Official Osprey thread

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Good, glad you like them. Which ones did you get again, and which ones you like best? What you planning on ordering next?

[edyzmedieval]

Well BKB...

I have ordered Walls of Constantinople, Constantinople 1453 and Tannenberg 1410.. Can't say which I like the most, I like all of them ~D

I plan to buy Fortifications of Malta, WWII books(can't say which, I'm looking) and some from the Elite or Vanguard or Men at Arms of Warrior... Can't say which, but I have 3 priorities: Fortifications of Malta, Byzantine Armies 1168-1461 and a book about German Armies which has information about Landsnechts,Minsteriales....Hopefully my dad's gona give up in buying me these books ~D ....

Cheers! ~:cheers:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Those Military History magazines came today. They're nice, but of course I was most interested in the 4 with Angus McBride pics on the cover (Zulus, Liegnitz, Belisarius at Rome and Normans charging the Irish). I scoured them all and I was about to put them away when by luck I saw the top one had "England's biggest defeat in Ireland" as an inside article. I look inside a low and behold I struck gold with this pic that I've been looking for for ages of the Battle of Yellow Ford!

http://www.doyle.com.au/images/battle.jpg

I knew it was in Military History but not these issues! Thought I'd never find it so it made my day.

Concord's El Cid also came. Pretty good but the artist is of a required taste to say the least.

[edyzmedieval]

Hey guyz...

I want to ask you if the following books are good:

Hattin 1187
Fortifications of Malta 1530 - 1945
Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights - Red Brick castles of Prussia
Knights Templar 1120-1312

Thanks! ~:cheers:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Hattin 1187 - Ok. No illustrations created ESPECIALLY for the book, but there are some from other books, including a couple by McBride. Good if you want to learn about Hattin I suppose, though don't expect great illustrations.

Fortifications of Malta 1530 - 1945 - I only got this for the Hospitaller stuff. The illustrations aren't very exciting but as long as you're not getting it solely for the Knights of St John you should find it interesting.

Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights - Red Brick castles of Prussia - I have the other one but this one I've ordered off Amazon and am expecting soon.

Knights Templar 1120-1312 - Disappointing to be honest. I expected a lot better from Wayne Reynolds. There's a couple of good pictures but they're hardly memorable. The info is pretty good though, so on the whole its probably worth a look.

And remember you can get KT, Hattin PLUS Saracen Faris in a special compilation book called 'God's Warriors'. You'll save a lot of money if you go that way.

God's Warriors (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S9436~per=41)

[edyzmedieval]

Thanks for the info.....

I wanted the book on Hattin to learn about the battle and also about the Fortifications of Malta....

Thanks for telling me about the Knights Templar....I thought it was quite bad.....

Right now, I plan on buying every book except the Knights Templar.....

Cheers! ~:cheers:

[edyzmedieval]

BKB,

I plan on buying my next set of Osprey books tommorrow, so I gotta find info before I buy...

How's God Warriors??? Text, illustrations......

[The Wizard]

Hattin, Knights Templar (Warrior) and Saracen Faris (Warrior) together in one book. Nothing else. :yes:



~Wiz

[L'Impresario]

I browsed a bit through that one and it seems to me that some texts from the original books have been trimmed. Can't be sure as my attention was rather absorbed by that "Samurai Commanders" one ;-)

[edyzmedieval]

Hey guyz....

How's Byzantine Armies 1168-1461??? I really need this book for the Byzantium Total War mod, but a 48 page doesn't attract me.... Too little info in 48 pages!!!

So, is it worth buying?!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Its very good. Great plates and some good info on Byzantines Armies in that period, especially the various auxiliary groups that helped comprise its armies.

[Steppe Merc]

I'd second what BKB said. It's really quite good.

[edyzmedieval]

Thanks for the info BKB and Steppe Merc...

Can't wait tommorrow to buy my second set of Osprey books!!!!

[cegorach]

I ordered Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe. :balloon2:

Now I have 8 osprey books - about 25 left to finish my collection ... ~;)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Check out this thread for scans of illustrations from Armies of Islam and Armies of the Caliphates:

Muslim Armies (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=836310#post836310)

[The Wizard]

There is a Byzantine one too:

Byzantine Osprey plates (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=50375)



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Should be getting Crusader Castles of the Holy Land 1192-1302 and far more importantly Sassanian Elite Cavalry by Saturday. ~D

[The Wizard]

It's out? OMG! *scrambles*



~Wiz ~;)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well, not til the 10th according to Osprey, but they're always slow anyway. ~D

[edyzmedieval]

My dad is exasperated.... Guess why?! I still haven't ordered my second set!!! :furious3:

Sorry about that, had to discharge myself.....

I think I'm getting it also, because Fortresses are one of my main interests in my hobby, Medieval history.....

[edyzmedieval]

I'm goin' crazy here....

Have you noticed a new book?!

Warriors of Medieval Japan - by Stephen Turnbull(my favourite writer) and plates by Angus McBride!!!!!

228 pages, hardback cover.... 3 books in one with new plates and text

This has gotta be one of the hottest books of the year!!!!

Gotta order it....*zzzziiiiiiiipppppppp to his dad*

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I doubt there's new Angus plates. I think its just Reynolds' Warrior Monks and Ninja book and the Ashigaru book, all 3 of which I already have, along with some stuff from the Samurai title illustrated by Angus McBride. Compiled into a nice single edition with some new text and pictures (photos, diagrams, etc., NOT plates), this is probably worth getting, but I won't be picking it up, there's little point.

[Steppe Merc]

Sassanians aren't out yet in Amazon over here, bummer. :embarassed:
I can't wait to get it though.

[edyzmedieval]

I was a huuuuuuuge fan of Medieval Japan before switching to Medieval Europe..... So probably(turning to surely, my birthday is almost 2 weeks away ~D ) I'll get this book along with God's Warriors and another 3 books....

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

No Sassanians today sadly...looks like Monday or Tuesday.

[edyzmedieval]

Finally!!!

I have ordered my second set of Osprey books!!!!!

[Meneldil]

Just ordered MAA The Moors today. I was thinking about ordering the last vikings, saxons and normans stuffs I do not have yet (Norman Castles, Saxon fortifications or Viking Longships), but I'm not sure they're worth it.

[edyzmedieval]

I wonder how good the King Tiger book(New Vanguard 1) is. Can you tell me?!

I ordered it in my second set. I really like this tank.

[edyzmedieval]

Question:

Has anyone won at the book contest?!

I've just participated in the Waterloo book contest and looks like I haven't won because no mail from Osprey....

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The cover of The Mycenaeans is up and it looks like we have yet another good Angus book on our hands!

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S8979AL.JPG

Still waiting for the Sassanians though.....hopefully today.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

No Sassanians, but after making my most recent order I realised that once I get the books I'm expecting I'll practically be done with Ancient/Medieval/16thC stuff! Bar new stuff, all I need now is:

Qadesh (Campaign)
Yarmuk (Campaign)
Kalka River (Campaign)
Towton (Campaign)
Nagashino (Campaign)
Armada Campaign (Campaign)
Kawanakajima (Campaign)

And then whatever new stuff comes out!

[edyzmedieval]

Lucky dawg....

You're living in England, so it's easy for you to buy all the Osprey books.... The books with the Kalka River and Kawanakajima are very interesting, for me, at least..... ~D

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

That and because I've been buying them for the past 10 years or so.

[edyzmedieval]

WOW....

~:jawdrop:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well I've only seriously been buying them for the past 5 but my dad used to get a few for me a good while longer than that.

[Duncan_Hardy]

Nice to see some fellow Osprey fans ~D

I haven't been collecting as long as you, BKB, but I do have a sizeable collection (30+). However, the plates are not the main reason I buy them (your posts suggest this is the case for you); the historical information contained within is more of interest for me ~;)

Great illustrations are a nice bonus though.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sassanians arrived today. Great stuff!

Scratch Kalka River and Towton off the list.

[edyzmedieval]

I wish I could order the Sassanians....

I have to ask my dad for this..... :((

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

So does anyone else have the Sassanian book yet? If so, what do you think of it? My favourite pics were the ones we've already seen, the cover and the double page spread. The spread depicts Julian the Apostate (on horseback, blond hair) being killed while on campaign against the Sassanids in 363AD for those wondering. Awesome plate.

[Kraxis]

Since you have obviously read it, can you explain why the Romans are wearing banded armour? The last evidence I know of it is from the time of Septimius Severus, which is rather long in the past for Julian. Of course the ocational armour might have been retained, but this seems odd. The same goes for the helmets, at least to a degree (as I can't see for certain).

[edyzmedieval]

The Romans= The Byzantines because the proper Romans didn't even fight with the Sasanids. And Julian the Apostate was a Byzantine Emperor.....

