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 A Word from our new President Richard Lockwood Battleday 2024 Update Alala Ruleset Launch Wargaming News Simon MacDowell Interview on Alala Ruleset Development Editor's Prizes for 2023 Blood Red Roses Ruleset Development by Adrian Naylor Gaugamela Part Three by Damian Baxter Slings and Slingers by John Hogan Fact vs Fun by Connor Truby Galley Warfare at the Society's Convention (2022) by Michael Lane Tactica Part 5 - Alexandrian Macedonians vs Later Achaemenid Persians by Simon Watson Blood Red Roses - a Battle Report and Review (of sorts) by Gordon Garrard Developing the Portable Wargame - a Review by Martin Smith Rome's Third Samnite War Book Review by Gavin Pearson Rome Rules the Waves Book Review by Jim Webster Empires of the Steppes Book Review by Chris Hahn And finally |
Available in web store.
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Editorial Society Notice - Battleday 2024 details Wargaming News Dicing with Death - Harry Dudrow St. Germanus of Auxerre by Jim Webster Gaugamela Part Two by Damian Baxter Battle Reports using 6mm figures - an observation by David Mason Peithon and the Baktrian Revolt by Bjorn Floderus Empire (SoA Boardgame) with Figures by John Graham-Leigh Tactica 2 Games - Part 4 - Classical Greeks vs Early Achaemenid Persians by Simon Watson 15mm Miniatures Review - Essex Old and Middle Kingdom Egyptians by Steven Neate 25mm Miniatures Review - Lamming Plus Figures by David Smith SAGA Book of Battles Rules Supplement Review by Ken Butt The Scythians Book Review by Gavin Pearson Agincourt - Battle of the Scarred King Book Review by Anthony Clipsom Painting Wargames Figures - Rome's Northern Enemies by Gavin Pearson And finally |
Available in web store.
The membership subscription has remained at the current level of £27.00 for 6 issues since 2016.
We have been fortunate in that printing costs remained unchanged for a long time and commercial postage costs were relatively stable. However, from 2021 printing costs have increased substantially and we are now in a position where membership subscription fees do not cover the cost of producing Slingshot.
The Committee has therefore decided that, regrettably, from 1st January 2024 that the subscription fee for 6 issues should increase from £27.00 to £36.00. We recognise that this is a substantial increase of 33%, but in the period since the last subscription increase the retail price index has increased by 38%.
We appreciated that any increase to the cost of membership could be burdensome to some members. Therefore, the Society is making a special offer to any existing members to extend their subscription for a further 6 issues at the existing subscription fee of £27. This offer will expire on 31st December 2023. To take advantage of it, either use the JOIN page on Society website or send the Treasurer a £27 cheque payable to “The Society of Ancients”.
Committee members volunteer their time without payment to promote the Society’s aims regarding ancient and medieval history and wargaming. The Society has published Slingshot continuously since Issue 1 was sent out in September 1966. One of the best ways of keeping the Society subscription fee down is to promote the Society or to volunteer. Further details may be found on the Forum.
If any member would like to see the Society accounts or get a more detailed understanding of the Society financial position, please contact the Treasurer.
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Editorial Wargaming News Gaugamela - Deployment and Plans Part One Adrianople 378AD using Armati Rules Wargaming in the British Heroic Age A Society Convention 2023 Battle Report The Society of Ancients Convention 2023 Magnesia on My Mind Empire (a Society of Ancients boardgame) runthrough Tactica 2 Games - Part 3 - Neo-Assyrians vs Neo-Babylonians Three Ages of Rome - a rules review 15mm Miniatures Review - Peter Pig Parthian Peltasts 15mm Miniatures Review - Lanver Miniatures Greek Psiloi The Trojan War - Tragedy and Aftermath book review The Perfect Sword - Forging the Dark Ages book review Armies of Anglo-Saxon England 410 - 1066 book review And finally |
Available in web store.
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Editorial Wargaming News Getting Started in Early Medieval Wargaming by James Morris Saint Ciera’s Missionary Expedition to China by Lawrence Greaves Battles of the British Heroic Age - Part 3 of A Dying Light in Britannia by Dave Hollin Seleucid and Graeco-Bactrian Frontier Policy in Central Asia by Ken Bell Tactica 2 Games Part 2 - New Kingdom Egyptians vs Sea Peoples by Simon Watson Tactica 2 games through the ages part 1- Ancient Sumer; Umma vs Kish Persian Tactical Problems by Gavin Pearson Adrianople Games Day by Les Ames Western Sudanese and Tuareg DBA armies during the Quarantine by Ilan Mitchell-Smith Wars of the Roses Painting Guide and General Musings by Simon Macdowall On Bloody Ground—A rules review by Dave Hollin A Very Quick look at 3D Printing by Dave Hollin 15mm Miniatures Review - Midianite Infantry by Steven Neate Alcibiades: Athenian Playboy, General and Traitor book review by Jim Webster The Medieval Crossbow book review by Anthony Clipsom The Wars of Justinian I book review by Duncan Head The Early Anglo-Saxon Kings book review by Dave Hollin And finally |
Available in web store.
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Editorial Wargaming News Interview with John Lambshead What are the chances - pikes vs bows in DBA 3.0 Alexander the Great; the complete conqueror Wargaming 4th century BC hoplite warfare using 'Strength & Honour' A little 2nd Mantineia (6mm) Tactica 2 games through the ages part 1- Ancient Sumer; Umma vs Kish Pleasures and pitfalls of writing a scenario Khurasan 15mm miniatures review Essex Nubian and Libu infantry 15mm miniatures review A mini-15mm comparison follow-up The Macedonian Phalanx and The Greek Hoplite Phalanx book reviews The Rise of Persia & The First Greco-Persian Wars book review The Galatians book review The Battles of Antiochus the Great And finally |
Available in web store.
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Society of Ancients Convention 2023 Editorial Interview with Simon McDowell If you go down to the woods today... Raining Arrows - the debate about the medieval arrow storm A Dying Light in Britannia part 2 15mm Figuare Comparisons and Wargaming the Dark Ages part 2 2023 SOA Membership Survey SOA Battle Day Round-up Mantinea with Alala Ruleset Mantinea with Spartans and Successors Harry Hurdow does Battle Day Hoplites in Messene Naval Gazing - a Comparison of Naval Rulesets 15mm Figures Review - Peter Pig Midianite Camels Ruleset Review - Hail Caesar 2nd Edition Book Review - A Military Life of Constantine the Great Book Review - The Legiones Cannenses Book Review - The Last Great War of Antinquity Why does it matter? - a plea from the committee
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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.
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.