Irregular Wars Wargaming

“Canes dementes et Coloni in meridie sol exeunt” in the words of the popular ballad. It’s the hottest hot season in living memory. This episode of  Song of Shadows & Dust  from the Graeco-Roman outpost of Pattayavium follows three potentially-interrelated narratives of inhabitants doing stuff they might not normally do. People are going troppo.  Here’s an overall view of the part of town known as the Suburra, looking N from the Temple of Europa (E end) to the insula commonly called the White Elephant (W end). Here are buzzards-eye views of various parts of the Suburra. Coloured dice identify the locations of interest. Levi, the Jewish rabbi at Pattayavium, wants to stop the activities of a newly opened pork market near his residence (which is also the synagogue for his tiny congregation). The market is identified by White 1. Pattayavium’s red-light district is another scene of tension. A newly opened brothel is proving too popular for the longer-established premises. ...

Mark put on a small Song of Shadows and Dust game recently - small by his usual standards anyway. Here’s what you might want to know before we jump into it. It’s a normal day at one of the markets in Pattayavium.** This market happens to be near one of the red-light districts***. Here are a couple of kite eye **** views of the stage. Looking N (red light district at L) - ** Pattayavium: my imaginary Graeco-Roman trading settlement on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Siam, perhaps some time in the later 1st century AD.  *** Premises welcoming patrons include: the Dolphin, the Bacchic Revel, the Eros, and the Dryad. Not that you asked.  **** Kite: probably Haliastur indus. There are a lot of them around here. It’s the fish offal down at the beach. And E. The thatched roofed buildings at L belong to natives (Tai people) who are settling here is large numbers these days -  The plots, such as they are, comprising today’s episode concern two groups of players.  In the nex...

Another missive from Mark in Thailand. This game of Song of Shadows and Dust was actually played over the summer, but I forgot to share it at the time! **** Hi all I set up another multi-thread game in Pattayavium, my Graeco-Roman trading outpost on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Siam. The action takes place at night, on the first full moon night of the summer solstice.  Here are a couple of shots of the tabletop  showing part of the town near the Battambang gate. It’s smaller than some previous games (only 900x900mm) so the various groups of players are more likely to cross each others paths, with more or less unpredictable (contingent dice driven) results. The relatively open area at top L (of the first pic, mid R of the next pic) is a marketplace, but no business is happening at night and only a couple of stall awnings have been left standing, near the little cult shrine to Artemis (square thatched roof). The building at top C (below) is the entrance wing and front garden...