Official Osprey thread

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Seems like a lot of you have Osprey books and I felt there should be a thread for discussion. You can post collections, discuss books, and talk about upcoming releases besides. I'll post my collection later.

I'll be getting Saladin and the Saracens tomorrow, and should be getting the Hussite Wars in a few days (can't wait for that, especially as Angus McBride is doing the artwork)

I also checked the upcoming books for September, and there looks to be a very interesting one among them: Mounted Archers of the Steppe 600BC-1300AD. Can't go wrong with Angus McBride doing the plates

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S809X

[The Wizard]

Right now all I have is "Rome's Enemies 3 - Parthians and Sassanid Persians" from the Men-at-arms series. I'm planning to get "The Vikings", "The Normans" from the Elite series and also both books of the "Medieval Russians" from the Men-at-arms series.

And, of course, I'm gonna get all the books on the Mongols, as well as all books on the Byzantines.

Problem is, the only thing that attracts in these books are the plates, the rest is pretty bland and reads like a textbook from school... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-zzz.gif



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The illustrations are brilliant, particularly those by Angus McBride. All those books you want to get feature some of his best work, especially the Normans. Mongol Warrior's pictures by Wayne Reynolds also features a very good depiction of Kalka River.

The Golden Rule: If Angus McBride does the plates, you really can't go wrong. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[Mount Suribachi]

I have most of their "Aircraft of the Aces" books. I'm currently reading "Mosquito fighter/fighter bomber units of WW2" although its very badly written & not very interesting. The text is virtually just a list of every kill scored by Mossie nightfighters giving squadron & serial numbers http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-zzz.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-zzz.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-zzz.gif

I don't think the author has heard of "flowing prose". Shame, cos their other ones have been interesting to read.

[Duke John]

Quote[/b] ]If Angus McBride does the plates, you really can't go wrong.
I disagree with that. I have one book which Angus McBride illustrated, but I don't think his plates where that nice. Now Graham Turner, that is an artist Look for the Wars of the Roses books and you'll see some awesome plates and most importantly also battle scenes.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

DJ i don't think you have seen the range that mcbride has to offer. Now Turner is a good artist but is not in the same league as mcbride. Just look at some of his battle pictures such as hastings, loads of his pirate and privateer pictures and hundreds of others. Angus seems to capture so much more in his images which often puts the other Osprey artists to shame.

[The Sword of Cao Cao]

Early Samurai
Japanese Warrior Monks
Ninja
Siege Weapons of the Far East 1
Siege Weapons of the Far East 2

the first 3 are from the Warrior series, and the last 2 are from New Vangaurd I believe. Also I whole-heartedly suggest that anyone interested in Japanese military history check out anything by Stephen Turnbull. He was the guy who did the historical research in STW special edition. Check the credits. Also, he wrote all Osprey books on Japanese warfare except Early Samurai.

[Michiel de Ruyter]

Wondering about my collection ?

Campaign series:

US Civil War:

First Bull Run (10)
Chickamauga (17)
Vicksburg (26)
Antietam (32)
Shiloh (54)
Chancellorsville (55)
Fair Oaks (124)

Napoleonic Wars:

Waterloo (15)
Jena and Auerstaedt (20)
Leipzig (25)
Aspern and Wagram (33)
Eggmuehl (56)
Marengo (70, special edition)
Luetzen and Bautzen (87)
Austerlitz (101)

Ancients:

Alexander (7)
Quadesh (22)
Cannae (36)
Adrianople (84)

Middle Ages:

Agincourt (9)
Hastings (13, revised)
Hattin (19)
Crecy (71)
Poitiers (138)

1492 - 1799:

Sekigehara (40)
Pavia (44)
Nagashino (69)
Rosbach and Leuthen (113)
First Newbury (116)
Zorndorf (125)
Kawanikajima (130)
Luetzen (68)
Blenheim (141)

World War II:

Arnhem (24)
D-Day: Omaha (100)
D-Day: Utah and US airborne (104).

I like the Campaign series a lot.. it is a quick and easy read... and gives a quick overview...


Further other books by Osprey I own:

Caesar's Legions

New Vanguard:

Sd.Kfz 251 (25)
Panther (22)
German recconaissance (29)

Modelling manuals: nr. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Warrior's:

Roman Legionary 58 BC - AD 69 (71).

Men at Arms:

German Army Elite Units (380)
The Waffen-SS (34)

In general, I like these books a lot, because they can give you a quick reference without having to spend $ 100's for books.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Saladin and the Saracens arrived today. Very nice plates, haven't had time to look at it thoroughly yet.

Has anyone from the UK ordered from OspreyPublishing.com? If so, how long does it normally take for a book to come from them? Hussite Wars won't come for another six weeks from Amazon and I REALLY want that book. Might order Mughul India while I'm there too.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

These look like some very cool books. I'm tempted, but the range is so big There are a lot that look interesting, but I can't decide. Plus, all of the ranges are confusing.

Also, are the books good books, if you take my meaning? Are they worth buying for something other than the artwork?

[Duke John]

They are worth it if you are really interested in the period. It gives you insight in used tactics, arms&armour, 3D maps for battles, coats of armes and more.
They are an interesting read of you want to know how warfare really was in the middle-ages (or other periods) something that I couldn't find in my local library or on the internet.

[The Wizard]

Yup, the book on the Parthians and Sassanids is really helping my research for Europa Barbarorum http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif



~Wiz

[Michiel de Ruyter]

I ordered from Osprey UK once...

I received the books within a week (they were sent to the Netherlands). One volume was out of stock, so they reprinted them, and I received that book 3 days later, no additional cost.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

My collection:

Ancient

Men-At-Arms

Romano-Byzantine Armies 4th–9th Centuries
Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians
Rome's Enemies (2) : British and Gallic Celts
Rome's Enemies (3): Parthian and Sassanid Persians
Rome's Enemies (4) : Spanish Armies
Rome's Enemies (5) : The Desert Frontier
The Army of Alexander the Great
The Scythians
Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars
The Sarmatians
Caesar's Legions (Compilation of Republican Roman Army, Early Romans and Roman Armies from Caesar to Trajan)
The Thracians
Ancient Armies of the Middle East
Ancient Chinese Armies 1500-200BC
Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine
Imperial Chinese Armies 200BC-590AD (1)
The Greek and Persian Wars
Roman Military Clothing 1
Roman Military Clothing 2
Roman Military Clothing 3

Warrior

Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161–284
Roman Legionary 58 BC–AD 69
Celtic Warrior
Pictish Warrior
Germanic Warrior
Greek Hoplite
Late Roman Cavalryman
Late Roman Infantryman
Gladiators
Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman
Macedonian Warrior

Elite

Attila and the Nomad Hordes
Ancient Greeks
Mounted Archers of the Steppe
Spartan Army
Praetorian Guard
Ancient Assyrians
New Kingdom Egypt
Persian Army
Early Samurai
Ancient Siege Warfare
Siege Warfare in the Roman World
Sassanian Elite Cavalry
The Mycenaeans

Campaign

Alexander 334-323BC
Hannibal at War (Cannae and Armies of Carthaginian Wars compilation)
Adrianople 378AD
Marathon 490BC
Qadesh 1274BC

Essential Histories

Greeks at War (Essential Histories compilation - Alexander at War, Greek-Persian Wars and Peloponessian Wars)
Punic War
Caesar's Gallic Wars
Caesar's Civil War
Rome at War

New Vanguard

Greek and Roman Siege Machinery
Greek and Roman Siege Artillery
Fighting Ships of the Far East 1
Bronze Age War Chariots

Fortress

Troy 1800-1250BC
Mycenaean Citadels 1350-1200BC
Hadrian's Wall
Rome's Northern Frontier
Ancient Greek Fortifications
Roman Legionary Fortresses

Special

Rome and her Enemies (Mix of new and MAA compilations)

Medieval

Men-At-Arms

Armies of Islam 7th to 11th centuries
Knights of Christ
Saladin and the Saracens
The Moors and the Islamic West
Armies of the Crusades
Medieval European Armies
Byzantine Armies 886–1118
Byzantine Armies AD 1118–1461
Italian Medieval Armies 1000–1300
Italian Medieval Armies 1300-1500
Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000–1568
El Cid and the Reconquista 1050–1492
Armies of Medieval Russia 750–1250
Medieval Russian Armies 1250–1500
Medieval Scandinavian Armies 1100-1300
Medieval Scandinavian Armies 1300-1500
German Medieval Armies 1000-1300
German Medieval Armies 1300-1500
Armies of Medieval Burgundy 1364–1477
French Medieval Armies 1000-1300
French Armies of the Hundred Years War
Henry V and the Conquest of France 1416–53
The Mamluks 1250–1517
Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec Armies
The Age of Tamerlane
The Scottish and Welsh Wars 1250–1400
The Age of Charlemagne
The Wars of the Roses
Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1300–1774
The Armies of Crécy and Poitiers
The Mongols
The Swiss at War 1300–1500
Armies of the Muslim Conquest
Armies of the Caliphates
The Hussite Wars
Medieval Heraldry
Venetian Empire
Saxon, Viking and Norman
Imperial Chinese Armies 590-1260 AD (2)
Medieval Chinese Armies 1260-1520
Armies of Agincourt

Warrior

Crusader Knight (Knight of Outremer)
English Medieval Knight 1200–1300
English Medieval Knight 1300–1400
English Medieval Knight 1400–1500
Mongol Warrior 1200-1350
Japanese Warrior Monks
Samurai 1550-1600
English Longbowman 1330-1515
Knight Templar 1120-1312
Saracen Faris 1050-1250
Knight Hospitaller (1) 1100-1306
Knight Hospitaller (2) 1306–1565
Norman Knight
Italian Militiaman
Aztec Warrior
Anglo-Saxon Thegn
Viking Hersir

Elite

The Crusades
The Vikings
The Normans
The Janissaries
The Samurai
Medieval Siege Warfare
Knights at Tournament
Samurai Commanders 1

Campaign

Hastings 1066
Hattin 1187
Lake Peipus 1242
Stirling Bridge and Falkirk 1297-98
Bannockburn 1314
Crecy 1346
Nicopolis 1396
Tannenberg 1410
Agincourt 1415
Orleans 1429
Constantinople 1453
Bosworth 1485
Granada 1492
Fornovo 1495
First Crusade 1096-9
Poitiers 1356
Tewkesbury 1471
Towton 1461
Kalka River 1223
Acre 1291
Yarmuk 636
Third Crusade 1191
Otterburn 1388

Essential Histories

The Hundred Years’ War 1337–1453
Byzantium at War
Genghis Khan and the Mongol Conquests
The Crusades
The Ottoman Empire
Wars of the Roses
Campaigns of the Norman Conquest
War in Japan

New Vanguard

Medieval Siege Weapons 1: Western Europe
Medieval Siege Weapons 2: Byzantim, the Islamic World and India
Fortifications of Wessex
Viking Longship
Siege Weapons of the Far East 1
Siege Weapons of the Far East 2
Fighting Ships of the Far East 2
Renaissance War Galley

Fortress

Walls of Constantinople 324-1453
Crusader Castles of the Holy Land 1097-1192
Crusader Castles of the Holy Land 1192-1302
Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights 1
Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights 2
Norman Stone Castles 1
Norman Stone Castles 2
Japanese Fortified Monasteries

Special

The Vikings (Mix of new and old stuff)

16th and 17th centuries

Men-At-Arms

The Border Reivers
The Irish Wars
The Landsknechts
Henry VIII's Armies
The Conquistadores
Polish Army 1
Polish Army 2
Late Imperial Chinese Armies
Samurai 1550-1615
Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524–26
Mughul India
The Cossacks
New Model Army 1645-60
The English Civil War Armies
Scots Armies of the English Civil War
Colonial American Troops 1610-1774 Part 1
Colonial American Troops 1610-1774 Part 2
Colonial American Troops 1610-1774 Part 3
Army of Gustavus Adolphus: Infantry
Army of Gustavus Adolphus: Cavalry
Peter the Great's Army: Infantry
Peter the Great's Army: Cavalry
Marlborough's Army
Armies of Ivan the Terrible

Warrior

Conquistador
Landsneckht Soldier
Ninja
Ashigaru
Matchlock Musketeer
Ironsides English Cavalry
Tudor Knight

Elite

Elizabethan Sea Dogs
The Armada Campaign
Samurai Heraldry
Buccaneers
Soldiers of the English Civil War: Infantry
Soldiers of the English Civil War: Cavalry
Pirates
Privates and Privateers
Samurai Commanders 2

Campaign

Pavia 1525
Malta 1565
Lepanto 1571
Battle of the Boyne 1690
Sekigahara 1600
Kawanakajima 1553-64
The Armada Campaign 1588
Nagashino 1575
First Newbury 1643
Auldearn 1645
Dunbar 1650
Marston Moor 1644
Lutzen 1632
Edgehill 1642
Blenheim 1704
Flodden 1513
Osaka 1615

Essential Histories

Spanish Invasion of Mexico
French Religious Wars
The French Wars 1667-1714; The Sun King at War
The English Civil Wars 1642-1651
The Thirty Years War 1618-1648

New Vanguard

Pirate Ship
Spanish Galleon
English Civil War Artillery 1642-1651

Fortress

Fortifications of Malta 1530-1945
Japanese Castles 1540-1640
English Civil War Fortifications 1642-1651
French Fortresses in North America 1535–1763
Russian Fortresses 1480-1682
Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450–1650
Fortifications of Vauban

18th century onwards

Men-At-Arms

Queen Victoria's Enemies 1: Southern Africa
Queen Victoria's Enemies 2: Northern Africa
Queen Victoria's Enemies 3: India
Queen Victoria's Enemies 4: Asia, Australasia and the Americas
Wellington's Infantry 2
Napolean's Dragoons and Lancers
The Apaches
American Woodland Indians
American Plains Indians
Jacobite Rebellion 1689-1745
North-West Frontier 1847-1947
Armies of the Ottoman Empire 1775-1825
The Irish Defence Forces since 1922

Warrior

Highland Clansman
Zulu Warrior
Irish Volunteer Soldier 1913-23

Elite

British Forces in Zululand 1879
The Zulus

Campaign

The Alamo 1836

Other, related books:

Warlords: Ancient, Celtic and Medieval (Blandford Press)
Women Warlords (Blandford Press)

Ancient Armies (Concord Publications)
Barbarians (Concord Publications)
Imperial Rome at War (Concord Publications)
Ancient Celts (Concord Publications)
Warlord Armies (Concord Publications)
Age of the Crusades (Concord Publications)
The Mongols (Concord Publications)
El Cid (Concord Publications)
Gunpowder Armies (Concord Publications)
Medieval Knights (Concord Publications)

Reivers (Montvert Publications)
Army of Tang China (Montvert Publications)
Sassanian Armies: 3rd to 7th century (Montvert Publications)
Ancient Warrior (Montvert Publications)
Armies of Bactria (Montvert Publications)
Warriors of Eurasia (Montvert Publications)
The Achaemenid Persian Army (Montvert Publications)
Justinian's Wars (Montvert Publications) ~D
Seleucid and Ptolemaic Reformed Armies Volume 1: The Seleucid Army (Montvert Publications) ~D
Seleucid and Ptolemaic Reformed Armies Volume 2: The Ptolemaic Army (Montvert Publications) ~D

[cutepuppy]

my collection: the crusades

that's all

long way to go before I can match BKB.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Don't lose heart - it's taken me several years to amass this collection.

