There are some books that I think are an absolute ‘must haves’ for wargamers … and TONY BATH'S ANCIENT WARGAMING: INCLUDING SETTING UP A WARGAMES CAMPAIGN AND THE HYBORIA CAMPAIGN is one of them.
I owned a copy of the original SETTING UP A WARGAMES CAMPAIGN that was published by WRG (the Wargame Research Group) but somewhere along the line I lost it. (I think that I lent it to someone who failed to give it back, but that person is adamant that they did return it … so it could be anywhere.) I also had copies of some – but not all – of the records of the famous Hyboria campaign. This book brings both of these together in one volume, along with the text of Tony’s PELAST AND PILA Ancient Wargame Rules.
The campaign rules contains the following chapters:
- Map movement
- Contact, battles and after effects
- Playing with umpires and without Supplies and replacements
- Guidelines on running campaigns in other periods.
The campaign rules are worth the cost of the book, as is the record of the Hyboria Campaign (the LEGEND OF HYBORIA) … so anyone who buys a copy will certainly get their money’s worth.
TONY BATH'S ANCIENT WARGAMING: INCLUDING SETTING UP A WARGAMES CAMPAIGN AND THE HYBORIA CAMPAIGN has been edited by John Curry and published by the History of Wargaming Project and is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardback editions (ASIN B01N2HI27I, ISBN 979 8 4999 9076 6, and ISBN 979 8 3951 7552 6 respectively for £9.99, £16.95, and £21.95; I opted for the hardback!!).
%20(1).jpeg)
Bob, I have the original and new versions; mostly because of the Hyboria material. The original Battle articles and other pieces are available on the internet, so a lot can be gleaned about how Tony organised and ran his campaign.
ReplyDeleteThere are consistent rumours of unpublished material.....
I prefer to use boardgames for campaigns where possible.
When it came to my Soldier King campaign, I used Tony's systems (tweaked slightly) to generate characters.
Neil
Neil Patterson,
DeleteI must admit that I find the Hyboria stuff quite addictive reading … especially as I know (or knew) several of the participants.
Funnily enough, my most successful recent campaign utilised the map from a game … Waddington’s CAMPAIGN.
All the best,
Bob
I own that edition of the book as well. It's a great book, full of lots of good ideas and inspiring material. Makes me wish I had had the opportunity to participate in a campaign like that.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteTaking part in a campaign like this can be a defining moment for a wargamer. I know, thanks to being a participant in the Madasahatta campaign.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteI have TWO copies of the Tony Bath book - one of which I have no recollection buying! I also have several of the 'Battle' and 'Mil Mod' issues in which the Hyboria chronicles were narrated. Fascinating. As far as the campaign ideas were concerned I found the later chapters on shorter and less elaborate campaigns Tony Bath ran the most interesting.
Incidentally, C.S. Grant's campaign book is also worth having for all sorts of campaign ideas.
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI’ve done something similar in the past … but usually they’ve been copies of Osprey books.
You are right regarding the chapters about other campaigns: they contain lots of great ideas.
I seem to remember having a copy of Grant’s book … but I am not sure where it is now.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
DeleteI forgot to mention Don Featherstone's classic 'Wargames Campaigns'. I don't gave a copy, but I recall it packed full of ideas - and was a bally good read into the bargain. Great for the more limited type of campaign.
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI do have a copy of Donald Featherstone’s book and look at whenever I want some inspiration for a mini-campaign.
All the best,
Bob
Tony's book and the Hyboria Campaign reports from Battle magazine most influenced me away from board games and into miniatures. I agree this is a must read book for everyone wanting to get an idea of Old School gaming and a how to start for campaigns.
ReplyDeleteWEK 3,
DeleteI’m not surprised that you found the book and magazine articles inspiring … I think that a lot of people do!
All the best,
Bob
It's a classic - I purchased the version John Curry published as I'd only read it as a library book before. All praise to JC for bringing so many wonderful books back into publication.
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteI could not agree more. John Curry’s ‘History of Wargaming’ Project - to which I have contributed - is a wonderful resource for the wargaming community.
All the best,
Bob
It's a great book. I have the WRG edition. just like the one I kept borrowing from the local library when I was at school. It should do well
ReplyDeletePompey Dave,
DeleteIt sure is! I also owned a copy of the original WRG book, but somewhere along the way I mislaid it.
All the best,
Bob
I am pretty sure I have a well-thumbed copy of the WRG version somewhere around here. I always loved reading about all of his ideas and his campaign, although I never had anyone to start a campaign with myself. And he went into more depth than I would likely have done.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reasons, my local libraries tended towards more Featherstone for wargaming books back in the day, so I often checked them out (and therefore never bought any, so my own wargaming library tends to run to other authors).
I am also glad that John Curry has brought back so many of these books, allowing many people like me to round out our libraries.
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteOne of the problems with campaigns is the tendency for them to become very complex … and I suspect that is one reason why campaigns often fail to come to a conclusion.
When I was a teenager, my local library only had Donald Featherstone’s first wargame book on its shelves. Luckily, almost opposite the library was a small local bookshop that sold me a copy of CHARGE and that later stocked a range of wargame books by other authors. By then I had a weekend job at the local Sainsbury’s supermarket and could afford to buy them.
John Curry has done a great service to wargaming by setting up the ‘History of Wargaming’ Project and making so many books available again, and I try to support his efforts whenever I can.
All the best,
Bob