… and should already be winging its way to your mailbox or possibly even dropping into it. Here is the cover picture, together with a list of the contents and a short summary of each article , or go to
the SoA news page. (If you aren’t already a member of The Society of Ancients , you can read about and join the society
here.
"By Alexander's chamber pot, Antigonos, how we ever lost to the Romans when we have such long, sharp, pointy sticks I'll never know"
EditorialThe view from the Editor's Chair, including apologies, errata, more errata and "thoughts". Oh, and some news! In summary, "Mea culpa! I think. And, by the way."
Wargaming NewsWhat is says on the tin.
Interview with John Lambshead by Gordon GarradFrom Fall of the West, a supplement for Warhammer Ancients, to One Hour Skirmish Wargaming, John has done some interesting stuff. So something for everyone.
What are the Chances—Pikes vs Bows in DBA 3.0 by Nick HarbudWhich starts with the claim that "a number of readers requested a further in-depth example of the techniques for calculating (the) probabilities" but don't let that put you off. This fascinating article looks at what happens when a pike phalanx (Pk) takes on an element of massed bowmen (Bw) under version 3 of the De Bellis Antiquitatis ancient rules (DBA 3.0). Perhaps the Achaemenid version of a West Point tutorial?
Alexander the Great; The Complete Conqueror by Julian LorrimanIn an idle moment Julian dangerously looked up on the internet who was the greatest military leader of all time. To his surprise, there was Alexander the Great languishing in tenth place. Which was all the encouragement that Julian needed to put pen to paper and set the record straight, with this article on Alexander. Read how he achieved, perhaps after Genghis Khan, the greatest conquests of any single military leader in history.
Wargaming 4th Century BC Hoplite Warfare using ‘Strength & Honour’ by Richard SpeedStrength & Honour rules are written and designed for the period 105BC to 200AD. So, in true wargaming style, Richard looks at how they might be adapted for an earlier periods, in this case Greek Hoplite warfare of the 4th Century BC.
A Little 2nd Mantineia (6mm) by David KayWith quite a few Greeks in his 6mm army collection, David thought to have a go at putting on 2nd Mantineia, the subject of this year's Battleday, as a solo effort at home over that weekend and using his own rules. So let's see whether history was rewritten in his account of the battle. (Which was always going to be written by the winner, of course.)
Tactica 2 Games Through The Ages Part 1 - Ancient Sumer; Umma v Kish By Simon WatsonExactly what it says and with lots and lots of eye candy!
Pleasures and Pitfalls of Writing a Scenario By Ian PiperIn the closing moments of his first SoA conference in 2021 and no doubt overcome by euphoria, Ian courageously (or maybe rashly) volunteered to put on a game in the future. Here he describes how he went about developing the scenario and answering the three critical questions. What battle, real or fictional? Did he have the models? (A bit of a nail biter.) Which rule set?
A mini - 15mm comparison follow up by Dave HollinA really quick update on the Editor's dark age 15mm figure musings from Slingshot 345.
Slingshot Book, Game & Figure ReviewsIncluding reviews of:
Khurasan 15mm, figure review by David Smith
Essex Nubian and Libu Infantry in 15mm, figure review by Steven Neate
The Macedonian Phalanx, book review by Duncan Head
The Greek Hoplite Phalanx, book review by Duncan Head
The Rise of Persia & the First Greco-Persian Wars, book review by Jim Webster & David Mason
The Galatians, book review by Stephen Brennan
The Battles of Antiochus the Great, book review by Kenneth Bell
And FinallyComing up in Issue 347!