[The Sword of Cao Cao]

Just bought "Samurai: World of the Warrior", by Stephen Turnbull today. VERY good so far.

[Auxilia]

Right then - are you all sitting comfortably?

Men At Arms:

Medieval European Armies
The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan
The Landsknects
Byzantine Armies 886-1118
The Swiss at War 1300-1500
The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine
Medieval Heraldry
New Model Army 1645-1660
The Armies of Crecy and Poitiers
The Armies of Agincourt
Armies of the Carthaginian Wars 265-146BC
Rome's Enemies - Germanics and Dacians
Italian Medieval Armies 1300-1500
Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1364-1774
Armies of Medieval Burgundy 1364-1477
The Wars of the Roses
The Army of Alexander the Great
The Age of Charlemagne
The Scottish and Welsh Wars 1250-1400
Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars
The Knights of Christ
Rome's Enemies - Gallic and British Celts
German Medieval Armies 1300-1500
Brunswick Troops 1809-1815
Saladin and the Saracens
Austrian Army of the Napoleonic War - Infantry
Romes Enemies - Spanish Armies
Austrian Army of the Napoleonic War - Cavalry
Polish Armies 1569-1696 1
as above vol 2
Henry VIII's Army
Hungary and the Fall of the Eastern Empire 1000-1568
El Cid and the Reconquista 1050-1492
Louis XIV's Army
The Venetian Empire 1200-1676
French Medieval Armies 1000-1300
The Army of Gustavus Adolphus - Infantry
Romano Byzantine Armies 4th-9th Century
The Irish Wars 1485-1603
The Army of Gustavus Adolphus - Cavalry
Early Roman Armies
Republican Roman Army 200-104BC
German Medieval Armies 1000-1300
Henry V and the Conquest of France 1416-1453
French Armies of the Hundred Years War
The Moors:the Islamic West 7th - 15th Century

Osprey Elite:

The Normans
The Armada Campaign
The Crusades
Knights at Tournament
The Samurai
Soldiers of the English Civil War - Infantry
Soldiers of the English Civil War - Cavalry
Medieval Siege Warfare

Warrior

Late Roman Cavalryman 236-565AD
English Medieval Knight 1200-1300
English Medieval Knight 1300-1400

Campaign

Hastings 1066
Fornorvo 1495
Granada 1492

Aircraft of the Aces

American Aces of World War One
Late Marque Spitfire Aces
Korean War Aces

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-dizzy2.gif phew

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Nice collection http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif Any recomendations?

What are the plates like in Granada, Roman Republican army, and both Polish army books?

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 06 2004,10:20)]Nice collection http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif Any recomendations?

What are the plates like in Granada, Roman Republican army, and both Polish army books?
Thanks BKB - praise indeed from such an avid collector

Recommendations - hard to say really; obviously the last few I bought tend to be my favourites and therefore the titles that I am the most likely to recommend:

German Medieval Armies 1000-1300
Henry V and the Conquest of France 1416-1453
French Armies of the Hundred Years War
The Moors:the Islamic West 7th - 15th Century

All of these are later titles which I suppose reflects the fact that they have refined their craft somewhat over the years.

Now, on to the plates

Granada

Compared to McBride's other work, which I think is excellent, some of these looked rushed - the book is still worth a look though.

Republican Rome

Much better Sad to see two plates wasted on standard bearers and officials though - would have been nice to see some of Rome's Italian allies (better still, Osprey how about a separate title) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/ceasaryes.gif

Poland

For the most part, McBride has gone for 'action' shots and in these two titles they work very well in my opinion.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sounds good. If your going to get any good McBride work, get:

The Vikings
Pirates
The Buccaneers
The Mongols( I love that picture of Liegnitz)

Try to get any of his works with an author called Tim Newark becaust they are some of his best. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 06 2004,10:48)]Sounds good. If your going to get any good McBride work, get:

The Vikings
Pirates
The Buccaneers
The Mongols( I love that picture of Liegnitz)

Try to get any of his works with an author called Tim Newark becaust they are some of his best. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Vikings is definately on my list - along with the Ancient Greek Elite title http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ROCKHAMMER]

Blind King & Auxilia, you guys are my heroes. I love the titles each of you has chosen and I know that my collection will end up just as large some day. With any collection though, it will be an ongoing project. Right now I only possess 5 titles.
1)Viking Hersir, 2)The Vikings, 3)Samurai, 4)Early Samurai and the 5)Late Period Samurai book by Stephen Turnbull ( I forget the title). http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I am also in agreement with 2 things that I read in this thread.
1) Anything illustrated by Angus Mc Bride is worth buying--Definetly..

2) Anything written by Stephen Turnbull on the Samurai is worth having , especially if you are into the Samurai.. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shogunshame.gif

I have plans to add about 12 books to my collection by the end of the summer. Mostly it will be Ancient or Medieval era stuff with a smattering of Samurai. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

Edit 9/8/04 Just added a compilation book by the team of Angus McBride & Tim Newark. Warlords: Ancient, Celtic and Medieval. First rate artistry through and through and Tim Newark is an amazing writer. Seems these 3 books were originally released separately but I am glad I got the 3 in 1 deal. All that great artwork in one book!!!

[The Wizard]

Gonna order the following titles from Osprey today:

Medieval Russians 750-1250 Men-at-arms
Medieval Russians 1250-1500 Men-at-arms
The Normans Elite
The Vikings Elite
The Assyrians Elite

Might just be a few of these, but best would be all of them
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif



~Wiz

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (ROCKHAMMER @ June 11 2004,11:09)]Blind King & Auxilia, you guys are my heroes. I love the titles each of you has chosen and I know that my collection will end up just as large some day.
Awww thanks Rockhammer I'm touched http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-blush.gif

I like the method you seem to be using in enlarging your library - concentrating on your main interests - before you know it you'll have quite a collection

With me there's very little method - there used to be when I used to wargame with miniatures (hence the three Napoleonic titles) but no more - now, if I'm flush and the subject interests me, the book is as good as bought. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-dizzy2.gif

Thanks to Osprey's fantastically diverse publishing programme I could probably double my collection with what's out there if I had the money

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Quote[/b] ]titles from Osprey today:

Medieval Russians 750-1250 Men-at-arms
Medieval Russians 1250-1500 Men-at-arms
The Normans Elite
The Vikings Elite
The Assyrians Elite


Ah, all McBride I see? Can't speak for the Assyrians, but his illustrations in the other 4 are amazing - you will not be disappointed Tell me what the Assyrians is like when you get it.

I got Mughul India and Armies of the Muslim Conquest the other day. Mughul is very good but the latter is disappointing, the illustrations being poor by Angus' standards and it not covering the time period I hoped for. French Medieval Armies and the Hussite Wars ( http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif ) were out of stock apparently, despite the site saying otherwise http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wall.gif

Ordered a couple of Essential Histories today - Byzantium at War and Genghis Khan and the Mongol Conquests (or whatever its called). At £6.99 each on Amazon you can't go wrong - should provide excellent research for the Eastern Promise mod. Will pick up the Ottoman Empire one soon. Might pick up some other ones too for that price over the Summer.

I was in a bookshop today checking out some Osprey books. Very impressed by Celtic Warrior (Wayne Reynolds illustrating) and the Ancient Greeks (McBride once more). Graham Turner's awesome plates in Tewkesbury and Bosworth also caught my eye, as did his other work in the English Civil War books. He really gets in on the action, and although it might seem blashphemus I really wish Angus did this more. For some reason, whenever Angus does a Campaign book he only does three plates and they tend to be of a disappointing quality. Turner on the other hand does about 6 and they tend to be very impressive However, McBride still rules when it comes to Men-at-Arms, Elite and Warrior books. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Also waiting for Concord Publications' Tim Newark and Angus McBride's work: Age of the Crusades, Ancient Celts, Ancient Armies and Rome at War. I urge everyone to get Warlords and also Barbarians - loads of plates, all of which are awesome (all McBride). Pure eye candy.


Quote[/b] ]Blind King & Auxilia, you guys are my heroes. I love the titles each of you has chosen and I know that my collection will end up just as large some day. With any collection though, it will be an ongoing project. Right now I only possess 5 titles.
Viking Hersir, The Vikings, Samurai, Early Samurai and the Late Period Samurai book by Stephen Turnbull ( I forget the title). #


Geez thanks! What is Early Samurai like? I know its Angus and I'm surprised I haven't got it by now

I saw a beautiful hardback book today (£20), published by Osprey, 'The Samurai', written by Stephen Turnbull. Although not illustrated, there was plenty of colour images inside it and it was really thick, full of info. Definitely worth picking up if you're into Samurai. I didn't read it though, so it might be a combination of his other works.

Viking Hersir eh? Introduced to the world of Gerry Embleton? Wouldn't want to go back there would you? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Also learned of some new books hitting in October - a new Fortress book, the Walls of Constaninople, and a new Warrior book, Knight Templar, illustrated by Wayne Reynolds. Should be good

[ROCKHAMMER]

Blind King, I checked out the titles you mentioned from Concord and they look awesome. Of particular interest to me was the one called Warlord Armies. That title is right up my alley and the illustrations on the page are great.
Quotiong you.
Viking Hersir eh? Introduced to the world of Gerry Embleton? Wouldn't want to go back there would you?

The answer to this question is NO. I found his illustrations to be way below par compared to McBride's work and was not overly impressed. I bought the book just because I am interested in the Viking Era as I am of Danish / French ancestry. Seems some of my ancestors were in with Rollo and his gang when they invaded France and got control of Normandy.

The book you mentioned - Warriors & Warlords is definetly on my list to buy. The one called Barbarians I have never heard of. Is it a new or old title and where is it available? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

From Amazon:

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/9623616341.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Loads of great pics in the above

I've heard of Warlord Armies, but I'm a bit sceptical as its not all Angus McBride. Turner's good, and Richard Hook's okay, but Summer is awful.

Stay away from Gerry Embleton and Christopher Rothero if you know what's good for you

I love the cover of Ancient Armies, with Carthage fighting Rome at Zama. That war Elephant looks awesome

[ROCKHAMMER]

"Barbarians" looks like it will earn a place on my shelf also. Right next to "Warlord Armies." Are these books available through Amazon and Borders?

I agree with you on the picture of the Battle at Zama picture. It was very well done and showed the action of that battle. Almost as if a picture had been taken. Mc Bride is a genius

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I live in the UK so I'm not sure on American availability.

I've seen pics of the other books but not Age of the Crusades. Infact, I'm not even sure if it was ever published. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[ROCKHAMMER]

Thanks I will have to check out Borders to see if they have it in their online catalog.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Just to remind you guys: remember to update your collections when you get new books

[Duke John]

Quote[/b] ]Graham Turner's awesome plates in Tewkesbury and Bosworth also caught my eye, as did his other work in the English Civil War books. He really gets in on the action, and although it might seem blashphemus I really wish Angus did this more.
Hehe, I told you so http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-wink.gif
I'm looking forward to the release of Poitiers wherein more paintings of Graham Turner are placed.


Quote[/b] ]Stay away from Gerry Embleton and Christopher Rothero if you know what's good for you

I actually think Gerry Embleton paints better than McBride. McBride is IMO really bad at textures, he paints them way too smooth; his knights look plastic.

And listen to your Supreme Dungeon Moderator, you know I am right.
:ducks for cover:

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-laugh.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Ah DJ my jaw has just hit the floor http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-stunned.gif
The ultimate blasphemy has just been let slip from your lips http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

I afraid this shock had forced me to resign as AM due to your insanity. Only joking boss http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

I would rather watch the last 3 minutes of the England vs France game than look at old gerry's work http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Duke John]

I guess it depends on which book you have, but McBride's artwork in the German Medieval armies in 1300-1500 inspired not at all to make models, while Embleton's work did.