[King of Atlantis]

I'm thonking of buying some of these books, but i dont really no which are good. Please tell me if the following are good.

The Wars of Alexander the Great

The Vikings

The Normans

Saxon, Viking and Norman

Does anybody have these, if so wich ones are the best?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Vikings and Normans are awesome, must-haves. Saxon, Viking and Norman is pretty lame plate-wise, and of course you aren't going to get as much info as in the stand-alone titles (Where's my Angus McBride illustrated Elite Saxons book Osprey?!?). The Wars of Alexander the Great - is that the title that includes the campaign book and the MAA title? The MAA features good McBride plates while the Campaign book features no true stand-alone illustrations. Together however I'm sure they'd provide a detailed yet concise overview of Alexander's campaigns and armies over that 11 year period. If you can get it for less that £20 you're also looking at a bargain as Campaign + MAA = £22 normally.


Since you have obviously read it, can you explain why the Romans are wearing banded armour? The last evidence I know of it is from the time of Septimius Severus, which is rather long in the past for Julian. Of course the ocational armour might have been retained, but this seems odd. The same goes for the helmets, at least to a degree (as I can't see for certain).

I'll take another look at the plate commentary and get back to you.

[edyzmedieval]

Yessss!!!!!

I have received the Osprey catalogue!!!!
Hopefully I have received my books also...

*scrambling to the post office*

[cunctator]

The Romans= The Byzantines because the proper Romans didn't even fight with the Sasanids. And Julian the Apostate was a Byzantine Emperor.....

Sassanians and romans begun to fight eachother shortly after the Sassanians had overthrown the parthians around the middle of the 3rd century ad. At this time Roma was still the only and unrivalled capital of the empire and even the legions were still scutum equipped.

Julian Apostata ruled as emperor over the complete roman empire after he was just Caesar in the west. He tried to reestablish the pagan religion and preserves the ancient culture. He was a more proper roman emperor than anyone else in the 4th century.

The term Byzantine empire generally only refers to the eastern roman empire after the final seperation in 395ad in most literature only after 600ad, when Heraclios rforms change the face of the empire completly.
But i don`t think that this is the right thread to discuss this.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Here is the info given about the Roman soldiers in the bottom right of the plate:


Roman soldiers here are depicted with the characteristic deep skull and sloping neck guard. They are armed with Spatha swords and rely on Dura Europos-style shields, complete with a central grip and a pointed boss. The Piazza Armerina mosaic provides a model for the four-colour system and the boar motif. Erratum: Soldiers of this period would almost certainly have worn mail rather than the Iorica segmentata seen here.

So there you have it, this was infact a mistake. The Roman Commander in dark yellow is under a different description BTW.

[Kraxis]

Ahhh... Ok. Well that makes sense, and it sounds very much like what I expected.
I'm still at bit at odds with the helmets (they look very Imperial in style) ,but since I can't see them properly I won't fight it.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well it was a slight disappoinment, but it is still a fine plate nonetheless. Shows why Angus is easily the best in his field.

[edyzmedieval]

BKB,

I still have 3 more books to buy.

What WWII books do you reccomend?!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Not my field I'm afraid. I only have 1 (German related, a compilation), that I had to get for Uni work. It doesn't really interest me to be honest. Your best bet is to try and get some compilations as they are cheap and comprehensive. Don't expect the artwork to be as good though. If its just info you want and static artwork you'll be happy.

Now if its Ancient/Medieval you want I can recommend a few I'm sure. ~D

[Kraxis]

I ahve just ordered:

"Pirate Ship 1660-1730 (New Vanguard S.)"
"German Battleships 1939-45 (New Vanguard S.)"
"German Pocket Battleships 1939-45 (Osprey New Vanguard S.)"
"German Heavy Cruisers 1939-45 (Osprey New Vanguard S.)"
"German Light Cruisers 1939-45 (Osprey New Vanguard S.)"
"German Destroyers 1939-45 (New Vanguard S.)" There is a book on British Battlecruisers as well, but I was getting hardpressed for money.
"Medieval Scandinavian Armies: 1100-1300 Pt. 1 (Men-at-arms S.)"
"Napoleonic Naval Armaments 1792-1815 (New Vanguard S.)"
"World War II Infantry Tactics (1): Squad to Company (Elite S.)" I have the two others as well, the company to Battalion and the Anti-tank tactics. These books are very good! You really get a feeling of how things were done. Now it isn't so impersonal as it can get in the Campaign series.
"The Ancient Assyrians (Elite S.)"
"The Persian Army, 560-330 BC (Elite S.)"
"Greek Hoplite, 480-323 BC: Weapons, Armour, Tactics (Warrior S.)"

At home I have a number of other books in no particular or special area. Just like these books. I will post them when I get home.

[edyzmedieval]

Now if its Ancient/Medieval you want I can recommend a few I'm sure. ~D

Yeah. I'll stick to this....

I want to ask you about other good Medieval books and some books about the Prussians(1700-1850).

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Prussians again I can't really help you with. Once I get all the Ancient/Medieval titles (next month?) I plan to move onto 17th century but I won't go beyond that bar personal interest. Which books do you currently have?

Nice broad selection there Kraxis. MSA1 is especially a good shout.

[The Wizard]

The Romans= The Byzantines because the proper Romans didn't even fight with the Sasanids. And Julian the Apostate was a Byzantine Emperor.....

No he was not. Plenty of wars were fought between the Roman empire proper and Sassanid Persia. Wars such as those of Gordianus III and Julianus the Apostate are examples.

Not until the very end of the wars between the Sassanids and the Romans can one even begin to argue that wars were being fought between the Byzantines in stead of the Romans, and the Sassanids. Heraklios, the last Roman emperor to fight them, and the first (and last as well) Byzantine emperor to fight them, replaced Roman titles (augustus) by Greek ones (basileos) and Latin as court language by Greek. His reign is by far the best period to choose as the end of the Roman empire proper.

Anyways, high time for a new Osprey book. I have (finally) selected a few and come out with:

The Normans Elite
The Early Russians Men-at-arms
Armies of the Muslim Conquest Men-at-arms
Armies of the Caliphate Men-at-arms
The Late Byzantines Men-at-arms
Carolingian Cavalryman Warrior
So, thoughts? I'm personally gunning for either Armies of the Caliphate (as far as I have seen the best plate-wise), The Late Byzantines or The Early Russians.



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I'd personally go for The Normans, quite possibly the best Osprey book I have. Amazing and varied plates and good info on a quite extraordinarily ambitious people.

[The Wizard]

Well, I'm not too interested in the Normans and their English escapades; what is the skinny on their Mediterranean adventures?



~Wiz

[Steppe Merc]

I hope to get the Sassanid book soon. Wiz, the Late Byzantines is excellent, as is the Early Russians.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well, I'm not too interested in the Normans and their English escapades; what is the skinny on their Mediterranean adventures?

Well the plates offer such a diverse range of Norman adventures including an awesome Battle of Hastings, landing in Sicily, being ambushed by Gaelic Warriors, repelling French opposition at the Fall of Normandy and fighting Muslims in the Holy Land. Plus another 8 besides!

If not, Steppe stated my 2nd and 3rd choices. All great books.

[Meneldil]

The Normans is definitely worth the money (the Hastings and the sicilians plates are stunning), and the Early Russian MAA is quite nice too.

[The Wizard]

Hmm, I guess I'll have to buy two then. I've seen a couple of Reynold's excellent Armies of the Caliphates plates, and I must say, I must have it! So I guess it's that one with either the Normans, the Late Byzantines or the Early Russians.

I've seen a lot of the Early Russians plates, but what is the masterpiece of the Late Byzantines?



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I've seen a couple of Reynold's excellent Armies of the Caliphates plates, and I must say, I must have it!

Its actually Graham Turner. ~;)

[The Wizard]

Hah, I was guessing ~D

So, how about that Byzantine most attractive plate? ~;)



~Wiz

[edyzmedieval]

Thanks for that Wiz...

But what do you mean by Late Byzantine because I haven't found it....
:confused:

[King of Atlantis]

Vikings and Normans are awesome, must-haves. Saxon, Viking and Norman is pretty lame plate-wise, and of course you aren't going to get as much info as in the stand-alone titles (Where's my Angus McBride illustrated Elite Saxons book Osprey?!?). The Wars of Alexander the Great - is that the title that includes the campaign book and the MAA title? The MAA features good McBride plates while the Campaign book features no true stand-alone illustrations. Together however I'm sure they'd provide a detailed yet concise overview of Alexander's campaigns and armies over that 11 year period. If you can get it for less that £20 you're also looking at a bargain as Campaign + MAA = £22 normally.

