Reading Group--Caesar's Legion

[Sulimo]

Im a Lurker who doesnt have the book yet . But Im enjoying the thread...


I plan on picking the book up eventually though.

Yeah, I'm in a similar position. Although I dont know if I will pick the book up - mainly due to monetary considerations. I'm not really sure I'll have time either, at least not in the short term as I have a fair amount of reading to be done in research for my paper on Tiberius for uni...

 

[mmadsen]

Re: Re: Re: Lurkers?

John Warry's Warfare in the Classical World covers far more than Caesar's battles, so it doesn't go into great depth, but it does have a few nice maps and some excellent diagrams of siege works.

As long as I've brought up one outside text, I thought I'd mention a couple more. When I first went to order Caesar's Legion, I ordered Caesar's Legions (note the "s") by Sekunda instead. It was another book SHARK had recommended. Frankly, it has some nice color plates, lots of black and white photographs of Roman artifacts, and some good line-art diagrams, but the text is dry, dry, dry and dwells on minutia. I thought it might have some maps, but it doesn't.

Greece and Rome at War is simply beautiful -- full of wonderful color art of arms, armor, and siege works, diagrams of formations, etc. The author, Peter Connolly, is known for recreating ancient arms and armor. It only has a few maps; it's not too useful in that department.

 

[Sulimo]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Lurkers?

Greece and Rome at War is simply beautiful -- full of wonderful color art of arms, armor, and siege works, diagrams of formations, etc. The author, Peter Connolly, is known for recreating ancient arms and armor. It only has a few maps; it's not too useful in that department.

Yep. Peter Connolly is a legend. I love that guy. Actually it sounds like an excellent book. How much is it worth?

 

[mmadsen]

Peter Connolly's Greece and Rome at War

Yep. Peter Connolly is a legend. I love that guy. Actually it sounds like an excellent book. How much is it worth?

The cover price is US$50, but you can get it off Amazon for $US35. As I said before, it's a beautiful book, but I haven't sat down to read it yet.

 

[optimizer]

Howdy!

I have previously developed a system of powerful, magical banners for armies on the battlefield. Between Caesar's Legion and the ELH, I must revise some of my earlier designs! Quite obviously, throughout Caesar's Legion, Standards and Banners are used for communication, inculcating unit pride, but also possessing powerful psychological power on the battlefield.

Have you written up any details about these banners in your campaign? If so, are you willing to post it -- I am interested in what you came up with.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[optimizer]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Lurkers?

Howdy!

As long as I've brought up one outside text, I thought I'd mention a couple more. When I first went to order Caesar's Legion, I ordered Caesar's Legions (note the "s") by Sekunda instead. It was another book SHARK had recommended. Frankly, it has some nice color plates, lots of black and white photographs of Roman artifacts, and some good line-art diagrams, but the text is dry, dry, dry and dwells on minutia. I thought it might have some maps, but it doesn't.

Greece and Rome at War is simply beautiful -- full of wonderful color art of arms, armor, and siege works, diagrams of formations, etc. The author, Peter Connolly, is known for recreating ancient arms and armor. It only has a few maps; it's not too useful in that department.

Thanks for the additional references!

Mike

 

[mmadsen]

Chapter VII -- Enemy of the State

Caesar spent seven days engaged in the siege of Corfinium, and by the time it was over he was surprised that General Labienus still hadn't arrived from Gaul with the bulk of his cavalry. Now he was staggered by the news that labienus had decided that Caesar had overreached himself in going against the Senate, and, while he had brought the Gallic and German cavalry down from the Rhine as ordered, he had offered the services of his troopers and himself to Pompey.

Ouch! Imagine waiting for you reinforcements only to find them joining the other team!

This does seem like exactly the kind of thing that should happen to many D&D PC parties though. Like Caesar, they're often so single-minded and self-centered that they don't realize they're not in the right, and that other people might carry grievances.

I found this point particularly telling:

Typically, Caesar's ego would let him make no mention in his memoirs of how his once firm friend and loyal lieutenant Labienus had defected to Pompey. We simply find Labienus on the other side once battle was joined.

 

[mmadsen]

As news of the debacle at Corfinium reached [Pompey], his officers informed him that all attempts to raise fresh troops north of Capua were proving fruitless, as much because of Caesar's reputation as his rapid advance, a reputation, according to Plutarch, that credited Caesar with killing a million people during his nine-year conquest of Gaul and of taking another million prisoners and selling them into slavery.

Killing a million people and taking another million prisoner and selling them into slavery? I know we're getting a bit jaded with the huge numbers getting tossed around, but a million people?! I can see why people weren't signing up to go against that guy!

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Indeed, mmadsen! As one of my ancient history professors always said, "Remember, Caesar was *never* defeated. Caesar never loses."

Caesar was a brilliant genius, as skilled in politics as he was in war. I also understand that he was a lavish spender, and he was said to be very, very handsome, and it was widely said that Caesar could have any woman in Rome, such were the women's passion for him.

Gee, Caesar had infinite wealth, infinite power, infinite glory, infinite women! He just didn't stop! Even when he makes mistakes, he manages to recover somehow, and come out on top, winning! Caersar is quite amazing!

The slaughter of a million people served as a good reminder to everyone that Rome, and Caesar, meant business. Over a million slaves no doubt also added incredible wealth to himself, as well as his Legions. After all, selling over a million people into slavery throughout the empire is going to rake in a lot of money! My god, can you imagine the wealth?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[mmadsen]

As one of my ancient history professors always said, "Remember, Caesar was *never* defeated. Caesar never loses."...Even when he makes mistakes, he manages to recover somehow, and come out on top, winning! Caersar is quite amazing!

I'm more inclined to say that Caesar only lost once. The odds were stacked way against him, but he did lose. Big.

In D&D, he might've taken on a couple dozen guys with daggers and shortswords...