Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[robh91]

Hi All (from Melbourne, Australia)
I am attempting to get a basic Republican Roman army together to mainly taken on Successors and late Carthaginians. I believe the correct army (from the Warrior Lists) would be the Polybian Romans (I think The Marian Roman army is a little too late for the Successors and Camillan are a little too early - correct me if I am wrong).
Three questions:
1. Is the Polybian army the correct army (for most
Successors etc).
2. Are the Xyston Republican Romans the correct figures for Polybian Romans? http://www.scotiagrendel.com/Xyston/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_3_12_45&products_id=147
Are there any other manufacturers I should look at?
3. What are good reference books for these types of troops/eras? WRG books? Osprey? Anything else?
thanks in advance.
Rob

[RaphaelC]

Hello Rob,

I am certainly no expert, but;

1) The Polybian Army would be the correct version (it defeated, among others, Carthage, Macedonia and the Seleucids I believe).

2) The Xyston figures are correct (you would want the Princepes with Pilum version as they had now re-equipped from using the spear).

Other manufacturers to look at in 15mm include the venerable Essex Miniatures range, Old Glory 15's and the newer Forged in Battle figures:

http://forgedinbattle.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=126

see also;

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=244414

3) One excellent reference book is Head's 'Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars' by WRG. There are also several by Osprey that cover the same area.

this might also be of interest;

http://fanaticus.org/DBA/armies/II33.html

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Raphael

[lilroblis]

Great answers - meant to look this up last night - you may also see if anyone has the army to sell painted if interested - most warrior players in the USA play 25 mm now - just a thought

[scott holder]

There are boatloads of figure lines: Donnington, Museum, Corvus Belli (no longer made but somebody's now making them under license but hasn't gotten around to their Roman line yet) and Magister Miletum (old Chariot Miniatures). An example of the latter:

https://www.magistermilitum.com/scale/15-mm/cpr11-hastati-sword.html

If you go to the MM site and scroll thru their stuff, ignore the Baueda stuff. It's Marian and it's not Chariot. You just have to keep going thru what's available until you get to the actual Chariot Miniatures, hence why I provided a link.

That being said, the Xyston line are great figures. Bear in mind they're 18mm.

I'm drawiing a blank on the author's name of some fantastic books done on the period back in the late 70s. They've held up well. Will look at them when I get home and report back.

scott

[RaphaelC]

There are also Irregular Miniatures, stocked by;

http://www.eurekamin.com.au/

which will probably cut down on postage. Pictures of some on the Irregular Miniatures Website;

http://irregularminiatures.co.uk/indexes/15mmindex.htm

Also, the madaxeman website lists probably all the figure ranges currently available.

http://www.madaxeman.com/15mm/index.php

http://www.madaxeman.com/main/Figure_Reviews.php

Raphael

P.S. Totentanz Miniatures is the current owner/producer of the Corvus Belli Range, but they only have Early Imperial Romans and Celts listed at the moment.

[robh91]

Wow. Thanks for the great replies Raphael and Scott. I do have the WRG book you refer to - I better read it more closely!. I have agonised over the manufacturer to choose - in the end I have decided to go for Xyston despite the fact that they are "huge" for 15mm. I am just clarifying a few details with Xyston before putting my order in.

[RaphaelC]

Rob,

Good luck with the painting. What army did you choose first?

Regards,

Raphael

[robh91]

Raphael
I have got a Macedonian army. It will take a long time to paint it up though! I'm going to get the Republicans soon with a few extra troops like Italian allies (Etruscans etc) and Thracians. Later on down the track I'll add some Numidians and Gallic units. That way I'll also be half way towards a Carthaginian army.
Rob

[RaphaelC]

Hello Rob,

It certainly will take time to paint. I don't know if you have seen the Little Big Man Shield decals, which might help with all those Macedonian Stars.

http://www.littlebigmenstudios.com/product-category/15mm-transfers/xyston/macedonian-xyston/

My first Ancient army was Macedonian and lost to almost everything!

I am currently using Early Imperial Roman against Ancient British.

Did you manage to track down any other Australian players?

Regards,

Raphael

[robh91]

Raphael
Those shield decals look great. I do have an opponent lined up- I have to finish painting an army first though. Thanks for the encouragement and advice.
Rob

[scott holder]

I've been using their shield transfers for both 15 and 25/28mm. Love their stuff. Takes getting used to in terms of peeling off the plastic cover and getting em stuck on correctly. Some 15mm examples from a Dark Ages/Early Crusader army I've done up for Hybrid DBA:

[robh91]

Scott
Great looking troops - the decals look great too!
Rob

[scott holder]

[robh91]

Scott
Sorry for the late reply. I ended up chasing down the books you suggested - very good reading. thanks Rob