Thanks BKB, i plan on getting the first three on my list. ~:)

edit-yep, just ordered them free of shipping charge. ~:)

[Meneldil]

I received "The Moors - The Islamic West 7th-15th Centuries AD" this morning. Only half of it is about Dark Age, but I wanted to get something else than Norman and Viking stuffs ~D

I'd like Osprey to release a book which would be both about Dark Age and Steppe people, like Armies of the Khazar, but it's unlikely to happens. People prefer books about WWII.

[cegorach]

I have read Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe...

Well... it was rather dissappointment, mainly because I was lookingfor more information about Balcan armies after 1480 and I didn't get really anything - one plate ~:confused: - It should be called differently, because there is nothing about Haiduks and such like in the book, so earlier ending date in the title would be better, I believe.

Most unfortunate it was that about 10 pages are used for the Byzantines, who later got their own book ( later armies).

Generally I am looking forward to a new one describing ONLY Balcan armies, but how long can I wait ? ~;)

[edyzmedieval]

BKB this is for you,

Have you got the "Warriors and Warlords:The Art of Angus McBride" book?!

[Steppe Merc]

I'd like Osprey to release a book which would be both about Dark Age and Steppe people, like Armies of the Khazar, but it's unlikely to happens. People prefer books about WWII.
Hell yeah! And what the hell is with all those damn WW2 books? It's boring, there are guns, no horses, and they've had a million.
We need a book about Khazars, a book about Avars, and mabye a book about the Qipchaqs, or the Seljuqs.

[Meneldil]

Yeah. And everybody learn WWII at school anyway. The good won, the bad lost, and that's all.

There's a lot of book about the Khazar in France, but sadly, they don't have Angus McBride plates ~;)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

There is far too much modern stuff yes, but I fear they sell better - just look at the range in Osprey's polls every month. Its clear what there main audience is.

Attila and the Nomad Hordes and Mounted Archer of the Steppe seemed quite adequate to me. I suppose I could go for either a Armies of the Seljuk Turks and Armies of the Khazar Khaganate or two Steppe Armies volumes, but I feel there are more important medieval ones that have yet to be covered - North-Eastern Europe and Africa (non-Muslim) for example. Then there are areas I'd like to see delved deeper into - Iberia, the Balkans and even Britain. The Scottish and Welsh Wars is awful. Ireland, Scotland and Wales, even England I feel, have been ignored.


Warriors and Warlords:The Art of Angus McBride

Thanks Ed but I've known about this for a while. Its merely a compilation featuring some of his best pieces, most of which I have, and none are exclusive. I'll pass but for anyone wanting to know why he is rated so highly they need only look at the brilliance and range on offer.

[Steppe Merc]

The two steppe ones are good, yes, but it's too much of an over view. I'd like to know more about the tactics and different types of soldiers each place fielded.

But I agree, there needs to be more other stuff as well. I would like them to cover more about Hungary's earlier years, which would work out, since it would cover the Avars and the Magyars as well. I really liked the Hungry and eastern Europe, though it is too far into the present for my tastes, by a bit.

[edyzmedieval]

Indeed Steppe Merc,

Many other subjects have to be covered. For example, I haven't found any books on my ancestors, the Dacians and the Thracians. Or, other books, like the Armies of the Khazar Khaganates, Romania in the Medieval Period, Medieval English Armies, French Elite Cavalry.....

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I think I can help a bit there:

Rome' Enemies 1 (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=Q4735~ser=MAA~per=40)

Features the Germanics and Dacians, though the artwork (Embleton) is truly awful!

Thracians (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S3292~ser=MAA~per=40)

Ah now this is much better! Great plates by Angus and purely just about the Thracians.

I agree about England, though there are some alternatives:

The Armies of Crecy and Poitiers (MAA)
The Armies of Agincourt (MAA)
The Wars of the Roses (MAA)
Henry V and the Conquest of France 1416-1453 (MAA)
English Longbowman (Warrior)
English Medieval Knight 1200-1300 (Warrior)
English Medieval Knight 1300-1400 (Warrior)
English Medieval Knight 1400-1500 (Warrior)
Many Campaign Books (Falkirk/Stirling Bridge, Tewkesbury, Towton, Bosworth,
100 Years War related, etc.)

Also the various Norman titles should be noted too. So its not that bad. A 2 volume English Armies set though, along with one for each of the Celtic nations of the UK (inc. Ireland) would be brilliant though.

[edyzmedieval]

Your new titles:

"Grand Master of the Osprey books"
"Sales Director of Osprey Publishing"

Thanks for that. I'm still thinking on what to buy, now my dad gave me my whole piggy bank to spend ~D ~:cheers:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Not sure about the latter (more like Sales Director of Angus McBride!) but the first seems appropriate. You think these are good you should try the Concord ones. Their low on info and more expensive, but 20 HUGE McBride plates, mostly always of actual fighting is worth it any day of the week!

[edyzmedieval]

I'm really not interested in the plates.

I bought the Osprey books for info, and the plates and maps help me understand more the situation, for example, Tannenburg 1410.

[King of Atlantis]

Yeh my preference is info first, plates second, but i am still looking foward to the viking plates/norman plates.

[The Wizard]

Well, on the table for future releases is a title about Serbian medieval armies. A while ago it was up for voting, but it lost to Sassanian Armies, IIRC.

It would be an immensely interesting book as far as I am concerned. The medieval Balkans are a very interesting theater.



~Wiz

[SwordsMaster]

Just got "Russian medieval armies" (1&2) and "Spanish armies of the Napoleonic wars" (all 3).... Should provide for an entertaining month...

:bow:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well, on the table for future releases is a title about Serbian medieval armies. A while ago it was up for voting, but it lost to Sassanian Armies, IIRC.

It would be an immensely interesting book as far as I am concerned. The medieval Balkans are a very interesting theater.

I believe it was Armies of Croatia and Serbia 600-1300. However, just because it was in a poll unfortunately means nothing. DO NOT bank on this being released otherwise you may be severely disappointed.

[The Wizard]

Well, I'm not. I was just musing that, if the idea was there, and that if the winning book would actually be published, the idea or desire to make such a book was certainly there.



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I don't believe the winning book was - Sassanians was not in that poll. For some reasons some stupid people voted for a Port Arthur fortress book ahead of it. Check out here for all the past polls and which ideas were actually used:

Osprey Poll Archive (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/content2.php/cid=153)

[King of Atlantis]

Almost every book in the new poll is about ww2.

BKB, is there any book just about knights. I dont want like knights 1400-1500, i just want one that gives an overview of knights.

[edyzmedieval]

Good books on knights:

Tannenburg 1410
God's Warriors
English Medieval Knight

and other. BKB can reccomend you more because he has tons of Osprey books.

[King of Atlantis]

Oh english medieval knight is what i was looking for is it in elite or men at arms?

[edyzmedieval]

It's in the Warrior series...

I plan on buying the French Medieval Armies, so I can learn about the French knights and Paladins ~D

[King of Atlantis]

unfortuantly its split into differnt time periods. My funds are low and i already bought three.

[Meneldil]

Edyzmedieval, I doubt you'll find anything about the French Paladins in any Osprey book. These guys were mostly mythical figures just like the Knight of the Round Table. They might have existed, but I don't think there are proven fact to support this claim. The Chanson of Roland has been written 200 years after Charlemagne's reign.
There's not even a word about them in "Armies of Charlemagne". Your best try would be "Warriors - Carolingian Cavalrymen", but then again, I doubt you'll find anything about Paladins.

[edyzmedieval]

If the Paladins never existed,

Then how do you call the elite French knights?!

[The Wizard]

Chevaliers. Which is simply the French version of Dutch ridder and German ritter; all terms mean "rider".



~Wiz

[Meneldil]

Yeah, although the Paladins (if they existed) were most likely called Equites, Milites or *ancient german word for rider* in my opinion. Chevalier is a much later word.

[The Wizard]

Oh, if we're talking the real paladins, as in those in the time of Charlemagne itself and not the "knights in shining armor", then indeed, they would be called milites (sing. miles).



~Wiz

[edyzmedieval]

Back to topic.

Anyone here won the Osprey competition?!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I never enter them.

[edyzmedieval]

Oh, if we're talking the real paladins, as in those in the time of Charlemagne itself and not the "knights in shining armor", then indeed, they would be called milites (sing. miles).



~Wiz

I was talking about REAL Paladins, those in very shining armour, and the best of the knights.....

[edyzmedieval]

I never enter them.

Why not?! It's a good way to get books for free ~D

I entered 2 times, last month and this month. Never won :(

[King of Atlantis]

How do i enter these contest?

