Spartan: Tactical Warfare in the Hellenistic Age, 500–100BC


Spartan: Tactical Warfare in the Hellenistic Age, 500–100BC is a board wargame published by Simulations Publications, Inc. in 1975 that simulates battles during the rise of Greece to the period of Roman rule. Originally published by SPI as Phalanx, the game was revised and republished with the title Spartan as part of a series called PRESTAGS.

Description

Spartan is a two-player tactical board wargame in which one player controls Greek, Macedonian or Spartan forces, and the other player controls historic enemies during the period 500–1000 BC, including Persians, and Carthaginians. Seventeen scenarios are outlined, including the battles of Marathon, Plataea, and Corinth.
The game system used by all games of the PRESTAGS series is a simple "I Go, You Go" system of alternating turns where one player moves and fires, followed by the other player. More complexity can be added by using optional rules for panic, leadership, facing, melee and simultaneous movement.
In addition to the PRESTAGS rules, Spartan also has rules unique to the Greek era, including the use of elephants and special leaders.

Publication history

In 1971, John Young designed a game about historic battles during the Greek period that was published by SPI titled Phalanx. Over the next three years, SPI published other similar games set in ancient and medieval eras. In 1975, SPI decided to gather five of these disparate games together under the name PRESTAGS, and tasked Young with creating a single set of rules that all the PRESTAGS games would use. One of the games converted to the new system was Phalanx, retitled Spartan.
Upon publication, Spartan immediately moved into SPI's Top Ten Bestseller List, debuting at #6.

Reception

In a 1976 poll conducted by SPI to determine the most popular board wargames in North America, Spartan was very highly rated, coming in 23rd out of 202 games.

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