"Hoplite Wars: A Video Introduction " Topic

my video expalining some basics to Hoplite Wars – I hope to have these published sometime in 2108…

d`oh 2018 :P

YouTube link

I hope you`ll find this of interest.

Not sure I can seriously wait that long…..could you manage 2100??

Should be well playtested by then…:-)

Interesting video. I will say though, that the Hoplites seem a bit more spread out on the bases than I'd expect.

Yeah, well, I will try to complete the project sometime in the 21st century :)

Personally, I did not like the comedy scenes or the "clown hand" used as a pointer.
Please consider writing a script, and not free talking, with so many "ahs" and "ums".

Is this the first in the series, as it has no context. Start with overview of the rules leading up to this episode. I understand that the Hoplites will drift, but why the cavalry. Do they just follow along with the Hoplites.

I`m sorry you do not appreciate my humour – but at least I can appreciate a joke at my own expense – I did not edit the 2108 target publication date set out in the first post.

Ummms and ahhhs – yeah sorry, but I`m human !

More of revelance to the rules will follow in another video – i can`t guarantee I`ll have the patience to make umpteen takes boring myself and others with a dry delivery and that i will not resist making light of the subject either.

I might even explain what cavalry do – and if they are really important in hoplite battles – who knows?

Yes, hoplite formation attempted to maintain an orderly phalanx. When they advanced upon the enemy their formation tended to drift to the right. Often gaps were created by this. If your aim is to re-create historical hoplite battles the game will be very boring. Real generals usually fought in the phalanx and had little control. In the end, you might as well have each player roll a d6 at the beginning of the game. High roll wins.

So Hans, are you suggesting that we should ALL approach game design in an unhistorical manner?

Or shouldn`t we bother ourselves with hoplite warfare at all?

There are things that CAN be done tactically to counter an expected overlapping, but more about this later perhaps?

All wargame rules are a compromise between historical accuracy and player control. Most ancient rules restrict control to a degree and encourage players to maintain formations. In DBA style games control usually breaks down after contact with the enemy as players usually don't have enough initiative to control their entire army. It's a reasonable compromise, often producing believable results. Hoplite battles were few and far between. The weaker side usually avoided battle. The addition of Thracians, Persians, and Macedonians to the mix makes Greek warfare more tactically interesting. Good luck with the rules👍.

Thanks for your good wishes!

I was probably going to say it in my next video anyway which will focus on charging and combat, but I think I need to say that once hoplites are engaged, it is not easy to disengage or do anything much else apart perhaps from attacking the enemy`s flanks with unengaged hoplite bases on the wings (usually the right).
Light and medium infantry on each army`s flanks may contribute but they are more difficult to control…and more probably cancel each other out anyhow.
Cavalry are limited in power against hopltes but they may be useful to prevent and enemy from pursuing.

I have tried to allow players choices and some control in games but only those that would be historical possiblities.

A Macedonian and Successor set is in the pipeline…