[Meneldil]

I was talking about REAL Paladins, those in very shining armour, and the best of the knights.....


Well, the 'real' Paladins (those who supposedly fought with Charlemagne) are as controversial as the Knights of the Round Table. They *might* have existed, but who knows ?
Tales such as "La Chanson de Roland" were written much later (La Chanson de Roland was written in the 11th, and is - I think - the earlier written source about the Paladins).

Later in middle age, landless, wandering knights were sometimes also called Paladins in some tales and poems.

[edyzmedieval]

BKB,

How good are the following books:

Sassanian Elite Cavalry
French Medieval Armies 1000-1300

Thanks

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The Sassanians is very good, haven't had a chance to read it all yet but the plates are nice, with one in particular being outstanding.

Now FMA I really like. Good info and top-notch plates. Highly recommended.

[edyzmedieval]

Struck gold again ~D

Thanks very much BKB.

[edyzmedieval]

ANd the Italian Men at Arms?! ~D

[King of Atlantis]

I finally got my fist books! Vikings and normans are great. ~:cheers:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

1000-1300 is great but 1300-1500 is very poor plate wise but info is great in both, if Angus would have done plates in the latter the book would have been superb

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Found out a few new books for early next year aside from the ones aforementioned.

Bronze Age War Chariots (New Vanguard)
Ancient Greek Fortifications 500-336BC (Fortress)
Otturburn 1388 (Campaign)

Weird one Otturburn....the other two were dead certs really. Hope Angus does Otturburn, but it will most likely be Graham Turner. Polish Winged Hussar has also been delayed until next year. Sorry Cegorach.

[edyzmedieval]

Found out a few new books for early next year aside from the ones aforementioned.

Bronze Age War Chariots (New Vanguard)
Ancient Greek Fortifications 500-336BC (Fortress)
Otturburn 1388 (Campaign)

Weird one Otturburn....the other two were dead certs really. Hope Angus does Otturburn, but it will most likely be Graham Turner. Polish Winged Hussar has also been delayed until next year. Sorry Cegorach.

Ahhh Damn!!!!

I really liked that book....

Oh well, planning now to buy Ninja, Sassanians and FMA. But now I really have to convince my dad....

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sample page is up for The Mycenaeans. I must say it certainly looks like an intriguing title, although I'm hoping for a good battle pic, preferably a Siege of Troy double page spread. ~:)

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S8979SPR2S.JPG

[cegorach]

Polish Winged Hussar has also been delayed until next year. Sorry Cegorach.[/QUOTE]


Well I will wait... ~:handball:

I have just bought the Boyne 1690 - very good choice considering the place I am living and the season of the marches. ~;)

I am negotiating 20 % (hopefully) discount in a local bookshop. When I get it I will order 25 more books before I come back to Poland ! ~:cheers:
I planned to spend a certain amount of money for this so the reduction of the prices means... more Osprey books of course ~D

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I have just bought the Boyne 1690 - very good choice considering the place I am living and the season of the marches.

Just got this today and was disappointed to see only 2 plates, and not very exciting ones either BTW. Still, I bought this one more for the read and it looks pretty good in that respect.

[cegorach]

Yes the plates are rather bad, but there is enough data to make a historical battle from this, I am not sure if for PMTW 2.0 or PMTW2 though :book:

[King of Atlantis]

Hey does anybody here with osprey books from the roman times want to offer some info on units, etc for Imperium Total War. If so please pm me or atheist peace here at the org.

[Atheist_Peace]

KoA means Imperium Total War, but yes if you want to help us with some unit pics, that would be greatly appreciated.

[cegorach]

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/books_likeread.php

This time the choice is very simple ~;)

[Steppe Merc]

Not for me. It's all boring gun stuff.

And I'm quite angry, I still haven't gotten my Sassanians!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Ditto Steppe - those polls are getting worse! Good job they don't really mean much. Glad Easter Rising won last month's though.

[Kraxis]

My dear, those Myceneans really do look rather primitive.

I thought they would look less like stone age people than this. And yet it sort of fits perfectly with my own view of them... I guess they just look a little too much like the warriors of ancient middle east (a good Osprey MAA btw).

Having read the Pirates Ships and the Greek Hoplite I can say thatthe first is not really that interesting as I had hoped, the pirates were simply not equiped with ships that are fun enough. The Black Pearl for instance (just a comparison) is a ship that is about the largest a pirate ever commanded. So many sloops and even canoos. I should have known better!

The Greek Hoplite is good of course, it might be a bit dated now, but I found nothing wrong with it. And it even has a limited proof of the push between formations (a stela of a hoplite leaning into the shield as he advances).

[cegorach]

those polls are getting worse! Good job they don't really mean much. Glad Easter Rising won last month's though.[/QUOTE]

Not to me as long as Warsaw 1920 wins. BTW if the book will be written it is gonna be probably the first one with so good pictures about the battle ~;)

[edyzmedieval]

Today is the release day of new books. Can't wait to see what's new, although I have the catalogue.

My books still haven't arrived! ~:mecry: :furious3: :furious: :furious2: :furious4:

[cegorach]

I have selected books I will order today - although only marked with @ are urgently necessary. ~;)
Original 25 rised to almost 50, but I won't get it easier and cheaper in Poland anyway ~:cheers:

What do you think -

Campaign
Pavia 1525 @
Nagashino 1575
The Armada Campaign 1588 @
Lepanto 1571 @
Kawanakajima 1553–64
Sekigahara 1600
Auldearn 1645 @
Dunbar 1650 @
Poltava 1709
Fornovo 1495 @
Granada 1492 @
Tannenberg 1410
Iwo Jima 1945
Okinawa 1945
Poland 1939
Peleliu 1944
Cassino 1944

Essential Histories
The French Religious Wars 1562–1598
The Thirty Years' War 1618–1648
The French Wars 1667–1714
The Seven Years' War

Men-at-Arms
Samurai Armies 1550–1615
Henry VIII's Army @
The Irish Wars 1485–1603
The English Civil War Armies
The Wild Geese @
New Model Army 1645–60
Louis XIV's Army @
Late Imperial Chinese Armies 1520–1840
Scots Armies of the English Civil Wars @
Armies of the Ottoman Empire 1775–1820
Tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy
The Cossacks
The Swiss at War 1300–1500 @
Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1300–1774 @
The Venetian Empire 1200–1670 @
Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524–26 @
Napoleon’s Polish Troops
Ukrainian Armies 1914–55
The Polish Army 1939–45

Warrior
Ironsides @
Ninja AD 1460–1650
Knight Hospitaller (2) @
Landsknecht Soldier 1486–1560 @

Elite
Samurai Commanders (2)
The Janissaries @

Others
Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937–45
Polish Aces of World War 2

Regards Cegorach ~:cheers:

[edyzmedieval]

~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry:
~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry:

No fair.... Why am I not allowed to order 50 books ?! I only have 3 ~:mecry:

~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry:
~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry: ~:mecry:

BTW, the Tannenburg is really good. I have it. ~:cheers:

[cegorach]

You see - I will order them today, but get them in the time of couple of months - even I am not so mad to spent almost 400 £ all at once ( I have 20 % discount). Only the marked ones are really important and I need them quickly ~;)

Regards Cegorach ~D

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Good selection although a fair few are out of my periods.

Today Acre, Japanese Fortified Monateries, Roman Military Clothing 3 and Samurai Commanders 2 are out. I'll order them from Amazon when they get them in stock soon.

[Kraxis]

Nice broad selection there. Of course many are outside my interest so I would never buy even half. But we can't all be similar. ~:cheers:

Oh yeah, I mentioned the books I bought recently. These are the ones I had already:

MAA:
#291 Republican Roman Army 200-104 BC (somewhat interesting, but it lacks Angus' superb drawings)
#150 The Age of Charlemagne (quite good in my mind, with Angus)
#105 The Mongols (very good and Angus shows off again)

Elite:
#3 The Vikings (YES!)
#23 The Samurai (YES! again)
#121 Ancient Siege Warfare (fueled my interest but falls short, good drawings by Adam Hook, take notice of him)
#122 World War II Infantry Tactics, Company and Battalion (really good, a must for anyone interested in WWII)
#124 World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics (also really good, but somewhat more bland, again a must)

From Aviation Elites I have:
Jagdgeschwader 52 The Experten (WOW! That is all I can say, but you have to be interested in this as the drawings are of the planes)

Warrior:
Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603 (fairly good, but the drawings are painfully cartoony with extreme facial expressions by Wayne Reynolds, keep away from him)

Then I have a mottled collection of more unusual Osprey books:
Essential Histories: Rome at War AD 293-696 (good if you know a little but want to know it all a little more)
Fighting Armour of WWII: Panther Variants 1942-1945 (good but nothing spectacular, except you get a big foldout of a Jagdpanther drawing)
Guardians of the Roman Empire (about the Praetorians, quite good in itself with good drawings by Richard Hook)

In all a lucky selection I would say. And I have two more illustrators that can match Angus (Hook seems a good name).

