Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.
Ancient Battlelines Clash
Version 3.3b April 2020
© Copyright Shaun Travers 2020
1 Introduction ................................................... 2
1.1 Scale, measurements and bases ............. 2
2 Troops ............................................................ 2
2.1 Unit Descriptions ................................... 2
2.2 Abilities ................................................. 2
2.3 Characteristics ....................................... 3
2.4 Default Abilities and Characteristics ..... 3
2.5 Combat Value (CV) ............................... 3
2.6 Disorder or destroyed ............................ 3
2.7 Unit front arc ......................................... 3
2.8 Army control ability (ACA) .................. 3
2.9 Army breakpoint limit ........................... 3
2.10 Army terrain location............................. 3
2.11 Point cost ............................................... 4
3 Setup .............................................................. 4
3.1 Setup sequence ...................................... 4
3.2 Groups ................................................... 4
3.3 Single unit.............................................. 4
3.4 Uncontrolled groups .............................. 4
3.5 Group on group missile and melees ...... 4
4 Turn sequence ................................................ 5
4.1 Activate.................................................. 5
4.2 Victory ................................................... 5
5 Move .............................................................. 5
5.1 General .................................................. 5
5.2 Move test ............................................... 5
5.3 Movement value (MV) .......................... 5
5.4 Wheels ................................................... 6
5.5 Move restrictions ................................... 6
5.6 Complex move....................................... 6
5.7 Impetuous charge................................... 6
5.8 Moving groups....................................... 6
5.9 Group splits ........................................... 7
5.10 Zone of Control (ZOC) .......................... 7
5.11 Reaction to charge or ZOC .................... 7
5.12 Moving off the board ............................. 7
6 Missile ........................................................... 7
6.1 Firing restrictions................................... 7
6.2 Firing arc and priority ............................ 7
6.3 Range ..................................................... 7
6.4 Firing ..................................................... 8
6.5 Fired-on test ........................................... 8
7 Melee ............................................................. 8
7.1 Process ................................................... 8
7.2 Melee result ........................................... 8
7.3 Shock ..................................................... 9
7.4 Flank definition ..................................... 9
7.5 Charging into an existing melee ............ 9
7.6 Two on one melees ................................ 9
7.7 Infantry in mounted support .................. 9
8 Reaction and results ..................................... 10
8.1 Disordered ........................................... 10
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8.2
8.3
Depleted .............................................. 10
Charge ................................................. 10
8.4 Retreat ................................................. 10
8.5 Rout ..................................................... 10
8.6 Pushback ............................................. 10
8.7 Interpenetrate ...................................... 10
8.8 Pursuit ................................................. 10
8.9 Echelon................................................ 10
8.10 Reaction direction ............................... 10
8.11 Advance and fire limitations ............... 10
9 Rally ............................................................ 11
10 Leaders .................................................... 11
10.1 Leader attribute ................................... 11
10.2 Chance of leader death ........................ 11
11 Terrain ..................................................... 11
11.1 When is a unit in terrain? .................... 11
11.2 General movement effects................... 11
11.3 Terrain effects ..................................... 11
11.4 Random terrain generation .................. 11
12 Optional rules .......................................... 12
12.1 Abilities ............................................... 12
12.2 Leaders attaching and detaching ......... 12
12.3 Artillery ............................................... 12
12.4 War wagons......................................... 12
12.5 Longbows and crossbows ................... 12
12.6 Gunpowder hand weapons .................. 12
13 Sample army lists .................................... 13
13.1 New Kingdom Egyptians .................... 13
13.2 Early Achaemenid Persians................. 13
13.3 Alexandrian Macedonian .................... 13
13.4 Porus Indians ....................................... 13
13.5 Gauls ................................................... 13
13.6 Marian Roman..................................... 13
13.7 Army command ability note................ 13
14 Example of play ...................................... 13
15 Designer notes ......................................... 16
16 Programmed opponent ............................ 19
16.1 Introduction ......................................... 19
16.2 At the start of the game ....................... 19
16.3 Each game turn.................................... 19
16.4 Army type ........................................... 19
16.5 Army tactic .......................................... 19
16.6 Army tactic description ....................... 20
16.7 Defender edge selection ...................... 21
16.8 Deployment guidelines........................ 22
16.9 Zone tactics ......................................... 22
16.10 Optional: changing zone tactics and
leader types ..................................................... 22
16.11 Unit tactics ...................................... 23
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
1 Introduction
Fast play rules for massed ancient battles. ABC is
a solo-friendly game in under 30 minutes on a
60cmx60cm board. The latest version may always
be found online at http://shaun-wargaming-
minis.blogspot.com.au/p/blog-page.html
The rules also include the option to use a
programmed opponent for everything from
deployment to actions during a game. All, part or
none of the programmable opponent can be used
by one or both sides.
1.1 Scale, measurements and bases
Scale
One turn is approximately 60 minutes. One unit is
one base and represents 400-3000 soldiers.
Measurements
All measurements are in base widths (g); this is
40mm for 15mm miniatures. All die rolls are a
singular six-sided die; high rolls are always good
for the roller.
Bases
Recommended unit base sizes are:
Base Width Depth
Infantry 40mm 20mm
Cavalry 40mm 30mm
Elephants, Chariots, Camps 40mm 40mm
Depth is not that important, but widths should all
be the same. For easy identification, heavy units
should be 4 figures to a base, medium units 3, light
cavalry and skirmishers 2. The rules are designed
with 15mm figures with basing like many other
rules. If playing with different figure sizes or base
widths, scale measurements appropriately.
Battlefield
The game is played on a 60cmx60cm table.
2 Troops
2.1 Unit Descriptions
Infantry
Heavy Infantry (HI): Infantry in a formed mass
whose primary function is to engage and destroy
the enemy in melee e.g. Roman legionaries.
Phalanx (PH). Heavy Infantry with the Phalanx
ability such as Hoplites and phalangites.
Heavy Archers (HA): Heavy Infantry also armed
with bows e.g. Persian Sparabara.
Medium Infantry (MI): Infantry in a formed mass
but less effective than Heavy infantry. e.g.
Samnites, Thracians.
Warband (WB): Medium Infantry with the
Warband ability e.g. Gallic and Germans infantry.
Mixed Missile (MM): Infantry armed with javelins
and/or spears or bows that skirmish with the enemy
but also can melee some troop types e.g. peltasts.
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Light Archers (LA): Light infantry armed with
bows and not designed for melee.
Skirmish Infantry (SK): Archers, javelineers or
slingers in open (skirmish) order. They disorder the
enemy through missiles and run from combat.
Cavalry
Cataphracts (CAT): Well armoured close order
cavalry pre-10th century.
Knights (KN): Well armoured close order cavalry
post-10th century.
Heavy Cavalry (HC): Loose order cavalry that
generally charge when engaging in close combat.
Occasionally armed with a bow but primarily
trained in melee.
Light Cavalry (LC): Cavalry designed to skirmish
with the enemy but can close in to close combat
with suitable enemies. They are usually armed with
spears or javelins but may also be bows (horse
archers).
Camel (CM): Medium cavalry. In tactical use
camels are more effective against horses since
camels tended to scare non camel-aware horses.
Chariots
Heavy Chariot (HCH): 4 horse chariots that are
designed to both fire at the enemy but also can
potentially break opposing infantry through
charging. Generally armed with bows.
Light Chariot (LCH): mainly bow armed chariots
that wear down the enemy with bow fire but can
take advantage of opportunities to charge less
formidable infantry.
Scythed Chariot (SCH): Chariots with scythes on
wheels that charge at heavy infantry to try to
disorder, or even better rout, them.
Elephants
Elephant (ELE): Elephants with a fighting crew
either riding or mounted on a riding platform.
Camp
Camp (CP): The place where baggage is stored,
along with army followers, stragglers and booty.
2.2 Abilities
Leader The Leader of the army. Mandatory
for one unit per army.
Bow Armed with long range missile
weapons such as bows or slings
Javelin Armed with short range missile
weapons. Light and Skirmishers only
Phalanx (Heavy Infantry only) +1 in melee to
front if ordered in clear terrain,
negates shock. Complex move to
wheel. +3 modifier, not +2 for
flankers if a Pike Phalanx.
Warband (Medium Infantry only) receives
Shock Vs Heavy/Medium Infantry.
Impetuous By default all non-missile armed
Mounted with a CV3 or more, and
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Warband units. Subject to impetuous LA, LC, SK, Camp 1
charges. Modifiers to the base:
Optional abilities Leader +1
Long Non-phalanx Infantry with long Elite unit +1
spears spears that reduces shock modifier Poor unit -1
from mounted to +1.
Lock (aka shieldwall). If ordered, treat 2.6 Disorder or destroyed
shields unit as if defending terrain. A unit is either Ordered, Disordered or Destroyed.
Untrained Harder to move. Ordered All units start the game ordered. A
Disciplined Not subject to impetuous charge. rallied disordered unit becomes
Drilled Heavy Infantry that may wheel and ordered.
move and not count it as complex. Disordered A unit may become disordered.
Crossbow Armed with crossbows. Disorder modifies some unit tests.
Longbow Armed with longbows. Agile are never disordered – such
Bow, Javelins, Crossbow and Longbows are units receiving a disordered result
collectively called Missiles. are treated as destroyed.
Destroyed A unit that is destroyed routs and
2.3 Characteristics then is removed from the board.
Units are defined by these characteristics:
2.7 Unit front arc
 Elite (+1 to most tests)
Status  Average (default) A unit’s front arc is used to determine valid missile
 Poor (-1 to most tests0 targets, charge targets and react moves
possibilities. A unit’s front arc is directly to the
 Average (default)
Missile front of the unit – a one base width corridor from
 Medium (+1 to fired-on test)
Protection each front corner edge:
 High (+2 to fired-on test)
Note that status is a combination of fortitude,
Front Arc /
morale, experience, armour protection, skill and
Arc of Fire
élan.
Cavalry, chariot and elephant types are collectively
called Mounted.
MM, LA, SK, LC, LC, SCH are collectively called Unit
Agile. MM, LI and SK are Agile Infantry.
Phalanx and Heavy Archers are still classed as
Heavy Infantry (HI). 2.8 Army control ability (ACA)
Warbands are still classed as Medium Infantry The ACA is -1, 0 (default), 1 or 2. Each point of
(MI). ACA modifies:
A Camp has no Status.  The number of controlled groups deployed at
2.4 Default Abilities and setup (add ACA to deployment group limit)
Characteristics  The army’s breakpoint (add ACA to calculated
breakpoint).
The following are the default abilities and  The leader’s command distance (increase 1g
characteristics of certain units. per ACA, ACA of -1 is 0g).
Heavy Archers Bow
Mixed Missile Javelin 2.9 Army breakpoint limit
Light Archers Bow An army’s breakpoint limit is the total of its unit
Skirmish Infantry Bow or Javelin break values (BVs) divided by two and rounded
Cataphracts High Missile Protection up, plus the army ACA.
Knights Medium Missile Protection HI, HA, CAT, KN, HC, HCH, ELE,MI 2
Heavy Chariots Bow MM, LA, LC, LCH, CM 1
Light Chariots Bow SK, SCH, Camps 0
2.5 Combat Value (CV) 2.10 Army terrain location
The base combat value of a unit is as follows If using the random terrain generator each army
HI, CAT, KN 4 has one of four terrain locations: open, mixed,
HA, MI, HCH, SCH, ELE 3 woods or hilly.
HC, LCH, MM, CM 2

