He Hemetera Thalassa, Mare Nostrum: Naval Rules in the Age of Galley
He Hemetera Thalassa, Mare Nostrum (Greek and Latin for “Our Sea”) is a fast-playing, fleet-action level miniature wargame ruleset, It is specifically designed to simulate large-scale ancient naval battles across the Mediterranean.
Game Overview
Historical Scope: Covers ancient naval warfare from 2000 BC to 900 AD.
Famous Battles: Built to recreate massive historical conflicts like the Battle of Salamis, Battle of Actium, the Peloponnesian War, and the Punic Wars.
Playtime: Designed to resolve massive, multi-ship engagements quickly, usually in under two hours.
Mechanics & Scale
Scale & Modeling: Intended for micro-scale models, specifically 1/2400 scale miniatures based in groups or stands. Each base or stand represents a squadron or tactical unit of 5 to 10 ships.
Hex Grid Engine: Battles utilize a hex grid alongside a detailed tactical engine that handles simultaneous orders, historical maneuver tactics (like the periplous and diekplous), and command friction.
Low Bookkeeping: The rules keep tracking to a minimum by utilizing physical status markers (such as “Out of Formation”, “Wavering”, and “Crumbling”) placed directly on the table rather than paper spreadsheets.
Content & Expansion
Factions & Ships: The core rules feature data for over 30 broad ship types and nine historical fleet lists, spanning from the early Egyptians and Sea Peoples to the Classical Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines.
Scenarios: Official historical modules are available to expand the game, such as the Battle of Naupactus 429BC scenario.