21st April, London, ExCel
Sun, Apr 29 2012 05:38
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Salute 2012
Salute seems finally to have grown into its relatively new home at ExCel in London's redeveloped Royal Docks. Yes, the venue is huge, so the acoustics are not great, and flash photography can be tricky ... But it pays to walk every aisle, and stop periodically to take another look around (there is often something you have missed - sometimes the very small games are excellent and the very big ones just very big) ...
The Society's contribution was a participation game of the First Battle of Chaeronea ...
(The Society of Ancients at Salute 2012: the 'lost battle' of Chaeronea, 338BC)
... the Macedonian defeat of the Greek Coalition, reconstructed by Philip Sabin's team of Eric Cruttenden and Alan Waller, and run by Phil using his Lost Battles system. It was, of course, Alexander's first appearance on the world stage, leading the noble cavalry in his father's army.
(Chaeronea: detail: the Macedonian phalanx)
(Chaeronea: detail: Alexander leads the charging Companions)
The battle ran through quite smoothly, and as is usual with Lost Battles, was able to be played several times during the day. Alexander rode to glory at the head of the Companion cavalry but the Theban Sacred Band proved very tough opponents and drove their way across the table. And by no means a one-sided encounter if you take account of the handicap the Macedonians enjoy as the more powerful of the armies.
This year was a good year for ancients enthusiasts with a wide range of games across both the more popular scales. I can well remember some years back at Olympia when the SoA game was the only pukka ancients game in the building. Not so today.
How about this as a little trip round ...
(Hail Caesar - Uxbridge Gamers, Border Incursion)
(Border Incursion: detail)
(Field of Glory: Agincourt)
(Deus Vult - Fireforge Games)
(W.A.R. Warlord: Battle for Homs 1620BC)
(Lance & Longbow Society: Grandson)
Another splendid Lance & Longbow Society game (remember Verneuil?) - with an emphasis on the figures rather than the simple layout.
There were also a number of Japanese games at Salute this year ...
I really liked the townscape in the Oshiro offering
(Medieval Japan: Oshiro's Battle of Komagane)
(SEEMS - Biblical HOTT - Kingdoms in the Dust)
(War & Conquest: Battle of Amphipolis)
A great collection of games.
(Salute 2012: a great Variety of Wargames)
Some very clever stuff going on ... and again, a great variety of games and ways to wargame on offer out there. I very much liked 7TV's take on classic adventure TV (the Avengers, Dr Who, that sort of thing ..).. presented with enthusiasm and confidence ...
Aside from the very big Corunna Napoleonics display (much too much to take in, and clearly there to be admired and photographed - an installation more than an exhibit, to borrow terms from the art world), there were some excellent and accessible games in other periods ...
(Black Powder ECW: Pike & Shotte)
The Pike & Shotte game going with the Warlord Games rules had a very clever flashing lights effect in the volleys markers which worked quite well - and they tell me the game has got better too.
(Evesham Wargames Club: Battle of Antietam)
... this time in a very pleasing arrangement using Kallistra's terrain tiling system and (12mm) figures range.
(Some wonderful 20th Century games at Salute 2012: click for more)
... and there were some other gems.
(HMS Aeronautica REX)
And who could not like the wonderful miniature architecture of imaginary Venetian horror/adventure ... I've no idea whether Carnevale is a good game, but it must have been fun building the sets ...
(fantasy Venice: Carnevale streetscape)
(fearsome Viking warriors share a biscuit at the end of a long tiring day)
An excellent day out, and a pleasure to meet and greet and chat to people.
(twilight descends over the Royal Victoria Dock)
We will have a participation version of the new game 'Call it Qids' and another chance to try DBA V3 with my classic flats collection.
Comments (1)
14th - 15th April, Witney
Thu, Apr 19 2012 04:45
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Society of Ancients Doubles Masters 2012
Again a one-off event, this years Doubles Masters went to the Oxfordshire market town of Witney ... very smart, in these days where the local MP is Prime Minister of the country (it was a little less polished in the early 60's when I was a village boy just down the road).
As last year, the masters was contested in Field of Glory and DBMM, and some spare space was allocated to an associated FoG-R event. The DBMM was 500 points, themed 500BC to 476AD. The FoG was 900 points themed 450BC to 200BC.
(our Parthian/Median 900 point FoG army)
Chris and I had struggled to find a suitable (easy to use and reasonably authentic) army within the highly restrictive period theme - in the end we realised that we could put out a reasonably attractive Parthian army which complied with the time thread.
(DBMM)
(Field of Glory)
We had a very pleasant weekend - although it started fairly slowly with a bye in the first round (despite the organisers' best efforts to get an evened-up entry) . Our second game was against a Warring States Han Chinese army, and on Sunday morning we faced eventual winners Nik and Dave who also had Parthians.
(Parthian heavy metal ... in round 3 we came up against this lot, ably played by Nik and Dave ...)
It isn't unusual for we four to meet up on a Sunday morning - indeed we faced Nik with the same army but a different partner at Burton with out Libyans (we won that one) - but over the years they have had the edge on us ... they often go on to do well in the final placing and we generally achieve an undemonstrative mid-table.
This event was not unusual and after what felt like a fairly even game in which we one or two weaknesses the attrition points escalated in the last couple of turns (our army broke on the last phase of the last turn).
(several teams conspired to ensure this wasn't a 'pikefest')
The final game was no more than a skirmish against a Seleucid which put all its eggs into a flank march that took all game to turn up, meanwhile packed itself in behind a wall of bronze which we could not dent.
The presence of an IC meant our shooting never built into decisive collapses, and our reserve prefered to wait for the flankers rather than impale itself on a wall of undisrupted pikes.
