Society of Ancients
Encyclopedia
The Society of Ancients is an international, non-profit organization based in the UK that aims to promote interest in Ancient & Medieval history and wargaming
, covering the periods from 3000BC to 1500AD.
Founded in 1965 by Tony Bath
, the Society started with 20 members. During the next decade it increased in membership by at least 50% every year. Since then its growth has continued - currently it has a worldwide membership of more than 1200. Early members included the actor Deryck Guyler
(who served as president of the society), the academic George Gush
, Tony Bath and Phil Barker
, co-creator of the many sets of rules published by WRG
including the De Bellis Antiquitatis
wargames rules.
The society concentrates on historical wargaming - a decision to exclude fantasy was made around ten years after it was founded.
Among other events it has organized one day events where a single historical battle is re-enacted using a number of different rulesets. These battles have so far included the Battle of Gaugamela
, the Battle of the Sambre
and the Battle of Cynoscephalae
.
, ancient arms and armor and similar, as well as material specifically about wargaming
, such as rules and war game reports. It is occasionally referenced in academic publications. Contributing writers include noted historians (for example, Adrian Goldsworthy
and Boris Rankov
. Other professional historians who have written for Slingshot include Philip Sabin
, Matthew Bennett
, Guy Halsall, Paddy Griffith
, Nigel Tallis and Steve Badsey. Other contributors have become published authors, either before, or subsequently to their contributions. The magazine has also carried material written by notable games designers (for example, Phil Barker
, Richard Bodley Scott, Jervis Johnson
, Rick Priestley
and Neil Thomas).
Initially, Slingshot was edited by Tony Bath and indeed was produced by him with the help of his wife using a borrowed duplicator
. When this fell through, Tony Bath was able to purchase cheaply a spirit duplicator
with which it was produced from May 1965. From March 1969 it has been commercially printed.
Examples of wargaming rule sets which reference the society include:
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
, covering the periods from 3000BC to 1500AD.
The Society
The Society publishes a bi-monthly journal entitled Slingshot. Membership proceeds are used, among other things, to fund the publication of the magazine and to sponsor wargames competitions which fall within the society's remit. The Society commonly has a presence at large conventions across the UK and overseas.Founded in 1965 by Tony Bath
Tony Bath
Tony Bath was a British wargamer who favored the ancient period. His Hyboria campaign, based on the Conan the Barbarian stories of Robert E. Howard, is sometimes cited as the first fantasy wargame. It is even said to have included role playing elements. The Hyboria campaign did not contain...
, the Society started with 20 members. During the next decade it increased in membership by at least 50% every year. Since then its growth has continued - currently it has a worldwide membership of more than 1200. Early members included the actor Deryck Guyler
Deryck Guyler
Deryck Guyler was an English actor, best known for his portrayal of officious, short-tempered middle-aged men in sitcoms such as Please Sir! and Sykes.-Early life:...
(who served as president of the society), the academic George Gush
George Gush
George Gush was the head of the history section of West Kent College's "Social and Academic Studies Department", and is now retired. He is most notable for his work on wargaming....
, Tony Bath and Phil Barker
Phil Barker
Phil Barker is one of the major figures in the development of the modern hobby of tabletop wargaming, particularly that of ancient warfare, and is a co-founder of the Wargames Research Group.In the 1960s he was a methods engineer at British Leyland...
, co-creator of the many sets of rules published by WRG
Wargames Research Group
The Wargames Research Group ' is a British publisher of rules and reference material for miniature wargaming. Founded in 1969 they were the premier publisher of tabletop rules during the seventies and eighties, publishing rules for periods ranging from ancient times to modern armoured warfare, and...
including the De Bellis Antiquitatis
De Bellis Antiquitatis
De Bellis Antiquitatis or DBA is a fast play set of rules for the hobby of historical miniature wargaming, particularly ancient and medieval wargaming in the period 3000 BC to 1485 AD. These rules allow entire armies to be represented by less than 50 figures. The rules also include a campaign...
wargames rules.
The society concentrates on historical wargaming - a decision to exclude fantasy was made around ten years after it was founded.
Among other events it has organized one day events where a single historical battle is re-enacted using a number of different rulesets. These battles have so far included the Battle of Gaugamela
Battle of Gaugamela
The Battle of Gaugamela took place in 331 BC between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. The battle, which is also called the Battle of Arbela, resulted in a massive victory for the ancient Macedonians and led to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire.-Location:Darius chose a flat, open plain...
, the Battle of the Sambre
Battle of the Sambre
The Battle of the Sambre refers to two battles fought along the Sambre River during World War I:* Battle of the Sambre , commonly known as the Battle of Charleroi* Battle of the Sambre - the final British offensive of the war...
and the Battle of Cynoscephalae
Battle of Cynoscephalae
The Battle of Cynoscephalae was an encounter battle fought in Thessaly in 197 BC between the Roman army, led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, and the Antigonid dynasty of Macedon, led by Philip V.- Prelude :...
.
