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Miniatures Adventure => Age of Myths, Gods and Empires => Topic started by: hearts261 on December 29, 2013, 04:20:39 PM

Title: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: hearts261 on December 29, 2013, 04:20:39 PM
Hey everyone, my plan for sometime this next year is to do some sort of ancients project.
I'll probably end up using Hail Caesar though I'm always open to new suggestions.
Does anyone have a pro or con list of Early vs Late Romans?
I did some searching but without doing hours of research its hard to pick one to start with. All of the people I've had the chance to ask say they do both. I know almost nothing about the period so far so just a general question really.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: von Lucky on December 29, 2013, 09:40:09 PM
What do your reguar opponents game?

If it's still an even mix, what does your heart tell you (ie is there a book or film you like)?
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: janner on December 29, 2013, 09:43:10 PM
Early will be predominantly elite Legionaries with auxiliary support. Whilst late will see more elite heavy cavalry with more static foot units. Both are fun  :D
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: Shahbahraz on December 29, 2013, 10:39:56 PM
If by Early, you mean the classic Early Imperial with banded armour (Lorica Segmentata) then you will find (if the rule system is historically based) the army is based around the heavy foot, with some supports from good quality auxiliary infantry, and a small number of mounted and skirmishers.

The later armies are much more varied in composition, with some of them barely Roman at all, the legionaries become lighter equipped, and the army will have large contingents of foederati such as Goths, Huns, and so on.

A lot will depend on scale, and rules. So for example, if you intend to use 28mm then there are a lot of cheap plastic options for the Early version. In terms of rules, if heavy infantry aren't that great under the rules, then avoid the earlier version.

Of course, real Early Romans would be Etruscan period, or even  - at a stretch, the armies of the Republic.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: FramFramson on December 30, 2013, 04:52:06 AM
I think a lot of the choice will simply come down to which enemies you want to fight.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: traveller on December 30, 2013, 09:31:57 AM
To me the Caesarian period is the most appealing. i guess we shold blame Mr Copplestone for that  ;)
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: Sangennaru on December 30, 2013, 09:37:10 AM
In my very Italian experience, Romans are never early. They're usually quite late. Expecially for dinner.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: jamesmanto on December 30, 2013, 01:52:10 PM
also think about what  you like the look of. I find if I don't like how an army looks I really can't get into painting it. I find I really like the looks of the Late Republican/Caesarian and Late Imperial armies. Helps that they've got lots of interesting opponents too.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: Lowtardog on December 30, 2013, 01:55:02 PM
also think about what  you like the look of. I find if I don't like how an army looks I really can't get into painting it. I find I really like the looks of the Late Republican/Caesarian and Late Imperial armies. Helps that they've got lots of interesting opponents too.

I think I would go for this period too, have done late romans but very much more vanilla
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: killshot on December 30, 2013, 04:48:39 PM
also think about what  you like the look of. I find if I don't like how an army looks I really can't get into painting it. I find I really like the looks of the Late Republican/Caesarian and Late Imperial armies. Helps that they've got lots of interesting opponents too.

I second this opinion as well.  My personal favorite is the Late Roman period. 
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: hearts261 on December 30, 2013, 06:45:31 PM
Thanks for the advice. Im not sure who fought who. Ive narrowed it down to either this box
http://us-store.warlordgames.com/collections/early-imperial-romans/products/early-imperial-romans-legionaries-and-scorpion-boxed-set
or this
http://us-store.warlordgames.com/collections/caesarian-romans/products/caesarian-romans-with-pilum

Im a little more sold on the early imperial ones. Who did they fight. Or more specifically who did they fight in plastic?
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: Lt. Hazel on December 31, 2013, 10:36:22 AM
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Rome

1st and 2nd Century ad offers a nice variety. Warlord has plastic box Sets for several enemies.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: jamesmanto on December 31, 2013, 11:18:28 PM
Early Imperial Romans you've got the conquest of Britain, Dacian Wars, Jewish Revolt, Parthians, other Early Imperial Romans ( a couple of short civil wars in there) and Germans. Always the Germans. Sooo much fighting of the Germans. Lots of scope for little campaigns over the Rhine. Although sadly the Dacian Wars were quite big, involved about 10-12 legions and lasted for years, but we know very little...

but I suppose that just leaves you lots of room to fill in the blanks and not worry.  :D

Late Republican/Caesarian Romans fought just about everybody: Numidians, Spanish, Celts, Britons, Germans, Thracians, Seleucid Greeks, Ptolemaic Egyptians, Pontics, pirates (think Successor mercenaries), Parthians and of course each other, lots of times and in many large and bloody civil wars.

If you want plastic opponents you're limited to Germans, Celts, Numidians, other Romans.

James

Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: commissarmoody on December 31, 2013, 11:26:06 PM
I believe that Warlord games make plastic Greeks, and Macedonians. And I think Victrixe mins is starting a Punic war line of plastics.
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: FramFramson on January 01, 2014, 06:37:27 AM
In my very Italian experience, Romans are never early. They're usually quite late. Expecially for dinner.


 lol
Title: Re: Early vs Late Romans?
Post by: jamesmanto on January 01, 2014, 04:18:06 PM
I believe that Warlord games make plastic Greeks, and Macedonians. And I think Victrixe mins is starting a Punic war line of plastics.

Yes they do. The Macedonian phalangites could be converted easily to Successor phalangites, but for Thureophori, cavalry and elephants etc. you'll need to go metal. For the Pontics you might get away with the Macedonian pikes, but there are hints they might have looked more Eastern. And who knows what their "Imitation Legionaries" looked like.

The classical Greek Hoplites that Warlord took over from Immortal wouldn't be suitable for a Republican Roman opponent if you want to be picky about it. The Greek military system had gone through a change by the time the Romans arrived.