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3

2.11 Point cost  If part of a group is in contact with enemy

Unit type cost units, other non-contacted units may split as
CAT, KN, ELE, PH 5 the largest group possible. This is classed as a
HI, HA, HC, HCH 4 group split move.
CM, LCH, MI 3 Groups move together if ordered successfully. For
activation purposes, groups can only be formed
MM, LA, LC, SCH 2
using one or more units from the original
SK 1
deployment groups, except leaders that can be part
Camps 0
of any group of units. A single unit is a group.
Elite +1
Poor -1 3.3 Single unit
Phalanx +1 A single unit is one not meeting the above criteria
Other abilities (including the leader) +0 for groups with more than one unit.
Army command ability cost
+2 +4
3.4 Uncontrolled groups
+1 +2 Up to one-third of units may be deployed in
-1 -2 uncontrolled groups. Units in these groups cannot
An army for a decent non-scenario game on a perform actions during the game except:
60cm square board is 35 points; for a larger game  Missile fire at units that come in range.
on 90cm wide by 60cm deep board it is 55 points;  Must charge if subject to impetuous charge due
on a 48x48cm board use 30 points. to an enemy unit within charge range.
 Melee enemy units.
3 Setup  Perform involuntary actions due to enemy
3.1 Setup sequence actions.
An uncontrolled group may become controlled by
Determine attacker/defender rolling a 6+ on a die when it could be activated,
The scenario determines the attacker. If not, then except on the first turn. It may then activate
each side rolls a die, re-roll ties. Higher roll is the normally that turn. Add two to the die roll if a
attacker. leader unit is adjacent to the group and does not
Deploy terrain and table start edges move away during the turn.
Terrain is setup as per the scenario. Alternatively, A leader unit cannot be deployed at setup adjacent
randomly determine terrain; see 11.4 Random to an uncontrolled group.
terrain generation. The attacker deploys the terrain
as per the defender’s army terrain location. The 3.5 Group on group missile and
defender then chooses their deployment side. melees
Deploy units in groups and attacker starts If a group, or part of a group, is performing the
Set up a screen across the centre of the board and same action - e.g. missile fire, melee - against other
each side deploys their units within 5g of their units then roll and resolve each action test
edge and at least 1g from the side edges. Units are simultaneously. Groups Vs group tests are lined up
deployed into groups, 3+ACA controlled groups to evenly test where possible to avoid two-on-one
and optional uncontrolled groups. ganging up and leaving one unit not testing at all.
Remove the screen; Attacker starts first turn. Missile and melee opponents are matched up so
3.2 Groups that every unit contacted is paired with an
opponent. This is important when two battlelines
Groups are one or more units facing in same clash but do not line up perfectly. If the battlelines
direction, side edge to edge contact with at least are the same length every unit participates in a
one other unit, Corners do not have to be in contact melee. You cannot ‘gang-up’ 2 units to 1 unit and
with each other. leave another one not to be in a melee, or left out
Groups are initially defined at deployment and as a firing target.
may only be split into further groups under the
following circumstances:
 A group split move during movement.
 Enemy missile fire or melee results forcing a
unit to disengage from the group.
 A group move command or impetuous charge
is passed by some of the group’s units and not
others.

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3

Example: Breakpoints are gained as units are routed.

Camps and Leader units do not contribute to an
A B C army’s starting break point limit but each count as
2 towards the army’s break point limit if
X Y Z destroyed/looted.
Unit A, B and C are in melee with enemy units X, Y 5 Move
and Z. A pairs with X, B with Y and C with Z. Z
and Y cannot melee with C and leave X to melee 5.1 General
with A and B. A die is rolled and modified for each Groups are moved one at a time. A unit may move
of the three melees simultaneously. Then apply up to its movement rate in MV. Terrain may affect
results from right to left. movement, see 11.3 Terrain effects. A unit starting
its move in contact with an enemy unit cannot
4 Turn sequence move.
One game turn consists of two player turns. Each A unit that fires cannot voluntarily move/rally.
player turn sees the player activate groups one at a Note that a missile unit must fire at an available
time from right to left and, if contention, front to target.
back. Continue playing until victory conditions are Units charging or ending a move within an enemy
met. unit zone of control may cause the enemy to react.
See 5.11 Reaction to charge or ZOC.
4.1 Activate
When activated, a group may do the following: 5.2 Move test
 Impetuous charge To move requires a group to pass a move test on a
 Missile fire 1d6. A failure indicates the group does not move.
 Move (requires a move test) Units that must impetuously charge do not need to
 Melee pass a move test to charge.
 Rally Move 1+
 Do nothing Complex move (Warband is 4+) 3+
Rally 5+
Specifically, a group’s units activation consists of Modifiers
the following possible actions: Elite/Poor +1/-1
 If in contact with the enemy perform melee. Single unit -1
 Missile units must perform missile fire if Leader unit +1
possible with the target taking a fired-on test. >5g from leader (>10g is -2) -1
 Perform impetuous charges. If contact occurs Untrained -1
the enemy unit may need to react. If still in A move that ends in contact stops immediately
contact, melee. and is classed as a charge and may cause the
 If the group did not fire or impetuous charge enemy unit to react. Other units of the group may
then do nothing, move or rally. continue movement but may not split the group
 If move into contact, the enemy unit may need (see 5.8 Moving groups).
to react. If still in contact, melee. A move that ends in the ZOC of an enemy unit
 If a unit moves into the zone of control of an causes that unit to react.
enemy unit and halts, the enemy unit may need 5.3 Movement value (MV)
to perform a ZOC reaction. If after reacting the
A unit’s type and role determine the maximum
units end in contact, melee.
movement distance for a unit.
 Units newly in contact with the enemy melee.
Unit Movement
 If an army’s breakpoint is reached, check for
All Infantry 2
victory.
Light Cavalry 5
 Units post melee or reaction may need to
Heavy Cavalry, Light Chariots, 4
pursue.
Scythed Chariots
4.2 Victory Elephant, Cataphracts, Knights, 3
The game is immediately won by a side when the Heavy Cavalry
other side has reached its breakpoint limit. If both Camp 0
reach their breakpoint limit at the same instant,
continue until one side loses another unit and the
other side then wins.

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Difficult Terrain
Skirmish unaffected
Infantry
Steep hill ½ (Agile Infantry full move)
Woods ½ (Agile Infantry full move)
Chariot/elephant depleted on entry
Rough ½ move.Mounted depleted on entry
Stream -1g
Warbands move as Agile Infantry in difficult.
5.4 Wheels
A wheel can be up to 90o. A 1o-45o wheel
consumes 1MV for a unit; a wheel 46o to 90o is
2MV for a unit, regardless of how much the unit
moved during the wheel. A wheel is done by one
front corner remaining in place and rotating the
unit forwards. Wheels are done at the start of
movement.
A group may wheel but all units of the group must
have their front edge aligned, must stay aligned
and no part of the group may exceed its MV.
Group wheels consume MV based the number of
units e.g. 2 units moving 45o consume 2MV (1 for
each unit in the group).
5.5 Move restrictions
Unless otherwise stated, a move is either up to full
movement distance straight ahead OR a wheel.
HI may move ½g directly back as a move.
HC, HCH, CAT, KN, ELE may wheel and then
move.
Medium Infantry (except Warbands) may
optionally about face (no cost) prior to a wheel and
move.
Agile units (SK, MM, LA, LC, SCH) may move
and wheel. They may change facing to any
direction at the start of their move at no cost. They
may also move directly back without a facing
change. An agile unit cannot contact an enemy
non-agile unit except in the flank or rear and only
then if another unit is in contact to the front of the
enemy unit.
5.6 Complex move
A complex move is when a unit/group that could
not do as a move:
 About Faces (turns 180 o)
 Wheels and move i.e. HI/HA. A Phalanx
cannot wheel and move.
 A phalanx wheeling.
OR wants to voluntarily split from a larger group.
A complex move disorders a unit if performed
within 5g of an enemy. A disordered unit cannot
perform a complex move.
Page 6 of 26
5.7 Impetuous charge
All units must impetuously charge against an
enemy un-looted camp if directly to their front and
in movement range.
Otherwise a unit is subject to an impetuous charge
if it is impetuous and has a non-Agile unit with a
CV2+ within charge reach. Charge reach is if the
unit does not need to wheel and can move into
contact in a single move. Shortest distance for
multiple targets.
Any Do not need to charge enemy:
 Non-Warband Medium Infantry
 through or into difficult terrain
(except Warbands that will
charge out of difficult terrain)
 If defending terrain or
disciplined.
Mounted Also do not need to charge enemy:
 Elephants (except if elephant)
 The front of an ordered phalanx
They can still voluntarily charge the excepted
units, but it is not mandated.
Units of the same group behind a charging unit are
pulled along if of equal or lower status. Higher
status units or disciplined units may choose to be
pulled along.
Slower pulled along units stop when they reach
their movement value while the impetuous units
keep going.
Other units not subject to impetuous change (those
adjacent to the impetuous chargers) in the same
group as impetuous charger may move with the
charger or remain stationary.
5.8 Moving groups
A group of units activate and move as one. A
group of units may only ever move subject to the
limitations of the most constrained unit. Group
moves must have front edges aligned and cannot
get out of alignment during movement. If a unit of
a group contacts an enemy unit or would leave an
enemy zone of control it entered this turn, then it
stops. Other units of the group that moved may
continue moving but cannot move out of side edge
contact. Perform any reactions caused or melees as
per normal from right to left.
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3

