"Never had I breathed its pure serene 'til I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold." Says Keats. Well, I've only read a few lines of Chapman's Homer, "The Illiad" but I have read all of the EV Rieu translation and from that I should say that skirmish rules are the best thing for this period. Mostly it seems that Heroes, Champions, and Gods in human form fought it out, with the hoipoloi infantry doing the tenting, cooking and cheering on! with occasional looting of course.

The rules are fifty one pages plus a quick reference pull-out and a photocopy-able "Character Record Sheet", which has 4 character tables - so you'll need to copy a few of them for a big skirmish. You'll need a tape measure or ruler plus two D6, as well as your character sheets. These last give five characteristics - Initiative, Dexterity, Strength, Piety/Luck and Weapon Skills, both Primary weapon and Secondary.

The sequence begins with dicing for order of movement and emphasis is given to Godly Intervention - or "Beam me up Scotty!!" If the God doesn't respond - it's probably you for the twittering shades Mac!

Godly Intervention can be very useful if forthcoming. Sensibly, figures in Dendra armour cannot go "leaping over pine-log branches" - more like "falling flat upon his wigwam". Sorry, apologies to those who love "Hiawatha".

No actions are simultaneous. Chariots figure widely in these rules and "the game" factor comes very much into play. In reality chariots were used simply to deliver warriors to fight or get them out of tight corners - or drag dead enemies behind. Here you get all sorts of extra fun, well thought out - for a game. "Chariots versus Shieldwall/warband" etc.

There's some good rules to account for warbands, shieldwalls, and skirmishers - so you get to use all those lovely Redoubt archers, slingers, sword and spearmen. Morale factors have a modifier table. The chariots can fight each other too and make sure your spear quivers are FULL! Nice touch. - "A hero will not attack another's horses - he wants them for himself!" [Explains John Wayne's stagecoach chases by Indians.]

Throughout these rules the historical is "slightly bent" to ensure a good game - and that's what it's all about. When your favourite God or Goddess medevacs you to safety, your wounds are automatically healed but you take no further part in that game. If you should unfortunately wake a sleeping God/dess or stop a God in his pursuit of some young lady to help you - prepare to be Thunderbolted instead of beamed up!!

The rules end in an example of combat and biography. Throughout there are excellent drawings from Redoubt's figure range. I recommend these rules. Available from Redoubt Enterprises.

Other Reviews

The Ii: A Samurai Clan: Feudal Japan Army Guide
At the Sharp End: WWII Skirmish Rules
General de Brigade: Napoleonic Rules

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