Men of Bronze: Ancient Greek Hoplite Battles

by Eric Farrington

Overview

Men of Bronze is a wargame that allows you to play out Classical Greek hoplite battles on the tabletop. Players are Strategoi (generals) leading phalanxes of bronze-clad warriors in pursuit of fame, glory, and the honor of their city-states. To win such prizes, however, you must prove your mettle, display your valor, and bring the other Strategoi to their knees!

Designed to recreate small battles or larger skirmishes with 50–80 figures per side, each army will have its own unique mix of rules, advantages, backgrounds, and abilities. Strategoi must understand and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of their forces in order to win glory on the battlefield. Of course, there's no telling what tricks a rival Strategos might have up their tunic sleeves . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472832610
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	04/23/2019
Series:	Osprey Wargames
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Eric Farrington has been a wargamer since the late 80s. He started his path in Fantasy and Sci-fi wargaming before moving into historicals. He has a BA in History from the University of Minnesota, is a corporate efficiency expert, and owns a number of small businesses including Blood and Spectacles Publishing. Eric is married with one child and has lived in Minnesota most of his life.

Table of Contents

First Principles 4

What You Need to Play 4

A Bit of History 7

Hoplites 9

Hoplite Warfare 9

Non-Hoplite Soldiers 10

Peltasts 10

Core Rules 11

Unit Profiles 11

The Turn Sequence 13

Phase Sequence 13

Arete Points 15

Moving 17

Terrain 19

Fighting 20

Shooting 25

End Phase 27

Advanced Rules 28

Leaders Killed 28

Phalanx Drift 29

Firing Over Friendly Units 29

Pursuing Routed Enemies 29

Special Rules 29

Phalanx 29

Drilled 30

Counter-charge 30

Pursue 31

Evade 31

Move and Shoot 32

Skirmisher 32

Units 32

Melee Infantry 32

Missile Infantry 35

Cavalry 36

Lines of Battle 38

Sample Armies 39

Battles 40

Scenarios 41

Scenario 1 Decisive Battle 42

Scenario 2 Ravage the Countryside 43

Scenario 3 Stop Them From Escaping 44

Scenario 4 Desecrate the Sacred 44

Scenario 5 Ambush 45

Complications 46

Identify Attacker/Defender 50

Choose Army Lists 50

Set-up Terrain 50

Deploy Forces 51

Historical Scenarios 52

Battle of Marathon 52

Battle of Thermopylae 53

Battle of Plataea 56

Battle of Sphacteria 57

Battle of Leuctra 58

Battle of Cunaxa 60

Battle of Chaeronea 61

Designer Notes 63

Editorial Reviews

This 64-page paperback takes on a fun tone as it helps a general find ways to achieve battlefield laurels while reminding a reader that there's no telling what a rival might have up the sleeves of his or her tunic.” —Toy Soldier & Model Figure

From the Publisher