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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Phil Sabin's 'Phalanx' game available for free download

Phil Sabin has recently revised his Society of Ancients game 'Phalanx' and made it available for download from the files section of the Lost Battles yahoo group. An enterprising member has since made up a VASSAL module for the game so that it can be played live over the internet, by email, or solitaire on your computer.

The game itself is diceless and relatively simple, using only 1 page of rules. Two armies of equal size - 10 units and a baggage piece each - and strength face off across a hex board (a Commands & Colors: Ancients board does nicely), with a neat method of combat resolution (3 attacking units will rout a hoplite unit, 2 a peltast or cavalry unit, 1 the baggage unit, 4 the commander and his guard).

The object of the game is to rout four units and there is a simple victory point system so that players can play a series of games to determine an overall victor.

If you are interested, follow the link above to see more.

Note that the game can be played as a board game or with miniatures.

Phalanx game board, taken from the VASSAL module by Slava.
Sample deployment, again from the VASSAL module.




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8 comments:

  1. DeanMAugust 5, 2015 at 10:37 PM

    Thanks for the heads up. I may have to try it out sometime. Need to get an appropriate sized mat though.

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    Replies
    1. PrufrockAugust 6, 2015 at 10:21 AM

      Do you have any of the Commands & Colors / Battlecry family of games Dean? If so, you can use one of their boards.

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  2. Paul LiddleAugust 6, 2015 at 3:17 AM

    I was very keen on "Phalanx" when it was published in Wargames Illustrated back in the nineties. I used to prefer the diceless version ( there was a dice version too ) and extended it to include Imperial Romans.
    I used a cork notice board and 6mm soldiers, I reckon I might dig it all out and give it a run out!.

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    Replies
    1. PrufrockAugust 6, 2015 at 10:22 AM

      I think they were published in Slingshot, Paul? I may be wrong however. I'd like to try out the original game myself, actually.

      Delete
  3. Jonathan FreitagAugust 6, 2015 at 4:26 AM

    Thanks for the tip on Phalanx and Sabin's Lost Battles Yahoo Group. You have provided much to explore.

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  4. JohnAugust 11, 2015 at 2:38 AM

    Aaron, You seem to have dropped your gauntlet on the ground. Here. Let me pick it up for you. ;)

    I have not played this version but maybe we could give it a go sometime if you are up for it. Just give me a week to run through the rules and a test game.

    John

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