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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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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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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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.