Lost Battles: Reconstructing the Great Clashes of the Ancient World

About this board game

Lost Battles: Reconstructing the Great Clashes of the Ancient World is a two-player ancient battle simulation presented in a 298-page book, with an approximate playing time of 120 minutes.

Professor Philip Sabin guides readers through the creation of a system for simulating pitched battles in the ancient period. The rules are approximately 16 pages long and can be used with either miniatures or counters, with counters available for free download from the author’s website.

Each scenario represents one of 35 historical battles, with battlefield setups shown on color plates. The battlefield is divided into a rectangular grid measuring five areas wide by four areas deep, giving the game a clear framework for movement and fighting.

• Armies contain roughly 20 units.
• Units are graded as Veteran, Average, or Levy.
• Each turn, a single die determines the available command points.
• Command points allow units to move and fight between areas.
• Unit states are streamlined as fresh, spent, or shattered.

The command system gives training levels a direct role in battle: Veteran units require fewer points to command. As units become spent or are shattered and eliminated, the simple status system provides a concise way to track battlefield conditions without adding unnecessary complexity.

Alongside its rules and scenarios, Lost Battles includes extensive references to both primary and secondary sources. It combines historical research, battlefield reconstruction, and a compact tabletop system for examining the great clashes of the ancient world.