[edyzmedieval]

What's wrong with the Osprey delivery?!

I ordered my books last month, they got the money 15 days ago, and my books haven't arrived!!!!!!!!!

[cegorach]

BTW, the Tannenburg is really good. I have it. ~:cheers:[/QUOTE]


It was almost a patriotic duty since the battle ( known as Grunwald) is probably the best known by all Poles - simply if don't know the battle you are not a 'true' Pole :book: ~;)

[Kraxis]

I must say that I order my book over Amazon.

It has three advantages. Fast delivery mostly, often cheaper than at Osprey and finally I can get it shipped from Britain which is closer and I won't have to fear taxes (ahhh how I love the EU).

[Steppe Merc]

See, I pre ordered Sassanian Elite Cav, weeks before it was out, and it still hasn't even shipped to me yet. At least it was cheaper...

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

With my monthly order done I now only need 1 more book to complete my entire Ancient/Medieval/Renaissance Osprey collection - Yarmouk, which I order if Amazon had it in stock. Every Campaign, MAA, Elite, Warrior, Fortress, New Vanguard, Essential Histories, everything. Of course I'll get every book they release from this epoch every month, but this is a milestone.

Now I'm moving on to the 17th century! ~:cheers: ~D

[edyzmedieval]

With my monthly order done I now only need 1 more book to complete my entire Ancient/Medieval/Renaissance Osprey collection - Yarmouk, which I order if Amazon had it in stock. Every Campaign, MAA, Elite, Warrior, Fortress, New Vanguard, Essential Histories, everything. Of course I'll get every book they release from this epoch every month, but this is a milestone.

Now I'm moving on to the 17th century! ~:cheers: ~D

:jawdrop:

You have a very impressive/huge collection, my friend.

:jawdrop:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Found out about a new Fortress book illustrated by Graham Turner coming out March next year according to Amazon that sounds very interesting:

Castles and Tower House of the Scottish Clans 1450-1650 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841769622/qid=1123941328/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_8_1/202-2641657-5825468)

Should be good.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Just ordered Yarmuk. That's that done then.

[Meneldil]

I'm thinking about ordering either Viking Longship or Saxon fortifications. Are these 2 worth it ?

[King Henry V]

I just received my first Osprey book (upon reading it realised it was my second, I also have Anglo-Saxon Thegn 449-1066). IT'S BLOODY TINY! 48 BLOODY PAGES! :furious3: 4 of which have no information value at all and another 7 have only timelines for which I could have easily gone on the net to find out. AND TO THINK THAT I PAID ALMOST EIGHT BLOODY POUNDS FOR IT!! :furious3: It's bloody obscene! There are magazines which have more information, and are half the price of this book. Although useful for the BTW mod and for writing my story in the Mead Hall, I don't think I'll be rushing to buy those again in a hurry.

[cegorach]

They are small, but usually very useful.

Generally campaign books are better to read, but honestly it is good to choose something you don't know well enough.

Besides some are really bad - now I know that buying something like British army 1660 - 17?? (don't remember well enough) isn't good at all.

Of course from my point of view, but fortunatelly I had opportunity to see the book for long enough not to waste my money to get it.

Regards Cegorach :book:

[Kraxis]

If you don't like the 48 pagers, keep clear of Men At Arms. THey are usually that short.

[Steppe Merc]

I finally got Sassanian Men at Arms. It was good, but not enough plates, and they focused on what I thought was the wrong thing. All save I think two had females in it (sure show one, or two but that was overkill), and only a few battle plates. The one thing I didn't like was that for the plate on the cover, they made a Savarn with a weapon they had no arcealogical evidence for, when they could have just shown him with a lance, or bow!

And I'm not sure if I like Angus' current style when compared with the Late Byzantines and the Russians.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Yes I have noticed a distinct change of style too....he's gone from the more refined to charcoal-style pencils, which makes them a look a little bit blurry. I have no real problems with it, but it would be true to say they don't look as clean and crisp, though if this is a move he's had to make in his old age (he's 75 now guys) to help him prolong his drawing them I'm all for it. Hell, he still pisses all over the other artists from an extremely big height.

I too am annoyed greatly by the decision to reduce Warrior and Elite plates from 10 and 12 respectively to 8, the same as MAA. I mean why are we still paying £2 more for Pete's sake?!? I know they still have the larger number of pages but that extra price was really all about the extra plates. Shame on Osprey.

[Kraxis]

Yes, I think we have to settle our mind to the fact that Angus might soon lay down his pen and enjoy his otium.

But BKB, I mentioned those two other artists that are good, and they are honestly very good. Richard and Adam Hook are good enough to take up the mantle as top artists if Angus retires.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Yes they are good though I personally think Wayne Reynolds is Osprey's best artist after Angus. He has the action, though lacks realism. Graham Turner is also very good. I also think Peter Dennis' artwork in his Fortress books are superb, he always throws in a couple of great little sieges amongst the static building plates.

I'm personally hoping he doesn't hang up his pen for a while yet though, he's still an amazing artist.

[Steppe Merc]

I was disapointed by the less plates. I mean, at least count the two spread plate as one!

And I still think he's good, but I might prefer a more relesitc style of new artist that is like Angus older stuff (Vikins and Russian). And I would like to know whether it was Angus or the author that had the genius idea to make up what an weapon would look like...

[Kraxis]

Yes they are good though I personally think Wayne Reynolds is Osprey's best artist after Angus. He has the action, though lacks realism.
ARGH!!! You have got to be kidding me! Reynolds is awful... All those screaming heads with mouths more open than possible and teeth like needles. No thank you... It simply makes the otherwise quite inspiring action look silly and cartoonish.
The plates were a major letdown in Warrior Monks. Sure they let me see the action and how they looked, but as soon as it got closeup I didn't get that feeling of being there, becasue it was silly.

Actually Angus has made a mediocre performance. In Republican Roman Army 200-104 BC the figures look squat and a little blurry. They actually look like they were made for 4:3 format but in the real world it was widescreen. But even this is better than many others. And The Samurai is absolute perfection from him. He shows how facial expression should be presented there. and goes to extreme lengths to present details in the armour.

Don't know Graham or Dennis, could you point me towards some of their works?

[The Marcher Lord]

Hey, lets not forget the female Osprey artists! I think Christa Hook does some top notch work, take a look at Late Roman Cavalryman amongst many others. I first noticed her for the plates in Heroines of the Soviet Union 1941-45. For me her characters are easily equal to, if not frequently better than, McBride's. Trouble with McBride's characters is that they always have that really chunky muscle bound and faintly cartoonish look to them. They look like they have all been pumping iron down the gymnasium and eating too much spinach.

My collection of Ospreys is about 12 years old now and covers all of the ancient stuff as well as some 17th c (mostly ECW stuff), Napoleonic (anything naval + Peninsular war) aviation and maritime/naval titles. Osprey have put a curse on my wallet and I wish they would slow down their publication rate of new titles :dizzy2: Future purchases will probably include Japanese Fortified Temples and Monasteries and Romano-Byzantine Armies

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I think what people overlook with McBride is the essence of his drawings. He's not the most realistic, but he captures the action and feel of the period he's depicting like no other artist can. His pictures convery the most truest sense of realism in that they actually like like something that's come right out of the age in question. They're not just static characters; his work brings them to life. No other artist can touch him in that respect. It will be an extremely sad day when he decides to hang up his pencils. :cry:

[Steppe Merc]

Marcher Lord, I agree that his earlier stuff is far to muscelly. That's what I liked about what I now call his "Golden Age": both Russians, Late Byzantines, Attilla and the Nomad Hordes etc. Even his pre Golden Age stuff like the Parthian and Sassanian, Celts and other stuff is far more relistic. But when you look at say Early Byzantines...

[cegorach]

First part of my 'Grand Delivery' has arrived on Thursday. ~:cheers:

Ukrainian Armies 1914-55 - not bad, it improved my knowledge about Polish history which is always a very good thing. The author doesn't try to explain complicated ethnic situation in western Ukraine, though ( no mention that Lviv was only 7% Ukrainian in 1918) and it is a mistake in my opinion - Polish Armies 1569-1696 were much better when it comes to such details.
Still good idea to buy it.


Ninja from Warrior series - honestly I left it for later - untill other 'japanese' books arrive.

