Remembering PRESTAGS

The Return of PRESTAGS?

I opened the latest Strategy and Tactics last week and the map reminded me of something!

Of course prettier, but structurally just like PRESTAGS. The leader counters are reminiscent, though again prettier.

The archer and artillery had similar factors, but the absence of skirmishers (on of my favourites) was noticeable.

The combat results table was different, but not completely so - more like an evolution.

The title of the magazine - Fight the Fall. It features two battles from the end of the Roman empire. Desperate times for everyone, but the empire no longer represented anything worth saving: much the way Spetz sees 21st century capitalist democracies.

PRESTAGS Gold Medal

Many thanks to my fine friends who celebrated my birthday with me on Zoom.

Chinese food and Charddy was compulsory.

A PRESTAGS gold medal goes to Python for the best Charddy quaff.

September 22 - Feast of Saint Maurice and Companions

Happy name day to Python!

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Maurice and Companions.

Maurice was an officer of the Theban Legion. There are two things that set this legion apart from other Roman legions of the time. First, the high number of legionnaires, and second it was made up exclusively of Christians. It was called the Theban Legion (Alkateeba al Teebia) because the men were Egyptian Christian Copts recruited from and stationed in Thebes in Upper Egypt. The leaders of the Theban Legion were Mauritius (St Maurice or St Moritz), Candidus and Exupernis (Exuperantius).

The Thebean legion was one of those which were sent by Dioclesian (who was co-ruler with Maximian) out of the East to compose his army for his expedition into Gaul. The Theban Legion reached Maximian’s army in Gaul to engage the Bagaude by way of the St Bernard’s Pass in the Alps. Here in AD 286  Maximian, fearing religious dissent, organized a universal sacrifice, in which the whole army was required to participate and swear an oath of allegiance, as well as promise to assist in the extermination of Christianity from Gaul. Maximian was uncompromising: he organized the un-Roman rite of adoratio (proskynesis in Greek), which was the Persian rite of worship to the Shah-I-Shah as a living god, translated over to the Roman emperor. Worshippers were obliged to prostrate themselves before the emperor three times, ironically and poignantly for the Christians, as it was just as Satan had asked of Jesus

Maurice and his fellow legionnaires refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods as ordered by the Emperor to insure victory over rebelling Bagaudae. When they refused to obey repeated orders to do so and withdrew from the army encamped at Octodurum (Martigny) near Lake Geneva to Agaunum (St. Maurice-en-Valais), Maximian had the entire Legion of over six thousand men put to death.

The entire legion refused point-blank to sacrifice or take the oaths, incensing Maximian, whoordered the decimation of the legion at Martigny. It was not to be any ordinary decimation. When every tenth man had been butchered, the survivors bucked the trend and enthusiastically reasserted their Christian faith, further enraging Maximian; 666 more soldiers then met their deaths, their blood turning the Rhone and its flood plain crimson. This was repeated until all the soldiers were dead. To the end they were encouraged in their constancy by Maurice and two fellow officers, Exuperius and Candidus. Not all the members of the legion were at Aguanum at the time of the massacre. Some were posted at various points along the military road linking Switzerland with Germany and Italy. These were systematically martyred wherever they were found.

From Father Alban Butler “Saint Maurice and His Companions, Martyrs”. Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints, 1866:

"The emperor sent forth fresh threats that it was in vain they confided in their multitude; and that if they persisted in their disobedience, not a man among them should escape death. The legion, by the advice of their generous leaders, answered him by a dutiful remonstrance, the substance of which was as follows: “We are your soldiers, but are servants of the true God. We owe you military service and obedience; but we cannot renounce Him who is our Creator and Master, and also yours, even whilst you reject him. In all things which are not against his law we most willingly obey you, as we have done hitherto. We readily oppose all your enemies, whoever they are; but we cannot dip our hands in the blood of innocent persons. We have taken an oath to God before we took one to you: you can place no confidence in our second oath, should we violate the first. You command us to punish the Christians: behold we are all such. We confess God the Father, author of all things, and his Son, Jesus Christ. We have seen our companions slain without lamenting them; and we rejoice at their honour. Neither this extremity to which we are reduced, nor any provocation hath tempted us to revolt. We have arms in our hands; but we do not resist, because we had rather die innocent than live by any sin.”