We took no casualties and in so far as there was a result it was decided by a unit of stragglers lost on the march.
(some games were dominated by the infantry however)
David Fairhurst presented the prizes. We had a small membership stand at the event and took some renewals - and, no Committee members being present, I was pleased thanked the organisers on behalf of the Society (as I would have done in former times).
Lawrence Greaves and Oren Taylor won the DBMM, and Dave Handley and Nik Sharp the FoG. With the higher overall score, Greaves and Taylor were made the new
Society of Ancients Doubles Champions.
Society of Ancients Doubles Champions.
(DBMM winners Greaves and Taylor - right - alongside FoG winners Sharp and Handley - with the higher overall score, Greaves and Taylor were awarded the Alexander trophy)
There is talk of changes to the formula here - possibly pairing armies in the original Doubles way ... variations to the points or table arrangement etc.
Hopefully, the event will become 'open' again (or at least inclusive, like say Burton or Usk), rather than the recent trend towards highly restrictive periods which may not be of interest to members and enthusiasts.
Still, a lovely venue in a pretty town, good company plus two good games and a stalemate. And the Alexander trophy goes to new winners.
Many thanks to the BHGS and Oxford club for organising and hosting the 2012 Doubles Masters. I'm looking forward to next year - and if you have any great ideas for enhancing and improving the event, please feel free to air them (the forum is open) ...
Full scores and finishing positions can be found on the BHGS website in due course.
The Society of Ancients will be at Salute on saturday 21st April.
31st March, Bletchley
Sat, Apr 7 2012 06:50
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2012 Society of Ancients BattleDay - Plataea 479 BC
This year's BattleDay featured the epic clash between the Persian army of occupation under Mardonius and the Greek alliance forces laed by the Spartan Pausanias.
The day started with a comprehensive introductory guide to the battle and the sources by Philip Sabin and a quick note by myself on the nature of the sacrifices which immediately preceeded the battle.
These will be available to Slingshot readers in due course together with views on the how the battle was fought under the variety of rules enthusiasts contributed to the event.
Here's a quick tour ...
(Lost Battles)
(Warmaster Ancients)
(Command & Colours)
(modified AMW)
(Armati II)
(War & Conquest)
(Warlord II)
(DBMM)
(Peltast & Pila)
(DBA)
(Command & Colours)
Lunchtime then accomodated a forum with Duncan Head on matters arising, weapons and equipment etc. ... and more on sources and interpretation.
A second session of wargaming was followed by organiser Richard Lockwood's customary awards and debriefs ...
(President Boss and host Richard Lockwood distribute largesse)
Best game: Command & Colours;
Best Terrain: Warmaster;
Most Hoplites: DBMM;
Plus awards for the notable deeds of commanders and players.
('Most Hoplites' featuring in the DBMM game)
(Award winning Warmaster terrain)
(an unexpected contingent: Eric's Hoplites for the Lost Battles game were half the height he expected them to be!)
(30mm flats: the commanders from my AMW interpretation)
(another interpretation: Rob's diviner from the War & Conquest game)
More on all these games and talks in Slingshot (non-members will find a welcome on the Society of Ancients website) ... and chat on the forums (guests welcome) ...
Keep an eye out for an announcement of next year's battle.
A wonderful and illuminating day out. What wargames events should be.
Well done, Richard.
This year's BattleDay featured the epic clash between the Persian army of occupation under Mardonius and the Greek alliance forces laed by the Spartan Pausanias.
The day started with a comprehensive introductory guide to the battle and the sources by Philip Sabin and a quick note by myself on the nature of the sacrifices which immediately preceeded the battle.
These will be available to Slingshot readers in due course together with views on the how the battle was fought under the variety of rules enthusiasts contributed to the event.
Here's a quick tour ...
(Lost Battles)
(Warmaster Ancients)
(Command & Colours)
(modified AMW)
(Armati II)
(War & Conquest)
(Warlord II)
(DBMM)
(Peltast & Pila)
(DBA)
(Command & Colours)Lunchtime then accomodated a forum with Duncan Head on matters arising, weapons and equipment etc. ... and more on sources and interpretation.
A second session of wargaming was followed by organiser Richard Lockwood's customary awards and debriefs ...
(President Boss and host Richard Lockwood distribute largesse)Best game: Command & Colours;
Best Terrain: Warmaster;
Most Hoplites: DBMM;
Plus awards for the notable deeds of commanders and players.
('Most Hoplites' featuring in the DBMM game)
(Award winning Warmaster terrain)
(an unexpected contingent: Eric's Hoplites for the Lost Battles game were half the height he expected them to be!)
(30mm flats: the commanders from my AMW interpretation)
(another interpretation: Rob's diviner from the War & Conquest game)More on all these games and talks in Slingshot (non-members will find a welcome on the Society of Ancients website) ... and chat on the forums (guests welcome) ...
Keep an eye out for an announcement of next year's battle.
A wonderful and illuminating day out. What wargames events should be.
Well done, Richard.
Comments (2)
24th - 25th March, Ascot
Thu, Apr 5 2012 02:56
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The BHGS Challenge
The BHGS Challenge is an event not often found on my blog - it usually clashes with Salute, and anyway, it is one of those competitions I'd decided to give a miss.
It is singles ... it doesn't offer lighter games like Armati, Impetus or DBA ... it has the nightmare 3 back-to-back games on the Saturday ... it is a touch rough and ready ... and the catering is not what it could be.
Still, never say never - and some of the locals were all for going.
As a spur to tidying up the last of the groundwork (all the bases now have their flowers and shrubs ...) I rejigged the good looking if underpowered Italian Condotta.
