I'm not really an Ancients player, in fact I can probably count the number of games I've played on one hand over the last thirty years, but this up and coming set of very small scale, mass battle rules looks very tempting. The author, Mark Backhouse, is a history and classics teacher so really knows his stuff, as well as being a veteran wargamer and regular contributor to Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy. He is also a really nice chap, so invited me to join the Facebook development group for the the rules a few months ago.
I've been following the progress he's been making toward publication with real interest and am almost tempted to give it a go myself, especially as the core feature of the system is the use of 2mm scale scratch built armies created using green stuff and laser cut mdf bases. You may have seen Mark's article in WSS 112 a while back, where he demonstrated his method for sculpting entire Roman Legions or Celtic tribal armies out of cheap and readily available materials.
It's a brilliant idea and looks very effective, really capturing the mass battle effect and far more realistic than the conventional four figures on a DBX base. I'm a bit lazy, however, so I'm waiting for a quick alternative to hours of kneading green stuff, with a couple of companies already experimenting with resin and laser cut mdf armies. I also really like the fact that it's not a competition style system, which tends to dominate Ancient wargaming, but is far more rounded as a historical set of rules.
I'm not much of an Ancients player, as previously mentioned, but I'd definitely be up for some early to late period Medieval wargaming, being a lapsed Medieval historian and archaeologist by degrees. I can see how the mass battle effect would be perfect for Crecy, Agincourt, Towton or Bannockburn. Anyway, I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about this set of innovative rules in the not too distant future, as I reckon it's a cracker of a concept!
(2) The official Strength and Honour - small scale Ancients rules | Groups | Facebook
When I read the article in WSS I have to say I was tempted. I play (amongst other things) 6mm ancients so I guess it's not a huge leap to 2mm...and those pictures look so nice. I'm a sucker for eye candy!
ReplyDeleteMe too. I do like the look of those mdf units as well.
ReplyDeleteI think there will be a "marmite" reaction to the 2mm figures.
ReplyDeleteThere's the opportunity to provide a massive panoramic view of a battlefield. The price being adopting a novel scale, and potentially painting new armies.
I think Strength and Honour also provides n opportunity for collectors of bigger scales to dust off movement trays of impetus bases. Forego the mass effect, but still enjoy the game.