This legion consisted of about six thousand six hundred men, who were all well armed, and might have sold their lives very dear. But they had learned to give to God what is God’s, and to Cæsar what is Cæsar’s, and they showed their courage more in dying than they had ever done in the most hazardous enterprises."

Python loves a good statue:

Interestingly, in relation to Python's second name (and no offense to Alexander the Great), there is a Saint Alexander in the story of the Theban Legion.

Alexander of Bergamo is said to have been a survivor of the decimation of the Theban Legion who escaped to Milan, where he was recognized and imprisoned until he renounced his Christian faith. Nevertheless, Alexander escaped and fled to Como, only to be captured again and brought back to Milan where he was condemned to death by decapitation, but during the execution the executioner’s arms went stiff. He was imprisoned again and once again managed to escape, ending up in Bergamo. Alexander was yet again captured and was  decapitated on 26 August AD 303, where the church of San Alessandro in Colonna now stands.

From the Weapons and Warfare Website:

"Saint Maurice is one of the most popular saints in Western Europe, with over 650 foundations in his name in France alone. Five cathedrals, countless churches, chapels and altars are consecrated in his name all over Europe. Aguanum (Saint Maurice en Valais) has always remained the capital city of veneration of the Thebans and a major pilgrimage resort. An all-night vigil on the night before the feast is regularly attended by up to 1,000 people. On the actual feast day, they carry the relics of the martyrs in the ancient silver caskets. Over seventy towns bear the name of Saint Maurice. In the monastery carrying his name in Switzerland, the vigil ‘Tasbeha’ has been chanted continuously twenty-four hours a day without stopping for more than 500 years now. On 19 July 1941, Pope Pius XII declared Saint Maurice patron Saint of the Italian Army’s Alpini Mountain Infantry Corps".

The Abbey of St. Maurice, Agaunum (French: Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune or Saint-Maurice-en-Valais) is a Swiss monastery  which dates from the 6th century. The abbey  is best known for its connection to the story of the martyrdom of the Theban Legion, its original practice of perpetual psalmody, and a collection of art and antiquity:

There is also the famous Saint Maurice Cathedral in Angers. Here are two shots (notice also cleverly getting a moon into this post):

 

Field of Glory: Empires - Looks Like A Must Purchase

Field of Glory: Empires is out and it certainly looks very good.

It has rave reviews:

I think I feel a definite purchase coming on.

It is $56.95 and can be purchased on Steam.

It appears to be $47.99 when purchased from Matrix Games.

The graphics look great. There is a Masters Edition Bundle allowing you to integrate with Field of Glory II.

I wonder what the multi-player potential is like.

The specs indicate that Gollum will not be able to handle it.

There is a link to the PDF Manual here.

 

Bad Python

Bad Python ruined the PRESTAGS card so it has needed to be laminated.

Thygo Still Hasn't Guessed

Thygo aka Precious has still not solved the riddle of Shirley aka Spetz's new camera "accessory".

I've been deliberately evasive.

It is not a lens to Spetz's Nikon.

It's a different camera. It's got 5 MP. It doesn't have a flash, but it has it's own light source.

Think outside the box.

Tristan The Turnip

This is my friend Tristan the Turnip.

On the basis that we are all healthy enough to attend the Boys Weekend, I hope to bring Tristan.

Very special things will be done with Tristan if Thygo does not say "no" at least five times every hour.

Totally Awesome

Ah yes, I see it. The game library includes 5 PRESTAGS games. There are 2 of Chariot, and only Yeoman is missing.

Someone must have bought the last Yeoman on ebay.

