Opponents Wanted

Find Gaming Opponents!

Another new feature for Grognard.com, "Opponents Wanted" provides a quick and easy way to locate gaming opponents with similar gaming preferences. Requires site registration. Grognard.com Opponents Wanted



Gaming Clubs/Organizations

Gaming Clubs and Organizations

Please check out our new (and growing) database of gaming clubs and organizations world-wide. Please let us know of your gaming club, or any other clubs that you know about so we can make this a truly useful resource.



Spotlight Articles

Outstanding articles that are not necessarily linked to one particular game, but may have broad appeal to gamers.

First Draft of History: Designing a Military Simulation of the Russo-Ukraine War 2022-2023

Spotlight Article Graphic

"A book? A movie? An HBO series? How about a military simulation ('wargame') of the heroic struggle of Ukraine? ... Wiser men and women would avoid. But not us fools." Designers D. B. Dockter and Mark Herman discuss their approach to creating Ukraine 2022!, addressing an ongoing conflict! Check out the insights and quips as they forge ahead: "Ukraine 2022! should go on preorder in December 2023, and, with any luck, be published in 2024. ... Or some other event on the Richard Berg random events table could pop up."

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 12/1/2023


First figures painted in five years

Spotlight Article Graphic

"...I'm just pleased to be back on the horse - or elephant, if you prefer." Prufrock happily relates his recent painting efforts, which means he "...will now have enough Carthaginian elephants to be able to stage Bagradas in Lost Battles...!"

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 10/23/2023


Hail Caesar Ruleset Test

Spotlight Article Graphic

Check out why Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, says "...I think I am already preferring the Hail Caesar set." Norm sets out to see how the recent extension of the rule set does in covering a Wars of the Roses clash. He finds lots to like, to include fact that he didn't feel "...that any of the outcomes were a given. If the scenario were replayed again, a different outcome could easily be possible.

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 10/16/2023


Taming the boardgame collection.

Spotlight Article Graphic

"I am very conscious of just having far too many different rulebooks, too many different systems...". Norm Smith, in Battlefields & Warriors, striving to stay true to his "wargaming in small spaces" motto, discovers a way to maximize the value his collection brings to him. Check out the approach he develops, and the titles that contribute to it, when "...out of the blue, I was hit by one of those tidy-up and reorganise moments, the planets were aligned and I threw myself behind a proper game cull..."!

Poster: Doug Holt
Post Date: 10/6/2023


More Spotlight articles...


Gaming Conventions

Gaming Conventions

Another new feature for Grognard.com, the Gaming Convention calendar will make it a snap to keep up with all the latest gaming conventions in your area. But we need your gaming convention information, so please contribute.



Grognard News

Grognard Challenge - Expanded Room for Comments! (6/25/2023)

The Comments entry area has been resized to 512 characters.

Grognard Opponents Wanted (9/14/2022)

New Opponents Wanted function. You can now set your ad expiration date, up to one year. Requires site registration.

Gaming Conventions

New Gaming Conventions calendar. You can see all upcoming gaming conventions worldwide.

If you are sponsoring a board gaming convention of some type, or know of one that is not listed on Grognard.com, then please contact us and let us know!

Gaming Clubs/Organziations

New Gaming Clubs/Organizations listing. You can search for existing gaming clubs worldwide.

If you belong to a gaming club, or know of one, please drop us a line and let us know so we can get it listed on Grognard.com!

New Search Features

Now you can search for specific games (or games by publisher) using the new Game Search feature, located at the top right corner of the this page. In addition you can now harness the power of Google to search the entire Grognard.com site for any specific information you'd like. Just enter a search word or phrase into the Google box labeled "Search All of Grognard.com" and click magnifying glass button. Search features will continue to be improved and enhanced going forward so check back often to see the latest stuff.

Grognard Originals

In addition to our links to great content all around the internet, expect to see more Grognard.com "originals" in the future.

Fast, simple, not expensive, little errata, but only reasonably fun. (War game Review)

In his review on BoardGameGeek, Brendan Whyte first turns a critical eye towards the components and rules and lists their shortcomings. Game play fares better: “…the game is fast and quite fun”. Whyte then goes into comprehensive details covering game mechanics and spares no criticism for the game opponent (AI). His discussion concerning solitaire board games vs solitaire computer games is very interesting.

PE TANG 1900 Q&A with Marco Campari

Some Q & A between myself and Marco Campari, designer of Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Strategy Tips

This is the strategy I developed after playing Pe Tang 1900 from Lumaca Games.

PE TANG 1900 Optional Line of Sight Table

Here is an optional table to make it a little more difficult to eliminate the Boxer artillery.

More Grognard Originals...


Grognard Challenge

Latest Challenge

Have a look at the graphics for the latest Challenge and see past solutions and contest winners.