Quote[/b] ]I afraid this shock had forced me to resign as AM due to your insanity. Only joking boss
Maybe you are, but I am not. I'll notify Tosa.




Bwahahahahahahahaha http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

As a matter of interest which mcbride books do you have?

[Aurelian]

Hmmm, Osprey books, eh? Okay, I'll play. Here is my current collection, maybe minus a few that are boxed up in another state.

MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES
Enemies of Rome, Parthians and Persians
Enemies of Rome, Eastern Frontier
Armies of Rome, Caesar to Trajan
The Age of Charlemagne
The Moors, The Islamic West 7th-15th Centuries
The Mamluks 1250-1517
Armies of the Caliphate 862-1098
Armies of the Muslim Conquest
Saladin and the Saracens
The Swiss at War 1300-1500
The Venetian Empire 1200-1670
German Medieval Armies 1300-1500
Italian Medieval Armies 1300-1500
The Age of Tamerlane
Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe 1000-1568
Armies of Medieval Burgundy 1364-1477
El Cid and the Reconquista 1050-1492
Medieval Chinese Armies 1260-1520
Polish Armies 1569-1696, vol. 1

... and a few more boxed away (Alexander, Early Roman armies, Punic Wars, etc.)

ELITE SERIES
The Vikings
The Normans
The Assyrians

CAMPAIGN SERIES
Poltava 1709
Fornovo 1495
Pavia 1525
Lake Peipus 1242
Qadesh 1300BC

WARRIOR SERIES
Late Roman Infantryman (dreadful)
Germanic Warrior 236-568
Saracen Faris
Anglo-Saxon Thegn 449-1066

I've read most of the other Ospreys from the ancient-medieval period.

I'm a big fan of Angus McBride, but I'll admit that it is a 'style'. Lots of beefy men, heavy armor, action and color. I like it, but I'm sure there is lots of room for artistic preference.

I've got a few other books that make good use of Angus McBride's work. I think they're all by Tim Newark:
The Barbarians
Women Warriors
Celtic Warriors

For those of you who like this sort of thing, I'd also recommend "Medieval Warfare Sourcebook (volumes I and II)" by David Nicolle, and "Warfare in the Classical World" by Warry (I think). David Nicolle's book doesn't have original illustrations, but it's full of Osprey-like goodness and lots of good photos and such.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Aurilian, what is the women warriors like?

That Celtic warriors book is wicked by the way. Love every picture in that. Mcbrides Gallowglass are just so damn cool http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (Duke John @ June 17 2004,07:17)]I actually think Gerry Embleton paints better than McBride. McBride is IMO really bad at textures, he paints them way too smooth; his knights look plastic.
Embleton I reckon did a good job with the MAA titles The Wars of the Roses and the one on Burgundian Armies, and his recent Warrior title on Landsknechts looks OK too....

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Yeah, Burgundy and swiss books of his are good but alot of them are really bad. I think Turner should have done the images in WOTR book.

My fav GE pic is the english archers at castillon 1453, very well done http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[biguth dickuth]

Well, i know that there is a thing in most societies called "property" but you guys wouldn't mind breaking the law a bit and posting some of those illustrations here, would you??
Hehehehe.... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Some of these collections look really impressive i must say
I have only read two books about the byzantine army (both awesomely illustrated by McBride) but they are not mine; they belong to a friend.
I don't have a credit card and, sadly, you can't find those books in bookstores where i live...

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Amazon is a great place to get 'em mate. I'll try about the pics but it might be difficult. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

[The Wizard]

The book Rome's Enemies (3): Parthians and Sassanid Persians is well-written, but McBride's plates lack movement and look like statues - all except the plate of Indo-Iranian nomads which served in Sassanian armies.

BTW, I'm getting my second and third books in the series to add to my collection (will grow to an astonishing 3 books http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif), namely:
Elite
The Persians 560-330 AD
Men-at-arms
The Age of Tamerlane



~Wiz http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/barrel.gif

[biguth dickuth]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 17 2004,23:53)]Amazon is a great place to get 'em mate. I'll try about the pics but it might be difficult. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif
Yes, i know that they're available in Amazon and i've taken a look at most of their titles but...I don't have a credit card

Anyway, thanks in advance for any effort to get some of the illustrations available here, no matter if you succeed or not. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

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

I don't know what book this if from, but it looks like it has something to do with Clontarf. Ancient Celts maybe?

http://members.aol.com/scothist/images/picts1.jpg

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid2.jpg

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid3.jpg

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid5.jpg

Above: McBride at his best Alexander in India.

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid6.jpg

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid7.jpg

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid10.jpg

http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid9.jpg

[scooter_the_shooter]

hay do you mind if we use some of them pics for our historical mod

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Mate they ain't mine you do what you like http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

What mod is this anyway?

[scooter_the_shooter]

for the rtw historical mod if they are in the right time frame i didnt look much so i dont know we need ideas for eastern units

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sounds good. I'll probably post a few more tomorrow. Will these pics be used for units?

[scooter_the_shooter]

i hope http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif. probably if they are in the right time period

[biguth dickuth]

Yes, they will probably prove quite useful for future "unit dressers" (including myself) when the game goes out and we get to see what else, beside the ptolemies, has gone slightly wrong... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

Thanks a lot Blind King of Bohemia
May your heart feel what your eyes can't see... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Aurelian]

Quote[/b] ]Aurilian, what is the women warriors like?

I don't have the book in front of me at the moment, but it's set up just like the Celtic Warriors book. If I recall, there are sections on Zenobia of Palmyra, Joan of Arc, Matilda of Tuscany, female warriors from Dahomey in Africa, South American women warriors, Sarmatian 'Amazons' and the like. It's probably almost as worthy as the Celtic Warriors book. Plenty of Angus McBride illustrations.

[The Sword of Cao Cao]

I ordered Stephen Turnbull's "Samurai Invasion: The Other Korean War" which is a very large hardcover book cheronicling one of the most glossed over parts of history, yet a very major one too. It's about Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Invasion of Korea, and it delivered the death blow to China's already weakened Ming Dynasty. It also sent Korea, one of the most wealthy kingdoms in the world at that time, nto absolute poverty, and bankrupted Japan.

Also, BKB, theres a new book out called "Warriors and Warlords" and it depicts ALL the art dne by Angus McBride. Thought yu might like that.


http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shogunshame.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I think I'll pass on that as I probably have those pictures in one way or another. Thanks anyway. More pics

http://www.slitherine.co.uk/Legion/Images/Auxilia2_ConcImpRomeAtWar.jpg

I think this is the battle from time commaders. mons grapius against the scots. Notice the heather at the bottom of the picture

http://www.slitherine.co.uk/Legion/Images/Auxilia1_ConcImpRomeAtWar.jpg

No idea but i like it

http://www.cisl.ie/mars/rory/shaneoneill.jpg

Gallowglass and kerns await there lord shane o neil in london in 1562 at the court of queen liz

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

I love this pic-Gallowglass and kern clashing with Border horse

http://www.sorbie.net/S_Reivers.jpg


Border reivers

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~gkirby/Battle2.jpg


:http://ron.heavengames.com/gameinfo/nations/mongol/liegnitz.jpg


http://www.ramases.com/images/combat.jpg

Aurilian, any chance of you scanning some pics? I did some searching and all I could find is the Eleanor one, and it seems to be a very rare. ~:thumb[IMG]

[Steppe Merc]

I love the Osprey books. Have got a bunch (too lazy to post right now). Hoping to get the Parthian/Sassiiniads Persians Sarmatian soon. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/ceasaryes.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I like this one. Martin frosbachers fight with the Armada

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/osp_img/titlespreads/S6402SPR1S.JPG

[The Sword of Cao Cao]

Hey could anyone who has any Osprey books about Mughal India post some pics from that? I'm developing a bigger interest in Middle East, and I'm wondering bout Mughal India.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/shogunshame.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I've got that book and there are some good pics, i'll try to get some up http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

A few more, sorry i just love his pics:


http://www.historialago.com/leg_cartago_soldadosesp_01.jpg



http://www.historialago.com/leg_cartago_soldadosesp_02.jpg


http://diarmid.com/Pages/Scotland%20Auldearn%201645.JPG



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

[The Wizard]

Another great military artist is Mark Churms...

http://www.markchurms.com/Merchant2/graphics/eagle-l.jpg

He tried the Roman landings in Brittanica too..

http://www.markchurms.com/Merchant2/graphics/bannockburn-l.jpg

Battle of Bannockburn...

http://www.markchurms.com/Merchant2/graphics/single-l.jpg

Robert the Bruce versus Sir Henry de Bohun... that's gotta hurt http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

http://www.markchurms.com/Merchant2/graphics/joust-l.jpg

The Black Prince in a joust... LOVE the light in this one.

http://www.markchurms.com/Merchant2/graphics/charge-l.jpg

Napoleon's 2nd and 3rd cuirassiers charge at Waterloo...

Now this is OT, but who cares? It's worth it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Yeah mate saw some of his stuff last night, very nice http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

More pics


http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid1.jpg




http://www.mcbridecollectors.com/mcbrid4.jpg

[ah_dut]

sorry if this makes me look like a prat but how much do these books cost and where can i find them, without needing a credit card? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Best places to buy them are waterstones or ottakars. There good palces to get them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

http://www.fringe-benefits.co.uk/pix/clontarf.jpg

Like thsi pic death of Brian Boru at the hands of Brodar of man, this is not Mcbride but i still like it


http://www.doyle.com.au/images/viking1.jpg


This is mcbride i believe, normans clashing with irish warriors


http://members.aol.com/scothist/images/graupius.jpg

Another good artist wayne reynolds, not sure of the battle

[The Wizard]

Brodar of Man? Who's that?



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

He led the viking army with sigurd of the Orkenys and Sigtryd of Dublin(sp) at Clontarf. After the viking rout, he with a few companions crashed into the shield wall of Brian and sliced the top part of head off killing the king. He was taken by Brians bodyguard and executed with his men.

[frogbeastegg]

My collection's taken about 10 years to build.

Armies of the pharaohs
The warrior pharaoh
The ancient Assyrians
Greek hoplite 480-323BC
Warriors of Ancient Greece
The Spartans
The Persian army 560-330BC
The Greek and Persian wars
The army of Alexander the great
Alexander the Great
The battle of Cannae
Early Roman armies
Armies of the Carthaginian wars 265-146BC
Republican Roman army 2---104BC
The Roman army from Caesar to Trajan
Legions of the North
Guardians of the Roman empire
Late Roman cavalryman 236-565AD
Late Roman infantryman 236-565AD
Roman military clothing 1
Roman military clothing 2
Rome's enemies 1-5
Celtic warrior 300BC-100AD
Germanic warrior 236-568AD
Arthur and the Anglo Saxon wars
Anglo-Saxon thegn 449-1066AD
The Vikings
Viking hersir 793-1066AD
The Normans
Norman stone castles 1
Norman knight 950-1204AD
English medieval knight 1200-1300
English medieval knight 1300-1400
English medieval knight 1400-1500
Armies of the crusades
Saracen faris 1050-1250AD
Knight Hospitaller 1
Knight Hospitaller 2
The crusades
The first crusade
Knights of Christ
Crusader knight
The Scottish and welsh wars 1250-1400AD
English longbowman 1330-1515AD
The armies of Crecy and Poitiers
The armies of Agincourt
Crecy 1346
The wars of the roses
Tewkesbury 1471
Knights at tournament
Medieval heraldry
The Spanish armada
Matchlock musketeer 1588-1688
The English civil war
Soldiers of the English civil war 1 infantry
Soldiers of the English civil war 2 cavalry
New model army 1645-60
Ancient Chinese armies
Imperial Chinese armies 1
Imperial Chinese armies 2
War in Japan
The Samurai
Japanese warrior monks
Ashigaru 1467-1649
Samurai armies 1550-1615
Ninja 1460-1650
Samurai heraldry
Japanese castles 1540-1640
Kawanakajima 1553-64
Nagashino 1575

Phew That covers every single period I find interesting, notice the bias to medieval England and Romans? The small series made up of the Norman and English medieval knights is probably my favourite set; well illustrated and interesting as light reading. Norman knight was also the first book I got, I pestered my parents for it at the grand old age of 10, seduced by the pictures of knights and the promise of a decent read.

I don't like McBride much; I like Graham Turner, Richard Hook, Christina Hook (unless she's in blurry mode), and Gerry Embleton. I just McBride's work very aesthetically unpleasant; his people always seem so short and squat, his colours muted, his detail lacking, his textures missing...he does have his better pictures though, where he's not too bad.

:draws hairpin for self defence: http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/geisha_hairpin_2.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I have to be honest, apart from malta 1565, christa hook is really bad. I guess we will have to agree to disagree about Mcbride, who is 73 by the way and puts everyone else in the osprey series to shame in my view. But each to his own i guess.

As for his detail lacking? Minute detail can be found in the majority of his pics I defy anyone to look at his viking last stand picture in the vikings, hastings in the Normans and the Shaka Zulu battle in the Zulu's and then say he is bad. I'm gobsmacked geezers( and lasses) don't feel the same way http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

[frogbeastegg]

Detail liked frayed clothing hems, it seems no matter what McBride work I look at everyone's clothing is immaculate except for the *very* occasional spot of blood on the sleeve.

