Reading Group--Caesar's Legion

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Hey Maldur, I'm glad that you like the book! It is truly excellent!

Caesar had joined the Legions when he was 18 years old, and served with distinction and courage. War was an essential ingredient to Roman society, and Caesar was both--a general and a politician. In Rome, military glory was absolutely interwoven throughout political life. It was extremely rare for a Roman Senator to even be a Senator, or certainly reach a position of prominence, without military service and glory. Thus, the shrewd Roman politician made sure to gain not only extensive military experience, but to achieve military glory in order to secure his political career.

The Roman Legionairies were able to build a fortified camp at the end of every day by virtue of not only discipline and skill, but by the fact that there were *thousands* of men who were set to work immediately in constructing the fortified camp. While thousands worked to establish the camp, others stood guard, armed and ready. By routine practice and experience, the Romans could have the fortified camp completed rather quickly. The Roman encampment's simple yet effective design, layout, and organization, made it relatively easy to master, and with practice, speed and efficiency was achieved.

Indeed, the Romans were the greatest and most skilled infantry in history, and the most effective and dangerous until the advent of gunpowder.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Maldur]

Indeed, the Romans were the greatest and most skilled infantry in history, and the most effective and dangerous until the advent of gunpowder.

What if some roman scientist had invented effective gunpowder weapons?

By routine practice and experience, the Romans could have the fortified camp completed rather quickly.

Still the mind boggles. A fortress a day! A slightly less labor intensive camp sound more economic ( you could march further, use less resources, etc). But they seem to have found it worth it. Makes you wonder how unpopular legions were, or the level of paranoia the romans had ?

The scale and speed of legions keep amazing me.

Before sailing to Britain for a years campaign, they marched on triest and they recovered a deserting auxilarynear paris .

800 ships, 5 legions, large cavalary groups.

Recruiting and outfitting of a legion was done in a matter of weeks.

Makes you wonder what more was lost during the dark ages?

What chapter are we on anyway?

 

[Reprisal]

What if some roman scientist had invented effective gunpowder weapons?

There's actually an RPG called FVLMINATA out there somewhere that addresses that question directly... Imagine if Rome never fell as it did... Imagine how different the world would be!

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Indeed, the Roman Legions were the best! Their speed and discipline is simply incredible!

For the benefit of some of the other readers, I think we are lingering on Chapter II in order to allow others to catch up. Gradually moving into Chapter III.

How's that sound? Anyone have any thoughts on what they have read in chapter I and II? What do you think of the story so far, and what kind of inspiration for the game, perhaps, have you had from the reading?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[TheBurnedManAtWork]

http://historymedren.about.com/library/prm/bl1mongolinvasion.htm

Whattabout the Mongols?

 

[Maldur]

What about them? Were reading and commenting on a book about A roman legion, and even though Im only about 4 chapters into the book I can pretty much say the mongols have nothing to do with it.

If you wanna join in ( and your welcome) see the begining of the thread, find the mentioned book, and join the fun. Or if I totaly misunderstood your question: please elaborate so I do know what the relevancy is.

Cheerz, Maldur

 

[Reprisal]

Bump! And some random musings...

Hehe, I just finished reading Chapter 3. It's full of great stuff, and some of the best I've read about Rome.

I was also thinking about those rules pertaining to pillaging and what-not... They seem very intelligently constructed, and serve as an incentive to fight. The simple idea that if an enemy town resisted, the whole legion divided the spoils equally; and if the town surrendered, the generals would decide how to divide the spoils.

I also like the fact that Caesar paid his troops bonuses after a successful campaign. It seems to me that people always underline the terrible life of the soldiers in the Middle Ages...

I'll be saying this a lot, but imagine if Roman military sensiblities survived into the Middle Ages! Great book, and it's giving me ideas pertaining to the structure of the Vast Empire of Kalamar's Legions in the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting.

It's too bad that shortswords have no advantages in game that they seemed to have in the tight ranks of the Legions...

Pilum - Medium Martial Weapon (Ranged)

This weapon is a four foot length of wood with a two foot length of malleable iron attached. This weapon is used strictly for throwing, as using it in mélée is extremely difficult. In times of dire need, it may be used at -4 to Hit in Hand-To-Hand combat.

Cost: 1 Gold Piece
Damage: 1D6
Critical: 20/x2
Range Increment: 30 ft.
Weight: 3 lbs
Damage Type: Piercing
Special:
- In the event that a Pilum thrower misses his initial attack, he may roll again as an Attack-A-Weapon action. If this second attack is successful, it does no damage to the target. Instead, the pilum imbeds itself into the shield, where it takes 1D6 damage, and the shield's user loses its AC bonus. The user of the target shield may take a full-round action, which invokes an attack of opportunity, to remove the pilum and regain its AC bonus. Once the Pilum is removed, it cannot be used again until it is repaired with a Craft (Weaponsmith) check at DC 12, due to the iron shaft of the Pilum bending upon impact.

 

[mmadsen]

Thus, the shrewd Roman politician made sure to gain not only extensive military experience, but to achieve military glory in order to secure his political career.

The quest for glory seems to lead to odd strategic decisions, e.g. invade Britain, then go home.

 

[Maldur]

Wasn't the invasion of britain more of a Punishment campaign. and a way of securing hostages, so the british tribes wouldn't attack romans again ( or assist others to do so)?

An dishing out revenge/punishment campaign is good for your prestige back in Rome.

Im getting a feeling ceasar was only a good general because he had to!! He had to win, so he could become president for life (viva la revolution!) It does make him not even half as nobel as popular history makes him. (Damn another dream scattered)

 

[Ulrick]

It seems like everything from Roman times just screams the word:

EPIC.

I'm definitely gonna buy that book when I get some money.

Roman history can easily be coverted into a D&D game plot because so much EPIC stuff happened.

Which, as of late, I've been doing to a certain extent.

Ulrick