(Hawkwood's Florentines arrayed before the earlier English)
And splendid they looked.
And I got 5 very pleasant games - and despite being an open competition, the c.1400 AD Florentines drew a pretty reasonable series of opponents - 3 virtually contemporary, the other 2 western medieval at least.
(packed in, shoulder-to-shoulder, to fend off the wily Ottomans)
Florence is a city of fashion and culture - and the name means city of flowers.
After the Peace of Bretigny in 1360, the English Captain, Sir John Hawkwood (Giovanni L'Acuto) plied his trade in Italy, ending his career as Captain General of the city of Florence. The football team is known as the vilolets.
Hawkwood is celebrated in mural tomb by Paolo Uccello in Florence Cathederal, an icon of the Italian Renaissance.
(a collage of pictures from the Italians' weekend at the BHGS Challenge)
And, aside from the last game (in which I got 'Sunday afternoon-ish' against a small but tough Free Company), the army performed well enough - pushing, even, towards ultimate victory.
Plantagenet English, Ottoman Turk, Later Sicilian, Santa Hermandad Nuevo Castilian and Free Company. Not a bad mix. A couple of 'tigers', a couple of my favourites and an oddball.
(Chinese, Britons, Middle Plantagenets and Ghaznevids against more Chinese)
The biggest event was, as ever, the 15mm Field of Glory (Ancient and Medieval) ... FoG-AM.* I was very impressed by the variety of armies ... Ancient British and Waring States Chinese in there - mixed up with the Dominates, Turks and Hungarians.
There was also Flames of War, DBMM, FoG-R and FoG-AM 25mm.
In the end, I still don't really like the formula. FoG 800 point games take too long - as a rarity, even all 5 (yes, all 5) of my games were drawn.
Appropriate, you might think, for Hawkwood's mercenaries at work you might think ... but I like to finish my games off within the time limit, and then chat and put away over a leisurely drink.
(DBMM)
Doubles and bigger armies seems to cure a lot of the problem - and I'm happy enough with two long games per day. Or three shorter ones (like Armati, say) ...
(FoG-AM 25mm)
The top places were ...
FOG: AM 15mm ... 1. Graham Evans 94 points; 2. Ian Stewart 81 points; 3. Dave Handley 76 points;
FOG: AM 25mm ... 1. Richard Collins 95 points; 2. Richard Jeffrey-Cook 83 points; 3. Simon Elliot 79 points;
DBMM ... 1. Greg Mann 91 points; 2. Mike Bennett 89 points; 3. Jer Morgan 84 points;
Top Junior ... Byron Emsen 71 points
(RJ-C presents Society awards. Everyone got a complimentary packet from Fluttering Flags too: nice one, Graham)
Honorary Treasurer Richard Jeffrey-Cook presented prizes on behalf of the Society of Ancients.
FOG: AM SoA Annual Champion 2011 ... Dave Handley;
DBMM SoA Annual Champion 2011 ... Tim Child
FOG Rennaissance SoA Annual Champion 2011 ... Alisdair Harley
See the BHGS website (and click the e.g. 'Challenge' ... and 'past results' navigations) for full details.
Back next year? Well, stranger things have happened. But these studious and indecisive tournament singles games are not really what I am looking for in a weekend of wargaming.
* 32 FoG-AM 15mm (+ 12 in 25mm); 28 Flames of War; 25 DBMM; 16 FoG-R. Everything 15mm except the FoG 25s of course.
The BHGS Challenge is an event not often found on my blog - it usually clashes with Salute, and anyway, it is one of those competitions I'd decided to give a miss.It is singles ... it doesn't offer lighter games like Armati, Impetus or DBA ... it has the nightmare 3 back-to-back games on the Saturday ... it is a touch rough and ready ... and the catering is not what it could be.
Still, never say never - and some of the locals were all for going.
As a spur to tidying up the last of the groundwork (all the bases now have their flowers and shrubs ...) I rejigged the good looking if underpowered Italian Condotta.
(Hawkwood's Florentines arrayed before the earlier English)And splendid they looked.
And I got 5 very pleasant games - and despite being an open competition, the c.1400 AD Florentines drew a pretty reasonable series of opponents - 3 virtually contemporary, the other 2 western medieval at least.
(packed in, shoulder-to-shoulder, to fend off the wily Ottomans)Florence is a city of fashion and culture - and the name means city of flowers.
After the Peace of Bretigny in 1360, the English Captain, Sir John Hawkwood (Giovanni L'Acuto) plied his trade in Italy, ending his career as Captain General of the city of Florence. The football team is known as the vilolets.
Hawkwood is celebrated in mural tomb by Paolo Uccello in Florence Cathederal, an icon of the Italian Renaissance.
(a collage of pictures from the Italians' weekend at the BHGS Challenge)And, aside from the last game (in which I got 'Sunday afternoon-ish' against a small but tough Free Company), the army performed well enough - pushing, even, towards ultimate victory.
Plantagenet English, Ottoman Turk, Later Sicilian, Santa Hermandad Nuevo Castilian and Free Company. Not a bad mix. A couple of 'tigers', a couple of my favourites and an oddball.
(Chinese, Britons, Middle Plantagenets and Ghaznevids against more Chinese)The biggest event was, as ever, the 15mm Field of Glory (Ancient and Medieval) ... FoG-AM.* I was very impressed by the variety of armies ... Ancient British and Waring States Chinese in there - mixed up with the Dominates, Turks and Hungarians.
There was also Flames of War, DBMM, FoG-R and FoG-AM 25mm.In the end, I still don't really like the formula. FoG 800 point games take too long - as a rarity, even all 5 (yes, all 5) of my games were drawn.