Christina Hook is either quite good or very bad; she swaps between them seemingly randomly. Crusader knight and Norman knight are some of her better works, but plate J in Knight Hospitaller 1 is the other end of her scale, it's all blurry feeling and not very interesting.

Agree to disagree, good idea - art is subjective, even when historical accuracy is at stake.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

A really good book is some of Tim newarks books with Mcbride from concord publishing. The barbarians and Warlords books really show blood and guts. Its his best work truely.


We can't all have the same tastes. Sorry if i'm annoying anyone but mcbride is one of my heroes http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/medievalcheers.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Last of the pics:





http://www.zinnfigur.com/Books/Pictures/Osprey.jpg



http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/geekdom/Pendragon/Art/6thcenturycavalry.jpg

http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~dbi9m/fantasy/dreamverses/rings/mcbride/02/pMcBride14.jpg

Mines of moria pic

[ah_dut]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 19 2004,17:07)]Best places to buy them are waterstones or ottakars. There good palces to get them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif
thx will go to get one hopefully tommorow. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[ah_dut]

by the way BKB how much hosting space do you HAVE you've posted loads of pics

[nizar]

I found out about the Osprey books only recently. My humble collection.

Men-at-Arms
255 Armies of the Muslim Conquest

Essential Histories
62 The Ottoman Empire 1326-1699

I will like to suggest books on the armies of pre20th century south east asia. Anyone knows any books on this?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Try to lay your hands queen victoria's enemies. Asia, america's and australasia. Good pics but the artists old rick schollins is dead now. He was damn fine artist.

[Michiel de Ruyter]

I added two more yesterday to my list....

My collection grows quite rapidly as a store that tries to have the all Osprey books in stock at all times is right on the route between university and the station... 80% of the collection has been acquired within the last 12 months...

On a seperate note, can we make this a sticky thread ? And/or make a sticky for book references ? As that is one of the more frequently asked questions...

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Good idea about pinning the thread. I recieved Hussite Wars and French Medieval Armies from Osprey today. The latter is great but I was a bit disappointed with the former - a couple of the plates are great but I've a feeling old Angus was working to a tight deadline.

I might pick up Ancient Greeks Elite title on Friday if my local bookshop still has it. 12 plates of McBride goodness. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-smile.gif

[Hetman]

I found it interesting that Cossacks fought at Tannenberg, they didn't exist at that time - check Osprey's Tannenber 1410 - disaster...

Regards Hetman http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I think the author was putting the tartars in that bracket who were repulsed with the Lithuanians at the start of the fight but made the decisive strike near the end of the battle. I'm not that fond of the artist but his pic of the fall of the grandmaster is good though.

[The Wizard]

Hmm... how long does it take before books arrive when you order from Osprey directly?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

It takes about a week when they have it instock, if not then a about 2 weeks.

Take heed though, sometimes when they say they have it in stock they don't http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

I have only ordered from them once though, i prefer to order of amazon http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[The Wizard]

Yeah, it's taking 2 weeks now, and they said they had it in stock http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

I think I'm going to order it from bol.com from now on, like my first (and until now only) one, Parthians and Sassanid Persians, which arrived after 4 days.



~Wiz

[Steppe Merc]

Grr. My Parthian/Sassinaid Persians and Sarmatians are taking forever Amazon may be cheap, but slow

[frogbeastegg]

From amazon.uk I get books quite quickly on the whole, generally only 24 hours after the stated 'usually available in' time. There have been some which have taken longer, but they were always on the 3+ weeks dispatch. These times are usually with the free postage and packing, I wiat until there are enough interesting books to qualify for that. I get most of my books from amazon these days, far cheaper and unlike the bookshops in town they actually have good books.

I ordered from Osprey once; I got one book free becasue of some offer or other. It took about 2 weeks for the books to arrive, they came in two batches aand if I remember correctly one book took about 3 weeks.

[Hetman]

I'm going to buy my first Osprey books. I think the two polish books will be my first choices, but I'm interested in the plates - are these reliable and generally is it worth buying. I can buy only two in next 3-4 months time so I really want to choose something good and from XVI-XVII period.

Regards Hetman http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I want to pick up those two as well. I hear they're great, and of course they're McBride. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Also picked up the Ancient Greeks Elite title today - very good

[Hetman]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 25 2004,14:56)]I want to pick up those two as well. I hear they're great, and of course they're McBride. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Also picked up the Ancient Greeks Elite title today - very good
'The Fall of Eastern Europe' - I know You own the book is it reliable enough ?
I need more units for Hungary in XVI_XVI mod and I thought it could be quite useful.

Regards Hetman http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Its a very good book

[Xiahou]

Im looking for some recommendations... I wanted to pick up a few of these books dealing with late Roman and Byzantine empires. So far I was thinking about :
Byzantine Armies 886-1118
Byzantine Armies 1118-1461

Know of any more must-haves? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The first you mentioned is not as good as the second imo

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 19 2004,09:07)]Best places to buy them are waterstones or ottakars. There good palces to get them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif
You might also try any Ian Allan retail outlet - the only one I know of is in Cardiff however but they've always got most of the range http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[ah_dut]

Foyles in Charing cross road must have at least 300 differant ones http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

[The Wizard]

Well, finally got The Persian Army 560-330 BC, but The Age of Tamerlane was out of stock, while Osprey stated it wasn't.

Sigh.



~Wiz

[Jason the Absentminded]

Just started my collection today, with 3, as a birthday present from my youngest.

Elite 58
The Janissaries

Men-at-Arms 140
Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1300-1774

Men-at-Arms 348
The Moors The Islamic West 7th-15th Centuries AD

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I just got ancient armies by tim newark and angus mcbride of concord publishing. The plates are stunning, everyone should own it, mcbride at his best http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[king steven]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ June 02 2004,09:21)]Ancient

Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161–284
Romano-Byzantine Armies 4th–9th Centuries
Rome's Enemies (5) : The Desert Frontier
Rome's Enemies (4) : Spanish Armies
Rome's Enemies (3): Parthians and Sassanid Persians
Roman Legionary 58 BC–AD 69
Rome's Enemies (2)
The Army of Alexander the Great
The Scythians 700–300 BC
Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians
Attila and the Nomad Hordes
Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars
Ancient Greeks

Medieval

Crusader Knight
Armies of Islam 7th to 11th centuries
Knights of Christ
Saladin and the saracens
The moors and the islamic west
Armies of the crusades
The Crusades
Medieval European armies
Byzantine Armies 886–1118
Byzantine Armies AD 1118–1461
Italian Medieval Armies 1000–1300
Armies of Medieval Russia 750–1250
Hungary and the fall of Eastern Europe 1000–1568
The Vikings
The Normans
Knight Hospitaller (2) 1306–1565
El Cid and the Reconquista 1050–1492
The Janissaries
Medieval Russian Armies 1250–1500
English Medieval Knight 1400–1500
Mongol Warrior 1200-1350
Japanese warrior monks
Samurai 1550-1600
The Samurai
English Longbowman 1330-1515
Medieval Scandinavian armies 1100-1300
Medieval Scandinavian armies 1300-1500
German medieval armies 1000-1300
German medieval armies 1300-1500
Armies of Medieval Burgundy 1364–1477
French Armies of the Hundred Years War
Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524–26
Henry V and the Conquest of France 1416–53
The Mamluks 1250–1517
Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec Armies
The Age of Tamerlane
The Scottish and Welsh Wars 1250–1400
The Age of Charlemagne
The Wars of the Roses
Armies of the Ottoman Turks 1300–1774
The Armies of Crécy and Poitiers
The Mongols
The Swiss at War 1300–1500
The Hundred Years’ War 1337–1453 (Essential Histories)
Orleans 1429
Lake Peipus 1242
Tannenberg 1410
Stirling Bridge and Falkirk 1297-98
Nicopolis 1396
Constantinople 1453
Fornovo 1495
Medieval siege warfare
Armies of the Muslim Conquest
Mughul India
Byzantium at War (Essential Histories)
Genghis Khan and the Mongol Conquests (Essential Histories)
Armies of the Caliphates
The Crusades (Essential Histories)
The Ottoman Empire (Essential Histories)
The Hussite Wars
French medieval armies 1000-1300

16th and 17th centuries

The border reivers
The Irish Wars 1485–1603
The landsknechts
Henry VIII's armies
Elizabethan Sea Dogs 1560–1605
Pirates 1660–1730
The Conquistadores
The Buccaneers
Pirates and privateers
Malta 1565
Pavia 1525


18th century onwards

Queen Victoria's Enemies 1: Southern Africa
Queen Victoria's Enemies 3: Northern Africa
Queen Victoria's Enemies 4: Asia, Australasia and the Americas
British Forces in Zululand 1879
Wellington's Infantry 2
Napolean's Dragoons and Lancers
The Apaches
American Woodland Indians
American Plains Indians
Jacobite Rebellion 1689-1745
North-West Frontier 1847-1947
Irish Volunteer Soldier 1913-23
The Zulus
privateers and pirates 1730-1830
that's quite a collection u've got there

[The Wizard]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ July 03 2004,12:39)]I just got ancient armies by tim newark and angus mcbride of concord publishing. The plates are stunning, everyone should own it, mcbride at his best http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif
Hmm, I'm thinking of buying the specials Barbarians against Rome and Caesar's Legions.

The first one combines the "Rome's Enemies" books (excluding the Parthians and Sassanid Persians) and the second one the "Roman Army" books up until 122 AD.

Are all those any good?



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Rome's enemies are excellent, but beware of Germanics and Dacians, which is illustrated by the woeful Gerry Embleton. Not sure about the Roman Armies as I don't have them, but you can't go wrong with Angus McBride's excellent Roman Legionary books in the Warrior series.

[The Wizard]

One of the books Barbarians Against Rome incorporates is Rome's Enemies (2): Gallic and British Celts.

Does this hold information of the Balkan Celts and the Galatians? Especially the latter sound interesting.

Is there a book with info on these pretty much forgotten branches of the Celtic civilization?



~Wiz

[king steven]

i've just been out & bought genghis khan and the mongol conquests (1190-1400)

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Managed to acquire what seems to be a very elusive book called 'Reivers' by Tim Newark and Angus McBride. Now do not get this mixed up with the 'Border Reivers', which the duo prepared for Osprey. This is published by Montlight Publications and is only available at Border bookshops between England and Scotland. I ordered it from border-heritage's website. It features many new Angus McBride plates. Since it looks at every aspect of the Reivers' life there are some which aren't great yet there are others which were worth the price alone (£8.99), including Edward I's army ravaging a Scottish village and the Border Reivers on a raid, both double page spreads. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in McBride's work, especially as it is such a rare piece.

Also Osprey have updated their coming soon section with a preview of two of the plates from the Mounted Archers of the Steppe book. Looks very nice

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_d....=spread (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php?title=S809X&view=spread)

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah, can't wait for that one to come out

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Few more pics to liven things up a bit:

http://www.allempires.com/articles/hussite/wagon_c.jpg

http://samourais.free.fr/Mongols_2.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/empires/seljuk/seljuk_warriors_enh.jpg

http://members.aol.com/skyewrites/images/celtales.jpg

http://members.aol.com/skyewrites/images/celthors.jpg

[The Sword of Cao Cao]

Hey BKB, which onei s that picture of the samurai fighting the Mongols from?

Alos please someone post one of Mughal India

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Osprey the samurai, get it, because that picture is bigger than the one i posted and the book itself is full of good info

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I got Martin Windrow's Imperial Rome at War today, with 20 colour illustrations by Angus McBride http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif . WOW These Concord Publications books are like Osprey books on steroids. Words cannot comprehend how good they are (you can see a number of the plates in this thread). The plates range from superb army pictures - Rome in Gaul, Teutoberg Forest, Adrianople, beseiging a Judean city to other activities - Roman Legionnaries preparing to march, at camp, building a fort, a doctor treating a wounded officer and more. Perhaps not as good as Ancient Armies but better than Barbarians IMO. Can't wait for Ancient Celts now, but the big one will be Age of the Crusades which should be out by the year's end.

[frogbeastegg]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ July 12 2004,11:48)]WOW These Concord Publications books are like Osprey books on steroids. Words cannot comprehend how good they are
Have they got a website or something with a list of titles?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sure. Here you go:

http://www.concord-publications.com/

Or maybe this. It's the Fighting Men series that interests me:

http://www.greenhillbooks.com/booksheets/Concord/Concord_titles.html

[Steppe Merc]

Hmm, I guess that it's just an English book series, since I've never seen it in America before. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Actually they're made in Hong Kong. I'm sure you can find some if you scour around. Adebooks (www.adebooks.com)could be your best bet.

[The Wizard]

http://www2.webpark.cz/booboo/IndexValaris.jpg

This is up until now my favorite Osprey plate, together with the parading British Belgian in his chariot, the 7th century Persian clibanarius, and the Sarmatian heavy cavalry (which is by Gerry Embleton).



~Wiz

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Did you get that plate from the internet or did you scan the pic? I know that pic is from germanic warrior. Are the other pics any good in the book?

Ah got it. Looks like old Angus on top form again. Another quality plate:

http://mujweb.cz/www/barbari/McBrideCavalryCombat.jpg

[Sjakihata]

I just ordered Kawankajima in the campaign series. It covers all five battles and I think it should be a good read. Reynolds does the painting.

Anyone knows this book?

