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Re: Official Osprey thread
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""Armies of Ivan the Terrible
Russian Troops 1505–1700
(Men-at-Arms 427)
Authors: David Nicolle, Viacheslav Shpakovsky
Illustrator: Angus McBride
US Price: $15.95
UK Price: £9.50
About this book
It is generally assumed that the reforms which propelled Russia into the modern world were due solely to the genius of Peter the Great at the start of the 18th century. In fact,his reforms were built upon changes that had taken place during the previous 200 years, since the creation in 1550 of Russia’s first full-time military force – the streltsi – by Ivan IV the Terrible. This fascinating account traces Russia’s armies from that beginning, through the creationof paid regular regiments from1630, up to the reign of Peter the Great. It is illustrated with rare early drawings, photos of surviving artifacts, and dazzling colour reconstructions of exotic military costumes.
Contents
Introduction: Russia in the 16th and 17th centuries
Chronology
16th Century Eastern expansion
Noble cavalry
Artillery
New threats and horizons in the late 16th century – The 'time of troubles'
17th century armies
Arms Production
Fortifications
The Navy
Army of the Principality of Great Lithuania """
Honestly I have bad feelings about this one - what the army of Lithuanian Great Duchy is doing here for example?
It was much different - especially after 1569.
I will buy it anyway and maybe I will complain later, so let's wait ~:cool:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Some new covers for the January 2006 books boys!
First, Ancient Greek Fortifications:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_...rs/S8847AL.JPG
Bronze Age War Chariots
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_...rs/S9444AL.JPG
Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_...rs/S9738AL.JPG
And last, but certainly not least, Armies of Ivan the Terrible. Great plate by Angus, looks highly atmospheric:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_...rs/S9258AL.JPG
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Re: Official Osprey thread
I want the first one. Making now my 3rd set of Ospreys. ~:)
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Osprey have a new poll up - make sure you all vote for an Ankara 1402 campaign book!
Also, they've updated their poll archive with some choices actually coming out in the future. Here are the new ones of interest:
Condottiere 1400-1500 (Warrior) May 2007
Celtic Oppida and Hillforts (Fortress) September 2006
Naseby 1645 (Campaign) March 2007
Personally I'm also interested in the Easter Rising Campaign book, to be released in March 2007. Condottiere and the Celtic book should be especially good.
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Re: Official Osprey thread
I have done it. Let's hope it will win ~:cheers:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Ankara is winning.... 48% of the votes are to Ankara.... ~:cheers:
How good is the Sassanian Elite Cavalry?! I plan on buying this book, because I suddenly became very interested in the Sassanids. ~:)
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Re: Official Osprey thread
On Thursday I have received 30 more Ospreys - some I was able to read to today e.g. Tannenberg 1410 - weird but those crappy 'cossacks' appear probably only on the backcover of the book, that is good because it seemed to be one of big blunders I have herad about before.
Regards Cegorach :bow:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
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Ospreyx roxorzx! ~:thumb:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Another good man got himself some Osprey books...
Good job Mouza-sama!!! ~:cheers:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
I'm starting to think what I want for Christmas. Are there any good Central Asian/Middle East sort of stuff, from Ancient to Middle Ages? I have a good amount, like all the Mounted Archers, Attila and the Hordes, Islam 7-11, the later Byzantine ones, both Russians, the Mongol warrior, Parthia, Sassanians... Any other good ones?
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Re: Official Osprey thread
I'd never really considered the more contemporary one's but I see thye've several on the Anglo-Irish wars, I think I'll be looking into them rather than the couple of Norman ones I had my eye on.
Has anyone bought/seen any of the eyewitnesses to history series? I've founf one on the Anglo Irish war, says its hardback and published by Osprey so I'm curious as to what the content in the range is like compared to the usual series.
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Re: Official Osprey thread
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Originally Posted by Steppe Merc
I'm starting to think what I want for Christmas. Are there any good Central Asian/Middle East sort of stuff, from Ancient to Middle Ages? I have a good amount, like all the Mounted Archers, Attila and the Hordes, Islam 7-11, the later Byzantine ones, both Russians, the Mongol warrior, Parthia, Sassanians... Any other good ones?
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Like these?
- Armies Of The Caliphates 862-1098
- Saladin And The Saracens
- The Armies of Islam 7th-11th Centuries
- The Mongols
- The Moors. The Islamic West 7th - 15th Centuries
:charge:
.
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Recently I have received a book with a postcard inside. I want to send it back, but... I feel so stupid :hide: there are two problems - what should I place under 'title' and 'initials' - is title the number and the initials the abbreviation of the cathegory e.g. m-a-a for Men-at-arms series ?
There is not enough space to write the whole title, so I think it is the only way - any advice ??? :bow:
Regards Cegorach ~:grouphug:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
The december poll has the following titles as options:
1. Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13 (Men-at-Arms)
2. World War 1 ANZACs (Elite)
3. Hittite Warrior (Warrior)
4. Warsaw Rising 1944 (Campaign)
5. Canadian Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces)
Cast your votes, gentlemen.
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Re: Official Osprey thread
I voted for Hittite Warrior, not really thrilling but the most relevant to what I get on the list.
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Warsaw Rising 1944 !!! :knight: :charge:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Nice. I'm looking forward to Armies of Ivan the Terrible.