Rome Total War-Barbarian Invasion

Here is a fun game that I have played on and off for years (it must be over 10 years old). Basically, you start as Rome in the fifth century, with awesome armies, a big empire...

and then the horde arrives

These are Vandals, but there are also Franks, Lombards, Celts, Huns, Goths, Parthians etc. There armies are huge, their generals are nearly unstoppable, and they move in such masses that victory in battle is rare.

The battles are PRESTAGS on steroids: spearman, swordsmen, archers, cavalry, leaders, each with their strengths and weaknesses that you can manoeuvre with God-like precision to take a flank, stiffen a front, or run away to right another day.

However, being the fifth, you have another problem. Christianity is taking root in the empire. So you have to choose to follow Constantine or Julian the Apostate. This means that there is massive unrest in the empire, cities frequently revolting if they do not like your religion. If you build a church in the city, the pagans revolt, if you move a heroic pagan general into a Christian city (to rebuild his battered armies), the Christians revolt. The only solution I have found to this is lots and lots and lots and lots of crucifixions of rebels.

Paul would be impressed to know that you can take Catholic Priests into battle:

While they are useless at battle, when they chant next to your soliders they fight better and the enemies are disheartened. They also speed conversions.

Finally, you are broke at the start. So broke that you cannot afford to pay your army (which means you get more revolts). I find that you have disband all your best troops early on, accept that you will lose a lot of cities quickly, and rebuild your economic infrastructure: road, ports, markets. Cities are fun to improve, but a bit repetitive, something that has been changed in later Total War games:

Your mission, should you play long enough (this is the first time I have completed this game - it takes  loooong time), it to reunite the key provinces of the Roman empire:

When you do, you get a short movie (5 seconds - a bit underwhelming) and the offer of one more turn!

Being so old, this game should run on anything and is still sold for about $10. So if you have nothing to do with the next three months of your life....

Pizzas

Paul has been to Rome and he rates the pizzas 10 out of 10. Thin soft bases, real mozzarella, not too much tomato. Normally one topping only, eg salami. Melts in the mouth.

Paul's favourite pizza: anchovie. Can't even take a photo before a slice is ripped away.

PRESTAGS Article

I have found a nice pdf article about the PRESTAGS games, with a focus on the different units. The article is titled "Ancient and Medieval Armies" by Jerrold Thomas and it is a scan of a Moves Magazine article.

The link is:

http://www.spigames.net/MovesScans/Prestags_Article.pdf

There are also some nice maps showing unit types and map movement. One example is the battle of Arbela:

Another example is the Battle of Casilinium:

Finarvyn, Merctime, kesher, Otto Harkaman & derv Discuss PRESTAGS

My compliments to Finarvyn, Merctime, kesher, Otto Harkaman and derv!

Who are these persons? They are a D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) discussion group that held a discussion about PRESTAGS in the period 27 May 2015 to 3 June 2015. Yes, PRESTAGS lives and is appreciated by other wargamers in addition to our good selves.

I include both the link to the D&D PRESTAGS discussion on the internet in addition to a colour pdf that I have made of this discussion and uploaded to this website so it is preserved for posterity: Download D&D PRESTAGS Discussion

The D&Ders have recalled how they used PRESTAGS to recreate fantasy battles, including mixing PRESTAGS counters with other counters from fantasy wargames in the 1970s. This is a sample from Finarvyn:

I was also pleased to hear about an army captain teaching university students how to play PRESTAGS as told by Otto Harkaman:

Otto writes that he now has "all of the PRESTAG rules which I've acquired in a sort of a quest like fashion" which reminds me of my own quest 35 years after the publication of PRESTAGS to complete my own collection by purchasing two missing games on ebay. I had Spartan, Legion and Viking from the 1970s, but I had to acquire my own copies of Chariot and Yeoman as I approached the age of 50. I think Python still needs Yeoman to complete his collection.

Needless to say I agree with many of the comments in this very interesting discussion, especially "we ought to have a thread about SPI's wonderful PRESTAGS wargame",  "As far as historical eras go, anything that can spawn from the dawn of time through the Middle Ages has to be awesome" and "there is a good sized cult following of the games". I'm not sure how large the cult actually is, but PRESTAGS certainly deserves a cult, it was a wonderful wargame and it still is awesome.

