Wargaming the Jewish Revolts against Rome: Where to start with rules

Whenever you start wargaming a new period you need access to suitable miniatures and appropriate rules. Leaving aside the question of miniatures for the time being, let’s talk rules. While you could create your own rules, the easiest thing to do is to look for an existing game that provides you with what you need.

Despite the historical significance of the Jewish Revolts, there have been relatively few wargames that provide rules for these conflicts. I have therefore set out to document the tabletop games that I know of that will provide you with appropriate rules for this period*, adding some comments where I can on the gaming experience. As I stumble on other games and articles that cover this subject I will add them to the list below**.

*Period covered: Start of Herod the Great's reign (37BC) to end of the 2nd Jewish Revolt, aka, the Bar Kokhba Revolt (136AD). This is the period covered by the Jewish Revolt miniature range I sell through Northwing Miniatures and encompasses a range of campaigns and conflicts large and small.

**If you know of other games I would greatly appreciate you getting in touch with me to let me know what I have overlooked and I will get them added.

1.     WRG – De Bellis Multitudinis (DBM) and De Bellis Antiquitatis (DBA)

The Jewish Revolt is covered in detail within the WRG DBM Army Book 2 (500 BC – AD 476). It includes a dedicated list titled: "Jewish Revolt 66 AD–70 AD and 132 AD–135 AD".

These rules include various unit options such as fanatical irregular foot, slingers/ archers and other militia style troops. With these options players can field forces representing the Zealots, Sicarii, and other rebel groups during both the First and Second revolts.

As I have never played DBM/DBA, I cannot comment on how historically representative these rules are when it comes to the Jewish Revolts. However, I have heard that the rules encourage more competitive style gaming, so this may influence your decision to use these rules.

2.     Hail Caesar – Biblical and Classical Army Lists (Warlord Games)

Warlord Games’ Hail Caesar: Biblical and Classical Army Lists includes an official entry for the Jewish Revolt. This is quite a detailed list, and although I have not played this particular army list, I have played other armies from this book. Based on this experience I think the lists for the Jewish Revolt are quite thematic and seem fun to play with. Roman opponents can be drawn from other lists in the same volume, allowing players to recreate engagements in the First or Second Revolts, or even in earlier periods such as the campaigns of Herod the Great against the bandits in the early 1^st Century.

As an aside, this was the only “modern” mainstream ancient ruleset I am aware of that includes the revolt as an official army list. I believe my copy is from the 1st edition of the rules, the current supplement is available on the Warlord Games website: https://store.warlordgames.com/products/hail-caesar-army-lists-bronze-age-to-early-medieval-supplement

3.     Commands & Colours: Ancients (GMT Games)

Although technically not a tabletop miniatures game, I figured that this deserved an honourable mention nevertheless. The Commands & Colours: Ancients system does not include an official Jewish Revolt scenario or faction. However, I have stumbled on fan-made scenarios based on battles of the revolt, using existing blocks and rules from Roman Eastern army lists.

4.     Warhammer Ancient Battles (WAB)

There is no official Jewish Revolt army list in any Warhammer Ancient Battles supplements. However, looking back at some of old (and I mean old) online forums, some hobbyists have proxied Jewish forces using other Eastern or Biblical army lists (such as Hebrews or Syrians). However, if you wanted to use a bespoke army list focussed on the Jewish rebels specifically I do not think coming up with a thematic list using some simple house rules would be too taxing.

5.     Lord of Rings Strategy Battle Game

There is a fan-made set of rules for the First Jewish Revolt using the 1^st edition LOTR SBG rules. These were published in WSS issue 53. Back in the day, I actually many games using these and recall them fondly. You can find a digital copy here: https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/en-gb/products/issue-53?srsltid=AfmBOorqWiocuiiUeVysvAO8tk2uZ7-QBMpe0nvy3Bc7u-FQeMQ9Xs9l   

Conclusion

I hope this list, albeit short, proves helpful in getting you start in wargaming the Jewish Revolts. However, clearly there is plenty of scope for new rules and supplements to cover this fascinating period and I plan to start trying to bridge this gap soon. So look out for some magazine articles from me in the future covering these conflicts. I already have one article ready to be submitted using the Gangs of Rome rules, and another in the works for Infamy, Infamy (which I may submit to the infamous Lard Annual this year).