"Romans must be like Space Marines" Topic

OK, so we plastic Later Republican (Marian) Romans coming and two different companies going to make what I would call Early Imperial Roman. I'm getting the impression that Romans are the historical equivalent of Space Marines…you can never have too many varieties.

Which leaves me to wonder, IF I were to do a "Roman Army" which flavor would cover the most history?

Early Republican
Later Republican
Early Imperial
Later Imperial

Personally, I think the square shield "movie Roman" of the Early Imperial variety could cover all of Roman history (since they do in the movies)

Well, if we're going by the movies, their armour should be made of leather.

Yeah, the "movie Roman" definitely covers all the bases.

Seriously though, the later equipment works from mid third century through early Byzantine, i.e. 4 or 5 centuries. If you really want to get longevity, a generic Dark Ages soldier in tunic and pants with round shield, Spangenhelm and spear would cover all of the same period and then some (remember that as early as 212 AD Caracalla granted full citizenship to ALL freedmen in the empire, thus pretty much trashing one of the main incentives for military enlistment. After that, Barbarian mercenaries made up an increasing part of "Roman" armies).

I'd go with Late Republican myself. The chainmail and slightly oval shields just look cool. And you can't have too many of them as you can do Pharsalus.

If forced to choose I'd go with Late Republican as well.

I have always preferred Early Imperial because that is what is in the Asterix books. (I know it's an anachronism!)

I'm a square shield man myself…

Lorica segmentata and square scutum fer de win.

Or, you can go for the mix and match approach. Mail with a square shield or lorica with a oval shield. Mix and match the boxes. :)

I used to be in love with late Republic, but the Punic Wars are so damned cool.

Early Imperial Roman is covered in the basic WAB book so that is my choice, plus I think they look the coolest.

I picked Early Imperial. If I were to run a convention game, I'd use them, as the casual observer can say with great confidence, "cool, Romans!"

Let's see . . . I have EIR in 28mm (Foundry), 15mm (Corvus Belli), and 6mm (Baccus).

I'll vote EIR! And now off to order some in 10mm.

I vote for Late Republican. How can you say no to Sulla, Marius, and Caesar? Not to mention Pompey Magnus?

EIR is the best match for what most people think of when they think "Roman".

Hi

I have all periods..Tarquinni, early republic, polybian, maurian, early empire, segmentata empire, 3eds, 4ths , dark ages, medievals and fall.

(a moment of silence).

but I also have a range of "arabs" that over lap several of the abover, and a bunch of celts that run against the first several, and germans…..

The "bad guys" are less period specific.

Rocky

Can't get enough Romans. 6mm, 10mm, 25mm, 28mm, 54mm, 75mm, 200mm……Early-Mid imps for me. They cover approx 250 years and look hard!

Alan

the "movie Roman" looks best

If I had the money and time I'd do them all, plus Middle Imperial because they're quite interesting.

Looks like a potential POLL topic – If you were to raise a new army based upon Roman history which period would you choose?

Early Imperial, of course.

Space Marines just wish they were as tough as Romans…..:)

Bought my first Roman army in 20+ years of Ancients wargaming last year… Early Republican (Punic Wars, Rome v. Macedonia and the Seleucids etc). Bought my second Roman army ever only last night – Late Republican (Marius, Caesar etc).
Bit of a pattern starting to develop here :P

Cheers
Paul.

Marian all the way. This covers late republic, some lovely civil wars, caeser in gaul and some even lovlier civil wars, and then on into early imperial, as not all legions got segmented armour for quite a while.

Romanus Eunt Domus

I like republicans… I love to see them slaughtered by the free people of Italy, Iberia and Carthage ;O)

All of them.

Well this is making me think of doing some conversions.

All you need are lots of bolters, a few flamers/melta guns and some heavy weapons (I.E. Hvy bolters, Las-Cannons, Plamsa Cannons)

I little cutting and regluing and you too can have that Roman Space Marine Chapter.

Mithmee,

Caesars of battle

Someone mentioned somewhere that they were going to use our Late Republic Roman heads (with the horsehair crests) on their Cadians!

Tony

Wargames Factory
wargamesfactory.com

I'm getting the impression that Romans are the historical equivalent of Space Marines…you can never have too many varieties.

"Why do you rob banks?"

"Because that's where … ".

I prefer my Romans to be 8th-10th century.

Middle or late Republic because a plume is a terrible thing to waste.

Rich

No, Space Marines are like Romans. That's not the same thing. MY Space Marines are like Templars. Romans are sissies by comparison.