"Modern Romans" Topic

Hi folks

reading Kirk Mitchell's Procurator and New Barbarians I am tempted by a bit of skirmishing using modern troops versus Aztecs with rifles.

I'm assuming single shot bolt actions for both sides, the sand-galleys will be a nice scratchbuild project.

DOes anyone do such things, not just taking Claudian era troops and giving them rifles and flame-throwers, but suggestions for troops that can be used, with the addition maybe of separate gladii etc.

The Middle-eastern barbarians can be filled in by existing troops I think.

I suppose Aztec Eagle and Jaguar knights for ceremonials, but again any suggestions for conversions.

28mm preferred.

So far my thoughts are looking at FPW to WWI troops and using banners and paint-jobs to do most of the work, but any other suggestions very welcome.

First thoughts are troops with Adrian helmets, does anyone do separate Adrian helmeted heads?

Maybe a bit far out, but what about the Void or Urban War Junkers and Gladiators ?

Not knowing the book, you can pick up some Romanesque Sci-Fi Romans from the i-kore Void range.

Thanks for the suggestions, but the Junkers are a little too Mad-Max for this project, they should look realistic.

Actually Imperial Guard would be closer than Junkers, but still a bit too SF, the technology is more like 19th Century early 20th than SF

How about swapping in Roman legionnaire heads onto victorian riflemen? Wargames Factory has suitable plastic sets for both.

Roman heads on the plastic Imperial or Bauhaus figs from Prince August.

I did i similar project a few years back- i used some spare GW old-style Cadians i had lying around and modeled some greenstuff head plumes and glued them to the helmets. I painted their fatigues in a dark red and accents the helmets and flak jackets in bronze to evoke Roman style armor. They looked pretty good.

Not what you were asking about, Colin, but I remembered this thread from a couple of years back, and I thought you might be interested. They'd maybe do for ceremonial dress or something. Or perhaps special forces in kevlar lorica segmentata.

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Of course, for me, "modern Romans" naturally makes me think of
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Here's some more interesting concept art:
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I suggest WW1 Italian Arditi

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I think of ww1 british… khaki lee enfield and vickers! and cavalry with enfield and lance. If you prefer NWF or Boer War british…

Getting through the second book the followign becomes clear

Most of the "modern tech gloss" is due to a recent genius emporor and a couple of other inventors, so the society is still grappling with industrialisation.

The extent of the Empire is not much different to that here in its height in Europe, it has Germany to the Vistula, some of Scandinavia, and there are colonies in North America. Scandinavia was Roman-Free until the recent past though, and there were Scandinavian colonies in the Americas.

Pila are firearms that can be "Charged" I am assuming that to mean bolt action magazine weapons.

They have Ballistae (cannons) and use flamethrowers. No MGs or SMGs so far.

Swords are still standard kit, no mention of bayonets. Javelins are available.

A Cavalry unit was mentioned as having brown uniforms in the recent past.

Tanks (sand Galleys) and ships appear to incorporate Classical Galley like decoration and the ships still have Corvii, as they are usually used in anti-pirate boarding action,

Apart from the MG like nature of the weapon, I quite like this pic from the fulminata forum post linked to above picture

So far the WWI ITalians are looking interesting, the lancers would work with headswaps if I could find the heads

Cheers so far.

Yes what would be the difference between Romans and Modern Italians, I think that army might trace it's heritage to them.

And I'd get away from the Roman red motif. In 200 years even US military uniforms have gone through several dozen changes.

But don't forget a SPQR on the banner

If the Empire never fell… no reason to think development of clothing would be much changed. Late/post Romans were already massively influenced by the barbarians in clothing & kit. Byzantium didn't maintain a 'roman' style in anything buty religious & court dress