"Anyone bought the new edition of the Ancients intro ?" Topic

John Curry's wargames history publishing project has a new edition of the old WRG ancients guide (4th edition, published as an Airfix guide in the mid-1970's).

it now, I think, has been expanded and has WRG 6th editoon included.

Anyone bought it ?

Any thoughts ?

Anyone got both ? Any thoughts ?

Ah, "standing orders".
Memories, memories, memories…

I like standing orders – and feel they should be issued at the start of a battle. Otherwise you have the telepathic cavalry who just know that they are needed behind the hill on the other flank even though they can't see what's going on there.

Standing orders, though, should be interpeted by the umpire (if available). Sure, you can give your Irreguler D light cavalry orders that run to 500 words, and cover all possibilities :-

"if infantry on your left flank then move to the right unless there are heavy cavalry there in which case retreat one move in feigned flight, unless the infantry are light in which case attack them but try to do so in the flank unless by so doing you would expose your flank to the attack of an enemy unit within charge range unless there is an elephant or camel regiment positioned such that it would prevent the charge of enemy cavalry but would not disturb your own attack but if ….."

The umpire would look at them, rip them up and tell the cavalry "the general says charge at anything that moves into your way!".

And a good battle would result.

I have both 6th edition and an original purple primer. I also bought the John Curry book. For the most part, they are the same. Larger type and an occasional note by the editor. basically it is a copy to preserve my older editions.

I personally don't like written orders, much less standing orders. So, 6th edition took a step in the right direction by removing them.

So, if you want 6th edition and don't have a copy of the purple primer, now is your chance to get them together in one book.

Yes the orders in 6th is by far the best improvfement over 5th, & still a good set of rles.

I think many players got very confused about"standing orders", which I usually interpret as "standard tactical doctrine". The should have been very generic and suitable to the troop types. They would also give troops something to do if their original target is destroyed or moved way out of their ability to engage.

I say many instances of "standing orders" that looked way too much like specific contingency plans. Which an umpire should abuse to the fullest.

Yes, I think something was lost without orders and standing orders. Telepathy isn't great for wargames