tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post3243870808390793656..comments2024-03-29T06:53:35.364-07:00Comments on Blood and Spectacles: Conquest! Rome in Italy: Battle Report- Forced Recon in Samnium Blood and Spectacles Publishinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04553070461794152273noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-52739372902915916592019-05-09T06:31:54.415-07:002019-05-09T06:31:54.415-07:00Interesting. Non-academic resources on this perio...Interesting. Non-academic resources on this period are hard to come by! I will see if I can track it down and give it a read. Thank you. <br /><br />One of the terrors of writing historical rules is someone always knows way more about it than you. however, it is great when they teach it to you. Blood and Spectacles Publishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04553070461794152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-62278856929232312652019-05-09T05:40:42.401-07:002019-05-09T05:40:42.401-07:00That looks great! If this period really interests ...That looks great! If this period really interests you, may I suggest that you read 'Early Roman Warfare' by Jeremy Armstrong - absolutely backs up the thing about early Roman warfare being all about small-scale raiding and personal booty. Also proposes the theory (common among current historians, apparently) that Rome never used a traditional Greek-style phalanx and that the manipular formation evolved from when the clan-based war band armies began recruiting from the Roman populace in the early 4th century. It's a compelling argument and has convinced me! It also proposes that the early Roman civic militia (the very earliest version of citizen hastati and principles) would have used dual-purpose spears and javelins, gradually taking on various early types of weighted pilum-type things as these became more common in Italy during the 4th century BC. It also proposes that, in the 4th century BC, the troops that later evolved into Triarii would have been the clan nobles fighting with long spears in hoplite gear, but in a quite individualistic 'heroic' style common in Greece prior to everyone taking up the phalanx idea.Thus early manipular tactics involved a range of units in a range of armour and weaponry, in quite informal 'dense cloud' formations akin to early Spanish fighting styles. It really is a very good and compelling read and might help with your ideas for this period for your rules. Good luck!GuitarheroAndyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12739862408121075838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-27194493906596871082019-02-02T12:51:30.337-08:002019-02-02T12:51:30.337-08:00Unfortunately, it is a subject that has been littl...Unfortunately, it is a subject that has been little discussed and studied.<br />To start, you'll be able to suggest it:<br />Duncan head, armies of Macedonian and punic wars<br />Ivo fossati, gli eserciti etruschi (it has English translate At the bottom of the volume) <br />Connolly, Greece and Rome at war<br />Salmon, samnitesAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074241670576986919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-69413890417009671402019-02-02T11:13:53.537-08:002019-02-02T11:13:53.537-08:00Dang! You clearly know your stuff!
I found it ...Dang! You clearly know your stuff! <br /><br />I found it rather difficult to get much info on the militaries for the enemies of Rome and they required much more extrapolation and educated guessing. If you have some sources in English I could look at it would be much appreciated! Blood and Spectacles Publishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04553070461794152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-64768983932758077102019-02-01T04:22:58.604-08:002019-02-01T04:22:58.604-08:00Hi Eric,
Thank you for your quick reply. I hope yo...Hi Eric,<br />Thank you for your quick reply. I hope you will excuse me for my bad English.<br />I perfectly agree with you: the first battles of the Romans were little more than raids. The story of the Fabi at the river Cremera makes it very clear.<br />Even the clashes with Volsci and Equi had to be very similar. Therefore I also think that a skirmish game is perfect for these clashes.<br />As for the velites, I understand what you say (and I imagined it was), but I personally would try another term: "velites" is really too specific, I would prefer a psiloi or similar elite. my opinion obviously.<br />I really liked the idea that you wrote about rival cities like Capua: a band from the latter would be a wonderful mix of elite cavalry, "Greek style" hoplites and light bell infantry (Samnite).<br />Finally, according to my personal opinion, in this expansion for the Roman conquest of Italy, I would see well:<br />- Romans<br />- Etruscans<br />- Celts<br />- hill tribes (volsci, aequi, hernici)<br />- Greeks of the Italiote cities (Taranto and others)<br />- apuli and messapii (I would distinguish them for the high number of light and heavy cavalry)<br />- Samnites and similar peoples: with some specific units and limited number where needed, for example hoplites for Lucanians and Campanians.<br />- A list for the Ligurians would be nice too. Even today, I understand that not much is known about the warrior style of this people. However, a good list had been made in the supplement on Hannibal by Warhammer Ancient Battle, also thanks to a student I met (Federico Frasson) who had done research and then obtained a doctorate on them. The list had a fantasy flavour, but it was very characteristic.<br />Last but not least.<br />The pyrarian wars, the greeks and punic wars and the first Punic war would also be very interesting. the different perspective that you propose would make it even more interesting.<br />A curiosity if possible: what do you mean by warband for the Samnites? Usually the term warband is used for Celts and similar troops, while for sannitis and other italics a generic category of light or medium infantry is used. how do you use this term?<br /><br />Anyway,<br />thank you <br />and good job.<br />For now I will attend april for Men of Bronze with curiosity and many expectations.<br />Davide<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995909576347966221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-21772978522797227882019-01-31T10:08:35.873-08:002019-01-31T10:08:35.873-08:00Excellent comments.
I do have some basic lists ...Excellent comments. <br /><br />I do have some basic lists for the Apulian, Aequi, and Volsci but I pretty much just lump them all into Italic Tribes or Rival City-States such as the Capuans. Etruscans were a must as were the Gauls. When you read the semi-legendary accounts of these ancient battles the authors make them sound very grand as if they are from the later Roman era... but I can't shake the feeling that they were actually little more than cattle raids and low level skirmishing. LOL. Therefore I feel like the Men of Bronze "scale" of units is a better fit than Heirs to Empire's "scale". <br /><br />As far as Velites, you are absolutely correct. The term is purely a Roman one. However, in my rules it is an abstract term for semi-professional skirmisher unit with a bit of armor... sort of like a Greek Peltast. When possible, I try to use generic unit types to make army building a bit easier. <br /><br />Also, it is interesting you mention the Carthaginians as I have been doing a lot of research on them recently. These rules end at the Pyrrhic Wars so do not have much on the Carthaginians, but I am tempted to make a set of rules focused on the Carthaginians and their enemies instead of the usual Punic Wars stuff. A different perspective if you will. Blood and Spectacles Publishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04553070461794152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-50636343809250270952019-01-31T02:18:57.448-08:002019-01-31T02:18:57.448-08:00Hi Eric,
I am very interested in your wargame &quo...Hi Eric,<br />I am very interested in your wargame "men of bronze" since I was looking for a long time for a skirmish game on Greeks and Romans.<br />therefore I am even more interested in this Roman version. <br />It would be great to have specific lists also on Gauls (with gaesati and chariots), Etruscans, Apulians, Aequi and volsci (in other wargames named as hill tribes) Syracusans and Carthaginians (and Thessalians for men of bronze, of course).<br />just one note: attention to the names, the velites are only Romans!!! :-)<br />I will follow with great attention and interest.<br />DavideAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995909576347966221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-65382098603850668522018-12-19T10:57:06.740-08:002018-12-19T10:57:06.740-08:00I think I am going to get some of those Victrix Sa...I think I am going to get some of those Victrix Samnites too! Blood and Spectacles Publishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04553070461794152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054986497992526061.post-70910990203558725012018-12-17T15:45:21.000-08:002018-12-17T15:45:21.000-08:00Hi Eric. This looks like a really smart idea and I...Hi Eric. This looks like a really smart idea and I will follow with interest. I've just brought some Victrix Samnites and wasn't quite sure what to do with them so will eagerly wait for further news on this project.The Young Guardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14308386175143886966noreply@blogger.com