Tony Bath
Founder of the Society of Ancients and influential ancient wargame rules author.
Tony Bath (1926–2000), a British wargamer with a strong preference for the ancient period, is remembered as the founder of the Society of Ancients. Born in London, he served in World War II and began collecting military figures afterward, joining the British Model Soldier Society in 1955. When he started playing ancient-period wargames, the only miniatures available were hard-to-find German flats. As the period gained hobbyist popularity, Bath’s rules became the most commonly used. In 1966, Donald Featherstone published Bath’s rules for ancient, medieval, and 18th-century warfare as a single pamphlet titled 'Tony Bath's Ancient Rules' (or similar), part of a set covering eight historical epochs. Bath founded the Society of Ancients in 1965, and in 1973 the Society of Ancients published his *Setting up a Wargames Campaign*. He also worked as an administrative manager for Miniature Figurines, Ltd., helping expand their ancient and medieval miniature lines.
The Tony Bath Rules, according to Kevin Large, were designed not for aggressive competition but for fast, enjoyable play. The earliest surviving version appears in Featherstone’s book *War Games*. Phil Barker called that version his “second favorite” ancients ruleset but felt later, more complex versions lost some appeal. Originally written for flats (thin, nearly two-dimensional figures), Bath was slow to adapt the rules when solid figures became dominant, since he had created them for personal use. Some attribute the rise of other rulesets to this slowness, though others note that Bath’s rules remained widely played for a time after flats were obsolete. In 1976, he published a solid-figure version, *Peltast and Pila*, which adapted to contemporary trends while keeping his basic style. Barker noted that Bath firmly chose playability over historical accuracy. The basing matched WRG frontages of the time, with slight differences in base depth. Terrain and street-fighting rules were especially detailed. The rules mixed group dice rolls for hits with individual saving throws to determine kills. Bath also wrote a naval warfare extension, published as a supplement to the Society of Ancients Rules in 1968 and included in Featherstone’s *Naval Wargames*. His key works were later collected in *Tony Bath's Ancient Wargaming*, a collaboration between the Society of Ancients and The History of Wargaming Project.
- Born
- 1926
- Died
- 2000
- Field
- Wargaming
- Nationality
- British
- Known for
- Founder of the Society of Ancients; author of widely used ancient wargame rules
Lore & Background
Tony Bath was born in London. After serving in World War II, he began collecting military figures. In 1955, he joined the British Model Soldier Society. When Bath began playing wargames set in the ancient period, the only miniatures available were German flats which were difficult to procure. As the period became more popular with hobbyists, Bath's rules were the ones most often used in ancient wargames. In 1966, Featherstone published Bath's rules for ancient, medieval, and 18th century warfare as a single pamphlet titled 'Tony Bath's Ancient Rules' (or similar), part of a set of rulebooks covering eight historical epochs.
Bath founded the Society of Ancients in 1965. In 1973, his Setting up a Wargames Campaign was published by the Society of Ancients. He worked as an administrative manager for Miniature Figurines, Ltd., helping them expand their selection of ancient and medieval miniatures.
Reader's Guide
Tony Bath's significance lies in his foundational role in ancient wargaming. He founded the Society of Ancients in 1965, which became a central organization for enthusiasts of the period. His rules, published by Donald Featherstone in 1966, were the most commonly used ancient wargame rules for a time. The rules were originally written for German flats and were noted for prioritizing playability over historical accuracy, a tradeoff acknowledged by Phil Barker. Although later versions became more complex, and the rise of solid figures led to other rule sets gaining dominance, Bath's rules continued to be played extensively for a time. His 1976 adaptation for solid figures, 'Peltast and Pila,' kept his basic style while adapting to contemporary trends. His legacy includes the collation of his works in Tony Bath's Ancient Wargaming, preserving his contributions for later generations of wargamers.
Did You Know?
- His ancient wargame rules were published by Donald Featherstone in 1966 as part of a set covering eight historical epochs.
- Phil Barker considered Bath's rules to have chosen playability over historical accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tony Bath?
Tony Bath (1926–2000) was a British wargaming enthusiast who specialized in ancient-period battles and founded the Society of Ancients. He is widely regarded as one of the key figures who shaped the ancient wargaming hobby in the mid-20th century.
What is Tony Bath most known for in the wargaming community?
He is best remembered as the founder of the Society of Ancients and as the author of a set of ancient wargame rules that became the standard reference for players of that era. His rules were eventually published by Donald Featherstone in 1966 alongside medieval and 18th-century rules.
How did Tony Bath get started in wargaming?
After serving in World War II, Bath took up collecting military figures and joined the British Model Soldier Society in 1955. He moved into ancient-period wargaming at a time when the only available miniatures were scarce German flat counters, which made the hobby quite challenging.
What period did Tony Bath focus on in his wargames?
Bath had a deep and lasting preference for the ancient period, which set him apart from many of his contemporaries. Both his rules and the Society of Ancients centered on recreating battles from antiquity.
Why is Tony Bath considered important to the wargaming hobby?
As ancient wargaming grew in popularity, Bath's rules naturally became the go-to system for most players in that niche. His work helped establish ancient battles as a distinct and respected branch of the broader wargaming community.
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