Dunbar 1650 - very good choice.
It adds more historical heroes to my resources + one new unit as well.
The book convinced me to prepare Scots in bonnets animations as well.
And I thought that Montrose was a better commander - he loses 2 command stars as result of his performance in 1650. Shame. :book:

Lepanto 1571 - worse than Dungar, but still good.
It gives you a good idea about galleys at that time + several new heroes for Venice, Genoa, Spain, the Ottomans and Pope are always welcome.

Regards Cegorach ~:cheers:

[edyzmedieval]

Good news for me and congrats for Cegorach.

This week my second set will arrive and I cannot wait to buy another one. ~D'

I need the Byzantine books for the RTW and MTW mod.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

This thread (http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/uploads/post-449-1105786141_thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php%3Fshowtopic%3D2479&h=212&w=300&sz=15&tbnid=EVW_C189Wh0J:&tbnh=78&tbnw=111&hl=en&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ditalian%2Bmedieval%2Barmies%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26hs%3DXFx%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26cl ient%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official_s%26sa%3DN) features a stunning amount of Osprey scans plus other pics including Angus' from the Warlords Blandford Press book. Well worth checking out if you don't have the books although it may spoil the surprise. ~;)

[edyzmedieval]

Who cares?!

I'll still buy the books. For the info.

[cegorach]

Grand delivery part two

Campaign
The Armada Campaign 1588
Poland 1939


Essential Histories
The French Religious Wars 1562–1598
The Thirty Years' War 1618–1648
The French Wars 1667–1714


Men-at-Arms

Henry VIII's Army
The English Civil War Armies
The Wild Geese
New Model Army 1645–60
Louis XIV's Army
The Swiss at War 1300–1500
Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1300–1774
The Venetian Empire 1200–1670


Warrior

Knight Hospitaller (2) -> for some reason I received volume 1 instead of this ~:confused:

Landsknecht Soldier


Overall great choice and mostly from my 'priority books'.

Now I will lock myself with these books and start doing perverted things i.e. read them all !!! ~:cheers: :book: :book: :book:

Ohhh I have to go to work tomorrow... damn it ~:handball:

Regards Cegorach ~;)

[edyzmedieval]

Lucky dawg!!!!!

Where are my Osprey books?! ~:mecry:

[Steppe Merc]

Thanks for the link BKB, that could help a lot, though I wish there was one with some Concord plates...

[Steppe Merc]

Oh, are there any good books about the Muslims around 600 AD?
Or really anyone around 600 AD... I'm thinking about a mod around that era, though focusing on the East.

[Kraxis]

~:mecry:

I have read the two New Vanguard books: German Pocket Battleships and German Destroyers. If you look back at the books I bought recently you will see I have bought several more in that style.
My sadness comes from the fact that the books are dogged with several faults in the info (such as Graf Spee dying at Coronel, noted twice in one book in fact) and the very impersonal and quite bland illustrations. They are done very crisply with a computer, but that takes away a lot of the life in the few 'live shots' there are. Most are just profile and plan shots of the ships, with a central twopage cutout. The best of the books is by far the absolutely beautiful photos of the ships, covering basically every page. Damn, even the rather boring pocket battleships are in fact beautiful in the photos.

The books contain a lot of nice info, but in the case ofthe desteroyers a lot of space goes into the constructionlines of ships (Z12 laid down this date and so on) and the line of commanders for each of the ships. Factual info is nice, but this should perhaps have been noted in another way. Certainly not in a line for each individual ships covering the entire pagewidth.

[Kraxis]

Oh, are there any good books about the Muslims around 600 AD?
Or really anyone around 600 AD... I'm thinking about a mod around that era, though focusing on the East.
At best I can think of the Age of Charlemagne, or perhaps the Rome's enemies: the Germans... But neither fit well.
Yarmuk, might have a few nice illustrations of Arab armies of the time but since it is more about the battle it can't be perfect.

[Meneldil]

Steppe, try out Atilla and the Nomadic hordes. From what I've understood, it's not only about Atilla, and has info about all nomadic invasion until the Mongols.

There's also Armies of the Muslim Conquest, the Age of Charlemagne (a bit too late), and I'd say Rome's enemies : the Desert Frontier.

[sharrukin]

Oh, are there any good books about the Muslims around 600 AD?
Or really anyone around 600 AD... I'm thinking about a mod around that era, though focusing on the East.
These are some I have that cover that era and are decent.

Osprey Men-At-Arms no# 247, Romano-Byzantine Armies, 4th to 9th Centuries

Osprey Warrior Series no# 15, Late Roman Cavalryman 236-565 AD (good info on the influence of Parthian-Sassanid-nomadic cavalry technology)

Osprey Men-At-Arms no# 125, The Armies of Islam 7th-11th Centuries

Osprey Men-At-Arms no# 255, Armies of the Muslim Conquest

Osprey Essential Histories Byzantium at War AD 600-1453

Another book which is hard to find but similar to the Osprey series is published by "A Wargames Research Group Publication" by Ian Heath, the "Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066. It is 120+ pages covering a fair number of different groups with info and black and drawings of around a 150 troop types (no large colour plates like Osprey). It also covers army organization, tactics, strategy, dress, and weaponry.

[cegorach]

Grand delivery part 3

ONLY Scots Armies of the English Civil Wars - very good, but only one book... Honestly it took me only three evenings to read 14 from the earlier part, still it is better than nothing :balloon2: ~:cheers:

[Steppe Merc]

Steppe, try out Atilla and the Nomadic hordes. From what I've understood, it's not only about Atilla, and has info about all nomadic invasion until the Mongols.

There's also Armies of the Muslim Conquest, the Age of Charlemagne (a bit too late), and I'd say Rome's enemies : the Desert Frontier.
Already got Atilla and Nomad Hordes, and it is quite excellent. Very good info, and pretty pictures.


These are some I have that cover that era and are decent.

Osprey Men-At-Arms no# 247, Romano-Byzantine Armies, 4th to 9th Centuries

Osprey Warrior Series no# 15, Late Roman Cavalryman 236-565 AD (good info on the influence of Parthian-Sassanid-nomadic cavalry technology)

Osprey Men-At-Arms no# 125, The Armies of Islam 7th-11th Centuries

Osprey Men-At-Arms no# 255, Armies of the Muslim Conquest

Osprey Essential Histories Byzantium at War AD 600-1453

Another book which is hard to find but similar to the Osprey series is published by "A Wargames Research Group Publication" by Ian Heath, the "Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066. It is 120+ pages covering a fair number of different groups with info and black and drawings of around a 150 troop types (no large colour plates like Osprey). It also covers army organization, tactics, strategy, dress, and weaponry.
Thanks for the feedback, I'll look into them. :bow:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Finally a new book is unveiled by Concord in the shape of Gunpowder Armies, which covers armies from the 16-18thC. If you've seen Warlord Armies this is very much in the same mold; a book with pieces by many artists, including Richard Hook and Angus McBride, and 2 of his are pictured here. It should be out soon.

http://www.concord-publications.com/6010/6010-cover.jpg

http://www.concord-publications.com/6010/6010-05.jpg

http://www.concord-publications.com/6010/6010-13.jpg

http://www.concord-publications.com/6010/6010-21.jpg

http://www.concord-publications.com/6010/6010-35.jpg

[Steppe Merc]

Looking over the Sassanian book, I wonder how much control the author has over the painter (in this case, McBride). In his comments on the plates, he is always pointing out mistakes, like "the sword would usually be longer and an inch thicker", "Romans would certaintly would have been using chainmail, not the lorica segmentata shown", "Most Kurds were lighter than the one shown", and things like that.
Were those mistakes, or what? What's the deal?

[gie]

Does any one has this book?
Roman Army: Wars of the Empire (Brassey's History of Uniforms)
by Graham Sumner
Roman Army: Wars of the Empire (Brassey's History of Uniforms) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1857533151/qid=1125746170/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-6375573-1890237?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1857533151.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

[Steppe Merc]

Huh. It looks like an Osprey Montvert or Concord sort of book...

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Just ordered The Mycenaeans, its by McBride so of course it should be good. Osprey have also updated their site with a new cover for the Third Crusade book (due in November):

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S8685AL.JPG

Early 2006 books have already gone up (we knew about them already), but its good to see that in January alone there are FIVE Ancient/Medieval books - Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman, Armies of Ivan the Terrible (McBride!), Bronze Age War Chariots, Russian Fortresses 1480-1682 and Ancient Greek Fortifications 500-336BC. Nice mix there, so it should be a good year for more books from these interesting periods. Otterburn, Flodden and Castles and Tower Castles of the Scottish Clans are also promised in Spring, so its a positive start.