Can you guys tell me anything about the worth of Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe? What kind of information is in there? The plates I have seen -- they are quite nice.
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I think given the length and nations it covers you can't really expect too much specific information, but it gives a pretty good overview for the area and the plates are really top notch.
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I think it is very good for Medieval period, but after 1480 ... there is almost nothing ( 1 plate) - honestly I was disappointed when I have read this. :san_angry:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
There's a new Osprey book about the Normans coming out in April according to the Osprey site. Don't get too excited though, as it merely looks like a compilation of The Normans (Elite), Norman Warrior (Warrior), and both Fortress titles. Should be worth getting if you don't have all those books though.
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Oh well, I already have the Normans Warriors, and I'm asking for the Elite for Christmas...
As for Hungary and Eastern Europe, I really liked that book. A bit too short, and not enough plates on the stuff I like :san_tongue: , but it was still great.
I really like these Santa smilies. :san_cool:
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Guys, I just want to give you a pointer... The Mycenean Citadels c.1350-1200 BC is very good, well worth the investment. I never knew anything but Mycenae, and even this proved to give a lot of cool info (such as comments on irrigation and draining the surrounding land). And the plates are very good, especially Tiryns (how big wasn't that one).
So I think I will get the Ancient Greek Fortifications, The Myceneans and the Bronce Age War Chariots.
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Re: Official Osprey thread
If you get the chance to visit Mycenae its well worth it. Its a huge site
http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21104a/00/mk04a011.jpghttp://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21104a/00/lk04a018.jpg
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Mycenae, the legendary home of the Atreides, is situated upon a small hill-top on the lower slopes of Euboea Mountain, between two of its peaks, on the road leading from the Argolic Gulf to the north (Corinth, Athens, etc.).
The site was inhabited since Neolithic times (about 4000 BC) but reached its peak during the Late Bronze Age (1350-1200 BC), giving its name to a civilization which spread throughout the Greek world
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Otterburn 1388 - Bloody border conflict (Campaign 164)
Wow this is a must for me. another book about my favourite period
Author: Peter Armstrong
Illustrator: Stephen Walsh
US Price: $18.95
UK Price: £13.99
Sched - March 2006
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_...rs/S9800AL.JPG
About this book
In his Chronicles, Froissart described Otterburn as ‘the best fought and the most severe’ battle of his time. Fought at Redesdale, in Northumberland, in August 1388, the battle originated from the ongoing war between the Scots and the English but rapidly descended into a personal feud between the Scottish clan, Douglas, and the aristocratic English family, Percy. This book details the events that led up to this clash on the borders, using all the contemporary sources, gives a full account of the battle and examines the opposing armies and their weaponry, as well as the personalities of Black Douglas and Henry 'Hotspur' Percy.
Contents
- Origins of the Campaign
- Opposing Commanders: The Scottish Commanders and The English Commanders
- Opposing Armies: The English Army and The Scottish Army
- The Campaign: Opposing Plans and The Invasion
- The Battle of Otterburn: Sources; The site of the Battle; The date of the Battle of Otterburn
- The Aftermath: The battle of Humbleton Hill; The Battlefield Today
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Re: Official Osprey thread
Yeah you may also be interested in Flodden (May) and Tudor Knight (June) Shades mate.
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I shall keep my eyes on those, thanks for the info BKB
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Yeah Mycenae is very good too, but it is so 'well known', that I didn't want to mention it. It has the largest part of text of all the fortresses. And I woul love to go there one day.
Just the other day I bought Elite: Japanese Paratroop Forces of World War II.
I must say it looked awesome. Here was a part of the war that I had never heard about. Too bad I had ideas of the German troops in numbers and efficiency.
The book it rather boring, though the plates by M. Chappell and A. Hook are great (but sadly boring once more). It is very detailed about the looks of the soldiers, but it seems that it relies a whole lot on the Allied accounts (and even points that out). So the material is not too good, only the first three landings are worth anything, though the section on the planned (suicide) landings at Saipan in 44 is great.
Also bought Essential Histories: The Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905
So far it has been very good. Quite detailed if somewhat lacking in plates and maneuvering (only the most obvious meneuvers are shown), so it is a quite demanding book, despite being supposed to be easy to read for all.
The best thing about it is that it is written without any bias. The Japanese in fact get quite a bit of positive press (which makes one wonder how they could change so much 30 years later).
Not surprisingly the Russians are quite inept, but have a few bright stars that the author makes sure to present, as they had important jobs (sadly they were not supported well by their superiors).
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Re: Official Osprey thread
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Quite detailed if somewhat lacking in plates and maneuvering
Yeah unfortunately mate there are no plates in the Essential Histories books, hence their cheapness. (In comparison with the other series' at least)
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Re: Official Osprey thread
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Originally Posted by The Blind King of Bohemia
Yeah unfortunately mate there are no plates in the Essential Histories books, hence their cheapness. (In comparison with the other series' at least)
I know that... I guess I expressed myself wrongly, I meant that the battleplates (maps with maneuvers) are a little too weak. You feel highly confused at times, also because the events unfold very fast. You can't actually sit and draw a map yourself as you lack the info.
One bad thing that has been happening late in the book is a tendency to mix events. You follow one general and his troops suddenly without pause you are thrown at another general and troops without knowing it (by using 'they', 'he' or 'it' for instance it is impossible to make out).