The DBM South-West Doubles League

Proposed DBM Rule Changes

Click this link to see suggested rules changes for 2010 competitions.

The DBM South-West Doubles League

THE DBM SOUTH-WEST DOUBLES LEAGUE

DBM (De Bellis Multitudinis) is a set of wargames rules for ancient and medieval armies using model soldiers, usually either 15mm or 25mm scale, with each figure representing about 50 men. The rules were written by Phil Barker and Richard Bodley Scott, were published in 1993 (subsequently revised several times) and have a world-wide following of several thousand players. There are international championships and many national and local competitions.

The DBM South-West Doubles League grew out of the Shieldwall tournament organised by Keith McGlynn in Berkeley, Glos and Godendag organised by Richard Bodley Scott in Usk, South Wales each year. Those two competitions were joined by others in Clevedon, Somerset (War Cry), Devizes, Wilts (Attack!) and Bath (initially Challenger, then Aquae Sulis). There are trophies for the winners of the individual competitions and also a trophy for the winners of the overall League.

From 2008 the Clevedon and Bath competitions are using different rules. A new competition at Caerwent, Monmouthshire, called Venta Silurum, replaced them.

A new trophy was introduced in 2005, named the Phil Claxton Memorial Cup in memory of a regular competitor who won the League in 1997 and died tragically young in 2004.   The 2009 winners are John Graham-Leigh and Russell King.

The original trophy was presented permanently to Keith Westwood and Phil Reeves, three-time winners.

Besides the 15mm Doubles league, separate competitions using 25mm figures are held each year, currently at Lydney in the Forest of Dean, Slimbridge (near Berkeley) and Westbury, Wiltshire.

Most players are from South-West England, South Wales and the West Midlands, but some travel from London and other parts of the country. From 2007 numbers have fallen because of competition from other rules sets, but there is still plenty of enthusiasm for DBM.

The links on the left give access to results of the Doubles League tournaments, 25mm competitions and local competitions organised by me in Westbury, Wilts.

To learn more about DBM, see Richard Bodley Scott's web page at www.byzant.demon.co.uk or join the DBM discussion group at http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/dbmlist/

Also recommended is the Society of Ancients, which publishes a journal, Slingshot, about ancient and medieval military history and wargaming. See the Society's web site at www.soa.org.uk for details of how to join, and information about competitions and other events including the SW Doubles League.

John Graham-Leigh

SW Doubles League Winners

1995   Pete Haines and Neil Parsons

1996   Ian Speed and Craig Allen

1997   Andy Claxton and Phil Claxton

1998   Steve Hacker and Don McHugh

1999   Andy Whitby and Dave Sheppard

2000   Keith Westwood and Phil Reeves

2001   John Lavender and Ian Speed

2002   Tim Porter and Mick Owens

2003   Keith Westwood and Phil Reeves

2004   Keith Westwood and Phil Reeves

2005 Richard Perry and Jason Scott

2006 Ian Speed and Craig Allen

2007 Ian Speed and Craig Allen

2008 Jeremy Morgan and Neil Hammond

2009 John Graham-Leigh and Russell King

My Favorite Links:

DBM Home Page

Yahoo! DBM group

Society of Ancients

British Historical Games Society

My Info:

Email:

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