Old ancient games no. 4 (plus packaging re-visited)

Celts v Greeks

The last of the games that Mark and I played back in June was another game of ancients. This was a surprise for the Celts!

As the priests of both sides performed their sacrifices...

... the sheep continued "harmlessly passing their time in the grasslands awaaaay!"

Peacefully oblivious of the human struggle that was about to play out on the broad plain below their quiet hillside home.

The Celts (above) eager to come to grips with their Greek foes (below).

So they came on, lead by their chariots and a few warbands, the bulk of the latter in the second line with their chieftain.

On the left the cavalry were the first to come to grips, albeit indecisively.

The lead warbands ran into the Greek light infantry,

while the chariots hurtled towards the hoplite phalanx—not the best of ideas!

Eventually the Celtic horsemen on the left overcame their adversaries.

The chariots found the hoplites were not at all intimidated by them and barely affected by their throwing javelins.

The Celtic front line was breaking up, so victory would need to be achieved by the warbands behind.

The chariots were soon dispersed by the hoplites.

The warbands went in!

They began to have the better of the fight.

The élite nakeds could not breakthrough,

but the victory of the 'regular' warband to their left tipped the Greek army to their breakpoint.

A tough, ebb and flow battle but, with a bit of luck on their side, the Celts were victorious!


That concludes the series of brief reports of our games from back in June.

Next game for us is the Battle of Zama, 202 BC, which we'll play tomorrow. Report to follow soon...


Packaging revisited

Back in September, I posted some photos of damage to books that I'd received by mail and the subsequent sub-standard response from the shop, of which I'm now a former customer.

By contrast, check out the photos below of a suitably packaged order from the good people at Naval & Military Press.

Securely packaged, the contents were not going anywhere,

... plus they were placed in a plastic bag, to keep them together and protected should any damage occur to the packaging.

This package contained books for which I paid a mere two to three pounds each, plus 8.35 p & p, but the packaging was far, far superior to those that had cost me ten times the price!

Chalk and cheese, really.