Appropriate, you might think, for Hawkwood's mercenaries at work you might think ... but I like to finish my games off within the time limit, and then chat and put away over a leisurely drink.
(DBMM)Doubles and bigger armies seems to cure a lot of the problem - and I'm happy enough with two long games per day. Or three shorter ones (like Armati, say) ...
(FoG-AM 25mm)The top places were ...
FOG: AM 15mm ... 1. Graham Evans 94 points; 2. Ian Stewart 81 points; 3. Dave Handley 76 points;
FOG: AM 25mm ... 1. Richard Collins 95 points; 2. Richard Jeffrey-Cook 83 points; 3. Simon Elliot 79 points;
DBMM ... 1. Greg Mann 91 points; 2. Mike Bennett 89 points; 3. Jer Morgan 84 points;
Top Junior ... Byron Emsen 71 points
(RJ-C presents Society awards. Everyone got a complimentary packet from Fluttering Flags too: nice one, Graham)Honorary Treasurer Richard Jeffrey-Cook presented prizes on behalf of the Society of Ancients.
FOG: AM SoA Annual Champion 2011 ... Dave Handley;
DBMM SoA Annual Champion 2011 ... Tim Child
FOG Rennaissance SoA Annual Champion 2011 ... Alisdair Harley
See the BHGS website (and click the e.g. 'Challenge' ... and 'past results' navigations) for full details.
Back next year? Well, stranger things have happened. But these studious and indecisive tournament singles games are not really what I am looking for in a weekend of wargaming.
* 32 FoG-AM 15mm (+ 12 in 25mm); 28 Flames of War; 25 DBMM; 16 FoG-R. Everything 15mm except the FoG 25s of course.
11th March, various locations in the UK
Thu, Mar 15 2012 04:11
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(Hawkwood's English mercenaries occupy an orchard in Manchester)A BUSY DAY IN THE SPRING
The Northern Doubles, WMMS and Skirmish in Sidcup all happen at the same time and there were good things going on all round. The Society's Shows North stand went to Wolverhampton ...
Will and Graham F volunteered to do the Alumwell event and took along Will's developing Armati II contribution for this month's Plataea BattleDay.
Many thanks to everyone who stopped by ... we recruited some new members and Will got to network about the game with other Plataea contributors.
(Plataea - in Armati 15mm)It sounds like it was a great show. Thanks to Graham for sending me some pictures.
(more good ancients stuff from WMMS captured by Graham Fordham's camera)Meanwhile, I caught sight of an interesting ancients Participation Game in Bob Cordery's coverage of the Sidcup show ( Wargaming Miscellany )
(Let the Dominoes Decide on Heroscape terrain tiles: photo by Bob Cordery)The Old Guard had this Gladiators game using the Society of Ancients game Let the Dominoes Decide. It uses (and includes), of course, Graham Hockley's combat mechanism Anno Domino - the same mechanism used in last year's popular Domino Double Header (GitS and The Elephant in the Room).
Both publications are still available through the website (webstore: games ) - and are great after dinner games ... just add a few packs of dominoes!
Thanks Bob ... you can see more of Skirmish by visiting Bob's blog on the link above.
Meanwhile, I took Hawkwood's Florentine Italian Condotta troops to Manchester:
(Florentine Elmeti press forward: Field of Glory Ancient and Medieval)Thanks to everyone for two enjoyable games giving my Italians their annual run out. We got a bit tangled up by some tough and aggressive Anglo-Danes in the first game, but were back on warm Mediterranean ground tackling some Spaniards (Crown of Aragon) in the second.
Nice opponents and a draw that didn't take us too far out of period ...
(in 'open' competition, we were very fortunate to draw as appropriate opponents as these Medieval Spanish caballeros)Having muddled up the first game - it was a good game, but I messed up the list - we were all sorted out for the afternoon, and got in a good, see-saw, chivalric stand-up fight which eventually resolved itself in our favour.
(The Florentines in pursuit: photos by Phil steele)Some mistakes by our opponents and some luck by us were embraced in the best possible spirit and we came out about par after the 2 games. Within NDBML's 3 level handicapping, this was our class 3 army (1 being good!) ... so we were pleased with our day's work ...
Here's a quick line up of the FoG glitterati ... Mike and Colin enjoying the limelight for a change. There were also FoG-R and DBMM divisions, and full results can be found on the MAWS site.
All that was on Sunday - we are blessed with choices these days, that's for sure.
I hope you enjoyed your's as much as I enjoyed mine.
3rd-4th March, Bournemouth
Armati by the Sea 2012
(I have edited the title onto the deployment screen in my first game: this how Armati-by-the-Sea begins - in anticipation of what what will be revealed)
Many thanks to host Peter Barham and sponsors The Society of Ancients for another excellent Armati scenarios tournament. 5 great games; great company and everything provided; followed by an optional Monday excursion for those on longer trips (Fort Nelson, this year) ...
The organisers lend everything you need ... armies, dice, rulers, hit markers, the lot (a special approach developed in the early days of the Armati League with particular regard to those travelling by air, and so restricted on what they can transport) ...
The armies are mostly from Roy's huge collection (with a little help from scenario editor and event umpire Mark Fry): 46 armies to cover the 23 scenarios (and that's quite a pile on the army pool tables)!
Here are some of the toys ...
(all 15mm figures, of course - I fought against these warriors)
(lovely Assyrian army: maybe I'm biased - I won with this one!)
(French Crusaders being outflanked by Mamluk Egyptians)
(one of many favourites in the Armati-by-the-Sea draw)
All the games are drawn at random from a series of fixed scenarios (no choices allowed other than dismounting etc.). A coin with the scenario number on it is drawn from a bag by one of the players, then flipped to see who has which army.