Slingshot
The society publishes a bi-monthly journal, "Slingshot" . It has been described as the periodical of most interest to ancient Wargamers. Some of the articles are quite technical - ancient military maneuvers, ancient arms and armor and similar, as well as material specifically about wargaming
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
, such as rules and war game reports. It is occasionally referenced in academic publications. Contributing writers include noted historians (for example, Adrian Goldsworthy
Adrian Goldsworthy
Adrian Keith Goldsworthy is a British historian and author who specialises in ancient Roman history.-Biography:Goldsworthy attended Westbourne School, Penarth...
and Boris Rankov
Boris Rankov
Boris Rankov is a professor of Roman history at Royal Holloway, University of London. He was born August 9, 1954.Educated at Bradford Grammar School , then subsequently Corpus Christi College, Oxford , Professor Rankov is perhaps best known for his participation in the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race,...
. Other professional historians who have written for Slingshot include Philip Sabin
Philip Sabin
Professor Philip A. G. Sabin is a British military historian who is currently Professor of Strategic Studies in the War Studies Department of King's College London.He specializes in air power studies and ancient warfare...
, Matthew Bennett
Matthew Bennett (historian)
Matthew Bennett is a historian specialising in Medieval warfare. He holds the post of Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Applied Behavioural Science at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK, where he has taught since 1984. He holds a degree in History and an MA in Medieval...
, Guy Halsall, Paddy Griffith
Paddy Griffith
Paddy Griffith was an influential British military theorist, he was the author of numerous books in the field of War Studies, a wargame designer for the UK Ministry of Defence, and a leading figure in the wargaming community....
, Nigel Tallis and Steve Badsey. Other contributors have become published authors, either before, or subsequently to their contributions. The magazine has also carried material written by notable games designers (for example, Phil Barker
Phil Barker
Phil Barker is one of the major figures in the development of the modern hobby of tabletop wargaming, particularly that of ancient warfare, and is a co-founder of the Wargames Research Group.In the 1960s he was a methods engineer at British Leyland...
, Richard Bodley Scott, Jervis Johnson
Jervis Johnson
Jervis Johnson is a game designer for Games Workshop.He is currently one of Game Workshop's long-term strategy managers, having previously been employed as head of its Specialist Games division.Jervis is credited with creating the following games:...
, Rick Priestley
Rick Priestley
Rick Priestley is a miniature wargaming designer and author who lives near Nottingham, England.Priestley worked extensively for Games Workshop...
and Neil Thomas).
Initially, Slingshot was edited by Tony Bath and indeed was produced by him with the help of his wife using a borrowed duplicator
Mimeograph machine
The stencil duplicator or mimeograph machine is a low-cost printing press that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper....
. When this fell through, Tony Bath was able to purchase cheaply a spirit duplicator
Spirit duplicator
A spirit duplicator was a low-volume printing method used mainly by schools and churches. It was also used by members of science fiction fandom and early comic book fandom to produce fanzines...
with which it was produced from May 1965. From March 1969 it has been commercially printed.
External References to the Society
Almost since the. society's inception, it has been a commonplace for books about ancient and medieval wargaming, and relevant rule sets, to mention the society. Examples of wargaming books include:- The Ancient War Game, by Charles GrantCharles Grant (game designer)Charles Grant was a game author who helped popularize the hobby of tabletop wargaming. He is best known as the author of The War Game.Born in Scotland, and served in the Royal Air Force in World War 2. Later in Scotland Yard's Special Branch. Contributor to Military Modelling and Battle...
- Ancient Wargaming, by Phil Barker
- Introduction to Battle Gaming, by Terence Wise
- Wargames Through the Ages, 3000BC to 1500AD, by Donald FeatherstoneDonald Featherstone (wargamer)Donald F. Featherstone is a British author of more than forty books on wargaming and military history. He wrote classic texts on wargaming in the 1960s and 1970s....
Examples of wargaming rule sets which reference the society include:
- De Bellis AntiquitatisDe Bellis AntiquitatisDe Bellis Antiquitatis or DBA is a fast play set of rules for the hobby of historical miniature wargaming, particularly ancient and medieval wargaming in the period 3000 BC to 1485 AD. These rules allow entire armies to be represented by less than 50 figures. The rules also include a campaign...
, by Phil BarkerPhil BarkerPhil Barker is one of the major figures in the development of the modern hobby of tabletop wargaming, particularly that of ancient warfare, and is a co-founder of the Wargames Research Group.In the 1960s he was a methods engineer at British Leyland... - De Bellis Multitudinis by Phil BarkerPhil BarkerPhil Barker is one of the major figures in the development of the modern hobby of tabletop wargaming, particularly that of ancient warfare, and is a co-founder of the Wargames Research Group.In the 1960s he was a methods engineer at British Leyland...
- Warhammer Ancient BattlesWarhammer Ancient BattlesWarhammer Ancient Battles is a ruleset for miniatures wargames produced by Games Workshop's Warhammer Historical Wargames imprint...
(WAB), by Jervis Johnson, Rick Priestley, Alan and Michael PerryAlan and Michael PerryAlan and Michael Perry are Citadel Miniatures designers, and two of the most renowned and prolific sculptors for the miniature wargaming hobby. They have worked for Games Workshop since 1978, and during that time they have worked on most of the company's miniature ranges...