The bad news is that it looks like the prices are going up slightly from January - its seems as though each series is going up by 50p, which is about $0.90. MAA are now £9.50, Fortresses are now £11.50, Elite £11.50, and so forth. Thing is, with the lack of plates in Warrior and Elite titles nowadays, and can't help but feel they should be going down if anything. :furious3:

[Steppe Merc]

I got Armies of Islam 7th to 11th century. Looks good so far.

Roman Auxillary and Chariots in particular look interesting, far more so than all those damn gun era ones.

[Meneldil]

Steppe, if you don't have it already, have a look at Attilla and the Nomadic Hordes, it's awesome.

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah, I've got it. Deffinetly my favorite Osprey book. I do wish they had mabye split it into two books, say Huns to the defeat of the Eastern and Western Khagnates, then from there to the invasion of the Mongols. But it is still excellent.

[Meneldil]

Yeah well, it covers a whole lot of people, and thus, isn't really detailled. I wish there would be more historical infos about the Turkish Khaganates and other unknown asian people.

[edyzmedieval]

Indeed.

They kinda neglijated this part of history. The Khazar Khaganate especially.

[gie]

Can someone please post the plates from Montvert THE ARMY OF TANG ?
I only know this plate
https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/gieImages/Chinese/Sui.jpg

[Meneldil]

Wow, it looks awesome. Who's the artist ?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Who do you think? ~;) Its from Montvert's Army of Tang China as Gie said. My digital camera went bust, I've been meaning to get a new one for a while but haven't got round to it yet, and my scanner's pretty crappy to be honest. Could be difficult.

[gie]

Does anyone knows where are this 2 plates from?
http://www.satrapa1.archez.com/articulos/antiguedad/Raphia/fal1.gif and this one http://www.satrapa1.archez.com/articulos/antiguedad/Raphia/cab1.gif

[edyzmedieval]

Great plates. I really like that Mongolian plate. ~:)

From the other plate, I guess they are from some book regarding the English colonial empire.

[Kraxis]

Does anyone knows where are this 2 plates from?
http://www.satrapa1.archez.com/articulos/antiguedad/Raphia/fal1.gif and this one http://www.satrapa1.archez.com/articulos/antiguedad/Raphia/cab1.gif
Hmmm... Well the looks are rather eastern (pants and cloak) but the equipment and style are decidedly Macedonian.
I would say either Seleucid or Bactrian, but primarely the first (the latter used more bronzecuirasses if I'm not entirely wrong).

[cegorach]

Let is face the truth... I am addicted :book: :book: :book:

I will extend my grand delivery with the following:

Men-at-arms
----------------

Peter the Great's Army (1)
Infantry

Peter the Great's Army (2)
Cavalry

Marlborough's Army 1702–11

The Russian Army of the Crimean War 1854–56

The Russo-Turkish War 1877

The Austrian Army 1836–66 (1)
Infantry

The Austrian Army 1836–66 (2)
Cavalry

Medieval Scandinavian Armies (2)
1300–1500

The Conquistadores

The Border Reivers

Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec Armies

French Army 1870–71 Franco-Prussian War (1)

Campaign
-------------------

Blenheim 1704
The Duke of Marlborough’s masterpiece

Gravelotte-St-Privat 1870
End of the Second Empire

Arnhem 1944

Bagration 1944

Berlin 1945

Falaise 1944



Is there a way to overcome the addiction BKB, anyone ? :embarassed:

Regards Cegorach ~:handball:

[SwordsMaster]

He!

I'm getting Peter the Great's infantry and cavalry too!

[gie]

Can someone post the plates covering the period from 400bc-60 ad from
CELTIC WARRIORS 400BC - AD1600 by TIM NEWARK.
http://i5.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/f1/f9/79_1_b.JPG

[cegorach]

He!

I'm getting Peter the Great's infantry and cavalry too!

Did you order Poltava 1709 as well ?

I did quite a long time ago, but I am still waiting ~:confused:


Anyway two more books arrived, so let's read :book: :book:

[SwordsMaster]

Nope, I didn't get Poltava. I'll start with those 2 and then see if time, college and interest allow for more...

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Right, with BI coming out soon, and my English Lit course doing Beowulf, I have an interest in Anglo-Saxons.

I also want to get some Osprey books.

Any comments on these three:

Anglo-Saxon Thegn AD (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=P3494&ser=WAR449–1066)

Saxon, Viking and Norman (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=Q3011&ser=MAA)

Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=Q5480&ser=MAA)

I can get two of them for free (birthday gift certificates ~:) :balloon2: ). And is there anything I should know about Osprey books in general before I get them?

[King of Atlantis]

By suggestion of BKB, dont get the vikings,normans, anglo-saxons.


I have the singular vikings and norman ones and am loving them...

Unfortunalty there is no seperate saxon one..

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Aww. That one sounded the most informative.

Does it have bad "plates"? (Though I'm not quite sure what those are...)

I'm sure I can find another one, though. Know of any good related kinda ones? Or maybe Franks or something?

[Meneldil]

Yeah, Viking, Saxon and Norman is not that good, both plate and information wise. Unhappilly, that's the only Osprey with specific infos about the Saxons.

If you're interested by the High Middle Age, get either Elite the Vikings or Elite the Normans. Another very good choice is The Age of Charlemagne (MAA).

[Steppe Merc]

Right, with BI coming out soon, and my English Lit course doing Beowulf, I have an interest in Anglo-Saxons.
You also are going to read Beowulf? I can't wait... though my English teacher was incorrect on much of what he was talking about with the general history of the time period...


Does it have bad "plates"? (Though I'm not quite sure what those are...)
Those are the big, pretty pictures. ~;)

Elite Vikings is quite good, and I'm thinking of evantually gettign the Elite Normans (deserves a place on my Christmas list, at least). I have the Arthur and the Anglo Saxon wars, and it's one of my least favorite ones... not really sure why, but it is.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

You also are going to read Beowulf? I can't wait... though my English teacher was incorrect on much of what he was talking about with the general history of the time period...
My English teacher had everyone do research on English history and background. Guess who got the Anglo-Saxons? ~;)

That's disappointing that they don't have anything great on Anglo-Saxons, though.

And maybe you don't like them because they don't have horses? ~;)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Concord's Gunpowder Armies arrived this week and its very disappointing. The 2 pics we've seen, plus just 2 more, one of two guys from the Highlanders and one of African Women Dahomey warriors. None are anything exceptional, and the 2 you've seen are probably his best. The rest is dominated by Richard Hook and some guy called Ed Dovey, while there is one picture by this other guy whose name I forget and its quite bad. A real letdown from what frankly comes across as a cheap cobbled-together book.

[cegorach]

BTW are there any more armies shown in this book - from the plates you have presented I can only say - what the hell ?! with all those British soldiers - I dare say that neither England nor Scotland were so important during XVIth and XVIIth centuries, rather second or third-rate armies in less important battlefields of this period, are there any French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Swedish, Ottoman or Polish plates ??? ~:confused:

Now back to the BI ~;)

Regards Cegorach

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Mostly English, but Scottish, French, African, Muslim and Colonial Troops also feature. It goes from the 16th to 19th century.

[cegorach]

No Spanish or Swedish... ~:confused: weird. ~:handball:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sorry there is one of Gustavus Adolphus.

[cegorach]

Only one...

Well in this thread you will find enormous number of pictures, osprey, concord and other plates:

http://www.totalwar.org.pl/board/viewtopic.php?t=5249&start=0

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Ah yes, some great ones from Imperial Rome at War. I think you guys can see why I go on about them so much now!

[gie]

does anyone can post the plates from this three books?

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S7131AL.JPGhttp://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S8979AL.JPGhttp://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S843XAL.JPG

[Steppe Merc]

A new poll is up. They have the Macedonian Infantry as a Warrior choice. Vote now for it, so we can have more good books and less damn guns!
It's a shame its such a widely covered topic, but it's better than another WW2 book!

[Kraxis]

A new poll is up. They have the Macedonian Infantry as a Warrior choice. Vote now for it, so we can have more good books and less damn guns!
It's a shame its such a widely covered topic, but it's better than another WW2 book!
YEAH!!!

I just had a look at the previous votes... I had to go all the way back to February to find another non-gun book (swiss pikemen).

And is it me but have the VC recipients not already won a poll? Why is it there for another round?

[Steppe Merc]

I know, its nuts. I mean come on, there are great topics they haven't covered, or barely touched on. I think an Avar book would be great. Or even Byzantine Heavy Horse, or something actually interesting.

[Spartakus]

We're totally on the same level here, I too think there are disproportionally few books dealing with the pre-gunpowder era. How many books on WW2 do we need really? Seems to be a boundless demand for them, despite the fact that modern warfare is so boring compared with medieval or ancient. ~;)

I voted for Macedonian infantryman, and suggested a Campaign book on the battle of Civitate 1053, where the Normans routed the Papal forces despite their inferior numbers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Civitate).

