I really can’t take claims that elves with lazerguns or Lord Sigmar the medieval spaceman have anything to do with ‘Wargaming’. Being nearly fifty years old I must be one of the few wargamers who never played Warhammer 40K.
Terry Wise’s “Introduction to Battlegaming” got me started when I was about twelve. Then the Airfix Guide to the ACW but proper wargaming started when I was in my mid-twenties with De Bellis Antiquitatis. On just a few sides of B5, you had the complete rules, a campaign system and literally hundreds of army lists. Set up costs were minimal with a two foot square playing area and a maximum of around fifty usually 15mm figures. I started with the Punic Wars and JonG started planning his Alexandrians. D.B.A. grew into De Bellis Multitudinis and I was hooked. It was only really when another sea change resulted in Field of Glory that I left Ancients behind and concentrated on World War Two and Flames of War. Now, over twenty years later, D.B.A. Is back with a smart make over and I’m smitten all over again. And, John Gallacher is still at the bloody planning stage of Alexandrians!

Using techniques honed on the card table, JohnG adds more figures than the measly twelve elements that the rules “suggest”!
Don’t be put off by the rather basic terrain that we set up, many players create miniature masterpieces. The games’ great strength of course is the way it plays. We played for a little over forty minutes including JonG’s lame attempt to chat up an alluring female role player!

In five minutes the table is laid out and Jon’s Switzers are deployed. Very subtle but what do you expect with the Swiss

Ten minutes in and the Swiss have careered forward! I wasn’t expecting Mr Careful to do that. It must have been the influence of the young lady?
The answer was no! Pikes proved to be extremely resilient.
It wasn’t to be. His pikes destroyed the flank assault and then proceeded to completely decimate the French horse. I didn’t even have time to sneakily loot the Swiss baggage!
Jon and I both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with the new improved DBA. The fine-tuning has renewed my interest. Movement rates especially have made a difference and reward aggressive play. Legoland beckons for the next few days but my Summer project was bought the day after….
Have you been spending money again!!
Your comments on DBA stimulated my interest, and so a shiny new copy of V3 DBA landed on the doormat yesterday!
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I wonder if the staff at Legoland will mind two middle aged men reenacting Agincourt in the Water park with chips and sugar sachets! Campaign under development between family arguments! See you tomorrow!
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Nice article. The attraction of 40k/fantasy is getting away from the train spotter wargamers. I play FOW and 40k and the difference is when you play anything historical there is always somebody telling you that’s the wrong detail for the Eastern front in 1943 or whatever. In fantasy you free to paint whatever your brush wants. Basically the sky is the limit. I enjoy all types of wargaming as they all have a different attraction😀
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I know what you mean and feel your pain! We don’t have many rivet counters here in Cardiff, you are lucky if we know which way the tank is facing!
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Lol
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If only there was a range of believable female fantasy figures……..😳
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I’m still researching an unrealistically proportioned series of “fantasy” miniatures!😉
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So what is your summer project Mike?
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Hi Phil,
DBA Medieval campaign! I ‘ve pencilled you in for the Black Prince? Hope to get outline done over the weekend. Are you interested?
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Definitely 🙂
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If you haven’t played DBA before we could always have the nasty Scots attack you from behind😁 before the campaign proper starts in Spain! As soon as die Fuhrer stops watching me sand the patio furniture, I’ll start posting the details!
Miguel
Ps John G is signed up as Portugal, Ken as France, Richard Bodley Scott as Pedro the Cruel of Castile, Rob as Granada, Damian as the Free Company….
It’s going to be massive!
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You planning 15mm?
Steve
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Just posted page on DBA campaign set in Medieval Europe. 15mm and maximum 36 elements a side? Plenty of scope for double dealing and skulduggery !!
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The only 15mm Medievals I have are WoTR. With all the archers in the list could I break them down to late Medieval English? Another option I guess could be Swiss as there are 80 pikes in the army – shame I don’t have an army list book! Any chance I could take a peek at one?
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Hi James,
It would be great to have you on board. You could be one of the free companies of the Hundred Years’ War period and use longbows and blades. I’m painting Hawkwood this afternoon! Or, you could threaten Phil’s rear with Scots? The Scots are pike and some bows. Plus, they are allied to the French. However Ken is the French! I’m down Taffs Well tonight but I can bring lists to Cardiff next Thursday? We could even fight some of the campaign battles???
See you soon
Mike
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Please bring the lists next Thursday for the English Free Company – the pikes really are pike length and not Scottish Spears. No chance the Swiss could attack the Frogs? I’ll need advice on re-basing the whole WoTR Army for future use. I seem to recall all foot units on 40mm x 20mm – the cavalry I cannot remember. I’ll start Googling and see what the web says is standard. In my metal bits box for melting down into musket balls is a whole Teutonic Army…might have to rescue it now for missing unit types. Just found this list for Free Company.
•3x 3Kn/4Bd
•2x 4Bd
•4x 4Lb
•2x 4Lb or 4 Bd
•1x 2Ps
Still accurate?
Cheers
James
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Hi Pal,
As campaign progresses I’h sure we’ll rope Switzerland into the war! List for free company is now;
General 3kn/blade
Three FRENCH or English 3kn/blade
Two German or spanish Knights 3kn
Two FRENCH 3blade or mounted bow
Three English longbow 4bw
One crossbow 4cb or Hungarian light horse or Breton pS
Basing is still 40mm wide, foot either 15 or 20mm deep for foot, all mounted 30 mm deep!
Speak soon
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