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#31
Army Research / Re: Assyrian Infantry in Acha...
Last post by dwkay57 - Apr 21, 2026, 09:55 AMYes, I've been pondering the same Young Jim. Surprising what meanders into the minds of old men...
Even with sparabara there is still an issue with the back ranks knowing that "range 100 paces, fire!" means they've really have to arc and pull (or whatever it is that archers do) to a range of 110 paces.
On the basis that with any overhead shooting there has to be a move away from near straight-line trajectory and a target you can see to some level of shooting "blindly" on command into the air, there is an implication of some sort of "would it be a good idea to practice first" creeping in.
I need to go back and review my rules to see if I've made rear support and skirmishing too efficient for Irregulars and Barbarians.
Even with sparabara there is still an issue with the back ranks knowing that "range 100 paces, fire!" means they've really have to arc and pull (or whatever it is that archers do) to a range of 110 paces.
On the basis that with any overhead shooting there has to be a move away from near straight-line trajectory and a target you can see to some level of shooting "blindly" on command into the air, there is an implication of some sort of "would it be a good idea to practice first" creeping in.
I need to go back and review my rules to see if I've made rear support and skirmishing too efficient for Irregulars and Barbarians.
#32
Army Research / Re: Assyrian Infantry in Acha...
Last post by Jim Webster - Apr 20, 2026, 07:10 PMThis comment of David links into something I've been wondering about. Sparabara seem 'simple'. It's just massed archery (done however massed archery is done) with a think screen of spearmen with big shields in the front rank. No complications, just have the file leaders with shields and they lead off etc.
Solid blocks of infantry with a fourth rank of archers who fire overhead and probably skirmish on the flanks or even pass through and skirmish out in front.
But it's these units with equal numbers of spear and archers. Did the spears form up four ranks (or thereabouts) deep and the archers fill up the files making them eight ranks (or thereabouts deep) so that in combat you had the back ranks of archers supporting the men in front (by pushing if that was what happened) or could they actually fire (which seems doubtful.)
Also did the archers pass through the spears to fire, falling back when the enemy got close, or did they remain forever behind the spears and fire less effectively overhead?
And at what level was it organised. As the army was drawn up did the general command 'archers to the front' and let them shoot up the enemy, so that when the exasperated enemy finally attacked, somebody shouted 'archers to the rear'
Solid blocks of infantry with a fourth rank of archers who fire overhead and probably skirmish on the flanks or even pass through and skirmish out in front.
But it's these units with equal numbers of spear and archers. Did the spears form up four ranks (or thereabouts) deep and the archers fill up the files making them eight ranks (or thereabouts deep) so that in combat you had the back ranks of archers supporting the men in front (by pushing if that was what happened) or could they actually fire (which seems doubtful.)
Also did the archers pass through the spears to fire, falling back when the enemy got close, or did they remain forever behind the spears and fire less effectively overhead?
And at what level was it organised. As the army was drawn up did the general command 'archers to the front' and let them shoot up the enemy, so that when the exasperated enemy finally attacked, somebody shouted 'archers to the rear'
#33
Army Research / Re: Assyrian Infantry in Acha...
Last post by dwkay57 - Apr 20, 2026, 06:44 PMI think Anthony's metaphor about the house built of hoplites is appropriate. Providing you have men who know what they are doing in key positions and the rest having a rough idea of what should be happening then it all works (as based on my experience doing marching drill in the Boys' Brigade) and with practice things generally got better. Which makes me wonder whether different formation and fighting styles require more training and practice to be effective? And then whether such practice needs to be at a "groups of units" level to be really effective.
Of course, at high levels of abstraction this may not matter as we are not modelling the operation of low level tactical units but higher level near-strategic bodies and their overall outcomes.
Of course, at high levels of abstraction this may not matter as we are not modelling the operation of low level tactical units but higher level near-strategic bodies and their overall outcomes.
#34
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 20, 2026, 02:42 PMThat was my understanding too
#35
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by Erpingham - Apr 20, 2026, 08:22 AMQuote from: Ian61 on Apr 20, 2026, 06:28 AMAt one point the book was being posted for silly amounts in excess of £100 but then came down to something sensible. This I suspect has some genuine rarity value, I did not know that the game existed in this form
Unlike the book, which I think had several printings and is, therefore, not uncommon secondhand, the game was a limited release and more rarely seen.
#36
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by Jon Freitag - Apr 20, 2026, 07:04 AMQuote from: Ian61 on Apr 20, 2026, 06:28 AMAt one point the book was being posted for silly amounts in excess of £100 but then came down to something sensible. This I suspect has some genuine rarity value, I did not know that the game existed in this form (I wasn't ancient wargaming when it was published).The game does hold collector value. I have seen copies bring big prices but recent sales on Boardgame Geek have been sparse and those prices have softened. Still have an unpunched copy that I have yet to punch and play.
#37
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by Ian61 - Apr 20, 2026, 06:28 AMAt one point the book was being posted for silly amounts in excess of £100 but then came down to something sensible. This I suspect has some genuine rarity value, I did not know that the game existed in this form (I wasn't ancient wargaming when it was published).
#38
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by Imperial Dave - Apr 20, 2026, 05:50 AMVery tempting...
#39
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by vexillia - Apr 19, 2026, 08:48 PMWill do.
#40
Selling / Re: Lost Battles Sabin on eBay
Last post by Jon Freitag - Apr 19, 2026, 04:05 PMIt will be interesting to see the price for which this punched copy finally sells. Keep us posted.