Well done chaps. PRESTAGS lives!

Storage in Caravans

Modern caravans have lots of storage options for essential items.

Moves, Nostalgia and Strategy I

The Python always shares his excitement when a new Strategy & Tactics magazine arrives. Now that I have subscribed my own excitement will be up to the same levels as the Python.

However, I didn't want to wait two months so I ordered a Moves magazine on eBay. Massive excitement today as my Moves magazine arrived.

This is no ordinary magazine, this is issue number 26 published in April/May 1976. Almost 40 years old and in excellent condition. All the nostalgia from the mid 1970s and SPI's glory days came flooding back to me, and this will keep me pumped for at least a week. There is a very interesting article titled "Field Report: SPI's Friday-Night Follies" by Phil Kosnett which provides a glimpse into SPI's Friday night play testing and the various personalities involved. I've made a pdf copy of this article for the Python: Download SPI's Friday-Night Follies.

I love the SPI Order Form in the middle of the magazine, which includes the five PRESTAGS games and they were only $8 each.

I notice the game "Strategy I: Strategic Warefare, 350BC to 1984" which is described as "Perhaps the most extensive simulation every produced, it covers all the aspects of warfare in seventeen scenarios from Alexander the Great to the potential nuclear holocaust". Did we ever come across this game? It sounds like it has great late-night and red-wine gaming potential.

I have looked up Strategy I on boardgamegeek and it is a very early game, 1971, designed by Jim Dunnigan, Stephen Patrick, Redmond Simonsen and our own John Young. It is for 2 to 8 players with 4 players recommended. We should track down this game!

John Michael Young

The Python, ever the determined researcher, has gone back to the early Strategy & Tactics magazines and found John Young's death notice (S&T 69), and an interesting reference to John in Notes From Underground (S&T 66). I reproduce these:

I share at least three things with John Young: a degree in history, experience with water pistol fights, and a love of wargames (especially ancient era ones). Thanks again Python for finding these references.

SPI Ancient Units

I have come across a pdf document on the internet called "SPI Icon Library". I attach the document  Download SPI_Icon_Library here.

What is particularly interesting is that all of the PRESTAGS units are included, plus others from ancient era games. I recognize units from Conquistador. I can't think what game the Loch Ness Monster was in! There are lots of extra cool cavalry units that the Python will love.

A Very Sad Discovery

When this Blog first commenced it recognized the brilliance of John Michael Young, the designer of PRESTAGS.

I never knew until today that John Young (born 2 September 1947) died in May 1978, aged only 30. This was only three years after PRESTAGS was published. I will have a Mass offered for him.

Below are two photographs from early SPI days. In the first photo, John Young is standing next to Redmond Simonsen and his face in hidden. In the second photo, John is sitting down and having a smoke while playing a wargame.

John Young was employed as SPI's accountant and he designed games in his 'spare time'. I read in boardgamegeek that he was assigned to pre 19th century wargame design although he also seems to have designed one American Civil War game and a World War I game.

The games for which he was the primary designer include at least the following:

1. Chariot
2. Spartan
3. Legion
4. Viking
5. Yeoman
6. Borodino
7. Austerlitz
8. The Fall of Rome
9. The Marne
10. Lee Moves North
11. Musket and Pike
12. Rifle and Saber

I pray that John Young is at the great wargame convention in the sky, enjoying a game.

A Boys Weekend Lottery Ticket

To celebrate the fact that it is only one week until the Boys Weekend, I have decided to purchase a Boys Weekend lottery ticket. This is strictly on me, my treat, but any winnings will be shared in equal thirds with the Python and ThygoCanberra.

I wanted something special, so I chose the US MegaMillions lottery which has a current jackpot of US $87 million. I'm going for 5 games (because there are five PRESTAGS wargames) running for five draws on 2 August, 6 August, 9 August, 13 August and 16 August (Australian time). This covers the Boys Weekend and the days around it.