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Anyone got the Mycenaeans yet? 4 weeks and it still hasn't arrived - thanks Osprey!

I must say I did like the Roman Military Clothing 3 book - much better than the old volumes, particularly as I found some of the soldiers a bit more interesting. Plate wise good, plus a solid read too.

[edyzmedieval]

[QUOTE=The Blind King of Bohemia]Anyone got the Mycenaeans yet? 4 weeks and it still hasn't arrived - thanks Osprey!

[QUOTE]

4 weeks?! You're a junior my friend.

5 MONTHS!!! I ordered them on 11th July....Not even now...

Thanks very much Osprey!!!! ~:cheers:

:furious3:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well The Mycenaeans arrived today funnily enough! Good book, plates are very good as usual (McBride). No big action pieces, but some small fights are present. I particularly like the one with the two Mycenaean Spearmen are standing over the dead Pylian Infantryman, and one has a hedgehog-spiked leather cap as a helmet. He also has a great looking ginger spiked beard to complement his image, which is pretty cool all round. If anyone has Spartan - Total Warrior, he really resembles one of the brothers in that. The artwork seems nicely muted and not too colourful - seems like Angus was going for an 'archaic' sort of feel.

[Spartakus]

The artwork seems nicely muted and not too colourful - seems like Angus was going for an 'archaic' sort of feel.

Ah, but the archaic period isn't until later. ~;)

How is The Myceneans book contentwise? I'm attending a course in ancient Greek history this semester, and I have my doubts regarding how much we can claim to know about the military aspects of the Myceneans. What sources are there, except Homer (whose credibility is quite contested in academic circles)?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sorry by Archaic I just meant old I completely forgot about it in terms of Greek periods.

I haven't had too in depth a look but there are more methods used - of course scenic pottery and archaeology are the two main ones.

[edyzmedieval]

Can't wait to call Osprey to tell them how slow they are.... ~;)

Any good books on the Carthaginians?!
I'm preparing my 3rd order. ~:)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Damn I ordered 'Rome and her Enemies' without actually realising that it was a compilation of other books! I thought Osprey and done that before with 'Rome and the Barbarians'. Oh well, lets just hope there's some new stuff in it at least.

[The Wizard]

http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=1373

http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=1380

Could someone point me to the books from which these two wonderful plates come from?

Thanks ~:)

[edyzmedieval]

Wiz, where have you been?! It looks like you posted a year ago!!! ~;) ~:)

Also, I'm interested to find out, especially about the first one. It looks like a Varangian Guard. ~:)

[The Wizard]

Hey man, I was gone, life got in the way -- still is I suppose ~D

The first one is actually a Norman knight. I bought "Norman Knight" from the Warrior series because it looks like Christa Hook (who did the art for that book; it was dissapointing really) but it does not contain that plate, so now I wanna know which book it is from. The second one looks similiar to the first, too. Maybe it's Outremer Knight?

[edyzmedieval]

Life got in the way.... ~D

The second one can't be an Outremer Knight...
It's advanced. For me, it looks like an Italian Halberdier or a Condottieri.
The armour is clearly Italian type.

[The Wizard]

Looks more like a knight from Antioch to me.

[The Wizard]

You see -- this one is from the same book obviously:

http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=1374

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well that last one is definitely from Outremer, and I think the other 2 are as well.

[The Wizard]

It appears you're right BKB:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1855325551/ref=sib_rdr_next3_bc1/103-7241425-3786217?%5Fencoding=UTF8&p=S01Y&j=1&ns=1#reader-page

The inset on the back of the book (Knight of Outremer) is obviously from the second plate I posted. Thanks guys! :)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Hey it looks like Osprey were merely doing the poll to tease us - Macedonian Warrior is coming as a Warrior title in April next year! Check it out:

Macedonian Warrior - Alexander's Elite Infantryman (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1841769509/102-2970246-9103361?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance)

Shame its not McBride but should be a cracking title nonetheless!~:cheers:

And another great Warrior title, Tudor Knight in May, illustrated by Graham Turner!

Tudor Knight (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1841769703/102-2970246-9103361?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance)

And a Fortress title, Roman Legionary Fortresses 27BC-378AD:

Roman Legionary Fortresses (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1841768952/102-2970246-9103361?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance)

Plus another one, not quite as exciting, a new entry in the Fortress series - The Vauban Fortifications of France.

The Vauban Fortifications of France (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/ref=s_b_rs/102-2970246-9103361)

Other titles like Otterburn and Flodden are coming in the Campaign series but I won't repeat things I've already told you about.

[The Wizard]

Christa Hook > McBride for me anyways... Well, except when she does static stuff, because that's the only part of McBride that I like. McBride sucks at motion though, IMO...

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

But motion (action) is what makes McBride so good! Hooks are ok but nothing to get excited about. Sorry to go on again about this - I must sound like a broken record!

I think next year promises to be much better in the way of Ancient - 16th century books. Last year all we had was:

Roman Military Clothing 3
Sassanian Elite Cavalry
The Mycenaeans
Ancient Siege Warfare
Roman Siege Warfare
Rome's Northern Frontier
Rome and her Enemies (Compilation)
Crusader Castles in the Holy Land 2
Japanese Fortified Monasteries
Carolingian Cavalryman
Samurai Commanders 1
Samurai Commanders 2
Acre
Third Crusade
Warriors of Medieval Japan (Compilation)
God's Warriors (Compilation)
Aztecs and Conquistadors (Compilation)
Rome at War (Compilation)

Pretty paltry really. In the first half of next year we're already promised:

Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman
Bronze Age War Chariots
Russian Fortresses
Ancient Greek Fortifications
Armies of Ivan the Terrible
Otterburn
Flodden
Roman Legionary Fortresses
Macedonian Warrior
Tudor Knight
Polish Winged Hussar
Tower houses and Castles of the Scottish Clans

And there may well be more besides. Perhaps Osprey are finally listening to us!

[The Wizard]

Armies of Ivan the Terrible certainly sounds delightful. ~D

[edyzmedieval]

The Ancient Greek Fortifications are my bell. ~:)

Though, I really want those Sassanids.... :embarassed:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

For those interested, I just found out that Wayne Reynolds will be illustrating one book for Osprey in 2006:

Campaign 170: Osaka 1615

I'd hoped he do something a little more interesting to be honest, or at least more than one book. Osprey have been wrong before though, so I'm also hoping that Angus does more than one in 2006.~;)

[Seleukos]

heyyyy!

Osprey is great,BUT ihave a complain:
not much about ancient history.(in comparison with the modern era)

I hope there will be published something about the Hellenistic Kingdoms!!!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I always wondered why Osprey haven't done some books about the sucessor states or say a Rome's enemies: The greek cities. They do seem to favour modern age books which bore me to tears to be honest~D

[cegorach]

Quote:



""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:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Some new covers for the January 2006 books boys!

First, Ancient Greek Fortifications:

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S8847AL.JPG

Bronze Age War Chariots

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S9444AL.JPG

Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/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_img/titlecovers/S9258AL.JPG

[edyzmedieval]

I want the first one. Making now my 3rd set of Ospreys. ~:)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

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.

[cegorach]

I have done it. Let's hope it will win ~:cheers:

[edyzmedieval]

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. ~:)

[cegorach]

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:

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Ospreyx roxorzx! ~:thumb:
.

[edyzmedieval]

Another good man got himself some Osprey books...

Good job Mouza-sama!!! ~:cheers:

[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?

[lugh]

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.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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?
.
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:
.

[cegorach]

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:

[Conqueror]

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.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I voted for Hittite Warrior, not really thrilling but the most relevant to what I get on the list.

[cegorach]

Warsaw Rising 1944 !!! :knight: :charge:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Osprey have updated their site.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S9258SPR2S.JPG

Sample from the Russian Armies 1505-1700 book, a little grainy but looks good.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlecovers/S9169AL.JPG

Cover of Russian Fortresses book.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S8847SPR1S.JPG

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S8847SPR2S.JPG

Samples from Ancient Greek Fortifications.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S9444SPR2S.JPG

Sample from Bronze Age War Chariots.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S9738SPR2S.JPG

Sample from Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman.

[The Wizard]

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.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

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.

[cegorach]

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:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

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.

[Steppe Merc]

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:

[Kraxis]

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.

[ShadesWolf]

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


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

[ShadesWolf]

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_img/titlecovers/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

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Yeah you may also be interested in Flodden (May) and Tudor Knight (June) Shades mate.

[ShadesWolf]

I shall keep my eyes on those, thanks for the info BKB

[Kraxis]

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).

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

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)

[Kraxis]

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).