Hoplite: Warfare in the Persian-Hellenistic Age 4th–5th Century BC (2nd Printing)

Hoplite: Warfare in the Persian-Hellenistic Age 4th–5th Century BC (2nd Printing)

Hoplite, the 15th volume of the Great Battles of History game series, allows players to reenact classic battles from the pre-Alexandrian Persian-Hellenistic Era, the heyday of the hoplites (heavy infantry that fought in a massed formation). This period is often considered to characterize the birth of Western warfare, as opposed to the Persian/Eastern style, which relied on archery, light cavalry and mobility.

Exactly how hoplite warfare was conducted – what really happened when 'the bell rang' – is hotly disputed by ancient military historians, even today. Hoplite allows you to test your theories with eleven of the great battles of this era, from the Battle of Leuctra, with the huge deep phalanx of 60 men of the Boeotarch Epaminondas, to the classic encounters with the Persian forces against the classical Greek hoplite phalanxes.

Hoplite uses detailed mechanisms intended to convey all the capabilities of this style of warfare, from the Greek Law of Inertia, the drift to the Right, the special capabilities of the Persian Light Cavalry (Harass and Disperse), the three different levels of Hoplite advancing into Battle (rules Run Don’t Walk) and many more. We even have some good old chariots!

You can fight the largest land battle in European history until the Napoleonic era, the huge Battle of Plataea (truly the decisive engagement of the Greco-Persian Wars): two maps and about 250 battle counters covering the Greek forces from 26 city-states under Pausanias, Spartan Regent and General, against Persians, Medes, Asiatic peoples (Bactrians, Scythians, Indians and a whole lot of others) and seven Greek city-states, under Mardonius, Persian Commander and son-in-law of the Great King, Darius I.

The pack includes Simple GBoH releases for each of the battles along with special rules that highlight the hoplite style of warfare.

Contents:

3 printed maps 22 x 34» on the back

4 counter sheets (1.120 counters 1/2″)

1 rulebook

1 scenario book

2 player aid cards (standard rules)

1 player aid card (GBoH basic rules)

1 ten-sided die

plastic storage bags for counters

Game scale: 100 yards per hex

 Players: 1 to 4 – Πλαταιές (there are no rules for solo- the Πλαταιές can host up to nine real)

Playing time: 1 ½ to 8 hours

Battles:

Cunaxa – Persians against rebels, 401 BC

Delium – Athenians against Boeotians, 424 BC

Ephesus – Ionians and Allies against Persians, 498 BC

Leuctra – Boeotian League against Sparta and Allies, 371 BC

Mantineia – Arcadian and Boeotian Alliances against Sparta and Lacedaemonian Allies, 362 BC

Marathon – Persia against Athens and Plataea, 490 BC

Mycale – Greeks against Persians, 479 BC

Plataea – Greeks against Persians, 479 BC

Nemea – Spartans and Allies against Thebans and Allies, 394 BC

Coronea – Spartans and Allies against Thebans and Allies, 394 BC

Tanagra- Athenians against Spartans, 457 B.C.

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