The MegaMillions has ridiculous odds of 1 in 259,000,000 to win the jackpot, and involves selecting five main numbers (from 1-75) and a Mega or Power Ball (from 1-15) for each game. Even with a total of 25 games the odds are still an insane 1 in 10,360,000. There is more chance of being struck by lightning, or of Thygo being abducted by aliens during the Boys Weekend, than winning this jackpot.

Having chosen the lottery, my next  task was to choose the numbers. Of course, these numbers needed to be related in some way to PRESTAGS, so I gave it my best shot.

Game #1 is the Chariot numbers. PRESTAGS was published in 1975, and Chariot is the first of the five games, so 19 and 75 were obvious choices. I then got some iconic Chariot game units, and derived 4 from the movement allowance of the class 6 leader (only Chariot has class 6 leaders), 22 from the fire strength and range allowance of the bowman, 33 from the melee strength and movement allowance of militia spearmen, and a powerball number of 9 being the unique movement allowance of the chariot unit. The number 22 is also of PRESTAGS fame thanks to the adventures of MI 22.

Game #2 is the Spartan numbers. The cover of Spartan carries the subtitle "The time is: Summer 202 BC". This provides 20 and 2. Looking at some iconic Spartan game units, we derive 37 from fire strength and range allowance of the ballista, 43 from the melee strength and movement allowance of professional spearmen, and then 64 from the melee strength and movement allowance of the big boys, the professional pikemen. Last but not least is a nice powerball 6 from the movement allowance of elephants.

Game #3 is the Legion numbers. The cover of Legion also has a subtitle: "The time is: December 50 BC". This is great, a 12 and especially a 50. The 50 is a must for the PRESTAGS rantings of the over 50 year old wargamers. Turning to some iconic Legion game units we have a 39 from the melee strength and movement allowance of Byzantine cataphracts, a 44 from the melee strength and movement allowance of the classic swordsmen, and a 65 from the melee strength and movement allowance of barbarian infantry. To give Python another cavalry unit, we derive a powerball 2 from the melee strength of oriental cavalry.

Game #4 is the Viking numbers. Vikings means Thygo and something distinctive is required. The Viking game includes special rules [3.6] for viking ferocity, and the first viking attack odds can be accelerated up to 6-1. This gives a 36 and a 61. The iconic Viking game units include third class leaders with a movement allowance of 9, the crossbowmen with a fire strength of 2 and a range allowance of 3 producing 23, and the axemen with a melee strength of 3 and a movement allowance of 4 producing 34. For the powerball number we can't go past the viking ship with its lengthy unique movement allowance of 15.

Game #5 is the Yeoman numbers. The cover of Yeoman has a very precise subtitle: "The time is: Morning 24 June 1314". Perfect. A 24 (which is also the fire strength and range allowance of the late arquebusiers) and a 13. To these numbers Yeoman can add a 30 from the combat bonus and movement control radius of a 4th class leader, a 47 from the melee strength and movement allowance of heavy cavalry, and a 73 from the huge range allowance and fire strength (using this order) of the heavy artillery. And what about the last powerball? I like the simple 4, the range allowance of the unique Yeoman late arquebusiers. Plenty of gunpowder in Yeoman: hopefully enough to blow the MegaMillions towards PRESTAGS!

There we have it, the unique PRESTAGS lottery numbers. Having selected these deeply meaningful numbers, yesterday I proceeded to purchase the 5 games x 5 draws. After a wait in Australia (mostly while I slept) a trusty agent in the United States purchased a MegaMillions ticket with the PRESTAGS numbers, and sent me a scanned copy. This is for the first draw, the following draws will be the same:

Win or lose, the PRESTAGS numbers have now been used, and PRESTAGS boys are happy. Good luck for the Boys Weekend.

WE HAVE BEEN GOING ONE YEAR!

A huge thank you to the Python and Thygo, and all the other contributors. May this mad blog prosper for another year.