The players then collect the armies and specified terrain, lay up the table and set the screen ... then (more often than not) scratch their heads trying to decide how to deploy an army they may never have commanded before ...
(the screen is lifted!)
It is a great leveller, of course, as the other player is no more likely to be practiced with his army!
It also allows the scenario devisers to throw in balanced games between less fancied armies (as they control both sides): I have not seen either Transalpine Celts or Etruscans taken to a tournament, for esample - but, against each other, they made for a great game ...
(Pete plays Craig)
It's a formula which attracts a couple of dozen players - a mix of familiar faces and newcomers, locals and overseas visitors ...
(Bruce plays Matthew)
(President Roy Boss presents the prizes on behalf of the Society of ancients)
Vincent Auger won, followed by Malcolm King and Craig Tannock (with me a distanct fourth ...) ... they all got book tokens along with their trophies - Mick Owen killed the most generals, and Richard Shilvock got best newcomer ... and an army pack for his efforts ...
(tournament winner, Vincent Auger (France) relaxes after the event with a game of DBA!)
Those of us who stayed over enjoyed a relaxing evening and an excursion on the Monday to one the Palmerston forts ringing Portsmouth - Fort Nelson - restored and run by the Royal Armouries ..
(a postcard from Fort Nelson)
A brilliant event, well-conceived and well-organised. My thanks to all involved. If you have even a passing interest in Armati, you really ought to do this one!
There is an extensive post on Fort Nelson and a selection of pictures from the gunnery collection on my P.B.Eye-Candy blog ( Fort Nelson ) ...
(I have edited the title onto the deployment screen in my first game: this how Armati-by-the-Sea begins - in anticipation of what what will be revealed)Many thanks to host Peter Barham and sponsors The Society of Ancients for another excellent Armati scenarios tournament. 5 great games; great company and everything provided; followed by an optional Monday excursion for those on longer trips (Fort Nelson, this year) ...
The organisers lend everything you need ... armies, dice, rulers, hit markers, the lot (a special approach developed in the early days of the Armati League with particular regard to those travelling by air, and so restricted on what they can transport) ...
The armies are mostly from Roy's huge collection (with a little help from scenario editor and event umpire Mark Fry): 46 armies to cover the 23 scenarios (and that's quite a pile on the army pool tables)!
Here are some of the toys ...
(all 15mm figures, of course - I fought against these warriors)
(lovely Assyrian army: maybe I'm biased - I won with this one!)
(French Crusaders being outflanked by Mamluk Egyptians)
(one of many favourites in the Armati-by-the-Sea draw)All the games are drawn at random from a series of fixed scenarios (no choices allowed other than dismounting etc.). A coin with the scenario number on it is drawn from a bag by one of the players, then flipped to see who has which army.
The players then collect the armies and specified terrain, lay up the table and set the screen ... then (more often than not) scratch their heads trying to decide how to deploy an army they may never have commanded before ...
(the screen is lifted!)It is a great leveller, of course, as the other player is no more likely to be practiced with his army!
It also allows the scenario devisers to throw in balanced games between less fancied armies (as they control both sides): I have not seen either Transalpine Celts or Etruscans taken to a tournament, for esample - but, against each other, they made for a great game ...
(Pete plays Craig)It's a formula which attracts a couple of dozen players - a mix of familiar faces and newcomers, locals and overseas visitors ...
(Bruce plays Matthew)
(President Roy Boss presents the prizes on behalf of the Society of ancients)Vincent Auger won, followed by Malcolm King and Craig Tannock (with me a distanct fourth ...) ... they all got book tokens along with their trophies - Mick Owen killed the most generals, and Richard Shilvock got best newcomer ... and an army pack for his efforts ...
(tournament winner, Vincent Auger (France) relaxes after the event with a game of DBA!)Those of us who stayed over enjoyed a relaxing evening and an excursion on the Monday to one the Palmerston forts ringing Portsmouth - Fort Nelson - restored and run by the Royal Armouries ..
(a postcard from Fort Nelson)A brilliant event, well-conceived and well-organised. My thanks to all involved. If you have even a passing interest in Armati, you really ought to do this one!
There is an extensive post on Fort Nelson and a selection of pictures from the gunnery collection on my P.B.Eye-Candy blog ( Fort Nelson ) ...
26th February, Tonbridge
Fri, Mar 9 2012 04:00
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CAVALIER 2012Parking seemed easier than usual at the Angel Centre/Sainsbury's car park this year (has the recession hit Tonbridge, now?) ... A better than usual start to what is always a good show.
This year we were parked back in the Jubilee Room rather than the main Hall. Have we upset someone? I surely hope not - the Society's mix of enthusiast meeting point and tabletop exploration of ancient history certainly seemed as constantly popular as ever.This year, the Sabin-Cruttenden-Waller team was reconstructing the Lost Battle of the River Bagradas, the catastrophic First Punic War defeat of the consul Marcus Atilius Regulus at the hands of Hadsrubal and the Spartan mercenary Xanthippus.
(click on it for an enlargement)I was invited to play Regulus in the second game, and did my best to thwart the in-built (on table) advantage the bullish Roman took on.
In Lost Battles 'points' the Carthaginians have an edge of around 15% (for what it's worth*). That's enough to mean the Romans are outnumbered, in particular on their flanks, where it is almost impossible to hold the ground.
(Big, big, trouble for the Roman flanks ...)The Roman strength, of course, is in the Legions - but the battle sets a real challenge in how to bring that strength to bear before everything collapses around it.