Example of a group move 5.11 Reaction to charge or ZOC

Before charge: Depending on the troop type, roll 1d6 for what the
enemy unit does if charged or enemy unit moves
B into its ZOC and halts.
Reaction being charged or move into ZOC
A
SK/MM/LA 3+ Fire + retreat (no retreat for
LC Agile Infantry V
ELE/ScyCH/Agile Infantry
or Agile Vs Agile, SK Vs
Y Z
non-SK always retreat)
1-2 Fire with +1 and SK Rout
After A contacts: <1 Rout
Other 3+ Fire
B missile- 1-2 Fire with +1
armed <1 Do nothing
A Modifiers +1/-1 Elite/Poor
+1 Leader
Y Z
-1 Single unit or disordered
Impetuous Charge if must; else NA
Shockers i.e. would get shock bonus in a
B may make the following move: melee with the enemy – charge
Others Do nothing
A B
5.12 Moving off the board
Units that move off the board due to retreat,
Y Z
pushback or rout are destroyed. A unit pursuing an
enemy unit off board may return. Place the
pursuing unit off board but with its front edge
5.9 Group splits touching the edge where it left. After one turn has
The Move test is applied to an entire group unless passed, the unit returns on a roll of 4+. Place it
using a split move to split a group – roll for just the with its front edge where it left the board. If the
group splitting and then the remaining group rolls roll fails, continue rolling in further turns. While
based on its choice of action. If the group split rolls off board, units are counted as destroyed for army
failed, the entire group may still do a move (not a breakpoints.
complex move) if it passed the roll required for a
move. 6 Missile
5.10 Zone of Control (ZOC) 6.1 Firing restrictions
Each unit not in melee has a zone of control that is When activated, a unit must fire if a visible enemy
a 1g square zone directly in front on the unit. unit is in range; a unit cannot fire and move when
Moving into an enemy ZOC may cause that unit to activated. A unit may also fire as a reaction to
react. Moving Skirmish Infantry do not cause a enemy activity. A unit in melee cannot missile fire.
ZOC reaction except on enemy Skirmish Infantry
6.2 Firing arc and priority
and Elephants.
A unit cannot voluntarily move any part of its front A unit’s missile arc of fire is per 2.7 Unit front arc.
edge into and out of a non-skirmisher enemy units’ Closer groups take priority as targets over further
ZOC in the same move. ones. An un-meleeing enemy unit with any portion
A unit may voluntarily move out of an enemy’s of its base within the arc of fire and in range is a
zone of control but may move only 1g (it may target. The arc must be unobstructed to the target.
wheel if it has MV available) and cannot melee Only units in the firing arc are targets for missile
with that enemy unit in that turn. It may melee fire.
with other units. 6.3 Range
Moving and halting in an enemy ZOC (skirmisher
All Skirmishers, Light Cavalry and javelins: 1g
or not) does cause that enemy to react.
All other Bows: 3g
Note that units in melee have no Zone of control.

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3

6.4 Firing 7.2 Melee result

The process differs depending on whether the <0 Attacker Destroyed
enemy unit can return fire. 0-1 Attacker Depleted and
non-missile  Target roll d6 for fire-on test, Retreat unless slower than enemy or
target add modifiers Elephant or HI Vs Infantry
target could  Both roll d6 fire-on test as a 2-3 Both Disordered unless both Agile or
fire back target, plus modifiers Agile/Mounted then Attacker Disordered
 Loser reacts as 3-difference 4-5 Both Disordered unless both Agile or
 On a tie the target is affected Agile/Mounted then Defender Disordered
with a result of ‘1-2’. 6-7 Defender Depleted and
Retreat unless slower than enemy or
6.5 Fired-on test Elephant or HI Vs Infantry
3+ Impetuous Charge 8+ Defender Destroyed.
Missile- Not in range: move a Modifiers
armed maximum of ½MV to +2 Shock
attempt to get in range +2 Flanking (+3 if flanking pike PH)
Shockers (get shock bonus in melee +1 Uphill or defending terrain
with the enemy) – charge -1 Single unit or disordered.
Other Charge if within 1g; else +1 Leader ability
move 1g unless defending Modifiers in a single row are not cumulative.
terrain Note: SK always receive the disordered result
1-2 Disordered unless against other SK.
Moving mounted pushback
<1 Depleted Due to the difference +1/-1 makes to the roll, if the
All in contact pushback total modifier is +1 then treat a natural 1 as a die
roll of 1; if the total modifier is -1 then treat a
+1 Elite/Medium MP/in cover (High MP +2) natural 6 as a die roll of 6.
-1 Poor/fired on in flank or rear
-1 Single unit or disordered Special unit CV and modifiers
+1 Leader +1 Phalanx to front if ordered in clear terrain
+1 Missile contest and initial firer +1 Camel Vs Mounted
Modifiers in a single row are not cumulative e.g.an +2 SK, MM, LA, MI (not WB) Vs Elephant
Elite unit with Medium MP receives only +1. or Scythed Chariots
Base Mounted Vs Elephant
6.5.1 Multiple targets or firers
CV0
If two targets are being fired-on by one unit, the Elephants and camps never count as flanked.
one with the greater edge in the firer’s front arc is
fired on and the one with the lesser edge being Difficult Terrain CV
fired at automatically acts as if 3+ rolled, or missile Use below unit base CV if melee in difficult terrain
contest if applicable, after resolving the first fire. Phalanx, CAT, KN -4
If one target is fired on by two units, roll the Fired- HI/HA, Chariots -3
on test twice and choose the lowest die result. HC, LC -2
7 Melee Elephant -1
Others 0
Each unit in contact with an enemy unit must
perform melee.
7.1 Process
The moving unit, else the activated unit, is the
nominated attacker. Each attacking unit rolls 1d6,
adds their CV and modifiers, subtracts the enemy
CV and modifiers and checks the result. Melee
between groups is rolled for simultaneously but
resolved from the active player’s right to left.

