Sourcebook for early RTW period

[Hakonarson]

"Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars, 359-146BC", by Duncan Head, published by Wargames Research Group.

For a single all-encompassing work this is the one.

the text is pre-digested for wargamers - ie it's all about the relevant stuff http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

as with all of the WRG "Armies and Enemies" series it is split into 4 main sections:

Organisation and Composition of Armies
Tactical methods
Major Battles of the period - text only but also including references to the original sources
Dress and equipment - b&w diagrams and text

This volume covers Persians, Greek (generic), Boiotian, Spartan, Athenian, Phokian, Aitolians, Achaian, Tarantine, Syracusan, Macedonian, thessalian, successor (generic), Antigonid, Epeirot, Ptolemaic, Kyrenian, Seleucid, Pergamene, Bactrian and Indian Greek, Maccabean, thracian, Bithynian, Illyrian, scythian, Bosporan, Sarmatian, saka, Parthian, Indian, Carthaginian, Numidian, Spanish, Celtic, Galatian, Roman, Latin, Samnite, Campanian, Lucanian, Bruttian, apulian and Etruscan armies. With more or less detail http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Alrowan]

sounds intersting... im sure CA will do a lot of research into rome

[Hakonarson]

I was thinking more of players who might like some more historical background - but hey if CA find it useful then that'd be great too http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

It costs about 14 pound (UK) IIRC, and a web search will find you a few places that sell it - it's prolly available off the shelf in specialist wargaming stores in the US too.

[Hakonarson]

Another fun book to read is "Stratagems" by a chap called Sextus Julius Frontinus. My copy is twined in a Loeb edition with "Aqueducts of Rome" byt the same guy and I suspect this is the only way you can get it.

The book was written in the 1st century AD I think, and recounts various stratagems used (or purportedly used) in variosu stages of campaign and battle. It's split into sections such as "on bringing a reluctant foe to battle", distracting the enemy's attention, gaining access to towns under seige, etc.

Each stratagem is presented in a short paragraph or 2, so it is easy reading.

Loeb books are fairly expensive and not likely to be carried on shelves anywhere common, but you should be able to find 2nd hand copies through bibliofind/amazon used books without too much bother - or order it new through your local agent.

[econ21]

Interesting, Hakonarson - about 25 years ago, I bought the WRG book about Rome in the subsequent period (from birth of the Empire to decline) and I still find it fascinating. It's where I first learnt of cataphracts, which impressed me greatly as a callow youth. So to unexpectedly finally get to play with them after a quarter of a century was one of the highlights of MTW for me.