How does Sid remember so many rules mechanisms? Some people just have that kind of brain, I guess. Anyway, moving away from our usual game system, we went back to 2014 for Mark Lewis’ Sword and Spear 2nd Edition ( Polkovnik Productions)

We decided on two predominantly infantry armies to stumble through the rules. Sid had the advantage in number of units but I did have ten ( six hit) heavy warrior units. I nice feature of the rules is that it dispenses with the “ I go – you go” system and uses a dice draw. Sid’s larger number of units did give Carthage the initiative and a larger number of units moving each bound.

The German warbands looked ferocious and I also had two rather tasty Noble cavalry units but it was the lights who would start the fight.

Facing my cavalry were the redoubtable elephants! Excuse the historical time glitch!

We were playing a standard 600 point game which gave me 18 units. Seven dice are drawn from a bag and the side with the majority of dice drawn gets to move first. Each unit has an activation number and a throw of the dice decides who can move and what level of complexity each unit can enact. My warband wouldn’t be doing much except trundle forward unless they got a 6 on the dice.

The shooting is also quite simple. Skirmishers usually throw two dice but a 6 for activation can either get them another shot or a longer move.

It wasn’t long before we were in close combat. The impact attribute means a player has only to beat an opponents roll to score a hit ( not doubling it).

Combat was exciting and whilst not as simple as To the Strongest, it gave an exciting clash.

By the end of the evening, we agreed that the Germans had stolen a slight lead. The rules had been a nice change and had worked seamlessly. Army and unit size is easily accommodated by our existing collections and we were both going to seek out other lists online. Movement, shooting and combat were readily understood. But, the best thing of course was that the sons of Woden had won!

Thanks to Sid and Firestorm Games.