"Before the Gates of Troy" rules by Bill Johnson and David Ratcliffe; a skirmish game for the Trojan War, available from Redoubt Enterprises, 49, Channel View Road. Eastbourne, East SUSSEX, BN22 7LN, UK. Five pounds and one pound postage and handling.

"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 Iliad" but I have read all of the EV Rieu translation and from that I should Bay that skirmish rules are the best thing for this period. Mostly it seems that Heros, Champions and Gods in human form fought it out, with the hoi poloi infantry doing the tenting, cooking and cheering on with occasional looting of course.

Rules

The rules are 51 pages plus a quick reference pull-out and a photocopiable "Character Record Sheet", which has four characters, tables - so you'll need to copy a few of them for a big skirmish. You'll need a tape measure or ruler; 2D6 as well as your character sheets. These last give five characteristics Initiative, Dexterity, Strength, Piety/Luck, and Weapon Skills, both Primary and Secondary Weapons. The sequence begins with dicing for order of movement and a good deal of 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 can not go "leaping over pinelog 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 warriorsto 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. Have fun. There's some good rules to account for warband, Shield Walls and skirmishers - so you get to use all those lovely Redoubt archers, stingers, sword and spearmen.

Morale

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 favorite God - or Goddess medevacs you to safety, your wounds are automatically healed but you take no further part in that game, AND you may only use the Piety/Luck roll once a game.

If you should unfortunately wake a sleeping God/dess, stop a God in his pursuit of some young lady, to help you - prepare to be Thunder bolted instead of beamed up! The rules end in an example combat and bibliography. Throughout there are excellent drawings from Redoubt's figure range. I recommend these rules to you.