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Example
A Gallic poor Warband charges a Roman Heavy
Cavalry unit. The Heavy Cavalry counts its shock
ability, the Warband does not as their shock bonus
is only Vs infantry. The Gallic player rolls a 4 + 2
Gallic combat value (CV 3 base -1 poor), -1 single
unit for a total of 5. Subtract from this 3 ( CV 2
base, +2 for shock, -1 for single unit), for a net
result of 2. Both sides are disordered.
The next turn the Roman player attacks and rolls a
6 +2 CV -1 single unit -1 disordered; subtract 0
(Gallic CV of 3 -1 poor -1 single unit -1
disordered, is a melee result of 6. Note the Roman
cavalry no longer gets the shock bonus. A melee
result of 6 depletes the Gallic Warband and as
already disordered it routs and is destroyed. The
Roman cavalry unit rolls a 6 for the pursuit test
and they pursue 2½g (the extra ½g as a 6 rolled).
7.3 Shock
Shock confers a modifier on first contact in melee.
Units eligible for Shock:
Unit Enemy
CAT KN HC HCH LCH Vs Any but ELE/CM
WB Vs Non-SK Infantry
EL Vs HI, HA, PH
To count for shock, a unit must be:
 Charged or charged into melee and not
already in melee
 not in or against a unit in difficult terrain
or defending a linear obstacle/stream or an
ordered phalanx front.
If both the attacking and defending unit are both
eligible for the Shock modifier, neither receives it
(e.g. Heavy cavalry charging Heavy cavalry).
7.4 Flank definition
A unit is flanking an enemy if it is attacking in the
flank or the rear.
A flank attack is one where the flanking unit’s
front edge is at 90° or more from the flanked front
edge and there is contact with the flanked rear
corner. A rear attack is one where the flanker
contacts the flanked rear edge (not just a corner).
A unit with an enemy unit on its flank counts as
flanked for all attacks, not just the melee with the
flanking unit. Skirmishers and Elephants have no
flanks for melee purposes.
7.4.1 Diagrams
Front attacks by the white unit:
Flank attacks by the white unit:
Page 9 of 26
Rear attacks by the white unit:
7.5 Charging into an existing melee
If a unit charges into contact with an enemy unit
that is already in contact with another friendly unit,
perform melee only with the charging unit if the
enemy unit has already performed melee in this
player turn with the already in contact friendly
unit. If not, then perform melee with all units. The
charged enemy unit in the existing melee is not be
able to charge - it did not move into contact - and
is not eligible to claim the shock modifier against
the charging unit.
7.6 Two on one melees
If two units are in melee with one unit, roll a die
for each unit’s melee. This can occur with a single
unit against two contacted enemy units, or when
two groups are in contact and one group is wider
and has more units in melee. In the latter case, two
units from the wider group are in melee with a
single unit. This one unit is classed as a single unit
for melee modifiers. The single unit only
implements one result - the worst result; the two
other units each implement a result – the first
melee implements the melee die result, the second
at worst receives a disorder.
7.7 Infantry in mounted support
For all armies up until around 100BC, LA and SK
with bows may support mounted units. The
supporting unit is placed directly behind the
supported mounted unit at deployment. Either unit
may split away from the other during movement,
but then the infantry unit is no longer supporting
the mounted unit and cannot move back into
support.
When together, they are effectively one unit; if
attacked from the rear it counts as a rear attack on
a mounted unit supported by an infantry unit. A
supported unit gains a +1 melee modifier to its
front from any enemy unit except HI.
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
8 Reaction and results
8.1 Disordered
An ordered unit receiving a disorder result is
disordered. A disordered unit receiving a disorder
result has no effect on the unit.
8.2 Depleted
An ordered unit receiving a depleted result is
disordered. A disordered unit receiving a depleted
result is destroyed.
8.3 Charge
Unit charges up to full distance at the enemy unit
that caused the reaction. The charged unit reacts to
being charged. If the enemy unit is routing or
retreating, charge the full distance in that direction.
If a stationary enemy is not directly to the front, or
directly to front after a normal wheel, do nothing
instead. If already in contact, do not move but the
unit is classed as charging.
8.4 Retreat
Perform a ½ move to the unit’s rear. Skirmish
Infantry, Mixed Missile and Light Archers add ½g
to the move. Do not change facing. Interpenetrate
friendly units. If meet impassable terrain, then
stop. A unit is destroyed if it meets enemy units,
except enemy skirmish infantry that are destroyed
instead.
Check for pursuit.
8.5 Rout
The routing unit performs a retreat and is then is
removed. Check for pursuit.
8.6 Pushback
Move directly back 1g. Pushback friendly infantry
behind them. Otherwise do interpenetration.
If cannot due to terrain, camps or enemy units then
move as much as possible and convert any
disordered result to depleted. Exception: Non-
Skirmish Infantry destroy any Skirmish Infantry
and Elephants interpenetrate any units.
Units in echelon and behind the pushed backed
unit are pushed back with them.
8.7 Interpenetrate
Skirmish infantry are the only units that may
voluntarily interpenetrate and be interpenetrated by
other friendly units. Involuntary interpenetration
occurs when a unit retreats due to missile, melee or
move reactions.
Move the interpenetrating unit up to a maximum of
1g to not be placed on top of the interpreted unit; if
not possible due to other units or the table edge,
the interpenetrating unit is destroyed.
Page 10 of 26
Both units are affected, except Skirmish Infantry,
Mixed Missiles, Light Archers and Medium
Infantry do not cause adverse interpenetration
results (but are affected by interpenetration).
Interpenetration depletes all Skirmish Infantry,
Mixed Missiles, Light Archers, Medium Infantry
and Mounted, and disorders all other units.
Elephants always deplete other units. Camps are
never interpenetrated.
A rear warband in echelon never suffers disorder
from interpenetrating warband to their front.
8.8 Pursuit
Impetuous units and Heavy Infantry always
pursue. Otherwise roll 1d6
4+ Pursue
<4 Do nothing.
Modifiers
-2 Uphill/Defending terrain/Disciplined
+1 Untrained
+1/-1 Leader
On natural 6, +½g to the unit’s move distance.
A pursuing unit moves directly forward ½MV
(rounded down) without changing facing. If
contact the same enemy unit causing pursuit then
melee; pursuing unit counts as charging.
If the pursuit brings the unit into the zone of
control of, or charging, a different enemy unit then
the latter will perform a ZOC test. If end in
contact, melee.
Note that a unit may continue to do this until its
activation ends.
A pursuing unit does not cause a zone of control
reaction on the retreating unit.
Units of the same group behind a pursuing unit are
pulled along if of equal or lower status. Higher
status/disciplined units may choose to be pulled
along.
8.9 Echelon
A unit is in echelon if it is a friendly infantry unit
directly behind another, facing the same direction
and neither unit is SK. If the front unit retreats or
routs, an echeloned unit must move into the same
location as that of the retreating/routing unit, after
resolving any interpenetration. Perform melee.
Neither unit counts as charging or first contact.
Warbands in echelon reduces interpenetration
effects.
8.10 Reaction direction
A unit pushbacks, retreats or routs to the opposite
edge to that of the unit that caused the test.
8.11 Advance and fire limitations
If a unit is to move or charge (not pursue) or fire
but the unit causing the result is not directly to the
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
unit’s front, the unit does nothing. A unit 11.3 Terrain effects
defending a camp, fortification, stakes, Rise
river/stream bank or uphill of an enemy does Blocks visibility and missiles for units with a rise
nothing instead of moving or charging (but may between them; except units downhill do not block
pursue) as a reaction. missile fire or visibility to units not on the rise.
9 Rally Provides a defence bonus to units uphill and
attacked to their front. No other effect.
Rally a unit that did not fire or move or fired on or Hill
was in melee this player turn. A successful rally Blocks visibility and missiles for units with a hill
removes disorder. Note a unit will fire rather than between them; except units downhill do not block
rally. See the move command for the test. missile fire or visibility to units not on the hill.
10 Leaders Provides a defence bonus to units uphill and
attacked to their front. Effects movement rates.
10.1 Leader attribute Wood
A leader is always attached to a unit as an attribute. Visibility and missile fire range is 1g. Units in a
Only one leader attribute per unit. If the unit routs wood cannot be seen by units outside the wood
the leader is also lost. unless touching the edge. Units at a wood’s edge
can see out and fire missiles at full distance out.
10.2 Chance of leader death Effects movement rates and disorders all chariots
There is a chance of a leader being killed if fired and elephants when entering.
on or in melee. Rough
This occurs if the leader unit rolls a natural 1 as a Effects movement rates and disorders all mounted
target in a fired-on test or as an attacker in melee, when entering.
or a natural 6 is rolled while a defender in melee. Stream
To check for leader death, roll a die. Reduces movement by 1g for all units.
1 Leader is incapacitated All streams provide a defence bonus to units on the
2-6 No effect bank and attacked to their front and negates shock.
If the leader is incapacitated: Impassable River
 the unit loses its leader attribute. Cannot be crossed except at fords or bridges.
 all friendly units within 5g are disordered. Passable Rivers, Fords, Bridges
 the ACA is reduced by 1 (minimum -1). If the Halve all movement. Additionally, a unit must
ACA is -1 all subsequent move/rally actions stop when first entering the terrain, and stop just
are performed as though the leader is > 5g. before exiting (it takes two moves to cross).
 The army gains 2 break points. A river provides a defence bonus to units on the
bank and attacked to their front and negates shock.
11 Terrain Linear Obstacle (rampart or barricade)
Reduces movement by 1g for all units. Units
11.1 When is a unit in terrain? defending a linear obstacle receive a combat
A unit is in a terrain piece if any part of the modifier and negate shock.
effected edge is in the terrain piece. Effected edge Town
is dependent on the reason e.g. melee, fired-on, A town is treated as woods, but chariots may enter.
charged. For melee, both units are affected by the There is a combat bonus to defending a town.
worst terrain feature only where the units are
touching. A unit defending terrain must have part 11.4 Random terrain generation
of their front edge in that terrain to count as Split the board into 9 equal squares. Each army has
defending and in melee to their front – in this case one of four location types. The attacker randomly
both melee units use their difficult terrain CV. chooses and place 9 of the 12 cards associated with
Hills, rough, woods, fords, bridges, passable rivers the defender’s location type in each square.
and towns are referred to as difficult terrain. Other Attacker places the actual terrain piece. Note only
terrain is classed as clear. limited terrain types are randomly generated.
Card Open Mixed Woods Hilly
11.2 General movement effects 1 Rise Rise Rise Rise
Skirmish infantry movement is never affected by 2 Hill Hill Rise Hill
terrain except streams and rivers. Units disordered 3 Clear Woods Wood Hill
on entering terrain are not disordered again while 4 Clear Clear Wood Rough
moving through the same terrain feature. 5 Clear Clear Clear Rough
6-12 Clear Clear Clear Clear

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Grey means that if the card is placed in the centre, pursue a routed artillery unit. Otherwise treat
treat the card as Clear. artillery as light infantry for tests.
Streams: Prior to placing terrain cards, the Missile protection of the target is ignored when
defender may attempt to place a stream. A d6 of 6 fired-on and some artillery has additional modifiers
indicates a stream. Choose one edge and randomly to the fired-on test.
choose one square. The defender places the entry Light Medium Heavy
point on that square edge and the stream exits on (LArt) (MArt) (HArt)
the directly opposite square edge. Range 3g 4g 5g
Terrain pieces should be between 2gx2g and 5gx5g Move 1g 0 0
and at least 2g from other terrain pieces (except Fired-on mod 0 -1 -2
streams). Terrain unable to be placed isn’t. Hills Point cost 3 4 5
and rises cannot be placed on streams.
12.4 War wagons
12 Optional rules War Wagons (WW): As per heavy chariots, MV
These are to be used at the discretion of the 1g, no flank in melee.
players; most are designed for specific scenarios. Abilities:
12.1 Abilities  Medium MP or high MP (high more common).
 They may have bows or light artillery.
Undrilled A unit poor at manoeuvres that  They do not have the shock ability.
cannot perform complex moves e.g.
With the bow ability, they may fire from any one
militia units.
side per test. When armed with light artillery, they
Veterans Only one per army and it must be an fire from only one flank side for the entire game
elite unit. A veteran unit does not (chosen when first firing). War wagons are pushed
receive the -1 modifier for being a back, retreat and rout but never charge or pursue.
single unit or being disordered in War Wagons may fire over friendly troops. War
melee. Well experienced troops with Wagons never cause or are affected by
a long history of excelling in combat interpenetration.
e.g. Theban Sacred Band, Silver
Shields. 12.5 Longbows and crossbows
Sub- Acts as a leader. A destroyed sub- Longbows are bows, firing causes the target to take
leader leader does not reduce ACA. a fired-on test ignoring its medium or high missile
Sub-leaders are +3 points and 1 sub- protection.
leader per 30 points. Longbows charged while in echelon with heavy
Recommended for larger games. infantry will retreat after performing their reaction.
Line Mostly for Roman legionaries. Crossbows are bows, firing at any non-
relief When disordered, ignore the -1 skirmish/MM/LA/MI target causes the target to
disorder result only for the next take a fired-on test ignoring its medium or high
melee diced for, are not disordered Missile protection.
by interpenetration with other units
with the line relief attribute and 12.6 Gunpowder hand weapons
reduces modifier for flanked attacks Arquebus: Treat as bows.
to +1, not +2. Handguns: Treat as javelins. Medium MP is
ignored; high MP is only a +1 modifier.
12.2 Leaders attaching and detaching Muskets: Treat as bows and the fired-on test is
A leader may attach and detach from units. taken with an additional -1 modifier.
Effectively the leader attribute is moved from one
unit to another. Only one leader attribute per unit.
At the start of a unit activation a leader may move
up to 5g to another unit but the receiving unit
cannot be in melee. A leader moving away
(detaching) from a unit depletes that unit.
12.3 Artillery
Artillery does not move when forced to retreat or
rout but does suffer disorder and depletion.
Artillery never cause interpenetration effects but
may be affected by interpenetration. Artillery
never pursues or charges. An enemy does not
Page 12 of 26
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
13 Sample army lists
These examples are to assist with formulating
historical unit types. Army lists are not necessarily
complete; they merely contain some representative
unit types.
Skirmishers are almost never elite or poor.
Germanic-type warbands are usually heavy
infantry compared to Pictish medium infantry
warbands. Chariots normally do not have medium
or high missile protection. Heavy Cavalry
normally has medium or high missile protection.
13.1 New Kingdom Egyptians
Chariots: LCH, CV2
Spearmen: HI, CV3
Archers: HA, CV3
Skirmishers: SK, javelins, CV1.
13.2 Early Achaemenid Persians
Cavalry: HC, bow, CV2
Immortals: HA, medium MP, CV3
Sparabara: HA medium MP, poor, CV2
Skirmishers: SK, bow, CV1
Subject Infantry: HI, poor, CV2
13.3 Alexandrian Macedonian
Companions: HC, elite, disciplined, CV3
Phalangites: HI, phalanx, CV4 (5 with bonus)
Hoplites: HI, phalanx, medium MP, poor, CV3 (4
with bonus)
The hoplites in Alexander’s service are not
enthusiastic, hence the low fortitude.
Army Control Ability should be +1 or +2
13.4 Porus Indians
Elephant: Elephant, CV3
Chariots: HCH, CV3
Cavalry: HC, poor, CV1
Archers: HA, CV3
13.5 Gauls
Cavalry: HC, CV2
Tribal infantry: MI, warband, CV2
Skirmishers: SK, javelins, CV1
Army Control Ability should be -1
13.6 Marian Roman
Cavalry: HC, CV2
Legionaries: HI, line relief, some MP, CV4
13.7 Army command ability note
For scenarios the ACA should be obvious. For
other games, generate the ACA by rolling a die:
1 Poor (-1)
2-4 Average (+0)
5-6 Skilled (+1); on a 6 roll again:
4-6 - the command is Exceptional (+2)
Page 13 of 26
For some scenarios rather than increase the ACA,
it may sometimes be better to increase the number
of leaders.
14 Example of play
This short example takes place on a portion of the
battlefield where Pyrrhus is attacking the Romans.
Deployment and troops
Cavalry
LI
LI
Legion C Legion B Legion A
Pike X
SI Z
Pike W
SI Y
Warband
The leader units are just out of the picture so all
units start, and remain, within 5g of leader. Both
Army Command Abilities are 0.
Romans
3 Legionaries: HI, line relief, medium MP (marked
A, B, C from Roman right to left), CV4.
2 Italian light infantry: LI, CV2
Pyrrhic
1 Warband: WB CV3
2 Phalangites: PH marked W, X from Pyrrhic right
to left), CV4 (+1 when ordered)
2 Skirmishers: SK, bow (marked Y, Z from
Pyrrhic right to left), CV1
1 Cavalry – HC, elite, impetuous, CV3.
Roman turn
Activates from right to left.
Player does not move Italian infantry.
Legionaries move and skirmisher reaction
Legionaries move 2g and are within 1g of the
Skirmishers. The Skirmishers react to the
Legionaries moving into their Zone of control and
roll 3 and 4: both fire and retreat. The skirmishers
retreat back through the pikes. Skirmishers are
depleted when interpenetrating and so rout. The
Pikemen behind suffer no interpenetration effects.
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Legionaries fired-on test Pyrrhic turn
The Legionaries take a fired on test from the Working from right to left.
skirmisher missile fire. Legionary A rolls a 1 +1 Warband charges Legionary C. Legionary C does
medium MP = 2. Legionary A is disordered. not react as they are in melee.
Legionary B rolls a 3 and charge (as they are
within 1g) forwards. The skirmishers are no Warband melee with Legionary C
longer there so Legionary B must move up to 2g Warband rolls a 2 +5 (CV3 +2 shock) -4 (CV4, -1
and so contacts (charges) the Pike units W and X. disordered is ignored due to line relief ability) = 3.
Simultaneously (group tests are taken at the same Both disordered. Legionary C is already
time) Legionary C automatically reacts to the SK disordered so the result has no effect.
Y fire and charges, contacting Pike W. The Pike
unit’s reaction is do nothing (no die roll required
for this). Note that Legion C does not cause a ZOC

