 46BC, Reconstructing a battle the Lost Battles way, by Gavin Pearson
• A Short History of the Iberian Peninsular from 400 to 1100AD (Part 6), by Robert Heiligers
• From Bastard to the Conqueror, by Gordon Lawrence
• The Campaign and Battle of the Sambre in 57BC, by Ilkka Syvanne
• Army Selection and Gaming Style, by Perry Gray
• Chinese Dynastic Colours, by Duncan Head
• The Battle of Montaperti 1260 AD - Battle Pack, by Richard Lockwood

52 pages, containing articles on:

• Rome's Last War, by Justin Swanton
• The Roman Army in the 5th Century AD, by Simon MacDowall
• Arming the Late Roman Soldier, by Perry Gray
• An Introduction to Battle Day 2014, by Richard Lockwood

There are also ten Battle Day Reports on Chalons with:

• - Piquet Archon 2, by Adam Hayes
• - DBA/DBMM, by Martyn Simpson
• - Warmaster Ancients, by Jeremy Giles
• - Comitatus, by Simon MacDowall
• - De Bellis Antiquitatus, by Sue Laflin-Barker & Paul Glover
• - DBMM, by Toby Partridge
• - Epic Armati, by Mark Fry
• - King of Kings, by Keir Maxwell
• - Impetus, by Mike Brian

52 pages, containing articles on:

• Editorial: Slings and Arrows, by Perry Gray.
• A Short History of the Iberian Peninsular from 400 to 1100AD, by Robert Heiligers.
• St Albans, 17th February 1461, by John Graham Leigh.
• Transjordanian Tales, Part 5, by Alistair McBeath.
• The Roman Republic Against the Italian Gauls, by Julian Lorriman.
• Gauls and Romans Scenario, by Mark Wilson.
• The Calamitous Fourteenth Century, by John Graham Leigh.
• Tablets of Stone, by Nick Harbud.
• Book and Figure Reviews, by Duncan Head and David Edwards.