The Society of Ancients is a long-established 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, containing a wide range of items related to Ancient and Medieval military history and wargaming contributed by Society members. It organises various events, including an annual games day and members' conference, and runs a wargames championship. The Society also publishes a number of games and booklets which are available from our web store.
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Membership is open to all, and lasts for 6 issues of Slingshot.
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Editorial Wargaming News The Tragedy of the Girl by Ian Piper The Knight, The Horse and The Crane by Anthony Clipsom Charles Grant’s 50th Anniversary Refights No. 3: The Granicus by Phil Sabin Achlys: Approaching Combat Through The Fog of War by Kim Selkfield Running a Simple Wargames Campaign by Mark Wilson Tactica II Part 9 - Later Western Imperial Romans vs Visigoths by Simon Watson Battle for the Holy Land - A DBM battle report by John Graham-Leigh Selecting my Samnite Army by Gavin Person Mucking About With DBA 3.0 by Dave Hollin A Few Thoughts on Playing Little Wars TV’s ‘Age of Hannibal’ by Alex Aimette Review of Rollin Mats Game Mats by David Smith Review of Cromarty Forge Wargaming Figures (15mm) by Keith Murphy Enemies of Rome (Philip Matyszak) Book Review by David Kay Slingers and Sling Bullets (Lawrence Keppie) Book Review by Adrian Nayler# Deploying A Roman Army (Duncan B. Campbell) Book Review by Adrian Nayler Fortifying a Roman Camp (Duncan B. Campbell) Book Review by Adrian Nayler King Arthur and The Battle for Britannia (Tony Sullivan) Book Review by Dave Hollin |
Available in web store.
Sunday 30th March 2025
Maldon (991 AD)
Next year's annual Society of Ancients Battle Day will take place at Hermitage Village Hall in Berkshire (postcode RG18 9WL), on Sunday 30th March 2025. We will be re-fighting the famous clash between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons at The Battle of Maldon in 991 AD.
The day will run from 9am (with the hall available to set up from 8am) to 5pm and will consist of an opening presentation followed by a full day of wargames to refight the battle itself. A wide variety of rules sets, figure scales and even, perhaps, widely divergent interpretations of the historical sources will be on display. Games are laid on by attendees, and participants can either volunteer to run a game, or turn up and find a free space to play. The event is open to both members and non- members, and will cost £12 per person.
For further details, please email the Battleday Coordinator:
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Editorial Nominations for the Society Officers and Committee Slingshot Editor Announcement Wargaming News A Very Late Salute by Dave Hollin Vae Victis - or Armati in Rome by Dr John Radley Charles Grant 50th Anniversary Refights No.2 - Plataea by Phil Sabin The Maccabean Revolt: Seven Games in an Evening Using C&C by Steve Neate A Love Letter to Slingshot and Wargaming by Alistair Duncan How do you store yours? The Battle Nechtansmere/Dunnichen 685AD Part One By David Russell Palm Sunday Battle, 1461 AD - A Scenario for Blood Red Roses by Adrian Nayler Tactica II Part 8 - Caesarian Romans vs Britons by Simon Watson Cards as a Ruleset Mechanism by Dave Hollin Waxing Lyrical by Anthony Clipsom Onus! Terrain and Fortresses Expansion Pack Review by Dave Smith Hail Caesar Epic Battles ‘Hannibal’ Box-Set First Impressions Review by Dave Hollin Age of Penda Wargames Rules Review by Harry Hudrow A Mighty Fleet and the King’s Power Book Review by Mick Hessian Roman Conquests: Asia Minor, Syria, and Armenia Book Review by Gavin Pearson The Hillforts of Iron Age Wales Book Review by David Kay Persians - The Age of Great Kings Book Review by David Kay |
Available in web store.