Cavalry
reaction for the Warband as Legion C is in melee.

LI

LI
Disordered
Legion A
Disordered Disordered
Cavalry

Pike X
MI

MI

Disordered Disordered
Legion C Legion B
Disordered

Pike W
Legion A
Pike X

Warband
Legion C Legion B
Pike W
Warband

Pike W and Pike X are in a two-on-one melee with

Legionary B.

Pike W and X melee with Legionary B

Legionary B melee with Pike X Pike W rolls a 1 +3 (CV4 -1 disordered; note no
Melee is aligned for one on one melee where longer ordered so no +1 for phalanx) -3 (CV4 -1
possible so Legionary B melees with Pike X and single unit (due to 2 on 1 melee); -1 disordered
Legionary C with Pike W. ignored due to line relief) = 1. Attacker depleted.
Legionary B rolls a 4 +4 (Legionary CV4) -5 Pike W is currently disordered, so the depleted
(CV4 +1 phalanx) = 3: Result is both disordered. result destroys the pike unit and it routs.
Pike X is disordered. Legionary B is disordered.
Cavalry

Legionary C melee with Pike W

LI

LI

Legionary C rolls a 3 +4 (CV4) -5 (CV4 +1

phalanx) = 2: Both disordered.
Disordered
Legion A
Disordered
Pike X
Cavalry

Disordered Disordered
MI

MI

Legion C Legion B
Disordered
Legion A
Disordered Disordered Warband
Pike X

Warband
Disordered Disordered
Legion C Legion B
Pike W

Pike X rolls a 6 +3 (CV4 -1 disordered) -3 (CV4 -

1 single unit) = 6. Defender depleted. Legionary B
is already disordered so a depleted resulted sees it
rout. Note the worst result Pike X could receive
was disordered as it is the second melee with

Page 14 of 26
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Legionary B in a 2 on 1 melee. The Italian infantry is depleted and rout. The
cavalry automatically pursues as they are
Pike X Pursuit impetuous.
Pike X pursues 1g (1/2 a move). HI with no
missiles always pursue. End of example.
Pike X is within the ZOC of Legionary A but
Legionary A does nothing.
Cavalry

LI

LI
Disordered
Legion A
Disordered
Pike X
Legion C
Warband

Cavalry charge
The impetuous cavalry does not have to charge the
Italian infantry as they are LI. They charge
anyway.
Cavalry

LI

LI
Disordered
Legion A
Disordered
Pike X
Legion C
Warband

Italian infantry roll a 4 for reaction and fire and

retreat. They interpenetrate the rear infantry and
the retreating light infantry are depleted and rout.
The rear infantry unit is in echelon and moves up
to the same position the front unit held. The
cavalry takes a fired on test rolling a 3 (+1 elite, -1
single unit) = charge which is no effect as in melee
with the moved up unit.

Italian infantry melee with Heavy Cavalry

Italian infantry rolls a 2 +1 (CV2 -1 single unit) -2
(CV3 -1 single unit) = 1. The Cavalry do not get
the shock bonus as they are not charging – if an
echelon units moves up then no charging bonuses
apply.

Page 15 of 26
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
15 Designer notes
Some notes on the thinking that went into these
rules.
Principles
When I wrote these rules, these are the design
principles I had in mind. They have remained
unchanged since I wrote the first draft version of
these rules in 2012.
 Solo friendly - increase uncertainty and
remove as much decision making as viable.
 Only one marker required in the game –
disordered - that is difficult to or cannot be
removed. Most units would have two “hit
points”. Combat would be similar to Bill
Banks Ancients (BBA) where another
disordered result is no effect, and need a high
die roll to get a kill.
 Not IGOUGO - a unit would take its entire
turn (move, missile, and melee) before moving
onto another unit.
 Units would not have much freedom of
movement.
 Some command and control possibly by a
support unit bonus modifier, forcing individual
bases to be formed into units.
 All distances are in centimetres and in
multiples of 4cm to match the base width of
15mm armies.
 The game allows for push-backs and retreats.
 The game does not require bases to align for
combat.
 Infantry skirmishers are removed from the
board quite quickly and only have one hit
point.
 Only one die for all rolls and a high roll is
always good.
 Variable actions in reaction to enemy events.
 Javelins have a range for skirmishers. Other
heavier units do not and are incorporated into
unit melee factors.
 There is some sort of mandatory charge for
warband and non-bow armed heavy cavalry.
 Reaction tests to determine actions to enemy
events.
Why a third version?
All the design principles were followed with
version 2. After around 100 games, I was slightly
unhappy with a few parts of the rules but could not
see any easy way to fix them without going back to
questioning some fundamentals of the game. I
have listed in italics how Version 3 addresses the
issues.
Page 16 of 26
 There were about 7 modifiers to combat,
and two of these were convoluted. I
wanted less. Shock better defined and
down to 4 simple modifiers.
 Still not happy with the way phalanxes
were represented – they seemed too brittle
compared to actual battle performance.
Phalanxes no longer an additional -1 when
disordered.
 The proximity zone/charged reaction test
was only for a subset of unit types and
then it usually was a pass unless the unit
was disordered. So it was a little
confusing, and often pointless. Proximity
zone and charged reactions changed to be
a lot clearer on the limited unit types that
are affected and require a die roll.
 The fired-on test was similar, and had
some different modifiers to the other tests
– either have them all the same or split the
tests out. Skirmishers were affected by a
fail but not too many other units did fail,
and only when disordered as well. So it
seemed pointless to roll most of the time
for the 1 in 6 chance for a test failure.
Fired-on test simplified.
 I liked the wheel constraints of 3cm (= to
45 degrees) but did not align to the “all
moves in multiples of 4cm”. Changed to
movement is done in base widths – besides
wheels they were all in 4cm increments
anyway. Wheels are now up to 90o rather
than being up to 3cm.
 A combined mandatory charge/pursuit test
– while it made sense in my head it just did
not gel, and I was not happy with every
unit having to test. Charging is now
mandatory for certain units; pursuit is
more deterministic with only a few
compulsory unit types.
 I took the step in version 2 from moving
from the nomenclature of Heavy Infantry,
Medium Infantry, Light Infantry, Heavy
Cavalry etc. and changed it to mode
(battle, auxiliary, skirmish) and type
(infantry, cavalry, chariot). I just could not
warm to the mode names. I changed to
mode names of Battle, Auxiliary, Skirmish
to Heavy, Medium, Skirmish and it seems
to fit better in my mind. And in Version
3.3 I aligned to the Bill Banks names.
 Retreats (1/2 a normal move) happen very
often and large retreats did not seem to
occur in battle sources. I have reduced the
number of retreats – infantry do not really
retreat and only faster cavalry/chariots do
so (representing more of a break off than a
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
retreat). I also cut down missile results to
pushbacks (2cm). This has resulted in a
slight complication to the melee results
test.
 Generals with a +2 modifier for everything
seemed to be invincible steamrollers.
Generals, now called Leaders, only have
+1 modifier.
 Not entirely happy with warband
differentiation representation that Germans
needed to be elite.
I have created Medium Infantry type for
warbands, and Samnites. Picts are Poor
Warbands,, Quality Germans are WB,
elite; Gauls are regular.
 Light units stick around too long
Light units were supposed to be brittle but
did not work that way in the game. Light
units now cannot be disordered and so will
rout sooner. I also created a Medium
Infantry type to represent elite LI rather
than have special rules around elite LI.
For over a year I did nothing with the V2 rules and
played only a few games with them as I did not
know how to go about resolving the issues. I then
wrote some rules to use on a grid based on Bill
bank’s Ancients with some ABC concepts thrown
in and then developed these into a full scale set for
use on a non-gridded 2’x2’ table (called When
Warriors Collide). But I soon realised I had
strayed too far from my design principles. When
Warriors Collide was written from a different
viewpoint and I realised that many of the above
issues were addressed in those rules. I combined
the concepts of When Warriors Collide with the
fundamentals of Ancients Battlelines Clash to
produce version 3. All the dissatisfactions listed
above were resolved. I would have never been
able to see my way out of the issues without
stepping back and writing When Warriors Collide.
Note I did go too far and used some interim rules
for a few games. These interim rules had the
When Warriors Collide activation rules (basically
3 divisions a side – I group activated per division)
and deterministic reactions (ZOC, charge and fired
on reactions were very deterministic). I found the
chaos factor did not provide as fun a solo game.
A few other changes besides the above issue
resolution were made from V2 to V3:
Missile Contest sped up – 2 dice rolls rather than 3
Missile contest dice offs occurred after one unit
fired and missed and return fire then also missed.
This has been sped up so that if wanting to fire on
a target that can fire back, both units roll a die and
that is used to resolve the missile fire exchange.
Page 17 of 26
Units can get disordered by missile fire but only
rarely rout unless disordered low fortitude units or
fired on in the flank. Again, re-reading sources it
was rare for battleline units to break from missiles
– normally it seemed they were disrupted so that
fresh troops could melee at an advantage.
Loss of Leader easier to resolve
A loss of the leader used to cause an army morale
check for all units. There was a rare chance a unit
would be depleted (1 in 6 if a single unit or of low
fortitude) so I simplified ii so all units in 5g are
disordered.
ABC Version 2 notes (2012)
Reaction Tests
While there are Rally Round the King (RRtK)
reaction-type tests in these rules, they are based for
a different outcome than RRtK, more closely
aligning with Justified Ancients (JA) events. The
charged test in RRtK a preliminary to combat -
poor units retreat or rout. In these rules, the
charged test is more to see whether a unit stands or
retreats (as per JA or Battle Standard or many
other rules where a unit can choose an action when
charged). The results of the charge are determined
in melee, rather than some being resolved on the
charged test like in RRtK. The fired-on test is
actually the firing result test (it produces similar
results to the JA firing table). There is no fired
result, and then a roll for reaction – it is all in one
test. The melee test is the same – it is a melee
table with results (reactions) aligned to JA and
BBA. So the tests in these may on the surface may
seem to equate to RRtK, but the reason for their
inclusion and the results are quite different.
Missile weapons
Javelins and other short range melee weapons that
are used by other than skirmishers are incorporated
into the unit statistics. It is assumed that many
non-phalanx heavy and Medium Infantry carry
short range weapons, and used them at short range.
Those that do not have them generally have a low
fortitude. Melee is considered a combination of
short range missile firing (if used) and contact.
Incorporating a distinct short range missile
capability for all units that did so is beyond the
scale of the game.
Phalanx
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
It is my belief that at the level these rules are
pitched at, there is no real difference between a
hoplite (long spear) phalanx and a phalangite
(pike) phalanx.
When to charge
In Armati, a unit must charge. In my (unpublished)
version of BBA, it is more like DBM where a unit
must roll (or allocate PIPs) not to charge if in
range. In RRTK, a unit in charge reach of an
enemy can do nothing but charge or stand and
there is a roll to charge. In Justified Ancients a
unit must roll to charge too. These rules are
derived from my BBA, JA, Armati and lastly
RRtK. In these rules a non-bow armed mounted or
warband must roll for a charge if an enemy heavy
(HI, HC etc.) unit is in reach. If it fails it can
attempt a non-charge move.
Comparison of ABC version 2 to ABC version 1
Version one used traditional labels for units –
Heavy infantry, light infantry etc. - and different
movement rates for each. Units now classified by
role and type (infantry, cavalry and chariot), with
some exceptions. I have liked this method ever
since reading and playing the Irregular Miniature
Ancient rules years ago and finally bit the bullet as
it was making more sense in my rules.
Movement rates are now simplified - all infantry
move 8cm, all mounted move 16; version 1 had
different movement rates for the different unit
classifications. For this game, the different
movement rates were really irrelevant. I was very
clever with the old movement rates and retreat.

