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#81

Battle Reports / Re: 5 Justinian Byzantine 15mm...

Last post by madaxeman - Jun 09, 2026, 07:02 PM

In Game 3 the Justinians take a trip through time to engage in another Civil War against their near-ancestors, the Thematic Byzantines, who, like the Zapotecs, appear less interested in fighting the battle and more eager to debate the origins of the appellation "Thematic" as the action continues around them.

Descendants rather than ancestors, surely?

Given the rather crunchy time-travel paradoxes woven through the first report like Blackpool rock, I don't see this one as being particularly implausible either way  !

#82

Battle Reports / Re: 5 Justinian Byzantine 15mm...

Last post by Jim Webster - Jun 09, 2026, 03:02 PM

In Game 3 the Justinians take a trip through time to engage in another Civil War against their near-ancestors, the Thematic Byzantines, who, like the Zapotecs, appear less interested in fighting the battle and more eager to debate the origins of the appellation "Thematic" as the action continues around them.

Descendants rather than ancestors, surely?

Dashed sneaky these Justinians. Positively Byzantine if you ask me 

#83

Battle Reports / Re: 5 Justinian Byzantine 15mm...

Last post by nikgaukroger - Jun 09, 2026, 02:57 PM

In Game 3 the Justinians take a trip through time to engage in another Civil War against their near-ancestors, the Thematic Byzantines, who, like the Zapotecs, appear less interested in fighting the battle and more eager to debate the origins of the appellation "Thematic" as the action continues around them.

Descendants rather than ancestors, surely?

#84

Battle Reports / 5 Justinian Byzantine 15mm bat...

Last post by madaxeman - Jun 09, 2026, 09:15 AM

Creaking and groaning into life in the deepest bowels of Dorset, the inaugural Dodderers competition instantly doubled the UK (World..?) roster of midweek L'Art de la Guerre competitions for the more refined and mature (aka "already retired" or "working at best part-time and keen to stop even that as soon as they can") gamers.

Themed for a post-Roman era, and taking place in Entoyment's spiffing new gaming centre at the arse-end of an industrial estate on the Poole half-ring road*, this was a great opportunity for me to wheel out some of the countless hordes of mostly Forged in Battle 15mm Byzantine figures I've been painting over the last year or so.



With five very entertaining games having been played over the "midweek two-day thing that feels like a weekend but isn't", some brand new figures getting on table, the huge benefit of a gaming space with excellent lighting, and the awareness that many of my more recent battle reports have been arguably a tad rushed, the end result is an old-school epic of military incompetence, surreal in-game figurine based banter, a rare appearance from the "Meso American Personalities with the letter Z in their Names" Top Trumps set, some suitably acerbic analysis from Nasty Hannibal and (in this case, with the Justinian Byzantines on table), pompous and self-aggrandizing reportage from Byzanto-Canadian popster/general Justinian Bieber.



In Game 1 you will see the Justinians attempt to tempt the Zapotecs down from their Mexican mountain redoubt, whilst also learning from a couple of the tribal warriors the convoluted (but all true) story of how the Zapotec nation came by their Z-tastic name.



In Game 2, a Justinian Civil War breaks out while I scratch around furiously to try and identify a second famous Canadian "Justin", and then shoehorn that detail somehow into the already tortuous narrative arc of the battle.



In Game 3 the Justinians take a trip through time to engage in another Civil War against their near-ancestors, the Thematic Byzantines, who, like the Zapotecs, appear less interested in fighting the battle and more eager to debate the origins of the appellation "Thematic" as the action continues around them.



In Game 4 it's time to get down to the YMCA and take on Harry "In The Navy" and his Arab Conquest army in a game characterised by some decidedly David Lynchian Dunes and a potentially nostril-expanding giant minaret.



Finally in Game 5 the Justinians take on one of the all time classics, Classical Indian, and try their best to conjure up a way to defeat a wall of elephants without having time to buy and paint up even more FiB figures to provide a full range of dismounts for the Justinian elephant-phobic cavalry.

All 5 reports are presented in full traditional text and image mode, meaning you'll have to actually read them rather than watch them, and they are all online now ready to go, starting at https://www.madaxeman.com/reports/Dorset_Dodderers_2026_1.php

* Poole is right on the coast, so it's kinda hard to have a full ring road as some of it would then be in the sea..

#85

Shows & Events / Re: Carronade at Falkirk; June...

Last post by simonw - Jun 09, 2026, 07:37 AM

Martin, thanks for your response. It does support what I suspected really; that the membership is perhaps on the 'mature' side, like myself (68). Consequently, the 'social media culture' of 'likes' is not part of their 'normality'.

Nonetheless, it appears to me that the numbers of members posting on the Forum are relatively small and bolstered by a relatively few stalwarts like yourself (and some others).

In my view, this reflects poorly on the vibrancy of the Society's wider membership.

I would therefore issue this plea to the wider membership: Get involved'!

If you want something to read, and/or look at on te Forum, then participate. Don't be passive 'consumers'. At least express an opinion using likes or unlikes but mainly, get involved!

If there continues to be an over-reliance on a small number of active contributors of mature age, then the future of the Society looks somewhat bleak.

Thanks again, Martin.

Cheers

Simon

#86

Shows & Events / Re: Carronade at Falkirk; June...

Last post by Martin Smith - Jun 09, 2026, 06:12 AM

Fellow Society members,

Just to add that the Sea Peoples v New Kingdom Egyptians Tactica 2 game at Carronade received nothing but eminently favourable responses on the day from attendees and the organisers as well as in other online forums after the fact.

