Very cool

Amazing progress and great looking! The BRBC bases work really well. 

Quote from: paulr on 02 August 2025, 03:39:11 AMDuring the week I painted some 2mm MDF bases for some markers, glued labels to them today

Painted crew tunics on a couple of batches of galleys  

Cut out and painted the edges of label cards for a test game (or two) next weekend  

Glued printed labels to the label cards

The label cards are cardboard and go under the units with the printed label protruding at the rear showing side, squadron and key stats for the unit.

Most impressive: which rules will you be using for the fleet actions?

After not being able to find a set of rules that I like that are pitched at large battles I'm helping write a set based on a set of Ancient and Medieval land rules.

They will let me play Salamis 480 BC with 20 galleys per unit/base. For smaller actions a base could represent 5, 10, or 15 galleys.

They get their first, non-solo, play test with my regular gaming group this coming weekend 
Galleys and labels are ready to go
I'm looking forward to some useful honest feedback

Final details done on next two batches of triremes, washes and touch ups to do

Interesting.

At the last SoA weekend, I understand there were four different sets of rules being tested, all for fleet actions.

https://alkedominis.wixsite.com/blog/oi-navarcoi has one of those.

Thanks hammurabi70

I've downloaded the rules and will have a good look at them  

From a quick skim they are pitched at a similar level to what I am working on. They seem to cover similar tactics and issues

Some interesting stuff on the blog and I recognise several of the battles, one just from the picture 

I've finished the last two batches of triremes  

Nearly finished preparing the next two batches of triremes, just need to finish sanding the bevel on the last of the oars  then glue them in place

I've managed to play 6 test games with our regular group and they have gone very well    

The first surprise was that about halfway through the first test game my opponents were quoting the activation and save modifiers back to me

The second surprise was that we finished the first test game in about 45 minutes, it flowed really smoothly and felt like the level of naval battle I was after

We played on three different evening and have had time for two games each evening  

We used the same forces for each game, each played differently, and both sides have had wins

The play test group in the UK has also played several games and are enjoying them. Based on feedback from them we have made a few tweaks to the rules in the last couple of games. We also introduced some islands and they added tactical decisions.

Forces for the test games

Athenians	green labels
Red Squadron	5 units of Skilled Light Triremes
Blue Squadron	4 units of Skilled Light Triremes
Yellow Squadron	1 unit of Skilled Light Triremes, 4 units of Trained Pentakonters

Spartans	blue labels
Red Squadron	4 units of Trained Heavy Triremes, 2 units of Trained Pentakonters
Blue Squadron	4 units of Trained Heavy Triremes, 2 units of Trained Pentakonters
Yellow Squadron	3 units of Trained Heavy Triremes, 1 unit of Trained Pentakonters

Here are a few pictures I grabbed during the first four games

Game 1
Initial attacks; Athenians on the left, Spartans on the right


Pressure mounting on the Athenian flanks


Athenian left flank overwhelmed by Spartan boarding attacks


Game 2
Manouevering for advantage during the approach


Followed by swirling melees


Game 3
Initial clashes


The Athenian left has successfully completed multiple diekplus attacks, breaking through the Spartan line. They haven't managed any anastrophe, turning 180 degrees and attacking the Spartans from the rear


The Athenians have now turned 180 degrees and the Spartan triremes are running away making room to manoeuvre while their pentekonters launch a flank attack


The Spartan senior admiral is isolated in the centre and forms kyklos to hold off the gathering Athenians


Game 4
The Spartans have broken the Athenian line a couple of places

For those who haven't guessed from the various clues I'm working Simon Miller on these rules, based on his To the Strongest Ancient and Medieval rules

As our group are keen For King & Parliament players, which use very similar mechanics, these were an obvious rules choice

After last nights two games the Spartians have decided that they will stick to land warfare, let the Athenians mess about in boats if they want to       

Looking good, Paul!

I like the kyklos formation marker.

Though I'm not sure the Spartans ever achieved the skill to pull it off successfully. Though I am about to embark on a deep dive down the rabbit hole of Ancient Greek naval warfare that may prove me entirely wrong!

QuoteAfter last nights two games the Spartans have decided that they will stick to land warfare, let the Athenians mess about in boats if they want to   

Don't worry Peter, the plague will sort these uppity Athenians out if the Spartans don't manage it.

QuoteLooking good, Paul!

I like the kyklos formation marker.

Though I'm not sure the Spartans ever achieved the skill to pull it off successfully. Though I am about to embark on a deep dive down the rabbit hole of Ancient Greek naval warfare that may prove me entirely wrong!

It's a bit easier with about 10 galleys than with a whole fleet, even the 40-50 Corinthians at Patras in 429 BC

After last weekend the Spartan high command decided that their navy needed some motivation