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Editorial The Society of Ancients Convention October 2024 by Richard Lockwood Wargaming News The Pros and Cons of 3D Printing by Connor Truby Charles Grant 50th Anniversary Refights No.1 - Marathon by Phil Sabin Casting for a Pod by Dave Hollin We Set Sails and Hauled our Oars by Nick Harbud Refighting Ilipa 206BC with “Table Battles” by Bruno Servili Battle Day 2024: Ilipa 206BCE by Andrew Parrock A Round-up of Battleday 2024 by Jeremy Giles Tactica II Part 7 - Republican Romans vs Carthaginians by Simon Watson Middle Kingdom Egyptian Axemen by Steven Neate A Tale of Three Towers by David Kay Onus! Traianus Boardgame Review by David Smith Page Citizens of Rome - 28mm Figure Review (Wargames Atlantic) by Gavin Pearson Forgotten Castles of Wales and the Marches Book Review by David Kay Weapons, Warriors and Battles of Ancient Iberia Book Review by Duncan Head |
Available in web store.
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Ἀlala!£15Ἀlala! wargames rules by Simon MacDowall are designed to recreate the ethos of ancient Greek warfare when hoplite phalanxes clashed in battle and the gods intervened in the affairs of mortals. Their principal application is for battles between the Greek city states during the Peloponnesian and Boeotian wars of the 5th – 4th centuries BC, but can also be used for the Persian Wars or later Macedonian conquest of Greece. This game includes a rulebook, quick reference sheet and card deck (the God Pack).
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Blood Red Roses£15Blood Red Roses by Adrian Nayler is a simple though slightly unorthodox tabletop wargame primarily intended for two players to fight battles representative of the Wars of the Roses. It concentrates its attention at the level of the commanders and their wards, the major organisational divisions of armies at the time. Players concentrate on the manner of their troops’ approach towards their enemy by assigning their wards one of a number of different ‘battle stances’. These stances dictate the options for movement and combat currently available to each. Stances can and should be changed as the battle progresses and players must consider the interplay of their stances with those of their opponent when striving for advantage. Having one’s wards on the desired stances at the appropriate times will not always be possible! The game includes the rulebook, a quick reference sheet and two packs of cards. The latter items, as well as a sheet of stance markers for use during the game can be downloaded for free as PDF files from the Society website.
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Editorial Wargaming News The Young Alexander by Dave Watson 3D Printing and a lesson in humility by Dave Hollin Romans and Rivals (Ilipa!) by Nick Harbud Ilipa with a twist by Simon MacDowall Ilipa fought with Lost Battles and Legion II by Phil Sabin Solo Tactics by David Kay The ‘I Claudian’ Invasion by Ian Piper Northern DBA Tournament by Paul Murgatroyd Tactica Part 6 - Alexandrian Macedonians v Later Achaemenid Persians by Simon Watson Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt Terrain Pieces by Steven Neates Thoughts from the Editor’s Hobby Room - Hobby Knives WiP 10mm and 28mm figure reviews Building Blocks of Tabletop Gaming Design by Dave Hollin The Generalship of Alexander The Great by Connor Truby And finally |
Available in web store.
“When Hasdrubal, who was aroused by the shouts of the horsemen, sprang out of his tent and saw the uproar outside his earthwork and the excitement among his men, and in the distance the gleaming standards of the legions and the plain filled with the enemy, he forthwith sent out all his cavalry against the horsemen. As for himself, he marched out of the camp with the infantry column, and in drawing up his line made no change from the customary order…”
Livy, 28.14
The SOA 2024 Battle Day will recreate the Battle of Ilipa and will be held on Sunday 24th March. We have 12 games planned, using a total of 10 different rules sets, and five different figure scales. There are plenty of spots available for people to turn up on the day and join in; no booking is necessary.
Location. Hermitage Village Hall, Pinewood Crescent, Hermitage, Thatcham RG18 9WL. There is ample parking on site.
Refreshments. Tea and coffee will be provided, but there is no café or shop on site, so please come with your packed lunches in hand.
Cost. The cost of the Battle Day will be £10 per person for all attendees. Payment will be collected on the day (cash only) so please come prepared; there are no cash machines within walking distance!
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The Society of Ancients is a volunteer organisation, and relies on its members. It's very easy to join -– just click on the button below, or for more details, go to the join page, add a membership to your cart and check out using Paypal. You can alternatively download a postal membership form. Membership costs £36 for 6 issues of Slingshot (normally a year), plus access to the forum.
The Society of Ancients respects the privacy of its Members and only retains such personal data as is needed to meet its contractual obligations or for which it has a legitimate purpose.