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Simon MacDowall
Jul 6, 20241 min read
"He bade them their round shields rightly to hold"
The 2025 Society of Ancients Battle Day will feature the clash of Viking and English shieldwalls at Maldon (AD 991). In preparation for...
74 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Jun 19, 20242 min read
Rorke's Drift Revisited
After returning from a month away, wargaming action returned yesterday with a chance to lead half of the Zulu army attacking Rorke’s...
65 views3 comments
Simon MacDowall
May 11, 20241 min read
More Blue Painted Brits
Ancient British cavalry ride out to drive the Romans back into the sea.
43 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Apr 22, 20242 min read
Putting the Frighteners on the Romans
Blue painted Ancient Britons strike fear amongst the Romans.
201 views4 comments
Simon MacDowall
Apr 10, 20242 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,...
173 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Mar 25, 20243 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 20, 20241 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....
183 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Mar 5, 20243 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...
178 views3 comments
Simon MacDowall
Mar 2, 20242 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...
118 views2 comments
Simon MacDowall
Feb 27, 20242 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...
365 views2 comments
Simon MacDowall
Feb 24, 20241 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....
99 views0 comments
Simon MacDowall
Feb 19, 20243 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...
85 views1 comment
Simon MacDowall
Jan 21, 20243 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...
104 views0 comments
Simon MacDowall
Jan 18, 20242 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...
84 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...
410 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...
347 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...
395 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...
93 views0 comments
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