[The Sword of Cao Cao]

Saw it, didnt buy it though. I got Ninja instead. Reynolds paints that one too. https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ah_dut]

i prefer McBride personally https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Auxilia]

Quote[/b] (The Blind King of Bohemia @ July 12 2004,05:48)]These Concord Publications books are like Osprey books on steroids.
It's funny - just as I start to ask myself 'why doesn't someone develop the Osprey format and give 'em some competition', I have to kick myself and remembering that there are books out there to compare:

- the Concord series I haven't seen but they do sound excellent - must get down to Ian Allan's this weekend

- the Warrior series - excellent; I own Warriors of Rome and Celtic Warriors - why on earth didn't they carry on with this format?

- I remember an Italian publisher almost copying the format directly, right down to the white paperback - they did do some interesting titles, for example on Etruscan warriors (way before Osprey attempted anything remotely associated with this) - anybody remember these?

- slightly different in format though they are, I think the books published by the Wargames Research Group deserve an honourable mention - for those who aren't aware they did titles based around Biblical armies, the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, Medieval Europe and other related stuff. They were packed with information, and the line drawings were well executed with detailed descriptions including info on colours etc (the books were, after all aimed at miniature gamers). The format has been carried on after a fashion by Foundry Books, but most of their titles' subject matter seems obscure to the point of self indulgence which is a shame....

...and who remembers the little old Blandford books - you only ever seemed to find these in public libraries - anyone know if these are still published - or do I need another trip to Haye on Wye?? https://forums.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-2thumbsup.gif

[Orda Khan]

Available from September at Osprey publishing....
Mounted Archers of the Steppe 600 BC - AD 1300...illustrated by Angus McBride.
My one complaint about most of these illustrators is the scale of the bows....way too small

.....Orda

[Omegamann]

Interrestingly, nobody of you mentions Peter Connolly.
Although the Books he did were not realy for history buffs, as the books are more childrens books , but the illustrations inside are simply beautifull.
He did books on ancient rome and ancient greece. Also dealing with the Jerusalem at the time of christ and the Trojan War.
I especialy love his work on this bookAncient Greeks at the time of Odysseus (http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0199105324/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-7356999-8587854#reader-page)

[frogbeastegg]

Peter Connolly is to me what McBride is to BKB; he is a wonderful artist and a very good author who knows his stuff. His research has opened new doors, especially on the capabilities of ancient cavalry. I've been a fan of his ever since I found his Roman Legionary; and Roman cavalryman on a shelf in my local library when I was about 8. I remember begging non-stop for nearly half an hour when I finally found a copy of those books in a shop; I’d spent all my money already and since we were on the last day of our holiday that was my only chance. Good thing my parents thought history was good for me! That was the beginning of a prized collection; if there is a book he has written and I haven’t got then I don’t know it exists, so please tell me so I can buy it.

[Omegamann]

Yeah,
I stumbled across Connollys Roman warrior and cavalryman in my local library, in the childrens department.
Sadly the only books still available to be bought in germany are the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans.
I would kill to possess the Odysseus book (having only read a serverly battered library version) and to be able to read the Hannibal Book

From Osprey I was very pleased with the recent Thracians book with art by McBride (which I also like very much in some of the osprey publications)
It arrived just at the right time when I had to playtest the Thracians for HTW and was reading the Anabasis ~D

[AlexPeters]

The art of Peter Connolly:
http://people.freenet.de/totalwar/scans/ConAlesia.jpg
http://people.freenet.de/totalwar/scans/ConCtCav.jpg
http://people.freenet.de/totalwar/scans/ConSarmt.jpg
http://people.freenet.de/totalwar/scans/ConTroja.jpg
I like his books even if they are classified as childrens books. I hated the pages with rusty helmets and swords and loved those with colored plates when i was young, but now i really enjoy his descriptions and the knowlegde behind.
My collection:
The Roman Army (ISBN: 3-7886-0180/9, german version 1976)
The Greek Armies (ISBN: 3-7886-0181/7, german version 1977)
Hannibal and the Enemies of Rome (ISBN: 3-7886-0182/5, german version 1978)
The last one isn't as good as the others, it tries to cover too many different armies (Carthage, Samnites, Etruscians, minor italian tribes, Celts/Gauls).

My Osprey collection isn't that large yet:
The Conquistador 1492-1550 (Warrior)
Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec Armies (Men-at-Arms)
Aztec Warrior AD 1325-1521 (Warrior)
The Landsknechts (Men-at-Arms)
Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524-26 (Men-at-Arms)
The Conquistadores (Men-at-Arms)
The Armada Campaign 1588 (Elite)

Alex

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

If you like those style of pics boys get the concord books, honestly you will love them. In the ancient armies book nearly every pic is great and will leave you smiling i know i had one.

By the way, the artist above is good

[scooter_the_shooter]

does osprey make anyhting on the renisance i am doing a mod and need to know what the army is like

[AlexPeters]

Yes, there are lots of books that cover the renaissance. I think you are interested in the italian wars 1300-1500 ?
Swiss: The Swiss at War 1300-1500 (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=Q3348) (Men-at-Arms 94)
France: French Armies of the Hundred Years War (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=P7104) (Men-at-Arms 337)
Bohemia: The Hussite Wars 1419–36 (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S6658) (Men-at-Arms 409)
Peasants and Germans/HRE: Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524–26 (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S5074) (Men-at-Arms 384)
Venice: The Venetian Empire 1200–1670 (http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=Q8994) (Men-at-Arms 210)
...
Look for yourself.

Alex

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Also try to lay your hands on some of the campaign books of Pavia and Fornovo, really good info there and the armies of medieval Burgundy, German medieval armies 1300-1500 and The Landsnechks(sp)

[king steven]

i.ve got genghis khan & the mongol conquests (?).

can som1 xplain 2 me more the siegfried wall ~:cheers:

[Gregorius0202]

I love Connolly, and I'm just being introduced to the Osprey books more.

Currently (this will make some jealous, I'm sure:D) I have in my possession a book titled "Warriors & Warlords, the Art of Angus Mcbride." It features over 50 of his most famous Osprey published paintings, and has fascinating descriptions for each and the history behind their realities.

On Amazon.com, I currently Purchased six Osprey military series titles for about $75 dollars total. Due to not being able to immediately ship a couple of them, I won't get them for about a month:(. They include:

The Scythians, 700 BC-300 BC
The Thracians, 700 BC-46 AD
Ancient Armies of the Middle East
New Kingdom Egypt
The Ancient Assyrians
The Spartan Army

Mcbride illustrated all of these titles except 'The Spartan Army'. After I recieve these, the next set of Osprey purchases I wish to make include:

Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec Armies
Zulu 1816-1906 (Illustrated AND written by Mcbride!)
The Zulus
The Zulu War
The Ancient Greeks
The Army of Alexander the Great
Ancient Chinese Armies

---All of those are illustrated by Mcbride!

And a couple of others, mainly on Central American Armies, can't find the titles now, as they weren't illustrated by Mcbride, but they are Osprey (he's got a list of the books he's illustrated in the back of "Warriors and Warlords")

As far as Connolly goes, I still need to read/buy "Roman Legionary", "Roman Cavalryman", and "The Ancient City", as far as titles I'm interested in go... And I own the following-

The Ancient Greece of Odysseus
The Roman Army
Greek Armies
Greece and Rome at War

All four are GODLY Material for anyone interested in reenacting, like I am myself. I can also see the major help it will give unit creators for MOD projects! That's it for now:]

-Gregory-

[Despot of the English]

I am nowhere near the Blind King's collection but for what it's worth here's my collection:

Men-at-arms

Knights at Tournament
The Landsknechts
German Medieval Armies 1300-1500
The Venetian Empire 1200-1670
Italian Medieval Armies 1300-1500
Medieval European Armies
Medieval Heraldry
Byzantine Armies 1118-1461
The Knights of Christ
Armies of the Muslim Conquest

Warrior

English Longbowman 1330-1515
Knights Hospitaller 1100-1306
Knights Hospitaller 1306-1565

Campaign

Constantinople 1453
The First Crusade 1096-1099

Essential Histories

Rome at War 293-696
Byzantium at War 600-1453
The Ottoman Empire 1326-1699
The Hundred Years' War 1337-1453
The American Revolution 1774-1783

Warrior Series

Germanic Warrior 236-568

Probably get some books about the Greeks next.

[Sjakihata]

I just recently came into possession of Osprey books, thanks to this thread!!!!

What I got is

Essential Histories: Punic Wars
Warrior: Ninja 1460-1650, Japanese Warrior Monks 949-1603
Elite: Vikings
Campaign: Kawanakajima 1553-63

To be honest the warrior titles dissapoints me a little, only about 60 pages that is including various plates, pictures and other material.

However, the Punic Wars surpirsed me pleasently because I knew quite a lot about the punic wars beforehand, so I purchased it as a 'test' to see how accurate it was. One thing I didn't like though was the author began expressing his political views in the conclusion.

He made an analogy between Rome / Carthage and USA / USSR. That was ok because he used to it show that history was still relevant, however, when he bagan to express political opinions I sort of lost it for him.

[Despot of the English]

What are the Ninja and Japanese Warrior Monk books like?

I've only got three Warrior books currently but I find them better value than the Men-at-arms series, which are just 40 pages long.

[Sjakihata]

Well, as I said they are only around 60-65 pages which I think is quite litte, compared to campaign books with at least 150 pages.

However, the ninja book is quite funny, and informative. It talks most about which ninja operations took place and discussing certain ninja tactics. And since it is Turnbull who wrote it makes a lot of work to de-mythologize (a word?) the ninja legend/myth, which is ok, but I expected that if you bought such a book you knew they werent flying around and doing magic. All the effort to make ninja down to earth is annoying since it is common knowledge, at least if you have an interrest.
It is useful, however, as it takes the ninja history from the earliest and track it through time, going in-depth with famous ninja operations. All these operations are taken directly from war-journals which mostly is second hand sources, so there are a lot of funny anecdotes, but it is very informative as well. Also the ninja gear is throughly discussed and generally Im more informed about ninjas than before, however, not as much as I would like to be.

I did not read the Monks yet, but I suspect it is the same since Turnbull wrote that as well.

[Gregorius0202]

"All the effort to make ninja down to earth is annoying since it is common knowledge, at least if you have an interrest. "

I'm sure it would be... But those books DO seem to aim at younger audiences, so I'm sure half of the 'kids' that actually pick it up think they're gonna' see the history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Tutles! So, I'm sure it helps in the long run:\

On Amazon.com, I can't recall where it shows the difference between the Osprey series you're looking at (i.e. men-at-arms, elite, etc...)

Could someone help me with that?

Thanks!

-Gregory-

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah, on Amazon it's a bit hard to diffrentrate the kinds of books, not to mention I always get sprinled in there books about birds. ~:joker: But if you click on the picture, you can tell by the color of the books. Purple: MaM, Redish: Warrior, Green: Elite, Orange: Campaign, Essential Red background.

[The Wizard]

Hmmm, what are the Essential Histories books like? Do they include plates?

Anyways, here's my little collection (when compared to the library that is BKB's collection :p):

Men-at-arms - Rome's Enemies: Germanics and Dacians
Men-at-arms - Rome's Enemies: Gallic and British Celts
Men-at-arms - Rome's Enemies: Spanish Armies 218 - 19 BC
Men-at-arms - Rome's Enemies: Parthians and Sassanid Persians
Men-at-arms - The Age of Tamerlane
Elite - The Persian Army 560 - 330 BC
Warrior - Germanic Warrior AD 236 - 568



~Wiz, finally back from password-glitching blues (thanks to Tosa!) ~:pimp:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Essential histories are red covered, usually campaigns and normally a picture on the cover with the subject in question(not a colour plate like in the men at arms, Elite series)

[Steppe Merc]

Essentials are good in providing background but have no plates or original artwork at all. ~:( Wiz, how's that Tamerlane and the Persian Army ones? They both seem pretty cool.

[Steppe Merc]

Right, I was really bored, so finally decided to post my list, and provide a some comments next to each one.
Essential Histories:
Byzantium at War Nice, and goes into detail far more into the soldiers life than the two Men at Arms. I wish it would detail the mercanries a bit more though.
Ottamon Empire 1329-1699 Good, and tends to stay in the more interresting, earlier periods. However, they don't detial the Jannisaries enough for my tastes.
Wars of Alexander the Great :It's good, but doesn't really go into the troops as much as the other, and tends to stay on the actual battles, and the before and after pictures.
The Crusades: I really like this one. It has interesting portraits of both sides, and explains the impact on history of the Crusades.
Genghis Khan and the Mongol Conquests: Good, but suffers from not really going into the latter Il Khanate, Golden Horde and Yuan Dynasty. It does a good job of trying to debunk some of the rumors of the Mongols.
Campaign:
Alexander 334-323 Conquest of the Persian Empire: My only campaign, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. But it has good info and decent pics of both Alexander's army and the Persians. Nice tactic layout, to.
Men at Arms:
Army of Alexander the Great: Okay, but it doesn't really discribe the diffrent cavalry and infantry units that well, and the pics suffer from being interpratitions of the Alexander Sarcophagous, as many they don't really know what the units are. No good pikemen pics, either.
Byzantine Armies 886-118 Despite being an interesting period, McBride doesn't do his best, the pictures are a bit off, and the backgrounds are a dull white.
Byzantine Armies 1118-1461 Far better pictures than the first, and does a better job of detailing the mercenaries.
Rome’s Enemies Gallic and British Celts: I like this one. Brilliant pics and info, and has lovely British Chariot picture. It is a bit disconcerting to see the nekkid barbarians with a shield placed strategically to cover his manliness.
Romes Enemies Parthians and Sassanid Persians: Suffers from being split into two different timeperiods, as the Parthians are more interesting. Pics tend to be of the later periods, and again has a white background. It does have a sweet pic of an elephant though.
The Sarmatians 600 BC- 450 AD: Good info, but again tends to focus on the later AD periods. Has a bit much non-combatant shots, however.
Armies of Medieval Russia 750-1250 A really nice book wich does a good job of the transition from the Rus to the city states. Has some sweet pics.
Armies of Medieval Russia 1250-1500: Good, but not my favorite time period, as I prefer the nomadic steppe tactics to the western styles. Again, nice plates.
Armies of Arthur: Okay, but it’s a bit odd that it really has nothing to do with Arthur, rather the transition period from fall of Rome to the Norman Conquests. Tries to squeeze in to much info a little space.
Warrior:
Norman Knight: Good info, but I’m not a real big fan of the whole plates of just the equipment.
Mongol Warrior: Good, and has nice info of the lifestyle of the different Mongol types.

