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Simon MacDowall
Apr 222 min read
Putting the Frighteners on the Romans
Blue painted Ancient Britons strike fear amongst the Romans.
199 views4 comments
Simon MacDowall
Apr 102 min read
A little bit of everything
Magnesia (189 BC) is the classical ancient battle that offers a little bit of everything. You get Roman legions, pike phalanxes,...
170 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Mar 253 min read
Ilipa reversed
The Society of Ancients Battle Day was a huge success with a dozen games refighting the decisive clash between Romans and Carthaginians...
187 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Mar 201 min read
Men and horses in glistening armour
After the Society of Ancients Ilipa Battle Day (this coming weekend) I rather fancy pitting my 6 mil Romans up against the Seleucids....
180 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Mar 53 min read
Almost Ilipa
With the Society of Ancients Ilipa Battle Day only a couple of weeks away it was time for a final test game with my 6 mil Carthaginians...
176 views3 comments
Simon MacDowall
Mar 22 min read
Jacobite joy followed by tears
Having raised the highland clans we gathered yesterday to re-fight Falkirk Muir (1746) with the aim of restoring the rightful King James...
115 views2 comments
Simon MacDowall
Feb 272 min read
Pavia 499 years on
Today, just three days after the 499th anniversary of the Battle of Pavia (24 Feb 1525), the French and Imperialists meet again. This...
353 views2 comments
Simon MacDowall
Feb 241 min read
'Alala! is launched
My rules for Greek Hoplite battles have now been published by the Society of Ancients. They are available from the Society website here....
98 views0 comments
Simon MacDowall
Feb 193 min read
Aethelwulf's Revenge
The British leaders were feeling confident and perhaps a little cocky after their previous Dux Britanniarum victory over the Saxons in...
80 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Jan 213 min read
Battle of Brothers
Following their defeat Somewhere in Spain, the Scipio Brothers (Gneaus and Publius) manage to withdraw in relatively good order to...
103 views0 comments
Simon MacDowall
Jan 182 min read
The Treasure of Caer Colun
The Saxons, raiding deep into British held Caer Colun, stole the treasures of Praefectus Firmum Coquus but had to bury the loot in order...
78 views3 comments
Simon MacDowall
Dec 10, 20232 min read
Somewhere in Spain 3rd C BC
It is finally time for my 6 mil Romans and Carthaginians to fight it out on the games table. I am also testing out changes to Legio VI...
406 views2 comments
Simon MacDowall
Dec 1, 20232 min read
Small Recruits for Carthage
I have now completed the four units of 6mm Spanish scutarii I need for my Carthaginian army. Recruited for the Society of Ancients Ilipa...
92 views6 comments
Simon MacDowall
Nov 17, 20232 min read
Downsizing
Over the past few years I have been playing with the big kids. Now I am revisiting my 6 mil ancients. My motivation is the Society of...
346 views4 comments
Simon MacDowall
Nov 13, 20233 min read
Stoke Field
Stoke Field (1487) is a most unusual and interesting battle, and the last engagement of the Wars of the Roses. After Bosworth the 10 year...
379 views5 comments
Simon MacDowall
Nov 9, 20231 min read
The Prussians are Coming!
I know very little about the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 but I recently had the pleasure of playing the Prussians at a game of the...
83 views4 comments
Simon MacDowall
Nov 8, 20231 min read
The Last Yorkists
Stoke Field (1487) was the last attempt by the Yorkists to regain the throne of England. These figures are also the last Yorkists I...
83 views0 comments
Simon MacDowall
Nov 5, 20231 min read
The Wild Irish
Next Sunday I shall be staging the last battle of the Wars of the Roses — Stoke Field (1487). Around 4000 Irish, led by Sir Thomas...
91 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Oct 23, 20231 min read
Society of Ancients Convention 2023
After a false start due to local flooding I managed to make it to the Society of Ancients Convention at Madingley Hall, Cambridge. With...
428 views3 comments
Simon MacDowall
Oct 12, 20233 min read
Battle in the Mist
At Barnet in the early hours of 14 April 1471, King Edward IV led his army through a thick mist to attack the Earl of Warwick’s...
215 views1 comment
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