Personally, I think that he game displayed (and played) fulfilled one of the main aims of wargames shows; namely to promote enthusiasm for and the profile of the hobby. These are also some of the aims of the SoA, aren't they?

Accordingly, I find it somewhat disappointing that a reporting of the event to a Society aiming to promote the hobby of Ancients Wargaming as well as Research into and study of the Ancient Warfare seems to have generated so little favourable appreciation of what was a highly complimented, historical wargame display (and Public Participation) game.

Now, not being directly involved myself, other than lending a few figures, I do not seek  personal favour as I act merely as a 'reporter' of the event prepared and presented by others (and indeed using photos provided to me by others). I do find the response from the membership of a group (the SoA) with putatively similar interests and aims somewhat underwhelming.

What does this say about the SoA membership in general?

I don't know.

Opinions welcome.

Thanks

Simon

Well, Simon, comment noted. The demo game certainly looks good. Opinion follows...

Re your comments- and this may well have been said before, but there are a couple of points which might be worth remembering:

Firstly, this Forum is NOT representative of the Society in general. I cannot remember the numbers, but only a relatively small percentage of the membership visit the Forum, of whom an even smaller number post on here (IIRC, it may be as few as 15% of the membership).

Secondly, the demographic of the Society is definitely more towards the older and greyer side. We old people are NOT from an age where 'likes' on social media platforms feel as relevant as they might be to more youthful sections of society (small 'S'), nor are we as inclined as the yoof to click the 'Like' button when reading posts.

*** So, beware of feeling the 'need' for self validation via likes, for your own or your fellow gamers' efforts...it can only lead to disappointment.***


I post on here quite often, sometimes with battle reports and pics of games in play. However, I'm not inclined to take undue note of the level of 'support' in the form of 'likes' and comments my posts receive. I'm very much inclined to think that people may like and enjoy my posts OR NOT, but the satisfaction comes from having provided some input, not from being 'validated' by others.

Please don't take offence at my comments, because your posts ARE appreciated. The comments are offered as a positive 'caveat'.

The world seems to want us to all behave the same on social media platforms (and in some respect this Forum is one), but the demographic on here are unlikely to comply with that demand. Expecting significant outflowing of positive commentary will only lead to disappointment, if the level of responses doesn't match your expectations.

Martin.

#87

Shows & Events / Re: Carronade at Falkirk; June...

Last post by simonw - Jun 08, 2026, 06:31 PM

Fellow Society members,

Just to add that the Sea Peoples v New Kingdom Egyptians Tactica 2 game at Carronade received nothing but eminently favourable responses on the day from attendees and the organisers as well as in other online forums after the fact.

Personally, I think that he game displayed (and played) fulfilled one of the main aims of wargames shows; namely to promote enthusiasm for and the profile of the hobby. These are also some of the aims of the SoA, aren't they?

Accordingly, I find it somewhat disappointing that a reporting of the event to a Society aiming to promote the hobby of Ancients Wargaming as well as Research into and study of the Ancient Warfare seems to have generated so little favourable appreciation of what was a highly complimented, historical wargame display (and Public Participation) game.

Now, not being directly involved myself, other than lending a few figures, I do not seek  personal favour as I act merely as a 'reporter' of the event prepared and presented by others (and indeed using photos provided to me by others). I do find the response from the membership of a group (the SoA) with putatively similar interests and aims somewhat underwhelming.

What does this say about the SoA membership in general?

I don't know.

Opinions welcome.

Thanks

Simon

#88

Shows & Events / Re: Carronade at Falkirk; June...

Last post by simonw - Jun 08, 2026, 05:03 PM

Thanks Dave.

#89

Shows & Events / Re: Carronade at Falkirk; June...

Last post by simonw - Jun 08, 2026, 02:17 PM

Dave,

Speaking on behalf of Bill and Gordon and Graham who were able to attend the Carronade show with the Tradeston Club  Tactica 2 participation game between Sea Peoples and New Kingdom Egyptians, feedback on both the Show and the Tradeston game has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to the Falkirk organisers for all their work.

I have posted a few photos of the Tactica 2 game in the 'What was the Last Game You Played' section and it seems to have attracted a good degree of interest judging by the 150+ 'views'. Admittedly, the small number of 5 'likes' is a bit disappointing.

I don't think that it's too onerous to click the 'like' button IF you are indeed appreciative of the post but 'there you go'. That's maybe just the way of things these days. Personally, I just think that it's merely a 'social media' way of being polite.

I certainly am appreciative of all the efforts of Bill, Gordon and Graham who made the effort to prepare, deliver and present the game at the show. It is no small amount of work. I have done it in the past and although I am physically incapable of doing so these days because of my MS, I do try to keep involved to some extent through the laptop keyboard (and providing some of the figures).

Many thanks to those who commented on the posting. You're kind comments are much appreciated and I have passed them on to Bill. You know who you are. Thanks.

Regards

Simon

#90

Ancient and Medieval History / Paper on Bronze Age and early ...

Last post by DBS - Jun 08, 2026, 12:42 PM

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annual-of-the-british-school-at-athens/article/places-of-belonging-archaeohistorical-encounters-with-the-lakedaimonians-at-the-mycenaean-palace-of-aghios-vasileios-and-the-sanctuary-of-apollo-at-amykles/7EF6A26EC36E13FAAB8F11DE5012757C

Interesting piece on the antecdents for, and evolution of, Sparta.