The Stats:

468 Total posts

992 Total Comments

34.33 Page Views per Day

12,531 Lifetime Page Views

 

Something to play while waiting for an empire turn

Empire turns are as rare as duck teeth these days. I do agree that anyone sending the Python a turn is on a hiding to nothing, but you should never lose heart, no matter how many times you are defeated. While I am sitting at my desk waiting for the turn, I enjoy the game shown below. Any guesses on what I am playing? If so, what is my next move?

I suppose if I get this hand out, I should do a retort post on the status of Climate Change. (I am astounded that the Coalition has brought out a white paper on farming challenges for the next 20 years and there is no mention of the challenge of dealing with changing rainfall and other climate related challenges.) Anyway, if your debate opponents refuse to consider any truths that upset their world view, you must alway remember to no join them in the mud. Let's see if we can't find where all the extra heat is going.

PRESTAGS Art

MI22 wants to see more PRESTAGS art.

MI22 has a prize of a $100 gift voucher for Noble Knight Games for whoever produces the best PRESTAGS art in the next 6 months. Children's entries get bonus points.

MI22 explores the creative side of his militia personality with two entries of his own:

"Vikings in a Spruce Tree"

 

Art Critic Says: "A deep work that captures the sense of a viking camouflage after a secret landing. The quiet before the storm. A profound three dimensional snapshot of Scandinavia".

 

 

"Legion on the Move"

 

Art Critic Says: "A masterpiece of movement and determination. The Ford candlewagon recalls the Roman legions' long marches across the roads of the empire".

All You Get is Complaints

It may have been a mistake to let the other units know I'm going to New Zealand. All I'm getting now is complaints. They should have shown some initiative like me with my long range exploration, insteading of sleeping in their counter boxes. Where were they when I advanced deep into the server room?

Rest assured Paul and PythonMagus that I will deal with these complaints, and hopefully you will not be bothered.

I received a complaint from Swordsmen SD 9. I have responded "Perhaps next time".

I received a complaint from Professional Spearmen PS 5. I have responded "If I could bring any unit it would be yours, unfortunately the logistics and long term bookings prevent a change of plans at short notice".

I received a complaint from Bowmen BW 4. I have responded "If you're going to fight over your bows you can stay at home until your learn some discipline".

I received a complaint from Militia Spearmen MS 7. I have responded "Do I really need to tell you what the chance is of a militia infantry unit travelling with a militia spearmen unit? You are pathetic. You look more scared than scary".

I received a complaint from Professional Pikemen PP 2. I have responded "I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have never understood where the professional comes from. Are you defending against sparrows?"

I received a complaint from Viking Fleet VF 3. I have responded "A whole fleet unit is a tad excessive. And I'm not sure that the boat will comply with the baggage requirements".

I received a complaint from Elephants EL 2. I have responded "You will be missed, however quarantine rules prevent your travel".

I received a complaint from Barbarian Infantry BI 19. I have responded "You are correct, I do owe you a favour. Let me see what I can do, especially if it is only the seven of you. I will need to speak to Mr Python".

And I even received a complaint from Militia Infantry MI 1. I have responded "No".

(I'm sorry about Eric's lack of proper attire. It tarnishes the good name of militia infantry everywhere. I shall write to him separately. And yes, Derek's helmet is a joke).

Failed Disguises

Both PythonMagus and Thygocanberra have failed to hide their identities with these disguises:

You are a disgrace to Legion and to Viking.

Come to my Prestags Party

Dress compulsory. (Can anyone pick the movie?)

Mark This Day

Mark this day as a big day for PRESTAGS.

First, PythonMagus has taken Moderni Agone (code for computer PRESTAGS) to the beta testing stage. An amazing achievement in such a short period of time. I look forward to driving him crazy as I reveal all the bugs. To celebrate I have created the Moderni Agone category and gone back and added this to relevant posts.

Second, the first wave of PRESTAGS.com rewards have arrived. Yes, PRESTAGS mugs and PRESTAGS playing cards.