Terrain setup
There are lots of options to go with when
considering terrain and deployment setup. The
reason it went to the defender to choose which side
to deploy is, while the terrain type is the defenders,
the attacker gets to place the terrain (albeit limited
by the grid square it is assigned to but the attacker
gets to choose the size of the terrain and where in
the grid it goes). The defender then gets to choose
sides based on what terrain the attacker setup.
Streams are setup by the defender and it assumes
that if a stream exists, the defender would choose
deployment based on where the stream is. Terrain
setup is tied to an extent on how the rules work.
For example, I understand why DBA goes the way
it does. Basic Impetus has an interesting choice -
the defender chooses a side, chooses terrain but
sets up first, completely in view of the attacker.
There is a plus and a minus there. I went for a
conservative approach and wanted to stay away
from randomising the side you attack from. I also
wanted to stay away from one side choosing terrain
and the other moving some of it around, or
adding/removing some. I am hoping the terrain
setup strike a balance – random terrain, attacker
gets exact choice, defender chooses side to defend,
both setup hidden. The random terrain generator is
loosely based on Moments in History’s Tank
Commander card game house rules for a quick
board setup.

One command roll per group

The rules originally had the player choose for each
group whether to roll once for the group or once
for the each unit. In the end, I went for one roll per
group as this reflects how I have read groups
tended to act in ancient battles.

Page 18 of 26
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
16 Programmed opponent
16.1 Introduction
This programmed opponent provides an engine to
automate many of the actions undertaken by an
army. These include
 preferred choice of table side
 deployment options
 initial battle tactics for an army
 tactics to use during play.
It can be used by one army to facilitate solo play
(to determine the enemy actions) or use on both
sides to watch a battle unfold. Parts of the
programmed opponent could be used by the actual
player’s army, such as using the army type to
determine deployment of units.
The following terms are useful in understanding
the workings of the programmed opponent.
Army Each army fits into one of six broad
type categories based on the army’s troop
types. Army types are used to
generate an army tactic.
Army The overall tactic that an army
tactic operates under. The army tactic
determines how the units are
deployed across the three deployment
zones and the zone tactics for the
units in the zones.
Zone Determine the unit tactics – the
tactics actions that units in a particular zone
are limited to performing.
Unit The activity a unit performs based on
tactics the zone tactics.
An army’s deployment area is the three 5gx5g (for
a 60cmx60cm board) squares adjacent to a
deployment edge:
Deployment edge
A zone is one of left flank, centre or right flank.
Note this should align more to the deployed
divisions than rigorously enforcing 5g wide zones
e.g. the grey area is the left flank zone:
Deployment edge
Page 19 of 26
16.2 At the start of the game
Army tactic
 Determine the army type based on the army’s
units.
 Roll a die to determine the army tactics and
this then determines the zone tactics.
Defender deployment edge
 For the defender, determine the army’s
deployment edge by rolling a die for each edge
and add modifiers; select the edge with the
highest modified roll.
Unit deployment
 Use the army tactics and deployment
guidelines to determine where to place the
units within the deployment zone.
16.3 Each game turn
Cross reference a unit’s type and zone tactics to
determine the unit’s action.
Do this for approximately three turns, earlier if
most units have or are in melee. After this use your
own judgement for unit orders. The three turns are
due to the generic nature of the order system not
being able to take account of specific local
opportunities.
16.4 Army type
The army type is used to generate the army tactic
used for battle and deployment options. The army
type is based on the army force.
Work down the table until a match is found based
on the units in the army. The last row is used if no
earlier match is found.
Army composition Army
Type
⅓ or more bases are non-agile Mounted
mounted
½ or more bases are impetuous Warband
⅓ or more non-skirmish bases have Missile
a missile ability or ½ or more bases
have a missile ability
½ or more bases are HI Infantry
½ or more bases are light mounted Skirmish
Any not above Other
16.5 Army tactic
To determine the army tactic, roll a die on the
appropriate army type table. The army tactics are
based on those found at the Tactics Tutorial
http://www.theartofbattle.com/tactics-tutorial.
If both sides have the defensive tactic, the
attacker changes to centre tactic, after
deployment.
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
16.5.1 Army tactic tables Centre advances at high speed. Flanks advance
Mounted and only engage to protect the centre.
Roll Tactic Zone Left Centre Right
1-2 Flank Deployment 20% 60%* 20%
3-4 Envelop flanks Tactics Probe Attack Probe
5-6 Oblique *Centre includes over two-thirds of non-light units
and a skirmish screen (if available).
Warband
Roll Tactic Less than 11 units: optionally not fill a flank with
1 All out units (die roll of 1-2) and put all on the major flank
2-3 Centre (non-terrain side if there is one).
4-5 Oblique 16.6.3 Flank
6 Defensive Attack with one flank, advance at high speed,
hoping the break the opposing flank. Advance with
Missile the centre to protect the attacking flank and hold
Roll Tactic back the other weaker flank.
1 Flank Zone Strong Centre Weak
2-3 Envelop flanks Deployment* 40% 40% 20%
4-5 Defensive Tactics Attack Probe Wait
6 Staged retreat *Strong flank at least 30% of the total non-light
units; any skirmish infantry are deployed on the
Infantry centre and/or strong flank.
Roll Tactic
1-3 Centre Less than 11 units: optionally not fill the weaker
4-5 Oblique flank (die roll of 1-3) and have 50-60% centre and
6 Defensive 40-50% on the strong flank.
16.6.4 Envelop flanks
Skirmish
Roll Tactic Attack with both flanks at high speed while
holding the centre.
1-2 Envelop flanks
3 Defensive Zone Left Centre Right
Deployment 30% 40% 30%
4-6 Staged retreat
Tactics Attack Probe* Attack
Other *optionally Wait on a die roll of 5-6
Roll Tactic
The army’s faster units, e.g. mounted, should be
1 All out
deployed on the flanks.
2 Centre
3 Flank Less than 11 units: optionally decrease the centre
4 Envelop flanks to 20-30% and fill flanks equally (die roll of 1-4).
5 Oblique
6 Defensive 16.6.5 Oblique
Attack with the centre and a strong flank while
16.6 Army tactic description holding back the weak flank. Advance at high
16.6.1 All out speed in mutual support the centre and strong
Attack all along the line. Centre and flanks must flank.
advance at high speed, subject to being able to Zone Strong Centre Weak
support one another and not leave major gaps. Deployment# 30% 50% 20%
Zone Left Centre Right Tactics Attack Attack Probe*
Deployment 25% 50% 25% *optionally Wait on a die roll of 5-6
Tactics Attack Attack Attack Any skirmish infantry are deployed in the centre
and/or the strong flank.
16.6.2 Centre
Attack with the centre units with the aim to break Less than 11 units: optionally not fill the weak
the enemy’s centre. Flank units are held back to flank (on a die roll 1-4) and increase centre and the
protect the forward flanks of the centre units. other flank.

