Armies of The Ancient World

[mmadsen]

That's a good start. Are there similiar books that compare troops in other eras?

That text compares troops from Homeric Greece through the Fall of Rome, including the enemies of the Greeks and Romans: Persians, Carthaginians, Celts, Goths, Huns, etc.

 

[Corinth]

That text compares troops from Homeric Greece through the Fall of Rome, including the enemies of the Greeks and Romans: Persians, Carthaginians, Celts, Goths, Huns, etc.

How about other cultures outside of Europe, the Middle-East and Africa?

 

[Maldur]

Might be OT but:

If there is a vast empire supported by massive resources, serious manpower and Intricate Magics.

- Would magic take the position of technology or would it help development of technology ( rennaisance squared)?

-If you use this in a game would magic be a common thing or just for military/upper class? Will everyone have a magic lightsource and a magical scrying mirror with the news at 8? Is this a good thing ( pseudo-technology, like tv's and phones) or a bad thing?

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Well, I would say that wide-scale magic would have a few effects;

(1) Magic would probably dominate, but because people never stop thinking, doing, and creating, it would gradually settle in to also expanding and assisting the growth and advancement of technologies.

(2) Initially, it would be centered in the wealthy and powerful; However, over time, magic would make it's way down to effecting, and at least being partially available to everyone. After all, magical ability--arcane or divine, would not be confined to merely one group of people who happen to enjoy a higher economic position.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[anowack]

Imagine a truly adversarial campaign where the DM is primarily a referee, and each PC rules a kingdom and plots the assassination of his rivals (the other PCs). PCs are so much more ruthless than any DM.

Ever played any Birthright PBEMs? They are (or were- I don't know if there are any major ones still ongoing) pretty much what you describe. Quite fun, though the turnaround time is frequently a killer, as is DM burnout.

 

[mmadsen]

How about other cultures outside of Europe, the Middle-East and Africa?

Osprey publishes an endless line of illustrated books of soldiers from different cultures and eras. They're not cheap ($15 for a 48-page paperback), but they are beautiful. I think you could easily go bankrupt collecting them all.

 

[Corinth]

Yep, I know all about Osprey. I'm still waiting for their Gladiator book to get at the FLGS.

 

[mmadsen]

Osprey

Speaking of the Osprey books, I wish they would just combine a dozen of them into one book for a reasonable price, rather than nickel-n-diming collectors for each 48-page booklet. I haven't bought any at $15, but I'd buy the whole shebang as a series of reasonably priced compilations.

I guess Caesar's Legions comes close.

 

[Eben]

Ooh! You look away for a few days and find great threads like this!
I can only say one thing about this: bump!

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Indeed, Eben, it is an interesting discussion! There are many cool suggestions for interesting books, and discussions about armies! Some very nice ideas presented by different people, too!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK