Dominion of the Spear

Recently I received a copy of Steve Parker's DOMINION OF THE SPEAR wargame rules. I wanted to play test them before writing a detailed review, but as I lack any suitable Ancient figures, and what figures I do have are in storage, I was not able to do so until now. (Basically. I didn't read Steve's Introduction until last weekend. In it he states that it 'is a simple solo game played with paper and pencil and two dice'. Stupid me for not picking up on that sooner!)

DOMINION OF THE SPEAR is a simple set of solo Ancient wargames rules.

The armies used in the rules consist of three to six units which are determined by a points system that is included in the booklet. The battlefield is divided into eight areas:

There are four basic types of units:

• Melee Infantry with melee weapons.
• Missile infantry with long-range missile weapons.
• Melee Mounted with melee weapons.
• Missile Mounted with long-range missile weapons.

These units can be classified as armoured (+1 point) or not and/or as elite (+1 point) or not.

Some examples of units are:

• Melee Infantry: Ancient Egyptian Spearmen
• Armoured Melee Infantry: Greek Hoplites
• Missile Infantry: Persian Sparabara Archers
• Armoured Melee Mounted: Parthian Cataphracts
• Missile Mounted: New Kingdom Egyptian Chariot Archers

Units deploy on the battlefield with the back rank on both sides being the reserve area and the central three areas being the left, centre, and right sectors. A D6 dice throw determines which side is the attacker and which is the defender.

After each side has deployed their units, the battle begins. Combat takes place in each sector in turn, with the Missile troops firing before the Melee troops engage in combat. If a unit is destroyed, it can be replaced by a unit that is in the reserve area. The combat system uses a D6 die and is both simple and elegant.

The book includes a play through of the Battle of Hydaspes (326 BC) between Alexander the Great's Macedonians and King Porus's Indians, and going through it really helps the reader to understand how the game's mechanisms work.

The booklet also includes 196 army lists that are divided into the following periods:

• The Ancient Near East Age
• The Age of the Greek and Persian Wars
• The Age of the Romans
• The Dark Ages
• The Age of the Crusaders
• The Age of Mongol Invasions
• The Late Middle Ages

Designer Notes are also included along with a quick reference sheet on the back cover.

Since then, Steve has sent me a copy of his DOMINION OF THE SPEAR BATTLES EXPANSION booklet, which contains scenarios and army lists for thirty-six battles ranging from Megiddo (1479 BC) to Agincourt (1415 AD). The complete list is as follows:

• Megiddo 1479 BC
• Kadesh 1274 BC
• Arrapha 616 BC
• Thymbra 536 BC
• Marathon 490 BC
• Plataea 479 BC
• Gaugamela 331 BC
• Ipsus 301 BC
• Raphia 217 BC
• Cannae 216 BC
• Magnesia 189 BC
• Carrhae 53 BC
• Taurus 39 BC
• Edessa 260 AD
• Immae 272 AD
• Adrianople 378 AD
• Chalons 451 AD
• Badon Hill 517 AD
• Dara 530 AD
• Taginae 552 AD
• Yarmouk 636 AD
• Nechtansmere 685 AD
• Tours 732 AD
• Brunanburh 937 AD
• Lechfeld 955 AD
• Civitate 1053 AD
• Hastings 1066 AD
• Manzikert 1071 AD
• Dorylaeum 1097 AD
• Hattin 1187 AD
• Arsuf 1191 AD
• Ain Jalut 1260 AD
• Bannockburn 1314 AD
• Kulikovo 1318 AD
• Kosovo 1389 AD
• Agincourt 1415 AD

The scenarios and setup are very simple. For example, the Battle of Agincourt (1415) sees five French units (1 x Armoured Cavalry [Mounted men-at-arms]; 1 x Armoured Spearmen [Dismounted men-at-arms}; 2 x Spearmen [1 of which are Dismounted men-at-arm in mud]; and 1 x Crossbowmen) take on four English & Welsh units (1 x Armoured Spearmen [Dismounted men-at-arms with polearms]; and 3 x Elite Longbowmen [Welsh])

The booklet also includes some optional rules for unit activation, larger armies, and terrain.

Finally, the back cover has a Quick Reference Sheet for the rules.

Having played through a couple of the battles on paper (once you have realised that you do not need a physical board and figures to use these rules, just a piece of paper, a pencil, and two D6 dice!) I see them as an excellent alternative to the Fast Play 3 x 3 Portable Ancient Wargame rules, especially for the solo wargamer who has limited time and space but who still wants to fight campaigns. I thoroughly recommend these rules ... and at the price they are being sold at, in my opinion they are a bargain!

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DOMINION OF THE SPEAR was written by Steve Parker and published on Wargame Vault by Ork Publishing. As of today, they cost $5.56 ... which is about £4.50.

DOMINION OF THE SPEAR BATTLES EXPANSION was written by Steve Parker and published on Wargame Vault by Ork Publishing. As of today, they cost $5.56 ... which is about £4.50.