Elite:
Attila and the Nomad hordes: Probably my favorite, though it has really nothing to do with Attila, and more with the nomads. Lovely pictures, and awesome info.

[Despot of the English]

Of course the best place in my opinion to buy Osprey books is Osprey themselves at their website. You also get better deals there. With Amazon the availability of some Osprey books runs into weeks.

[Sjakihata]

I think osprey book are cheaper on amazon

[Despot of the English]

I make great use of the vouchers they include with the orders, which give £1 off each book and if you buy three you get free postage. So I save £3 and also the postage too. Recently they gave a £5 off voucher so I saved a lot of money!

[Gregorius0202]

Hey guys *up there* thanks for answering the question on how to tell the difference. If it's not listed, I know I can see the colors, that's for sure! :D

Adios...

-Gregory-

[Steppe Merc]

Unfortunatly, the American prices are so much higher than the English. So I find it easier to get off amazon, despite the wait, or at a bookstore.

[Sjakihata]

I just read Elite: The Vikings

It was a very good read, I can only recommend anyone getting it. Also I know where CA got the idea of Berserkers in a 12 unit from now ;)

[The Wizard]

Steppe Merc:

Since you already seem to possess Rome's Enemies: Parthians and Sassanid Persians, I won't elaborate on that. Although I must note that I find the Sassanid Persians far more interesting. It could've used a lot more combat plates though. Still, the last plate (of the late Sassanid clibanarius) is so well-done that it's one of my fave pics.

The Age of Tamerlane is quite an interesting book, it covers everything about Timur and his army, except one important thing: a detailed description of his campaigns. That's quite a miss, since that's probably the most interesting part. The plates are great, almost all of them have a backdrop and are very well done.

Anyways, I really like Germanic Warrior from the Warrior series. It's my favorite book up until now, and gives a really good picture of the warriors of that tumultuous period, their arms and armor, and their tactics. To top that, it has a description of the events of the period as well. It's really well written and the plates are absolutely superb, and it contains my favorite plate up until now, namely the one of the Ostrogoth Valaris challenging any oncomer to single combat. Simply superb. It even has a plate of one of my ancestors, a Frank, and his equipment! ~D

Anyways, the next books I think I'm gonna buy are The Thracians and Celtic Warrior. Maybe with the collection of Roman legion books called Caesar's Legions.



~Wiz

[Steppe Merc]

Thanks for the response, Wiz. I just got Viking Elite, and I agree with Sjakihata that it's very good.

[Degtyarev14.5]

I've just bought my first one, from the Campaign series:

Kursk 1943: The Tide Turns in the East

I intend to build on this humble beginning at a rate of one per week or two.

A.

[ROCKHAMMER]

I wish all the titles that I wanted were available for me to purchase them 1 or 2 a week. Most of the stuff in my area from Osprey pertains to the American Civil War which is interesting enough but not my area of interest. There is a store within an hours drive of my home which has a large selection of Osprey titles but I am only able to make it there once or twice a year (busy work & family schedule). I am going to be adding quite a few titles to my collection this Holiday season so I will update my original list then. :knight:

[Steppe Merc]

I've got the same problem. Pretty much all Civil War and WW2 in my bookstores. ~:(

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Got a few new books:

Spanish invasion of mexico
Pictish warrior
celtic warrior
Highland clansman(great pictures by mcbride but the author is shite)

[ROCKHAMMER]

What series are those last 3 from. I am not familiar with those titles and I didn't see them on the Osprey website yesterday when I was there. If McBride did the pictures I definetly have to get the Highland Clansmen volume.. :knight:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The highland one is in the warrior series, as are the other two.

By the way, wayne reynolds picture of the pictish spear wall against the strathclyde horse is great, can't wait for his templar osprey book.

I've been saving up and am planning a bumper Osprey buy soon. I plan to have most McBride books after this, bar his modern ones.

[Meneldil]

Hey guys
So far, my Osprey collection is :

...


Yeah, I don't have any book yet ~D , but today, I found a bookshop near my university that can order Osprey books (which is awesome, since we can't find any book like that in France).

I was thinking about getting some books about ancient greece first, but I don't know which one exactly.
I know there are many books related to this topic, so does anyone know the which one is the best ?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

There is a good book by osprey called the greeks in the elite series. Its a very good book and the colour plates by angus mcbride are quite fantastic.

Loads of books on Byzantium, also one on the thracians looks great(planning to get that one).

Order them from the osprey or for me Amazon websites or a good book shop like waterstones or ottakars(not sure you get them in france though) ~:wave:

[Meneldil]

Well, I'll have to order it from the bookshop I found. The guy there told me that he was able to order all osprey book and get them in 2 weeks, so it should be okay. If not, I'll order them through amazon

[Steppe Merc]

Does any one have the Scythians? That one looks quite cool, as well as the Thracians. However, I might wait till Christmas to get them, since I'll probably have to order them online. But then, mabye not. ~D

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Its a good book but there are better mate. The plates are good though, love the style of them, very cool armour.

[Steppe Merc]

Well do you have any suggestions of the Ancient- Medieval eras?
I was eyeing the Scythians and Thracians mainly because I'm really interested in them, but also for the Europa Barborum effort.
Oh, and anyone with relevant plates, please scan them and post them in the EB thread! ~D

[biguth dickuth]

Oh, and anyone with relevant plates, please scan them and post them in the EB thread! ~D
Ooh yes please do people, if it's not too much trouble for you. It will be very helpful when creating the modded units' looks.
Hope i won't get :whip: for suggesting that...

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Here are a few pics for you Barba boys ~D

Thracians do battle(the artist eludes me)

http://www.ehobby.pl/images/prod/old/p0/238.jpeg


Thracian warrior

http://www.osterholm.info/thracian1.jpg

Great Celtic warrior by wayne reynolds, Gasati charging romans

http://www.slitherine.co.uk/Legion/Images/Celtfan_WarriorCeltWar.jpg



Gallic warriors by mcbride

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/6183/celtwar1.jpg



Armoured gallic warrior

http://www.slitherine.co.uk/Legion/Images/CeltNob_WarriorCeltWar.jpg

[biguth dickuth]

The last two i have already seen but the first three not.
Thank you Blind King. I hope for more screens, in the future, by anyone interested. :charge:

[Steppe Merc]

I think that Thracian Petlast was used in HTW...

[Stormer]

i Have about 8 books on my computer in PDF format if anyone has about 180mb i can upload them all its just the full books but in computer format. i could proberly find any one of the books on the internet just give me the name i look for you.

the one i got are:


-Osprey - Maa 261 - 18Th Century Highlanders

-Osprey - Men at Arms 121 - Armies of The Carthaginian Wars 256-146bc (colour plates only)

-Osprey Maa 148 - The Army Of Alexander The Great

-Osprey-War48-English.Medieval.Knight.1200-1300-EPC

-Osprey - Arthur & the Anglo-Saxon Wars

-Osprey - Men At Arms 057 - The Zulu War

-Osprey - Men at Arms 158 - Romes Enemies 2 Gaellic and British Celts by ElfFriend

-osprey-elite07-the.ancient.greeks

[Steppe Merc]

Any chance you could post the plates? Mainly the Carthigian Wars and the Ancient Greeks as the others are irrelevant to the time, or I've already posted the pics. And where did you find them?

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I believe richard hook does the plates in carth wars and they ain't that great. The greeks one though is very good indeed, quite brill pics in that, i'll try to get soem up on here

Greek warrior battles amazon woman warrior

http://www.veltd.net/valmin/imgvalmin_10/images/9883%20_%209884.jpg

Carthage wars pics of Triarii, Velites and Principle

http://www.historialago.com/leg_cartago_soldadosroma_01.jpg

Roman officers

http://www.historialago.com/leg_cartago_soldadosroma_02.jpg

[Stormer]

Any chance you could post the plates? Mainly the Carthigian Wars and the Ancient Greeks as the others are irrelevant to the time, or I've already posted the pics. And where did you find them?

i have no where to upload them todo you know a site that give you about 50mb to upload things too?

[biguth dickuth]

i have no where to upload them todo you know a site that give you about 50mb to upload things too?
Try this (https://www.photobucket.com) site.
I don't know if you can upload 50mb there but it will do for the pics.

[Stormer]

As promised here are a few pics from the book
-Osprey - Men at Arms 121 - Armies of The Carthaginian Wars 256-146bc (colour plates only)


http://tinypic.com/5pwtc

http://tinypic.com/5pwub

http://tinypic.com/5pwuv

http://tinypic.com/5pwxw

http://tinypic.com/5pwyo

[Steppe Merc]

Thanks. That Carthigian one is a bit dissapointing, I'd agree. :embarassed:
And what's with that Amazon? :inquisitive: Did they really think they looked like that?

[AlexPeters]

I just got 'Soldiers of the English Civil War' (the first part, infantry) and to be honest i'm dissapointed.
No clear line of writing, average plates.
The author is Keith Roberts, the plates are drawn by Angus McBride but i don't like the style, all persons are very small and with short bodies, a bit like dwarfs and their faces look that childish... I think he's better in drawing ancient/fantasy stuff.
Roberts writes more about the Dutch and their inventions in warfare (okay it's related, but...), he's more focused on anecdotes (sp?) about the Trained Bands than on battlefield tactics. After reading this book only, i wouldn't have been able to tell you what's that new on the New Model Army ~;)
Does anyone own the 2nd book that deals with the cavalry (or Warrior 'Ironsides') and could tell me about ?

Alex

P.S. You can see such a 'childish face' on the Armoured Pikeman picture in the XVI-XVII mod thread (page 20), another book - the same bad taste.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Its a real shame you don't like Angus McBride AP - he's by far my favourite artist. I've still got to get his Civil War books, so wing it this way if you don't want it! ~D ~:joker: Any good battle pictures?

[Steppe Merc]

P.S. You can see such a 'childish face' on the Armoured Pikeman picture in the XVI-XVII mod thread (page 20), another book - the same bad taste.
Hmm, I think I know what he means. It was probably written in the 80's, no? I think he got better as time went on... like the Early Byzantine (800-1000 or something) one? The guys sometimes look a bit... funny.

[AlexPeters]

Yes, funny but if (nearly) all plates are drawn that way...
Here's a plate from that book, then you'll know what i mean:
http://www.image-dump.com/view.php?m=1&x=18926

@BKB I should have known that the words 'McBride' and 'dissapointing' would get you out of your cavern :duel:
I generally like his works but i was probably expecting too much from that book and both information and plates couldn't please me then. There aren't real battlescenes on the plates, on one you can see some advancing musketeers being shot but you can't see the enemy. Most plates are static, detailled, good drawn - but the style... The book was published 1989 first.

If you've read the 'Armada Campaign' then you'll know what kind of book i was expecting, it's very good in my opinion, both the writing and the plates (by Richard Hook). The plates are also static poses only but drawn in a far more 'mature' way ... ~D

Alex

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Doesn't look too bad to me....when Richard Hook does a battlescene as good as McBride's I might just reconsider my opinion of him. ~D :charge:

Any more pics from the book?

[AlexPeters]

http://www.image-dump.com/view.php?m=1&x=18927
http://www.image-dump.com/view.php?m=1&x=18928
and for comparism one from the 'Armada Campaign':
http://www.image-dump.com/view.php?m=1&x=18929

Alex ~:wave:

[Steppe Merc]

Like the McBride ones better... although I do agree they aren't the best, but that's probably because the time period... isn't my favorite to say the least.
The one you shown (showed? ~:confused: ) is far to static... and I hate white backgrounds.
Check out some other McBride pics, they are a lot better, I assure you.

[Gregorius0202]

Hey Steppe, I have the Scythians and Thracians, and although they're both awesome (haven't gotten around to 'reading' them yet, as I only got them a couple of days ago) the plates rather disappoint me. Somewhat dull in comparison to many I've seen...

Anyway, here's my current collection. (In somewhat cronological order to era)

Men-at-Arms, Ancient Armies of the Middle East- Backordered, hasn't arrived!
Elite, New Kingdom Egypt
Elite, The Ancient Assyrians
Men-at-Arms, The Scythians 700 BC-300 BC
Men-at-Arms, The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46
Elite, Warriors of Ancient Greece (also printed as "The Ancient Greeks")
Elite, The Spartan Army
Campaign, Alexander 334-323 BC
Men-at-Arms, Rome's Enemies 4, Spanish Armies
Men-at-Arms, Rome's Enemies 5, The Desert Frontier
Campaign, Cannae 216 BC
Men-at-Arms, Republican Roman Army 200 BC-104 BC
Warrior, Germanic Warrior, AD 236-568
Elite, Attila and the Nomad Hordes
Warrior, Aztec Warrior AD 1325-1521

If anyone has any questions about these, specifically the plates, just ask... I can't get any photos up as of YET, but hopefully soon...