Page 20 of 26
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
16.6.6 Staged retreat
Dispersed units wear down the enemy, usually by Less than 11 units: optionally not fill a flank with
missile fire, and hope to draw the enemy out. units and put all on the major flank (non-terrain
Heavier troops then attack. Similar to Defensive side if there is one).
but with offensive use of skirmishers. 16.6.8 Strong/weak flank
Zone Left Centre Right Reserve If a specific flank is not mentioned, then the
Tactics Probe Probe Probe Wait weaker flank is that with a terrain item in it. If
there is no terrain feature, then roll a die for the
Deployment stronger flank: 1-3 left, 4-6 right.
Roll to see if the focus is on one flank or both:
D6 Centre/ Flanks 16.6.9 Reserves
Reserve Only staged retreat and defensive army tactics
1-2 40% 30% on each flank specifically mention a reserve. Other army tactics
3-4 40% 20% on left/terrain flank may optionally have a reserve.
40% on the other flank If you do want to randomise for a reserve in the
5-6 40% 20% on right/terrain flank centre, roll a 1-3 on a die for the existence of a
40% on the other flank reserve.
Over two-thirds the non-light units in centre, some A reserve is formed from units in the centre and,
or all in reserve. unless specified otherwise, cannot be larger than
the other centre group. Normally a +0 ACA army
16.6.7 Defensive has only three controlled divisions to deploy. To
Advance steadily, defending along the line, with include a reserve, the three divisions may be
archers and skirmishers to the front. If two achieved by joining a flank division to the centre
deployment squares have difficult terrain, then an division.
advance is not required. The centre is the line of A reserve always has the initial zone tactic of Wait.
attack and advances with flanks either performing
a supporting advance or remain stationary. When 16.7 Defender edge selection
the enemy is worn down or a gap appears, the 16.7.1 Deployment
reserve body of heavier units move in for the kill
The defender chooses their deployment edge first
or plugs holes in the line, either via a flank or
and the attacker takes the opposite. For a
through the gap. defending programmed opponent, this edge needs
Zone Left Centre Right Reserve to be chosen. This may also be used to randomly
Tactics Hold Hold Hold Wait select a player’s defending deployment edge.
16.7.2 Area available for deployment
Deployment The area available for an army’s deployment is up
Roll to see army balance across the zones to 5g from the deployment edge and no closer than
D6 Centre/ Flanks 1g from any edge.
Reserve The centre area is the central 5g of the deployment
1 60% 20% on each flank area. Each flank is 5g from the edge in the
2 70% 15% on each flank deployment area; note the 1g from the side edge of
3 60% 15% on right/terrain flank this flank deployment area cannot have units
25% on the other flank deployed. This is only a guide - if you cannot fit
4 70% 10% on right/terrain flank the units into the defined deployment zone, it is
20% on the other flank acceptable to have a unit or two that is supposed to
5 60% 15% on left/terrain flank be on the flank being in the centre, but should be
25% on the other flank close to the flank.
6 70% 10% on left/terrain flank If a specific flank is not mentioned, then the
20% on the other flank weaker flank is that with a terrain item in it. If no
Centre must have 5%-25% of total units in reserve terrain feature, then roll a die for the stronger
behind the main battleline. flank: 1-3 left, 4-6 right.
16.7.3 Process
If there is a steep hill or rise on a flank, optionally An edge that has a town has a score of 0. For each
(die roll of 1-3) a division deployed may be other edge, roll a die and add the following
uncontrolled allowing a +0 ACA army to deploy 4 modifiers. Choose the edge with the highest score.
divisions.

Page 21 of 26
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
Equal scores randomly choose an edge from the
highest scores.
+3 Deployment area is clear of difficult
terrain.
+2 The opposite deployment area has a centre
square of difficult terrain.
-2 Army is Mounted or Skirmish and any
middle square has difficult terrain.
+2 Deployment area has rises.
+2 Deployment area has at least one square
of difficult terrain except Steep Hills,
AND the army has 50% or more units that
are MI, MM, LA or SK.
-3 Deployment area has at least one of the
three central squares is difficult terrain,
unless the army has 50% or more units
that are MI, MM, LA or SK.
+2 Middle has at least one square of difficult
terrain, except Steep Hills,
AND the army has 50% or more units that
are MI, MM, LA or SK.
16.8 Deployment guidelines
The army tactics provide a broad brush but does
not specify exactly how the units are deployed.
There are a number of different methods e.g. create
a few deployments and randomly select one or just
set them up fairly logically. Here are some further
guidelines to assist with deployment:
Faster units: The units with the largest move
distance are placed at the outer edges of the zone
they are in. The exception is Mounted if they
would be deployed in difficult terrain or facing a
zone with difficult terrain. Faster Mounted have
priority over slower mounted.
Difficult terrain: Try and place units less affected
by difficult terrain in a zone with difficult terrain in
it, or directly in front of it.
Centre: The group(s) in the centre should be
centred on the middle of the table, except if there is
difficult terrain that unsuitable to the units in the
zone directly facing. Generally heavier infantry
units are in the centre with other units closer to the
flanks.
Flank units: Flank units should be positioned to
ensure that they cannot be easily flanked due to the
1g deployment limit from the edge. Also ensure
there is not too large a gap (if any) with the centre
zone units.
Single lines: Units of a single division should be
generally placed in a single line, except skirmish
infantry that should be in front of other units.
Leader: the leader unit should be the highest CV
unit in an attacking zone, otherwise anywhere in
the centre.
Distance from the deployment edge: Zones with
Rush, Attack and Probe orders should be deployed
Page 22 of 26
around 4g-5g forward in the deployment zone as
any terrain allows; 5g is recommended as usually
other zones in the army have Wait, Hold or Delay
orders. Zones with Wait, Hold or Delay orders
should be deployed in terrain if favourable to the
unit, or else as far forward from the edge to allow
room for at least one retreat; 3g is recommended as
a default distance from the edge.
16.9 Zone tactics
The zone tactics are set by the army tactic (see
optional rules later for possible changes depending
on circumstances). The actual zone forces are the
three divisions at deployment. The three zone
forces used should align with a logical split into
the three divisions, rather than purely using zones
of 5g width each. The zone turn orders determine
the actions the divisional units do that turn.
Note the terminology for this section borrows from
WRG 7th Ancient Rules but the actions are not the
same.
Tactic Description
Rush All units charge or advance as quickly as
possible.
Attack Impetuous units charge or advance,
archers and skirmishers advance into
firing range and other units advance and
charge within reason.
Probe Impetuous units charge or advance but
may roll to not charge, archers and lights
advance into firing range and other units
advance and charge within reason.
Wait Do not advance over the centre line
except when forced to charge.
After the first charge by either a friendly
or enemy unit in the zone, the zone
tactic changes to ATTACK.
Hold Do not advance over the centre line
except when forced to charge.
Delay Similar to HOLD but avoid advancing
into positions that may result in combat.
16.10 Optional: changing zone tactics
and leader types
An optional rule allows for changing zone tactics.
Additionally, leader types and/or unreliable leaders
may be optionally used for additional flavour to the
changing zone tactic optional rule.
16.10.1 Changing zone tactics
Roll a die at the start of a turn for possible
changed zone tactics.
Each zone (left flank, centre and right flank) rolls a
die at the start of the turn for possible changes to
that zone’s tactics. Roll as the turn progresses. So
roll for right flank force first. Then once those
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
units’ actions are complete, roll for centre turn
orders etc.
die Result
1 Possible change of zone tactics, roll on
table below for possible change
2-4 No change to zone tactics.
5-6 If on different zone tactics to that at start,
change back to the at start zone tactics.
Modifiers:
+1 Army leader is in the zone.
Wait tactics: If a zone started on WAIT tactics but
had changed to ATTACK during the game, it is
now considered to have ATTACK as the original
zone tactic.
On a possible change zone tactics result, roll again:
1 Change the zone tactic to the next lower
tactic in the table able e.g. Probe to Wait.
2-4 No change
5-6 Change the zone tactic to the next higher
tactic e.g. Attack to Rush.
If the change is to move to a higher tactic that does
not exist (e.g. already on RUSH) or a lower tactic
(e.g. already on DELAY), then ignore the change.
16.10.2 Leader types
Roll at the start of the game for the type of general
in each zone:
1 Cautious
-2 to the zone tactic second die roll.
2 Bold. If using the optional unreliable
leader rules then treat result as Unreliable.
2-5 Bold.
6 Rash
+1 to the zone tactic second die roll.
16.10.3 Unreliable leader
An unreliable leader is a possible useful rule for
scenarios. On a roll of a 1 for possible zone tactic
changes and then a further 1 for changing zone
tactics, change zone tactics to WAIT and do not
roll for further zone tactic changes until after the
routing of a friendly or enemy unit:
If a friendly unit is the first unit to be subsequently
routed, and no zone unit has performed a melee,
then change sides and become cautious leader with
ATTACK zone tactics; if the unit has fought hand
to hand, then perform a retreat action and then
rout.
If an enemy unit is the first subsequently routed,
then change zone tactics to ATTACK.
Page 23 of 26
16.11 Unit tactics
16.11.1 Unit types
For the purposes of dictating what actions can be
taken, units are split into these types:
Type Description
All Any unit
Impetuous Units with the impetuous ability
facing an enemy they must charge.
Shockers Units that would receive the shock
melee modifier against the facing
enemy unit.
Non- Units that do not have any missile
missile ability
Missile Units that do have the missile ability
armed
16.11.2 Rush
Applies to all units:
 Charge or move into melee if not in melee
already; other advance as quickly as
reasonable to get into melee.
The exception is Agile who only act as though
under Attack zone tactics, but charge other
skirmishers.
16.11.3 Attack
Applies to all units except optional for a reserve:
 Impetuous and non-bow shockers troops must
charge, otherwise advance towards the enemy.
 Non-missile units must charge up to 1g into a
favourable melee. Otherwise advance to within
1g of the enemy with favourable melee or full
distance if end 1g or further. Otherwise to 1g
away if cannot get within 1g or unfavourable
melee may occur.
 Missile units and Agile attempt to advance to
within range of enemy or fire if in range.
Missile units charge if within 1g (2g shockers
with missiles) into favourable melees.
16.11.4 Probe
 Impetuous troops charge, otherwise advance at
least ½MV towards the enemy.
 Non-bow shockers act as non-missile units
with Attack zone tactics.
 Other Non-missile armed units advance to
within 1g of the enemy if within 2g else
advance up to 2g from enemy.
 Missile units and Agile fire if in range or
advance to within range of enemy. Exception:
HI infantry charge into favourable melees
within 1g.
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3
16.11.5 Wait/Hold
Do not advance over the centre line until an
adjacent zone has advanced over the centre line.
Other than this limitation the following applies:
 All units may stand in favourable terrain rather
than advance or charge.
 All units may advance up to 2g from enemy
units.
 If within 1g of an enemy charge into
favourable melees, even if over the centre line.
 Impetuous troops must charge (this may take
them over the centre line) otherwise advance
0-½MV up to 2g from enemy units.
 Non-missile and shockers with missile within
2g of an enemy unit with move to within 1g if
a favourable melee possible unless exposing
the flank of another zone.
 Missile units and Agile do not advance unless
with other units in the same group, or up to
½MV to within range.
Wait: As per above but once a charge by friendly
or enemy occurs, zone tactics change to Attack for
subsequent turns.
16.11.6 Delay
Do not advance over the centre line. Other than
this limitation the following applies:
 All units may stand in favourable terrain rather
than advance or charge.
 All units may advance 0-½MV to up to 2g
from enemy units.
 Impetuous troops must charge (this may take
them over the centre line). Otherwise do not
advance.
 Missile units and skirmishers do not advance
unless with other units in the same group.
Delay is not generated by the system and only
applies in scenarios.
16.11.7 Favourable melees
A favourable melee is where the charger’s
modified combat value is greater than or equal to
the target’s modified combat value. Favourable
combats should be worked on for a group to ensure
the entire group charges rather than one unit at a
time.
16.11.8 Advancing units possibilities
If not charging or under Rush zone tactics then all
units are subject to these advance restrictions
 If forced out of the main battle line or falling
behind a unit may attempt to re-join the line.
 Units may also choose to advance in a line if it
would otherwise mean advancing as a single
unit. This is especially relevant to groups
containing units with different movement
rates.
Page 24 of 26
 May limit an advance to not overshoot the
main line of attack advance.
 If occupying advantageous terrain, then those
on Wait or less zone tactics do not need to
move as per zone tactics, but still react as per
the rules.
 Units not entering into melee may advance
defensively e.g. protect other units from a
flank attack rather than advance full distance.
 Missile unit and skirmishers advances are
generally to the closest enemy able to be fired
at.
 Groups with a more favourable unit behind the
front line may reorganise e.g. a SK has done as
much as possible to an enemy in defensive
terrain retires to allow a rear unit charge
(ATTACK and PROBE only).
16.11.9 Charging guidelines
Charging units charge enemy units in the following
order (subject to the limitations of the zone turn
tactics):
 Favourable closest – combat result has a
greater change of inflicting a depleted on the
target than the charger and it’s the closest
target by movement time
 Favourable and second closest enemy by
movement time.
 Barely favourable - combat result has an equal
change of inflicting a disordered on the target
and the charger.
 Desperate (only RUSH and impetuous
charges) - closest.
16.11.10 Occupying terrain
MI, LI, SK and Warband occupy Woods and
Rough where possible. Other units generally
advance to occupy favourable terrain for them e.g.
advance to the top of a rise.
16.11.11 Reserves
Reserves are a special case and either have a
specific deployment zone tactic or use the
deployment zone tactic. Reserves are generally
used where appropriate to fill gaps or attack the
enemy.
 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3

