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.
The 2025 Society of Ancients Convention will this year take place at Missenden Abbey, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, over the weekend of the 26th - 28th September 2025.
The Convention is very much an opportunity to participate in a plethora of battles using a variety of both new and well-worn rulesets. In many cases, the rules’ authors and various experts are on hand for discussion. A full programme of events and games will be published nearer the date.
Bookings can be made using the links above or by cheque sent to the Treasurer made payable to the Society of Ancients.
Please note that bookings must be made by 30th June. After that date we cannot guarantee that places will be available.
| Members Taking Part | 34 |
| Games Played | 91 |
Current Standings
| Name | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Points | Score |
| Paddy Myers | 17 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 9.94 |
| Martin Myers | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 7.54 |
| Paul Murgatroyd | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 6.35 |
| Matthew Davison | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5.37 |
| Ken Gordon | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 5.06 |
| Andrew Avery | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 19 | 4.75 |
| Martin Smith | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 4.62 |
| Pete Duckworth | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4.5 |
| Richard Pulley | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4.24 |
| Harmon Ward | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4.24 |
| Andrew Gledhill | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4.24 |
| John Graham-Leigh | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4.24 |
| Tim Rogers | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 4.11 |
| Stephen Finn | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 3.78 |
| Denis Grey | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3.67 |
| Paul Clair | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3.5 |
| Gavin Pearson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Richard Lockwood | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ivan Djokic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Paul Hodson | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 2.94 |
| Andreas Johansson | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2.12 |
| Johan Herber | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2.12 |
| Bill MacGillvray | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Phil Steele | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1.73 |
| Rob Rush | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.51 |
| Conor Truby | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1.34 |
| Alan Davison | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Graham-Leigh | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Murphy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Etheridge | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Russell King | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Barrington | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Harry Dudrow | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| David Cox | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
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Available in web store.
Sunday 30th March 2025
Maldon (991 AD)
The 2025 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.
The battlepack (in PDF format) is available here.
For further details, please email the Battleday Coordinator:
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Editorial 'More thoughts on recruiting Achaemenid armies', by Jim Webster 'The Hyksos: an army without a face', by Steven Neate 'Specialist formations on the wargame table', by John Hogan 'Maldon 991 AD as a card-assisted wargame project – Part 2', by Bruno Servili 'Remotely Sumerian – a battle pictorial', by Jonathan Freitag 'Wooden walls at the Society Convention 2024', by Adrian Nayler 'Art de la Guerre: King In The North (York, 19 - 20 Oct 2024)', by Martin Stephenson Review of Brethren - Skirmish Tabletop Wargame, by Ian Piper Review of Osprey's Gladiators, by Duncan Head Review of Mongol Expansion for Commands & Colors: Medieval, by Steven Neate |
Available in web store.
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Editorial Society News - Committee Prizes 2024 Society News - Editor's Prizes 2024 Wargaming News The Horses of Enrico Pandone by Adrian Nayler Charles Grant's 50th Anniversary Refights: No.4 Pydna by Phil Sabin Celtic Warbands - Fear and Fury by John Hogan Crossing the Rubicon - a first timer's experience at the SOA Convention by Matthew Hartley Confessions of a Society of Ancients Convention Virgin by David Mason Tactica 2 Part 10 - Baron's Wars - King Henry III vs Rebel Barons by Simon Watson Wargaming Ancient Battles with Strength and Honour by Kim Selkeld Simple Siege Gaming Rules by Matthew Hartley Mead Price Dark Age Ruleset - a playtest by Alex Aimette Oyumaru Modelling Compound - thoughts by Adrian Nayler The Society Forum Pages Finis Britanniae (Murray Dahm) - book review by Dave Hollin Dacia - the Roman Wars Vol.1 (Radu Altean) - book review by Gavin Pearson Final (FINAL) Thoughts by Dave Hollin |
Available in web store.
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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.
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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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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.
Slingshot is the bi-monthly journal of the Society of Ancients. You can purchase back issues of Slingshot from our web store. Prices for back-issues are now lower than ever:
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.