Also, if you're interested in the Bronze Age, try to swing by my site sometime! www.bronze-warrior.com

Cheers!

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

If you could put up some assyrians pics that would be grand mate :laugh4:

[Gregorius0202]

Hey BKB, the Assyrians are definitely worth takin' a look at! I'll try to have some pictures up in a section on my site (shown on the last post) that I'll devote to Osprey plates. I'll make the Assyrians first Priority.

There are actually two shields in the book that I've fallen for, and I plan on making both of them! One is a large conical shield, that's made from reeds and covered in hide, with a large bronze boss over the front. Very cool looking! I'm going to start work on it as soon as I get my Sherden and Egyptian Shields done:D The other is a basic 'tower' shield like those used by the Earlier Mycenaeans, and I'm not sure which version to do... Probably the earlier one, as the conical will count as my 'Assyrian' shield...

Lol, anyway, I'll try to get those up asap... Take care!

Ciao!

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Thanks a lot - should be more McBride goodness!

A heads up - Steppe Mounted Archers is now in stock at Osprey. Just ordered it.

[Steppe Merc]

Yay! Can't wait to get that baby! ~D

[saundersag]

I am thinking of getting some books about the english civil war from osprey. However i have seen so many, from former posts i have seen that the soldiers of the civil war books are not so good but does anyone know anything about the 'The English Civil War armies' book, the New model army book or even the scots armies of the civil war.

[Gregorius0202]

Yay! Can't wait to get that baby! ~D
That one will definitely be sweet! I'll be gettin' it, for sure. I need to get together a good costume to go with my Turkish War bow...:\

-Gregory-

[Meneldil]

Today, I've ordered The steppe mounted archer and the Ancient greeks. I'll probably get them next week-end, with my Early russian army book :charge:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I ordered MAotS last Friday, so it should arrive very soon. I recieved Concord's Warlord Armies the other day, and its excellent. Angus McBride and surprisingly Richard Hook on great form with some very unusual pics (Prussia/Lithuanian troops in the 12th century amongst others). The collection builds! My ultimate aim is to get all Ancient/Medieval/Renaissance books, and then any other books that interest me. I have a long way to go however!

A bit of research has unlocked future titles that may interest some of you:

Ancient Siege Warfare (Elite) - Adam Hook illustrates, January 2005
Warrior Women of Northen Europe (Elite) - Wayne Reynolds illustrates, In Limbo
Sassanian Elite Cavalryman (Elite) - ANGUS MCBRIDE illustrates, Early 2005
Polish Winged Hussar 1500-1775 (Warrior) - V. Vuksic (WHO?) illustrates, March 2005
Carolingian Cavalryman (Warrior) - Wayne Reynolds illustrates, March 2005

[Meneldil]

Is there any way to get a pic from the possibly incoming Warrior Women of Northern Europe ? I'm looking for it in ospreypublishing.com, but I haven't found it yet.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Try Amazon.com, but at the moment its just a pic of two Pictish women fighting from the Pictish Warrior book (Wayne Reynolds). At the moment, only the first book listed can be viewed at Osprey - they're a little bit slow really.

[Meneldil]

Okay, found it (and the others).

The main problem with those books is that I will hardly get enough money to buy them ~D

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

What is with Osprey? I order Steppe Mounted ARchers from them on Friday 25th, the day it comes out along with Italian Medieval Armies 1300-1500 and the second Ottoman Empire book. All were listed as in stock. After e-mailing them yesterday I get an e-mail today saying they were only sending out my order now and that the SMA is sold out and will follow later. They have no pre-order system, and I ordered about 12 on the Friday. How the hell can it be sold out?!? :furious3:

[Meneldil]

Guess what, I should get Mounted archers of the steppe tomorrow :duel:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

How do you know this? You ordered it a week after me didn't you, and you live in France? If you do its an absolute disgrace and I plan to get onto Osprey immediately. :furious3:

I'll need to know all the plates straight away of course. ~D

[Meneldil]

lol !

Well, I received a phone call from the book seller, and he told me that I received my osprey books. Happilly, I'll get them all, but some of them might not be in stock.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Did you just order those three?

[Gregorius0202]

My Armies of the Ancient Middle East is due to arrive any time... I'm anxious to see it... I've had it on backorder at Amazon since late July!

[Meneldil]

I ordered 'The Ancient Greeks', 'Mounted archers of the steppe' and 'Armies of Medieval Russia 800-1250 (I think).
Unhappilly, I didn't find time to go to the bookshop and get them, I'll probably get them tomorrow in the morning.

[Gregorius0202]

I need to get the "Armies of Medieval Russia" book... I'm workin' on some Dark Age outfits, so early Russian would go well along side the soon to be complete Viking outfit...

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Really annoyed. I go into my local bookshop yesterday and they have Mounted Archers of the Steppe. The plates are indeed excellent, but I'm about 90% certain there was only 8 rather than 12. I'm pretty disappointed - I feel cheated out of 4 extra plates of McBride goodness if this is the case.

[Thoros of Myr]

I've decided to grab a few Osprey books, mainly medieval period, are there any particular books/authors/illustrators I should stay away from?

Thanks :)

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Try to stay away from Gerry Embleton and Christopher Rothero as far as artists go. Angus McBride is an exceptional artist. The Hooks, Wayne Reynolds and Graham Turner are all good as well.

David Nicolle is a very respected author, as is Stephen Turnbull. I can't remember too many others though, and wouldn't know who to recommend or not off my head.

[Meneldil]

Gregorius, I'll try to post some plates from the book when I get it (I haven't bought it this week cause RTW was released the 9th, and I had not enough money for both the books and the game :embarassed: )

[Gregorius0202]

That'd be cool, Meneldil!

Dang, only 8 plates, Bk'? That is the bumbs... Lots of the older books were eight, and about half of my 15 are... At least we can be thankful Mcbride illustrated it! I love Attilla & the Nomad Hordes, so this should be good... After I get the backordered AAofTME I'll order a couple more...

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well the thing is most Men At Arms books have 8 plates, while ALL Elite books should have 12. MAotS is an Elite book, so it stands to reason why I'm disappointed in Osprey for that.

[Despot of the English]

I've decided to grab a few Osprey books, mainly medieval period, are there any particular books/authors/illustrators I should stay away from?

Thanks :)

The Venetian Empire book has some very below par illustrations I think (by Christopher Rothero.)

Angus McBride is the man ~:cheers: .

[Thoros of Myr]

Angus McBride is the man ~:cheers: .

After thoroughly browsing the Osprey site, several online book sellers, and viewing many samples, I've come to the same conclusion ~;)

Soo many interesting books...soo little cash...hard to chose..something with McBride illustrations... ~:eek:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Yes! Mounted Archers came. And yes, unfortunately there are only 8 plates. I do not know the reason behind this, but I presume the impeccable McBride may not have finished them all in time. He's 75 now, and although he's as good as ever it breaks my heart to say that he may not be churning them out as much as he once was according to one source close to him. But quality over quantity prevails, and what is here is awesome.

HERE BE SPOILERS!!!

Plate 1: Scythians. A Scythian Horse Archer is chased by rival Scythians on horseback. Very good picture.

Plate 2: Scythians again. A Scythian horse archer cocks his bow while a noble talks to a woman. Muted but still good.

Plate 3: Parthians at Carrhae. Absolutely brilliant, possibly the best. Three horse archers pepper the Roman shield wall (seen faintly in background) while riding across the page so to speak.

Plate 4: Huns. Two Huns on Horseback ( one an officer ) and a captured Germanic Warrior. Not much action but still good.

Plate 5: Avars in the Balkans. Two Avars and a Slavic peasant look at the reader (if you get my picture) in a camp/village. Angus shows why even his non-battle pictures are the stuff of greatness.

Plate 6: Turkic peoples ravaging the Steppe. As a Turkic archer fires at a shadowy figure following, another Turkic warrior ties a Steppe slave to his horse against a burning village backdrop. You've seen it in the extract page - its very good.

Plate 7: Mongols in the Middle East. My joint favourite with plate 3. A Heavy Mongol Horse Archer tramples a poor Persian Foot Archer while a lighter archer prepares to fend off pursuing Persians. Horseback warriors maraude in the background while a Persian fort can be seen on a hill in the distance. Again, it was in the extract section - superb.

Plate 8: Seljuks. Completes the trilogy of the three best plates in the book. Its the cover image. Two Turkic horse archers prepare to engage with a Cuman Warrior dashing across the top of the hill, also preparing his bow to fire. Great.

So the only problem is: where's my other 4 plates! :furious3: ~D

[Thoros of Myr]

Just returned from Barnes & Noble. They had a pretty good selection of Osprey books, I was suprised. Mostly Aviation, WW2, and 17th-18thcen. but there was a smattering of Medieval & Ancient. Asia is my favorite area of study of which they didnt have much selection. I will have to order future books online but atleast I found...

Elite - The Samurai
Warrior - The Mongols

They also had quite a few Viking books which I may go back for later.

[Despot of the English]

Christa Hook's another good artist. I particularly like her pictures in Knight of Outremer.

[cegorach]

@BKB

Do you have the Polish books ? I've got the plates from AlexPeters, which he found in the web, unfortunatelly there were only 13, and as far as I know there should be at least 16.

Here is the list of the ones I have:

1.1683 Polish - Musketeer, Pikeman, Dragoon;

2.Cossaks - Uniformed 1630, Officer, Cossak 1650, 17th c, 1700;

3.Grand Hetman Jablonowski, Bunczuk-Bearer;

4.Haiduks - Arquebusier, Tenth-man, Stradom Town Guard, Rotamaster, Boy;

5.Hussar - I expected something better for a Winged Hussar;

6.Janusz Radziwill, German Cavalry Officer, Infantry Musketeer;

7.King John Sobieski, Janissary, Drabant-Reiter;

8.Tartars - Winged Uhlan, Standard-bearer, Common Rider;

9.Light Cav, Polish Cossak Officer, Peasant Inf;

10.Lithunian Inf 1581 Hussar 1560-90 Haiduk Officer 1577 Haiduk Inf 1577 - my favorite !

11.Polish - Hussar, Militiaman;

12.Polish Cavalryman, Pancerni;

13.Rotamaster of Hussars, Hussar;

Are there any more BKB ?

If there are only 13 ( 11 when cover is excluded), that is really bad.

Regards Cegorach/Hetman :bow:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

No I don't have them (yet), but I'd be very surprised if there were not 16. It definitely wouldn't have an odd number like 13.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I was considering getting more of Angus' Montvert Publications works when I found this pic from his Sassanian Armies: 3rd to 7th century book with David Nicolle:

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/parthians/images/parthian_army.jpg

~:eek: Now I definitely have to get it!

[Steppe Merc]

I'm so ticked, all the bookstores I go to say that the Mounted archer thing is coming out in November! :furious3: Grr....

[Meneldil]

I just got the Armies of Medieval Russian 750 - 1250 book (finally ~D )
Will get MAotS tomorrow (I have little money currently).

Gregorius, I'll post the plates later if you want (btw, they are awesome).

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I just got Germanic Warrior. 12 plates of McBride goodness, and 2 of stunning quality. But that one depicting the Battle of Campus Mauriacus, A.D. 451. Wow, just breathtaking. I defy anyone to look at this and then tell me that Angus is not the best military artist out there.

[cegorach]

Thanks for the answer.
Alex has just sent me the rest of the plates ( 3 additional) - a Wallachian cavalryman fighting Scottish musketeer and Danzig militiaman, really good work of the illustrator.

I still regret that 2 of these are on the cover as well.

Regards Cegorach/Hetman ~:cheers:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Well that's always the way. Any chance of seeing that plate? ~D

[cegorach]

Send me a PM with your mail and I will send them all. ~;)

[Gregorius0202]

"Gregorius, I'll post the plates later if you want (btw, they are awesome)."

Actually, DON'T do that:D At least, not if you can help it. I want to be suprised when I get it:p My Armies of the Ancient Middle East came in the other day, it's awesome. Eight of my favorite plates ever, depicting about 15 styles of Bronze Age soldiers. I already have about 5 projects planned to add to my website because I got this:p

"I just got Germanic Warrior. 12 plates of McBride goodness, and 2 of stunning quality. But that one depicting the Battle of Campus Mauriacus, A.D. 451. Wow, just breathtaking. I defy anyone to look at this and then tell me that Angus is not the best military artist out there."

Yeah, I have this, and I love it. My favorite plates are B and J. I also love the detail of the single men plates, with the equipment and such around them.

My planned list of Osprey titles to get in the near future:

Mounted Steppe Archers (whatever the exact title is)
Sassinian Armies, 3rd to 7th century AD (thanks for the plate BK, it inspired me:D)
Armies of Medieval Russia, 750-1250 AD
Medieval Russian Armies 1250-1500
Celtic Warrior ('er, whatever the exact title is...)
Armies of Alexander the Great

HOPEFUL next order (you can all see I'm gettin' into the Dark Age reenactment, obviously:D)
Saxons, Vikings, and Normans
Romano-Byzantine Armies
Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon WarsViking Hersir AD 793-1066
Anglo-Saxon Thegn AD 449-1066
Late Roman Infantryman AD 236-565
The Vikings (elite)
The Normans (elite)

Cheers!