Recommended (archives)

Wargaming - General Info

Board Wargames

Miniatures Wargames

Computer Wargames

Academic Gaming

Board Games

Internet Based/PBEM Games

Individual Wargamer Blogs

Wargaming Magazines

Asst Software/Player Aides

In Memoriam

Grognards Lost

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A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z '-9

Game: Lost Battles: Forty Battles & Campaigns of the Ancient World



(l8535)
 
 




Publisher: Fifth Column Games
Game Type: Board
Designer(s): Philip Sabin
Search for this and related games with Noble Knight


Description:


Lost Battles is a comprehensive military boardgame recreating five centuries of battles and campaigns of the ancient world, and offering an ideal marriage of ease of gameplay and historical simulation. Speed of play is achieved by focusing on the big picture for each battle, especially on the key roles of generalship and troop quality. The game includes the original 320- page book, which discusses how the game mechanisms reflect reality and lays out the detailed evidence underpinning each battle scenario's historicity. Playing time varies from just 30 minutes for the simplest individual game to many hours for a full combined campaign, and all forty scenarios can accommodate from 1 to 4 players as desired. Simple rules capture the distinctive characteristics of hoplites, phalangites, legionaries, cataphracts, scythed chariots, Indian and African war elephants, and many other troop types. A built-in handicap system ensures that contests are always tense and balanced and that even brilliant generals like Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar can suffer game defeat by failing to win as decisively as they did in reality. Terrain, weather, surprise and fatigue all have their impact, and players face constant choices over where and how to expend their limited resources on the battlefield. At the strategic level, the system also captures how empires can expand rapidly through bursts of conquest but then decay gradually over time in the face of revolts and resurgent rivals. Lost Battles has been played and refined by hundreds of enthusiasts over several years. This accessible deluxe tabletop edition is designed to delight veterans and newcomers alike.


Articles


Article ID
Pub Date
Article Description
497
Date: 11/24/2023
Poster: Doug Holt
Zama with Lost Battles

"The battle develops a pattern - ambitious Carthaginian efforts thwarted by careful Roman response...". Prufrock brings us this tense replay with buddy SP. Who takes the day when "...with that, the line collapses."?
496
Date: 10/12/2022
Poster: Doug Holt
Notions of (Phil Sabin's) Empire

"As something that takes an epic subject, could be set up without too much rules review and can be got through in an hour, it was the obvious choice." Prufrock has a go at the "Empire Strategic Game" in Fifth Column Games' Lost Battles. Join him for pictures and recap as "...Macedonia started gloriously..."!
495
Date: 5/25/2022
Poster: Doug Holt
Pharsalus - the return match

"...a succession of successful attacks against Pompey's wing and centre caused nervous flutters on the other side of the table." Prufrock brings us another tight replay of Pharsalus using Fifth Column Games' Lost Battles. Is all the upset with Pompey? Not when "...Antony lost a unit shattered and was only saved for further embarrassment by a determined attack on the part of the veteran cavalry..."
494
Date: 5/18/2022
Poster: Doug Holt
Pharsalus with SP

"Pompey began with a powerful cavalry attack." Prufrock brings us an action packed replay of Pharsalus using Fifth Column Games' Lost Battles. Check out a "…close-fought, nerve-wracking fight, just as Pharsalus should be."
493
Date: 4/6/2022
Poster: Doug Holt
Working through prep for 2nd Mantinea

"This is the first time in a couple of years that the battle is one I have armies for, so I'm determined to make the most of it." Prufrock walks us through his planning to play next year's Society of Ancients Battle Day selection, 2nd Mantinea, 362BC, using Fifth Column Games' Lost Battles. He's mostly ready, but his next "...step will be to work out how many figures I have already painted, and how many are in the lead mountain."
492
Date: 5/12/2021
Poster: Doug Holt
Heraclea with Lost Battles

"A shatter is saved by Pyrrhus rallying his troops. Roman hearts sink; Greek ones soar." Prufrock brings us some Fifth Column Games' Lost Battles action, fighting Heraclea. In a close fought contest, "It seemed as if all was lost for Rome on more than one occasion, but the tenacity of the legions was something to see."
491
Date: 8/10/2020
Poster: Doug Holt
Pydna, 168 BC.

"Convinced at last that Perseus was a boil needing lancing, Rome acted...". Prufrock gives us a nice AAR playing the battle of Pydna using Fifth Column Games' Lost Battles. Lots of great shots of the miniatures, and a mid-game question mark: "The phalanx proves irresistable in the centre, but on both wings the strength of the Roman challenge is obvious."
488
Date: 11/29/2011
Poster: Mark D.
Lost Battles Review (video)

Marco Arnaudo provides a decidedly positive review.
483
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review

484
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review

485
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review

486
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review

487
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review

489
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review

490
Date: N/A
Poster: Mark D.
review