(Roman and Italian infantry - the heart of the Roman array)In the following photo, I have marked in the sweep of the Carthaginian flank under Hadsrubal - almost unopposed. You can see how much trouble the Romans are exposed to:
(this was the position after a couple of turns in both of the first two games)My instinct is that when, earlier in the campaign, the Carthaginians wanted to make peace on reasonable terms, Regulus should probably have given it more consideration.
Historically, of course, this is the Regulus who was captured by the Carthaginians after the battle, then subsequently released on parole to argue for peace and prisonner exchanges: he argued strongly at Rome for war, then kept his word and returned to Carthage. They put him to death.
You'd have to call him inflexible.
Also in the Jubilee Room Loughton Strike Force presented a good looking Alamo Participation Game with appropriate gusto all day. It seemed much appreciated by a good mix of veteran wargamers and yougsters. Excellent
(storming the Alamo)In the Bring & Buy hall, more good games on show, including the HOTT mini campaign in Bronze Age Mesopotamia ...
(Kingdoms in the Dust - SEEMS)I often don't get much in the camera on these great show pieces ... so here's a couple of 28mm eye candy shots ...
Otherwise, there were some good WWII games, amongst them Staines/Tim Moore's 'Climb mount Niitaka' Pearl Harbour raid (a follow up to the successful Taranto game) ...
While in the main hall 'Defending the Bridge at Obourg' featured a very popular (but appropriately fragile) flying machine ...
(there are more flying machines on my 20th Century blog P.B.Eye-Candy)
(a typically chatty moment chewing the fat over the crowded Lost Battles table)Meanwhile Bagradas got played throughout the day, very much to the satisfaction of those with a soft spot for the infanticide Carthaginians ... indeed Professor Sabin rattled through a final game taking the role of Regulus himself - he did better than me, but he didn't beat Xanthippus ...
A very enjoyable day out - as always at this well-organised middle sized show.
South Coast next ... Bournemouth and our annual Armati event ... I'm sure you can't wait.
*about half the advantage Alexander enjoys in his battles against the Persians, since you ask ...
18th - 19th Feb, Burton on Trent
Sat, Feb 25 2012 06:23
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Badcon 2012 - Burton DoublesThe second of the year's big doubles events comes round quickly after Usk at Burton on Trent, the home of the brewing industry. I always make sure I have a pint at lunchtime.
Traditionally Burton followed the four DBM books of Army Lists in rotation, and this would have been the first of the four books - Biblical (and my favourite next to Book 4 - Medieval*).
In this age of FoG, however, the hosts have decided to extend the period to incorporate the armies of the Hellenistic world and the Roman Republic (to maximise the appeal to players, one has to assume) ...
I'm not sure it's quite fair to put men in loincloths with bronze weapons up against Phalanxes and Legions, really - and judging by the popularity of Graeco Bactrian and Seleucid armies, many players agree (rules aren't always at the fairest when the spread over technological watersheds like the end of the Bronze Age ...)..
(Game 1: Early Libyan vs Myceneans)We chose to go with a traditional Biblical army ... Early Libyan (a great fun, massive army in the hey-day of DBM ... but out of favour since the V3.1 changes made Wb(F) armies almost hopeless).
It looked pretty useless under FoG (naked guys under a system that favours armour ...)... but we didn't want to use pikes or cataphracts ... so 'brave' it was ...
(massed skirmishing ... something the Libyans do well ...)...The main thing to say is that the event gave us four really enjoyable and nicely fought games.
Sometimes you will read chuntering about 'competition wargaming' - nearly all of it written by ill-informed pundits who think they know better but don't actually play (or who maybe lost a game thirty years ago and haven't gotten over it somehow): they should get off their high horses and play doubles at Usk or Burton. They might enjoy it.
(against Carthaginians: various Sea People and Libyan Warrior blocks and columns march up behind the skirmish line)We didn't have particularly high expectations of victory, so were more than pleased to finish about half way, and to have recorded a decisive win, sacked a camp and killed several generals amongst our tally of achievements over the weekend ...
(muscling up for combat ... )In the end our games were decided by the skirmish and the charge of our warriors. If we could destroy the enemy front lines with our bowmen, we might be in business. In FoG the warriors are unprotected (Medium) Impact Foot. Against armoured guys that gives us one real shot - the Impact Phase. If, as in our big win, we can disrupt the enemy with the charge, we can make headway in the game.
If, as in most of the games, the enemy can stand the impact of the charge, the warriors will likely be cut to pieces in the melee.
(Gaddafi's tribal ancestor, alive and well and leading the Libyan charioteers)The light chariots proved really useful and durable, but were mostly outnumbered, the skirmishing bowmen were always a threat ... but we had centred the army around the warriors and the (slightly better armoured) Sea Peoples allies.
In the end, there just never seemed to be enough of them to compensate for their weakness in the protracted melee phases of combat. Ignoring the last game against Parthians, which was really a long and exciting skirmish encounter**, we got three goes at infantry based armies (Carthagnian, Mycenean and Later Dynastic - i.e. mostly mercenary Hoplite - Egyptian) winning one handsomely, otherwise just running out of troops to support the front lines. The points system just doesn't give you the second wave you need to have a real chance of breaking armoured infantry.
(eager to seem sophisticated, the Libyans made their encampment amongst the Sphynxes of the detested Egyptians ...)..Full results are available (say, TMP ), but an enjoyable weekend, great cameraderie and plenty of fun with an army that can lose with its heads held high ... Thanks again Burton.
You might also like this (Simon's Lurkio Blog)
Time to think about Armati, now ...