I will send these to the Python and Thygomoonshine as soon as I can. Suggestions for the second wave of PRESTAGS rewards are most welcome.

PRESTAGS of the Rings

In 1977, SPI published "War of the Ring", a board wargame based upon JRR Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". The game included a strategic adventure and wargame, and two related games, "Sauron" and "Gondor".

Being both an avid wargamer and a complete Tolkien fan, I purchased "War of the Ring". I still have this game, and indeed it resides it my boxes of 'the best of the best' along with (needless to say) PRESTAGS.

For fans of PRESTAGS, published two years earlier in 1975, there was a wonderful treat with "War of the Ring" (WOTR). The treat was: many of the awesome PRESTAGS counter pictures were used in the counters for WOTR. I have studied both of these epic games and I have identified ten (10) units where the same counter picture was used.

Number 1. The PRESTAGS axemen and (surprise, surprise) the WOTR Dwarves.

Number 2. The PRESTAGS archers and (again, no surprise) the WOTR Elves.

Number 3. The PRESTAGS heavy cavalry and the WOTR heavy cavalry of Rohan and Gondor.

Number 4. The PRESTAGS swordsmen and the WOTR swordsmen of Gondor.

Number 5. The PRESTAGS Improved bowmen and the WOTR Mordor Orcs bowmen.

Number 6. The PRESTAGS militia spearmen and the WOTR spearmen of Elves and Gondor.

Number 7. The PRESTAGS oriental horse archers and the WOTR Rohan horse archers.

Number 8. The PRESTAGS barbarian infantry and the WOTR Orcs (entirely appropriate).

Number 9. The PRESTAGS elephants and the WOTR Haradrim Mumakil elephants. The hobbits called these oliphaunts.

Number 10. The PRESTAGS ballista and the WOTR catapults.

There are of course many unit counters that are unique to each of PRESTAGS and WOTR, with ten examples in the following collage. However, for me there will always be a special bond between these two games, both from the great SPI at the high water mark of their game publications in the mid to late 1970s. Back when I was in high school. And mad about wargames. And mad about Tolkien. And still am.

PRESTAGS Reinforcements

I have acquired two new PRESTAGS games: Chariot and Legion. Here they are already in Australia on my boardroom table.

I already have all of the PRESTAGS but you can never have too many copies of the world's best board wargame.

I don't believe PythonMagus has Chariot, so this game is going to him. He deserves it for all of his posts and the hard work on a computer version of PRESTAGS. I'm not sure about Legion yet.

Stone me for heresy but.....
I think there is an error in the Prestags combat results table. If so, Viking (thanks again Paul), Legion and Spartan have it. I suggest that the roll of 3 on the 5:1 column (against non-disrupted troops) should be ½E.

Any votes for how the combat table in Sgatserp should work?

A Simple PRESTAGS Quiz

This is a very easy PRESTAGS quiz question.

Question: What does the following picture have to do with PRESTAGS?

Come on, this is easy.

First Clue:

Second Clue:

Third Clue (and this really gives away the answer):

Too easy.

Day Two = Bring it on. I'll go Yellow.

(Before you get too excited, I haven't told you what the stacking is yet)

PRESTAGS Counter of the Week (1): Swordsmen

Welcome to the PRESTAGS counter (or unit) - the Swordsmen.

The Swordsmen unit represents at least 100-125 men, and is the only military unit to appear in all five of the PRESTAGS games. The leader counters 1 to 4 are the only other counters in all of the games.

Not surprisingly, the Swordsmen unit is at the heart of the third (and middle) PRESTAGS game: Legion.  In the Roman civil war scenarios, most of the counters are Swordsmen. These are some of my favourite scenarios, and the ones I remember most.

I think the Roman Legionary epitomises the Swordsmen. When I see the SD counter, I think Roman Legionary (and the occasional Centurion).

