Monday, May 26, 2014

Slingshot 293 preview

Nick has kindly sent us a few preview pages for Slingshot 293.

First up, another in Robert Heiligers' excellent series on the Iberian Peninsula (click to enlarge the photos) :


Then an article on converting Commands & Colors: Ancients to miniatures:


And our last preview (but not last article!) is by Mick Hession, who is always a must-read author:


It looks like it's going to be a good issue.

The full rundown of the articles in 293 is:

·         Society Battle Day 2015 - The Hydaspes 326 BC
·         A Short History of the Iberian Peninsula – the Start of the Reconquista
·         Command and Colours Using Figures on the Tabletop
·         Mesopotamian Notelets – Gudea’s Plan
·         The Age of Augustus
·         1166 And All That - King Dermot
·         Armati 101 – Hints and Tips
·         Society UK DBA League 2012-2013
·         Slingshot Game Review - Pax Romana
·         Slingshot Book Review – Conquer and Govern
·         Negative PIPs

If you are not a subscriber to Slingshot but would like to become one, you can find more details at this page.



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Slingshot 292 Giveaway



To be in to win one of five complimentary copies of the latest edition of the Society of Ancients' journal, simply tell us the year in which the battle of Crécy was fought.  Send your answers together with your name and address to publicity@soa.org.uk by Saturday, May 31st (UK time).

The winners will be decided by lot and announced June 1st.  Good luck!

Articles in Slingshot 292 include:

  • Battle of Towton, by John Graham-Leigh
  • Reconstructing the English Formation at Crécy, by Anthony Clipsom
  • The Proto-Manipular Legion, by Rodger Williams and Patrick Waterson
  • Tinkering With Byzantines, by Perry Gray
  • The Trojan War - Moved! By Patrick Waterson
  • What happened to the velites? By John Hogan
  • The Age of Augustus (pt. 1) by Paul Burton
  • Optio Battle Report, by Justin Swanton
  • Two Early Dynastic Battle-Scene Cylinder Seals, by Alastair McBeath
Again, all you need to do is send the answer to the question (along with your name and address) to publicity@soa.org.uk by May 31st.


Saturday, May 10, 2014

Slingshot 292 now arriving

We are pleased to report that Slingshot 292 is now arriving with subscribers, and that we are almost back on schedule.



Contents include:
  • Battle of Towton, by John Graham-Leigh
  • Reconstructing the English Formation at Crécy, by Anthony Clipsom
  • The Proto-Manipular Legion, by Rodger Williams and Patrick Waterson
  • Tinkering With Byzantines, by Perry Gray
  • The Trojan War - Moved! By Patrick Waterson
  • What happened to the velites? By John Hogan
  • The Age of Augustus (pt. 1) by Paul Burton
  • Optio Battle Report, by Justin Swanton
  • Two Early Dynastic Battle-Scene Cylinder Seals, by Alastair McBeath

There has been some confusion among members about just when renewal is due. Membership expiry is now noted on the address label you receive with your Slingshot. The formula is last Slingshot number - membership number, so if the first number is 291 this means that your renewal is due after Slingshot 291.

******

Slingshot is issued 6 times a year to members of the Society of Ancients.


Subscription currently costs £24 for six issues and includes access to vendor discounts and the SoA forum. You can subscribe or re-subscribe through the store at the Society's website, http://soa.org.uk


The editor (editor@soa.org.uk) is always interested in ideas for articles, so if you are a member or plan to become one and have a battle report or historical article, a review, rules ruminations, scenario or campaign ideas, or anything else you would like to contribute to Slingshot, feel free to contact him.


The Society also has the 'Operation Balearic' sale on at present.


Operation Balearic offers back issues of Slingshot at the bargain price of six for £5 (£4 for SoA members) plus shipping. That is a year's worth of Slingshots for the price of one magazine.


The bundles on offer are for the years 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1987, and for each year from 1996 through to 2010. This offer is only available for a limited time and while stocks last.


To order, go to the Balearic Bundles page in the store section of the Society of Ancients website.


For a summary of the articles in each bundle, see this post on the Society News blog. 


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Battle Day 2015

This just in from Richard Lockwood:

…he was informed that Porus, with the whole of his army, was on the other side of that river…

The twelfth annual Society of Ancients Battle Day, Saturday 28 March 2015

Sycamore Hall, Drayton Road, Bletchley, Near Milton Keynes, MK2 3RR

The Hydaspes 326 BC

Upon this, the drivers of the elephants urged forward the beasts against the cavalry but now the phalanx itself of the Macedonians was advancing against the elephants, the men casting darts at the riders and also striking the beasts themselves, standing round them on all sides. The action was unlike any of the previous contests; for wherever the beasts could wheel round, they rushed forth against the ranks of infantry and demolished the phalanx of the Macedonians, dense as it was.
Macedonians meet elephants in battle for the first time, from Arrian’s Anabasis, found online at http://websfor.org/alexander/arrian/book5b.asp


For our twelfth annual Battle Day, we once again invite you to a unique day’s wargaming.

The battle: The Hydaspes 326 BC  – the invading force of Alexander the Great and his all-conquering but war-weary Macedonians  are met on the banks of the River Hydaspes by the Indian army of King Porus.

So sharpen your sarissas and xystons and prepare to fight one last battle for glory with Alexander, or fight to repel the invaders atop elephants and chariots with the brave King Porus.

The aims of the day remain the same:
·         To have fun!
·         To gather as many ancient and medieval wargamers as possible to refight a historical battle.
·         To fight the same battle simultaneously on many tables, using a different set of rules on each table.

The day will run from 9am until 5pm, with an hour either side to set up and pack away.

Phil Sabin, Professor of Strategic Studies at King’s College, London, but better known to Society of Ancients members as the innovative game designer and author of the book Lost Battles, will be giving a pre-battle introduction to the Hydapes, putting it in its historical context and highlighting the controversial aspects of the battle.

And of course, The Society of Ancients will be awarding a number of prizes (for various criteria, some more frivolous than others) to the wargamers on the day, including prizes for Best Game and Best Terrain.

To offer to stage a game – contact Richard Lockwood at battleday@soa.org.uk or else via his details in Slingshot. But in any case, come along and take part as a player.

The cost of participating in the Battle Day, to contribute towards hire of venue and tables, will be held once again at £7 (juniors free), as it has been for ten years now.

Every year it just gets better and better – this really should be a regular event on your calendar. Don’t miss out – come and be part of it!


The Battle Day is open to both members and non-members of the Society of Ancients.