*this is not a slight against the Classical period for interest ... the age of the Greeks and the Romans is at the heart of 'ancient' wargaming - just I have never felt the warfare of the period is done well by the popular tabletop rules (where pike blocks tend to swirl around like Napoleonic battalions - who themselves didn't really swirl around anyway - rather than hold long steady frontages as they did historically). So it's a game thing.
** our naked Warriors were never going to charge headlong at Cataphracts, but the metal men were always going to be too slow to bundle through and chase us down.
DBA Special - Egyptian Double Feature
Fri, Feb 17 2012 03:40
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Here's a quick look at the two armies featured in our DBA Participation Game 'Lords of the Nile' ...
They constitute the first delivery phase of my refurbishment of the flats collection I acquired at Fiasco last year. The presentation is to what I would call 'wargames standard' rather than flats collector standard: (a) I'm working with an existing collection, rather than painting from scratch; (b) a few experiments revealed that the aesthetics differ between figures destined to be viewed flat and individually and those destined to be viewed en-masse on multiple bases.
The basing is in the modern landscaped idiom (and to standard 25/28mm base sizes).
So these are the results so far (I am still learning). People seem to have liked the refreshingly different look of these traditional figures - and have enjoyed them as collector curios ...
The lead army is New Kingdom Egyptian, which I have cast on a punitive mission on the banks of the Nile. Their enemies I have styled 'Rebellious Tribes' as although the figures are mostly Nubian, I have chosen to organise the army using the Libyan list. The rationale is simple enough: using the Libyan list gives the rebels a chariot general! Otherwise there is little difference between the Libyan and Nubian lists.
NEW KINGDOM EGYPTIAN 1543-1200 BC
(The Egyptian host arrayed)
(Chariot general + 3xLCh)
(archers: 4x4Bw)
(infantry: 3x3/4Bd + 1 Ps)THE REBELLIOUS TRIBAL SUBJECTS (Early Libyan 1250 - 660 BC)
(The rebellious tribes arrayed)
(The Libyan Chariot General)
(Warriors: 3x3 Wb)
(archers: 3x3Bw)
(tribal skirmishers: 5xPs)The armies follow the existing DBA V2.2 lists, although the games have been played using the latest trial version of V3. Victories have been even between the armies.
Lords of the Nile featured at Vapnartak and Hammerhead. The next shows outings will feature Phil Sabin's Lost Battles (Cavalier) and Will and Graham's Plataea (WMMS). Lords of the Nile will probably be back for Campaign in May ...
Comments (2)
12th February, Newark (Kelham Hall)
Tue, Feb 14 2012 04:10
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HAMMERHEAD 2012
Hammerhead is the other wargames show at Newark's splendid Kelham Hall - COGS not Newark Irregulars (and by reputation, more fantasy and Sci-Fi than historical) ...
Perfect ground, then, for the Society of Ancients to go promoting the historical wargame, and to be showcasing ancients.
And, indeed, although the show is smaller - and less historically focused - Hammerhead gives us a sensible, main hall (the Dome) position ... so we got more visitors and more players than we got in our (300 mile round trip!) visit to Vapnartak last week.
We played twice as many games.
(Lords of the Nile 30mm DBA V3 game at Hammerhead)
We took along 'Lords of the Nile', our DBA V3 30mm flats Participation Game.
People certainly seem to be enjoying the unique look of the traditional flat figures, and I have to say that DBA V3 is providing us with a good, reasonably quick and balanced game.
Lords of the Nile will do most of the Shows North (north and midlands) shows until 'Call it Qids' - the show version of the Society's brand new Ian Russell Lowell/Graham Evans Kadesh game - debuts at Campaign in May.
There are far fewer big 28mm static 'games' at Hammerhead than at most shows we visit (it does more of the 'small and interesting' games ... and has more of an emphasis on them being played) ...
Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing and chatting to the paper terrain people (haven't had a good look at one of theirs in a while)
(French beachhead done in folded paper)
Actually, talking of beaches, there was quite a lot of sand at Hammerhead ... Not only did our game feature the lands of the Nile, a number of the fantasy games explored similar themes (in their own quirky ways). I liked the look of this offering from the WarGods people (who were also very helpful in my despairing quest to find a half-decent 28mm Ramesses for the Qids game).
(more Egyptian mayhem)
But the 'sand kings of Kelham' were undoubtedly the Peterborough club (with more fantasy nonsense) who brought and set up their own sand table.
It was quite shallow, and wasn't really coloured up (other than as sand ...) but nevertheless, it was interesting to see it (cleverly) done - and yes, even though it was comparatively shallow, it was a big table and there were heaps of sand ... as became apparent when they started scooping it all up at the end of the day.
(more sand ... much more sand)
My sand was just a dry brush effect using household emulsions ('Prairie Gold' and 'Parchment' colours over a 'Coffee' base - there, you see ... I knew you'd ask)
DBA V3
Even seasoned players have found the 'base widths' movement pleasing and well balanced, and with Egyptians and Libyans, the play runs very smoothly and plausibly.
We need to get Phil to clarify a wording issue on shooting, otherwise the rules and play are nice and clear.
As well as liking the movement, players have liked the changes to rear support (less of it), Psiloi movement (group moves in bad going etc.) and Psiloi outcomes (e.g. fleeing when doubled in shooting). with the Libyan army nearly half Psiloi, it is good to see they can do well against the heavier New Kingdom forces (we have done this set up over a dozen times and the armies a roughly level pegging) ...
We allow a little bit of diced-for terrain (as that is a feature of V3). I'm so pleased to see Phil replace the irrevocably broken terrain system in previous versions of the game. Time will tell what needs adjusting in the new mechanism, but the new set up is already better.