Do not be deceived by the apparent 'spears' in these pictures of Roman legionaries. They are the Pilum, a heavy type of javelin used for throwing and for pinning the shields of enemies. In most periods of Roman history each Legionary carried two. But at heart, the legionary was a close quarter swordsman, and the famous Roman short sword was designed to both slash and cut, and to stab. In disciplined ranks, the Roman swordsmen were deadly.

What on Earth is PRESTAGS? (2) Credit Where Credit is Due

Before any further posts are published, we should give credit where credit is due. 

The five PRESTAGS games were designed by John Young, and published by SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc) in 1975.

Extremely well done John and all the very best wherever you may be (or, as we say in Australia, you little ripper!)

What on Earth is PRESTAGS? (1) ..."What's in a name?"

You mean you don't know?!

The answer is of such monumental importance and interest that it will require many, many posts to deal with properly.

Let's just start by explaining the name. PRESTAGS = Pre-Seventeenth Century Tactical Game System. PRESTAGS is in fact five games, and each game covers numerous historical battles.

The battles covered are:

CHARIOT  Tactical Warfare in the Biblical Age, 3000-500BC

The Delta (1675 BC), Babylon (1595 BC), Megiddo (1469 BC), Kadesh (1294 BC), Sinai (c. 1225 BC), Qarqar (854 BC), Tabal (706 BC), Charchemish (608 BC), Thymbra (546 BC), Bubastis (c. 3000), Armageddon (609 BC), Lake Regillus (c. 496 BC), The Aequi (458 BC).

SPARTAN  Tactical Warfare in the Hellenistic Age, 500-100BC

Marathon (490 BC), Plataea (479 BC), Corinth (394 BC), Mantinea (362 BC), Chaeronea (338 BC), Granicus (334 BC), Issus (333 BC), Arbela (331 BC), Ipsus (301 BC), Heraclea (280 BC), Asculum (278 BC), Beneventum (275 BC), Cannae (216 BC), Zama (202 BC), Cynoscephelae (197 BC), Magnesia (190 BC), Pydna (168 BC).

LEGION  Tactical Warfare in the ROMAN Age, 100BC-700AD

Numidia (106 BC), Vercellae (101 BC), Apulia (71 BC), Cabira (72 BC), The Sambre (57 BC), Carrhae (53 BC), Pharsalus (48 BC), Second Phillippi (42 BC), Teutoburgerwald (9 AD), Minden (16 AD), Boudiccan Revolt (61 AD), Lugdunum (197 AD), Euphrates (261 AD), Placentia (271 AD), Ctesiphon (363 AD), Adrianople (378 AD), Chalons (451 AD), Daras (530 AD), Busta Gallorum (552 AD), Casilinum (554 AD).

VIKING  Tactical Warfare in the Dark Ages, 700-1300AD

Qadisiya (637 AD), Tours (732 AD), Constantinople (860 AD), Paris (885 AD), Lourain (891 AD), Hamburg (988 AD), Balthusta (1014 AD), Clontarf (1014 AD), Cannae II (1017 AD), Civitate (1053 AD), Cerami (1063 AD), Stamford Bridge (1066 AD), Hastings (1066 AD), Manzikert (1071 AD), Durazzo (1082 AD), Dorylaeum (1097 AD), Hattin (1187 AD), Liegnitz (1241 AD), El Mansura (1250 AD).

YEOMAN  Tactical Warfare in the Renaissance Age, 1250-1550AD

Legnano (29 May 1176 AD), Benevento (26 February 1266 AD), Falkirk (22 July 1298 AD), Courtrai (11 July 1302 AD), Bannockburn (24 June 1314 AD), Crecy (26 August 1346 AD), Agincourt (25 October 1415 AD), Arbedo (30 June 1422 AD), Barnet (1471 AD), Hericourt (1474 AD), Fornovo (1495 AD), Garigliano (29 December 1503 AD), Ravenna IV (11 April 1512 AD), Novara (1513 AD), Biococca (1522 AD), Ceresole (1522 AD), Pavia (21 February 1525 AD).

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet"

(Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet, Act II, Scene II)

As far as wargames go, it does not get any sweeter than PRESTAGS!