"Tony Bath wargame featured at WMMS" Topic

We ran a 1960s style Tony Bath game (with original flats veterans of many a battle in Tony's Hyboria campaigns) as part of the Society of Ancients/Northampton Battlefields Society stand at WMMS …

The version of the game we played to was as published in 1962 by Don Featherstone. Although there are aspects of play and rulings that seem a little clunky by modern standards, the game plays well and develops a nice player and dice generated narrative …

(WMMS Bath game: it's all over for the Eastern army despite the success of their heavily armoured cataphract cavalry)

Otherwise WMMS seemed a very good show this year – the time flew by but I was able to get a break and buy what I needed (lots of great looking games around but I wasn't able to stay and chat with the presenters much … ) …

For more pics and narrative, see Ancients on the Move/WMMS 16

Triples next

Phil
SoA Shows North

Looks like a great show.

Phil,

Thanks for posting. Have you ever painted flats?

Hi Big Red …

The ones in the pictures were donated by Phil or acquired by friends (originally sold by Deryck Guyler before he move to Oz) …

But other parts of my collection include ones I have done myself ..

A commander for the Persians … or e.g., my favourite …

… some eye-candy/baggage for the Egyptians …

I would love to spend more time on them (and indeed that is the one day plan ) ..

Best

Phil

They're beautiful. I've always loved the look of Flats but have been too intimidated to try my hand.

…And you still have a Bellona bridge.

Nice to see. I also own part of Tony Bath's original armies (as painted by himself), they are even packed in the very box he used to store them in, as well as the complete history (vol 1 & 2) of his Hyborian campaign. Tony was a great guy, I still miss him very much.

Now that is a real blast from the past. I love it.

Rudi,

Have you ever thought of reprinting some of Mr. Bath's history of the Hyborian Campaign? I've read and re-read his Hyborian articles in Battle and Military Modeling and they are fascinating. I would love to see a copy or two of his campaign newsletter.

Bill.

@ geudens … indeed Rudi I think you showed them to me at Crisis a few years back (an inspiration … you see where these things go ) … I was doing a stand for the Society of Ancients …

@ Big Red … John Curry put a chunk in Tony Bath's Ancient Wargaming – and I think does have in mind a comprehensive compendium …

Phil

Phil, nice to hear from you; indeed, that was me and indeed, John Curry is a man with a plan…

To Big Red: Bill, your dreams might come true sooner than you think (but it won't be me doing the publishing). Can't say more for the moment, I'm afraid…

So, I can expect a book from the "History of Wargaming Project". I'd buy a copy in a minute!

Cyrus … I just emailed John Curry a link to this thread – hopefully he will pick up on the enthusiasm and maybe we will get an update. I know he likes to see what people are interested in …

Phil

Like Cyrus, count me in too!

I have quite a few of the issues, but not all and I would like anything, even remotely, linked to The Hyborian Campaign collected in one book! Lots of pictures of the "flats" used would be a plus. It would be a must buy book for me.

Great stuff Phil! I've always liked these rules. Played my own version of the H&M rules but have not gotten around to the Ancients set yet. Thanks for posting!

@ WatJ … thanks … it takes a readjustment (so many casualties compared to contemporary design styles*) but we enjoyed the game, especially the rampaging elephant rules and the way unlucky officer casualties can reverse the tide of one-way melees etc.

@ BillyFish … yes my Bellona bridge** just about survived (ignored for many years but now cherished like buried treasure rediscovered) … the plastic is a bit brittle unfortunately but I hope it will give a few more years' service

Phil
* these days we would probably hit the unit far fewer times but kick in harsher morale outcomes sooner (so a similar result by a different methodology perhaps) …
**a genuine mid 70s relic (bought with pocket money around 1972)

I have now assembled the unpublished Tony Bath Wargamer's Guide to Hyboria, (Reudi kindly supplied the last chapters). I will be publishing the book in due course.

That's good to know.