Not being destroyed by blocked recoils is a significant improvement, especially for us using the game as an introduction to ancients at shows (and for all comers) - explaining to players why they must lose elements just because they recoil at an inconvenient angle (despite there being precious little justification for it in military history) has always been thorny. The newer approach seems much truer to DBA's game scale.
I have to own up I couldn't resist a few snaps of this game (played between a father and son, neither of them familiar with DBx or with ancients) ...
Against Dad's linear tactic, and against our better advice, the lad chose to block his Egyptian army up into a huge single group wedge. It looked awesome, but we were all pretty sure it wouldn't work.
(New Kingdom Egyptian Panzerkeil)
As the enemy approached, the wedge split apart into three columns (it was like watching a well choreographed movie).
(Charge! You can get a bigger image by clicking on the picture)
Each of the fronts subsequently got overlapped, but survived, the columns spread out, and ... defeated the shallow lines of warriors. And we really thought it couldn't possibly work.
Then again, it was an example of a lad beating his Dad at DBA (and that I have seen on numerous occasions!).
DBA Version 3 seems a better game than Version 2.2 from a historical player perspective. I have been surprised by how well it has stood up to all comers (the real 'road' test) ...
Hammerhead is the other wargames show at Newark's splendid Kelham Hall - COGS not Newark Irregulars (and by reputation, more fantasy and Sci-Fi than historical) ...Perfect ground, then, for the Society of Ancients to go promoting the historical wargame, and to be showcasing ancients.
And, indeed, although the show is smaller - and less historically focused - Hammerhead gives us a sensible, main hall (the Dome) position ... so we got more visitors and more players than we got in our (300 mile round trip!) visit to Vapnartak last week.
We played twice as many games.
(Lords of the Nile 30mm DBA V3 game at Hammerhead)We took along 'Lords of the Nile', our DBA V3 30mm flats Participation Game.
People certainly seem to be enjoying the unique look of the traditional flat figures, and I have to say that DBA V3 is providing us with a good, reasonably quick and balanced game.
Lords of the Nile will do most of the Shows North (north and midlands) shows until 'Call it Qids' - the show version of the Society's brand new Ian Russell Lowell/Graham Evans Kadesh game - debuts at Campaign in May.
There are far fewer big 28mm static 'games' at Hammerhead than at most shows we visit (it does more of the 'small and interesting' games ... and has more of an emphasis on them being played) ...
Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing and chatting to the paper terrain people (haven't had a good look at one of theirs in a while)
(French beachhead done in folded paper)Actually, talking of beaches, there was quite a lot of sand at Hammerhead ... Not only did our game feature the lands of the Nile, a number of the fantasy games explored similar themes (in their own quirky ways). I liked the look of this offering from the WarGods people (who were also very helpful in my despairing quest to find a half-decent 28mm Ramesses for the Qids game).
(more Egyptian mayhem)But the 'sand kings of Kelham' were undoubtedly the Peterborough club (with more fantasy nonsense) who brought and set up their own sand table.
It was quite shallow, and wasn't really coloured up (other than as sand ...) but nevertheless, it was interesting to see it (cleverly) done - and yes, even though it was comparatively shallow, it was a big table and there were heaps of sand ... as became apparent when they started scooping it all up at the end of the day.
(more sand ... much more sand)My sand was just a dry brush effect using household emulsions ('Prairie Gold' and 'Parchment' colours over a 'Coffee' base - there, you see ... I knew you'd ask)
DBA V3
Even seasoned players have found the 'base widths' movement pleasing and well balanced, and with Egyptians and Libyans, the play runs very smoothly and plausibly.
We need to get Phil to clarify a wording issue on shooting, otherwise the rules and play are nice and clear.
As well as liking the movement, players have liked the changes to rear support (less of it), Psiloi movement (group moves in bad going etc.) and Psiloi outcomes (e.g. fleeing when doubled in shooting). with the Libyan army nearly half Psiloi, it is good to see they can do well against the heavier New Kingdom forces (we have done this set up over a dozen times and the armies a roughly level pegging) ...
We allow a little bit of diced-for terrain (as that is a feature of V3). I'm so pleased to see Phil replace the irrevocably broken terrain system in previous versions of the game. Time will tell what needs adjusting in the new mechanism, but the new set up is already better.
Not being destroyed by blocked recoils is a significant improvement, especially for us using the game as an introduction to ancients at shows (and for all comers) - explaining to players why they must lose elements just because they recoil at an inconvenient angle (despite there being precious little justification for it in military history) has always been thorny. The newer approach seems much truer to DBA's game scale.
I have to own up I couldn't resist a few snaps of this game (played between a father and son, neither of them familiar with DBx or with ancients) ...
Against Dad's linear tactic, and against our better advice, the lad chose to block his Egyptian army up into a huge single group wedge. It looked awesome, but we were all pretty sure it wouldn't work.
(New Kingdom Egyptian Panzerkeil)As the enemy approached, the wedge split apart into three columns (it was like watching a well choreographed movie).
(Charge! You can get a bigger image by clicking on the picture)Each of the fronts subsequently got overlapped, but survived, the columns spread out, and ... defeated the shallow lines of warriors. And we really thought it couldn't possibly work.
Then again, it was an example of a lad beating his Dad at DBA (and that I have seen on numerous occasions!).
DBA Version 3 seems a better game than Version 2.2 from a historical player perspective. I have been surprised by how well it has stood up to all comers (the real 'road' test) ...
Dale has summarised the main diferences V3 brings neatly on his DBA Blog ( here ... )
I have time off this weekend to play some FoG at Burton ... and the Society Shows Team will be out and about at Cavalier at the end of the month.
See you there ...