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Sassinian Armies, 3rd to 7th century AD (thanks for the plate BK, it inspired me:D)


Just to let you know that this is not an Osprey book but one by Montvert Publications. I've purchased it and expect it soon - I'll let you know what its like.

[Gregorius0202]

Just to let you know that this is not an Osprey book but one by Montvert Publications. I've purchased it and expect it soon - I'll let you know what its like.

That's fine... I'll actually probably hold off on my next order for a while. Too many weapons to purchase:\

-Gregory-

[metatron]

I should post my list, since I'm cleaning and all. Mostly modern though.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Montvert's Sassanian Armies arrived. Basically a thicker Osprey book - even the maps are very similar. Some very nice pictures (superior quality to Osprey) but unfortunately no 'stand-out' ones (i.e. no battles).

I've ordered Concord's 'Age of the Crusades' through Adebooks and the availability has been confirmed by the seller. I didn't think it was out yet, so I really hope they've got their facts straight. This will be 20 pages of pure McBride medieval goodness - I've seen the plate listing and it should be tremendous. Very much looking forward to this one.

EDIT: Ah well, there was a mix up after all. They don't have it.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Ordered a few new books off Osprey, including Knight Templar and Walls of Constantinople. I tend to update my list as soon as I order them rather than wait. ~D

[ShadesPanther]

Recieved "Punic wars 264-146BC" and "Alexander 334-323BC" but sadly "The Peloponnesian War 431–404 BC" was out of stock :(

I've had a look through them and they seem to be good

[The Wizard]

I was considering getting more of Angus' Montvert Publications works when I found this pic from his Sassanian Armies: 3rd to 7th century book with David Nicolle:

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/parthians/images/parthian_army.jpg

~:eek: Now I definitely have to get it!
Known that one for quite a while... didn't know it was part of a Sassanian armies book (something I am almost obliged to get ~D), because those three characters are most obviously Parthians...

Left: East-Parthian cataphract
Center: Parthian horse-archer
Right: Parthian cataphract from Hatra (a city in the utmost west of territory which was usually not disputed over by Parthia and Rome, unlike Mesopotamia, for instance)



~Wiz

[Duke John]

pure McBride medieval goodness
Don't make me laugh, BKB :laugh: awh you made me laugh :wink:

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

That hurt DJ, it really did. ~D

Its about time you took off those glasses you're wearing, the only pair in the world that enables someone to think that Graham Turner and Gerry Embleton (how?!?) are better than Angus McBride. :surrender:

[Krusader]

MY collection so far:

Campaign: Battle at Lake Peipus 1242
Men-at-Arms: Byzantine Armies 886-1114
Men-at-Arms Armies of the Crusades
Campaign: Algerian War 1954-1962
Campaign: Granada 1492
Unsure Byzantium at War

Planning on getting more medieval, modern warfare and ancient warfare books.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

A good value book announced for March - God's Warriors:

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S9436~per=41

Looks like a compilation of Hattin, Saracen Faris and Knight Templar. I've got the latter, and have ordered Saracen Faris, so I'm gonna have to pass. But I like it when they compile books so we can save money.

[Gregorius0202]

I think that Graham Turner and Peter Connolly are the two best historical artists as far as portraying arms and armor exactly as they were are concerned. Mcbride's art is by far better, in my opinion, but in many of is drawings of scenes of battles and such, he makes minor changes on clothing, etc... He doesn't seem to research everything as greatly as Turner or Connolly.

But, when it comes to his actual drawings, I'd have to say I'd rather stare at his stuff all day long!

Here's my current set... Not too different than before...

Elite:
-Attila and the Nomad Hordes
-The Ancient Assyrians
-The Spartan Army
-World War I Trench Warfare
-New Kingdom Egypt
-Warriors of Ancient Greece (also printed as "Elite: The Greeks")

Warrior:
-Aztec Warrior AD 1325-1521
-English Medieval Knight 1200-1300
-English Medieval Knight 1400-1500
-Germanic Warrior AD 236-568

Men-At-Arms:
-Republican Roman Army 200-104 BC
-Rome's Enemies (4) Spanish Armies
-Rome's Enemies (5) The Desert Frontier
-The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46
-The Scythians 700-300 BC
-Ancient Armies of the Middle East

Campaign:
Cannae 216 BC
Alexander 334-323 BC

And I just placed an order for these items... I'm sending the check out monday to Amazon. Should all arrive within two weeks of that time.

-The Sarmatians 600 BC-AD 450
-Rome's Enemies (1) Germanics and Dacians
-Rome's Enemies (2) Parthians and Sassanid Persians
-Rome's Enemies (3) Gallic and British Celts
-Saxon, Viking and Norman
-The Normans
-The Vikings

(I might not have gotten the order on the three other Rome's Enemies right, but, it's those three! :p)

I'm going to be starting a page on my website to post plates as references. What books would you guys be interested in seeing plates from? I think I asked before, but I have some new ones since then, so I'll ask again...

Cheers!

-Gregory-

[Steppe Merc]

I just put on my Christmas list ta bunch of Osprey. Any more suggestions would be very appreciated!

Elite: Mounted Steppe Archers thing (still isn't out around me! :furious3: )
Elite: Ancient Greek Army
Elite: Persian Army
Man At Arms: Scythian
Man at Arms: Thracian.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

My list has been further updated with some of the books I've ordered for Xmas. Looks like that Ancient/Medieval/Renaissance collection could be within grasp! Plus I've nearly got all of Angus' work that I'm interested in (His Napolean and WWII stuff could be a stretch even though I love the guy).

[Meneldil]

Here's my not-so-huge collection so far :

Elite :
Elite 003 - The Vikings
Elite 007 - The Ancient Greeks
Elite 009 - The Normans
Elite 120 - Mounted Archers of the Steppe 600BC - AD 1300

Men-at-Arms :
Men-at-Arms 085 - Saxon, Viking and Norman
Men-at-Arms 150 - The Age of Charlemagne
Men-at-Arms 333 - Armies of Medieval Russia 750 - 1250
Men-at-Arms 348 - The Moors - The Islamic West 7th-15th Centuries AD

Warrior :
Warrior 001 - Norman Knight AD 950 - 1204

[The Wizard]

I've added The Age of Charlemagne to my humble collection, so now it includes:

Rome's Enemies: Germanics and Dacians Men-at-arms
Rome's Enemies: Gallic and British Celts Men-at-arms
Rome's Enemies: Parthians and Sassanid Persians Men-at-arms
Rome's Enemies: Spanish Armies 218 BC - 19BC Men-at-arms
The Age of Tamerlane Men-at-arms
The Age of Charlemagne Men-at-arms
Germanic Warrior AD 236 - 568 Warrior
The Persian Army 560 - 330 BC Elite
I think I'm going to either get The Vikings of the Elite series or French Medieval Armies 1000-1300, or Early Russian Armies 750-1250 next. Any comments on these?~:cheers:


~Wiz

[Steppe Merc]

I have the Vikings and the Russians. Both are excellent, though I prefer the Russian one, because of the beatiful cavalry plates.

[Gregorius0202]

My last three books in the previous order were due to arrive today via UPS, but have been bumped back to tomorrow *damn the brown...*

So, I have to wait another 24 hours for "The Vikings", "The Normans", and "Parthians and Sassanids, Rome's Enemies III". Grrr...

But as far as the last few, "Gallic and British Celts, Rome's Enemies II" is great. Plate A blows me away every time I look at it... I'm personally working on my Celtic outfit to be based about 300 years after that pictures time, but the picture is just cool... Three warriors sitting in front of a river or pond, for anyone who hasn't seen it. Great panoply's and a variety of equipment between them all! Very sweet. The rest of the Illustrations are great, although the only other two really awesome one's were already shown to me in "Warriors and Warlords" and the Campaign "Cannae" books. I've only skimmed most of it. Lots of good images of weaponry and such, but Connolly's "Greece and Rome At War" is almost as sufficient for information on the Celts of the period.

I haven't gotten much into "Germanics and Dacians, Rome's Enemies I", yet. It looks like it will probably be a very insightful read, but I don't have experience with Wilcox, so I can't be sure. The illustrations by Embelton express the same scenario as the complaints I previously stated, but are insightful enough for patterns, arms and armor, etc...

"Saxon, Viking, and Norman" is excellent, as well. Embelton can catch the spirit of battle well enough, but the life he puts into the characters really isn't as well put as that of Mcbride. Also, all of the illustrations (except Plate A, which is given away by the cover, and can be in turn viewed on large scale on Amazon.com) lack backgrounds of any good amount. He draws a little bit here and there, but it's likely the sky in the back will be white. The illustrations are not complete to a realistic amount, and therefore the life is dragged out of them, overall. The book is very informative, and well written by Wise (I'm suprised it isn't Nicholle!) and is easy to keep up with. Seperated into three nice sections of "Saxon", "Viking" and "Norman". A good read, for sure.

I'll write about the other three as soon as they come in, for any interested...

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

So, I have to wait another 24 hours for "The Vikings", "The Normans", and "Parthians and Sassanids, Rome's Enemies III". Grrr...

All McBride I see, and I assure you, you won't be disappointed with the first two. Normans is probably one of the best he's ever done.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Found two new Medieval related books on Amazon. The first, and most interesting, is a new Campaign book, Acre 1291, written by David Nicolle and illustrated by Christa Hook:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841768626/qid=1101928436/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/202-5644411-7097409

Second, is a new Elite title, Samurai Commanders (1) 1060-1576, written by Stephen Turnbull and illustrated by Richard Hook. Surely you've released enough books about Samurai now Osprey - what about new areas, like African Medieval Armies or Medieval Armies of Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic?

And where the hell is Angus? September MAotS came out and he's got none in the pipeline as far as I can see. I've no idea when that Sassanid Elite Cavalryman book's gonna come out.

[sharrukin]

The Osprey Elite series 'The Persian Army: 560 - 330 BC' was one of the worst of the Osprey series. Nicholas Secunda did a VERY poor job on the informational side and the picture plates look like they came from someones pajama party. Most Osprey series are of much better quality.

Are there any others I should avoid as well?

[Meneldil]

I had a look at some Osprey books today, mostly plates (did not have time to read the contents). While I'm not an expert, the best illustrators are in my opinion McBride, Turner, Hook (the Richard one) and Raynolds.

On the other hand, Adam Hook's plates seem kinda weird, if not ugly. Shew's plates from Persian army 560-330 aren't that great either.

BTW, I was kinda disapointed by the plates from MAotS, they are not nearly as good as the ones from The Ancient Greeks and Early Russian Army.

[sharrukin]

Thank's. How was the info in MAotS. Osprey's are like Playboy for the historically oriented but I actually do read it for the articles!

[Meneldil]

Well, I'll read it later, probably saturday or sunday, so I can't really say ~D

[Gregorius0202]

Well, The "Vikings", "Normans", and "Parthian and Sassanid Persians" are all great! The Parthian and Sassanid book in particular has some of the most spectacularly great references for Asian and Middle Eastern Dark Age cavalry I've seen!

The Vikings is awesome, but the plates aren't too much like some that just scream "Hey, look at me ALL OF THE TIME". The Normans doesn't have any of those, either, but both are a treat to look at! The writing is great, too, of course. I've jumped into a section of the Vikings already, as well as the first section of Parthian and Sassanid Persians...

I recommend all three to anyone! Some of Mcbride's best, in my opinion.

-Gregory-

[Meneldil]

Is there any way to order Montvert Publication ? I think they released 2 books about Ptolemaic and Seleucid armies that could be helpful for my Warhammer ancient battles armies.

[The Wizard]

I find McBride's work in Rome's Enemies (3): Parthian & Sassanid Persians quite bad, really. There is no life in his art, they all look like immobile statues, not like real, live people that once walked this earth. McBride can do a lot better than that. The information contained in the book is really, really good, however, and kudos go out to Peter Wilcox for such a good text!

I've ordered the Vikings, and am eagerly awaiting it. I love the vikings, and want to know more about them. I'm also going to buy Viking Hersir later, since the artwork of the Warrior series is much more lifelike than those of some Men-at-arms books. :yes:



~Wiz

[Gregorius0202]

Wizard,

I agree with you about the lifelike style not being incorperated in the art in "Parthian & Sassanid Persians", but I actually like that style. Being a reeactor, I focus greatly on the arms and armor, and the background will often distract my eyes or hide detail of these items from me.

The same goes for "Ancient Armies of the Middle East", which uses the same art. I like it a lot, because of that. Most of the art could use backgrounds, though. Just not so full of stuff that it makes me lose my attention, as it often does!

-Gregory-

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Is there any way to order Montvert Publication ? I think they released 2 books about Ptolemaic and Seleucid armies that could be helpful for my Warhammer ancient battles armies.

Those two books, illustrated by McBride are extremely rare. I want to get them to complete my Angus collection, but I can't find them anywhere!

[Meneldil]

I found some Montvert Publication books on amazon.fr, but they cost 100 € (!!!), and they don't have Seleucid and Ptolemaic armies anyway.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

The Vikings is awesome, but the plates aren't too much like some that just scream "Hey, look at me ALL OF THE TIME". The Normans doesn't have any of those, either, but both are a treat to look at!

Don't you think the two double plates, that of the last stand longboat battle in Vikings and the Hastings plate in The Normans stand out? Hell i can look at thsoe pictures all the time! ~D

[Meneldil]

/me just ordered Seleucid and Ptolemaic reformed armies v2 ~D