Programmed opponent Favourable melee

Unit tactics Chargers modified CV => Target modified CV
Type Attack Probe Wait/Hold Charging priorities
No advance 1. Closest and greater chance of inflicting
over centre depleted
line except 2. Second closest and greater chance of
charges. inflicting depleted
All May stand in 3. Melee has = chance of disorder
fav. terrain. 4. Impetuous/Rush – closest.
Hold may adv.
when adjacent
zone does. Optional changing zone tactics (roll per zone)
Charge, Charge if must, else: 1 Possible change, roll again
Impet if can’t Advance ½+ Adv. 0-½ to 1 Change to one lower
uous then to enemy within 2g 2-4 No change
advance No move 5-6 Change to one higher
No- No-miss as Missile as per -2 Cautious general
Shoc missile non-missile non-missile +1 Rash General
kers as impet- Attackers N/A
2-4 No change to zone tactics.
uous.
Charge for fav. melee if within 1g 5-6 If on different zone tactics to that at start,
Move If in 2g, If in 2g, change back to the at start zone tactics.
into 1g advance to advance to +1 Army leader is in the zone.
of fav. within 1g of within 1g if Optional generals
melee, fav. melee fav. melee 1 Cautious
else else unless exposes 2 If allowing, Unreliable, otherwise Bold
Non-
move full Advance up flanks 3-5 Bold
missil
if end to 2g from else
e 6 Rash
1g+ enemy Advance 0-
else ½MV up to 2g
To 1g away Unreliable generals
If roll to change zone tactics to one lower, change
to Wait and no longer roll.
On first rout of any friendly unit:
Fire if in range  If no zone unit has performed melee: change
Advance to in range No advance sides, become Cautious with Attack zone
Except Except: HI unless with tactics
Charge charge into other units in
 If zone unit has performed melee: retreat then
into fav Fav melee in group.
missil Except
rout.
if in 1g 1g;
es (2g Shock as per Wait/Hold: On first rout of any enemy unit:
missile non-missile ay ½ advance  Change zone tactics to Attack.
shockers) to in range;
Shock missile Zone tactics
as per non- Tactic Left/ Centre Right/
missile Strong Weak
Rush: Charge into melee or advance full All Out Attack Attack Attack
Wait: Change zone tactic to Attack after first Centre Probe Attack Probe
friendly or enemy charge Flank Attack Probe Wait
Envelop Attack Probe* Attack
Advancing (not charging/rush) units can always: flanks
 If out of main battleline may attempt to re-join Oblique Attack Attack Probe*
 advance in line rather than as single unit Staged Probe Probe Probe
 advance defensively e.g. protect flank attacks Retreat
 limit move to not overshoot main line of attack Defensive Hold Hold Hold
 MI. SK and Warbands occupy Woods / Rough * optional: roll 1d6 and on 5-6 is Wait.
where possible. Others generally advance to Reserves: Wait zone tactic.
occupy favourable terrain e.g. a rise crest.
 Missile unit and skirmishers are generally to
the closest enemy able to be fired at.

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 Ancient Battlelines Clash v3.3

Activate MV Melee
Move 1+ Infantry 2 <0 Attacker Destroyed
Complex 3+ LC 5 0-1 Attacker Depleted and
Rally 5+ HC LCH 4 Retreat unless slower than enemy or
Elephant or HI Vs Infantry
Elite/Poor +1/-1 CAT EL HCH 3
2-3 Both Disordered unless both Agile or
Single unit -1 Camp 0
Agile/Mounted then Attacker Disordered
Leader +1 Diff: Not Agile/SK ½
4-5 Both Disordered unless both Agile or
>5g ldr /10g -1/-2 Rough:Mtd dep (all ½)
Agile/Mounted then Defender Disordered
Untrained -1 Wds: CH/ELE deplete
6-7 Defender Depleted and
Wheel is up 90 o. Cost up to 45o 1MV, else 2g MV Retreat unless slower than enemy or
Move: Wheel or straight move or Infantry ½g back Elephant or HI Vs Infantry
Mounted/MI: can wheel and move 8+ Defender Destroyed.
LA/MM: optional free about face prior to moving Modifiers (if total mods +1/-1 then natural 1/6 is 1/6)
Agile: move wheel in any combo + directly back +2 Shock
Complex: (5g of enemy disorder) if normally cant: +2 Flanking (+3 if flanking pike PH)
Wheel+ move, about face, Infantry wheel in place +1 Uphill or defending terrain
-1 Single unit or disordered
Impetuous: non-missile Mounted CV3+, Warband +1 Leader ability
Vs non-Light unit with a CV2+ in reach ahead. Special units
NOT: Non-WB MI, thru/into difficult; defending +1 Phalanx to front if ordered in clear terrain
MOUNTED NOT: ELE (unless ELE)/front of plx +1 Camel Vs Mounted
Reaction being charged or move into ZOC CV0 Mounted Vs Elephant
SK/LI/MM/ 3+ Fire + retreat (no retreat for +2 SK, MM, LA, MI (not WB) Vs ELE/SCH
LC Agile I V ELE/SCH/Agile Elephants and camps never count as flanked.
I,Agile V Agile (unless SK) HI, CAT, KN 4 Difficult
1-2 Fire with +1 and SK Rout HA MI HCH SCH ELE 3 PH, CAT -4
<1 Rout HC, LCH, MM, CM 2 HI HA CH -3
Other 3+ Fire LA, LC, SK, Camp 1 HC, LC -2
missile- 1-2 Fire with +1 Poor -1 ELE -1
armed <1 Do nothing Leader, Elite +1 Rest 0
Modifiers +1/-1 Elite/Poor
+1 Leader Shock (changing/charged not in melee)
-1 Single unit or disordered Not in difficult/Vs defending/Vs front of phalanx
Impetuous Charge if must else NA CAT HC MC HCH MCH Any but ELE/CM
Shockers i.e. would get shock bonus – charge WB Vs Non-SK Infantry EL VS HI
Others Do nothing Disorder: Disorder; Agile rout.
Deplete: Disorder unit. If disordered/Agile, rout
Missile
SK, LC, javelins: 1g; Bows: 3g Retreat: ½ move directly back. Agile + ½g
Contest: both roll, Winner 4-difference on loser Rout: Retreat, then destroyed.
On a tie the target is affected as 1-2. Pushback: 1g; Pushback inf., interpenetrate rest
3+ Impetuous Charge Interpenetrate (SK/LA/MM/MI not cause):
Missile- Not in range: move max ½MV Deplete SK/LA/MM/MI/Mounted; Disorder rest.
armed to attempt to get in range EL deplete.
Shockers Charge Leader: Natural 1 in fired on/attack, 6 defend,
Other Charge if in 1g; else move 1g d6:1 = kill. If lost all units in 4g disordered.
unless defending terrain Pursuit – ½MV; d6 & 4+ pursue
1-2 Disordered; Moving mounted pushback Impetuous, HI always pursue.
<1 Depleted; All in contact pushback -2 Uphill/Defending terrain
+1 Untrained
+1 Elite/Medium MP/in cover (High MP +2) +1/-1 leader
-1 Poor/fired on in flank or rear On natural 6, +½g to the unit’s move distance.
-1 Single unit or disordered If contact a unit, perform a melee, both charging.
+1 Leader Echelon: post-interp., move rear infantry unit up.
+1 Missile contest and initial firer Melee, no charging. WB no adverse interp effect.

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