The full text of DBM 3.2 is now available for free download from the Wargames Research Group site. Click here.
Click this link to see the
Official DBM 3.2 amendments
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 gained 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. The current League competitions are at Usk (January), Corntown, Glamorgan (April), Devizes (July) and Frome (October).
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 2011 winners are Dave Madigan and Chris Smith.
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) 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
2010 Mike Bennett and Colin Sharpe
2011 Dave Madigan and Chris Smith
Game Reports 2011
Game Reports 2010
Game Reports 2009
Game Reports 2008
Game Reports 2007
Game Reports 2006
Game Reports 2005
Doubles 2011
Iceni 2011
Roll Call 2011
25mm competitions 2011
25mm competitions 2010
League Positions 2010
Doubles 2010
League Positions 2009
Doubles 2009
League Positions 2008
Doubles 2008
League Positions 2007
Doubles 2007
League Positions 2006
Doubles 2006
League Positions 2005
Doubles 2005
League Positions 2004
Doubles 2004
League Positions 2003
Doubles 2003
League Positions 2002
Doubles 2002
Shieldwall 1996
Cross and Crescent 2003
Barbarians at the Gates 2005
Lancaster and York 2006
1066 And All That 2007
Fertile Crescent 2008
Rome and the Mediterranean 2009
Lords of the Steppes 2010
King of Kings 2011
Flower of Chivalry 2012