Field Marshal | 11 Apr 2014 3:43 a.m. PST |
I have always wanted to do some ancients and in particular Romans. Problem is I can't decide on the period. I want to do 28mm. What would you do? All of them is not an option :) |
Martin Rapier | 11 Apr 2014 4:03 a.m. PST |
My first choice for Romans is Punic Wars – Late Republican Romans vs Carthaginians. The Carthos are such a polyglot bunch they can easily morph into lots of other armies. Besides, they have elephants, and we all like elephants. |
yorkie o1 | 11 Apr 2014 4:05 a.m. PST |
Well, each period has lots to recommend it, but personally im going to be doing the late Roman period next. Dux Brittanicum (spelling?)for the 28mm, and Impetus/Dux Bellorum for the 15mm stuff. Steve |
CPBelt | 11 Apr 2014 4:14 a.m. PST |
I'm like the OP in that its all cool. I like the early imperial. Tons of figures available in all scales, the classic movie Romans, and so on. I love the Dacians with Sarmation allies as enemies. Plus, you can fight Romans v Romans and the other barbarian enemies. Honestly, you will make your final decision based on which Roman uniform you like best and want to paint hundreds of. |
Mooseworks8 | 11 Apr 2014 4:24 a.m. PST |
Same here with a fondness towards early imperial. I too had trouble deciding which period to play so like many SYW gamers I went with an "Imagi-Nation" type campaign. This allows me to field several ancient armies spanning several periods. Carthage, NKE, Achemid Persians, Greek Hoplite, Celts, Indians, and of course Romans. |
Rhoderic III and counting | 11 Apr 2014 4:32 a.m. PST |
I'm rather fascinated by Middle Imperial Rome as I haven't seen it done much and some of the figures look interestingly different (such as the legionaries in scale armour and hoods and the Palestinian clubmen from Armorum & Aquila). But then again, the fact that it's not done much can be a downside, too. Off the top of my head, A&A is the only manufacturer I know of. I also don't know much about the wars of the period. For a "safer" choice, I'd probably pick the Punic Wars. |
rvandusen | 11 Apr 2014 4:35 a.m. PST |
I'm another vote for the Late Romans. I like the look of the troops, they were quite effective forces for most of the period, and they have fascinating opponents such as Eastern and Western Germanic tribes, Celtic raiders, Sassanids, Huns, etc. |
WCTFreak | 11 Apr 2014 4:53 a.m. PST |
Late Republican. Enemys: Hispanics, Gallics, British, Germans, Dacians, Thracians, Pontic, Galatians, some more Hellenstic, Parthians, Ptolomaics, Numidians
. |
bruntonboy | 11 Apr 2014 5:00 a.m. PST |
Marian/Late Republic for me. Huge choice of enemies including regulars (Pontic or Ptolemaic Egyptian) cavalry armies, Numidians or Parthians as well as the selection of hairy types
Spanish, Gauls, British, Germans, Rhaetaetians, Illyrians and Galatians. Throw in desert nomads, Jewish rebels, pirates, Social Wars rebels, Spartacus and of course other Romans. You also have that great objective account of campaigns by one of histories greatest generals, or so he says himself- Mr Caesar. Best of all it's a Roman army with flaws- not much cavalry and auxiliaries and these tend to be hired barbarians. Whats not to like? |
bruntonboy | 11 Apr 2014 5:01 a.m. PST |
Which is more less what WCTFreak just said
|
BigRedBat | 11 Apr 2014 5:15 a.m. PST |
All of them is always an option! :-) If restricted to one, I'd probably pick the Late Republic. |
JezEger | 11 Apr 2014 5:22 a.m. PST |
Another vote for late republic. All are good, but the other periods tend to have similar opponents, barbarians for early imperial, cataphracts horse armies for late. It's not that other opponents didn't exist, but whether anyone has an army of them is another matter. |
Cardinal Hawkwood | 11 Apr 2014 5:46 a.m. PST |
whichever ones you like the most. |
corporalpat | 11 Apr 2014 6:08 a.m. PST |
I would definitely go with the 2nd Punic war. That way you can also have loads of Celts to do Roman vs Hairy Barbarian battles. Plus the elephants of course! |
Yesthatphil | 11 Apr 2014 7:32 a.m. PST |
2nd Punic War
although my choice of scale would not be the same Phil |
Oddball | 11 Apr 2014 7:49 a.m. PST |
Early Empire my favorites for Romans. I have a Celt army to fight against because they are colorful, have chariots, cavalry and mobs of infantry. No elephants is the only draw back. |
Dervel | 11 Apr 2014 8:02 a.m. PST |
2nd Punic, Polybian
. lot's of enemies :) |
Garand | 11 Apr 2014 8:12 a.m. PST |
I'd go with marian Romans. This is in fact what I am doing now, building a Marian Roman army and some of its enemies via DBA (and to serve as a core for larger armies for use in other games). In fact, my long-term project is to do an "Armies and Enemies of Rome" project for DBA, from the beginning to the end
Damon. |
21eRegt | 11 Apr 2014 8:16 a.m. PST |
My old favorite was Marian Roman. Who doesn't want to field an army of "mules?" But if I had it to do over again I'd do early Imperial. With another vote for Dacians with Sarmation allies for the enemy (among many, many others). |
batesmotel34 | 11 Apr 2014 9:51 a.m. PST |
I'd definitely go with the Mid Republic an period wifh Hannibal and Phillip V and Antiochus the Great as opponents. And in 28mm the Aventine figures are a beauty to behold. Chris |
Emperorbaz | 11 Apr 2014 10:16 a.m. PST |
I would choose the Roman army that has the best figures available. In 28mm my choice would be Aventine Early Imperial, second would be Foundry Early or Late Roman. I have a Late Roman army with a Barbarian (Hun, goth, frank) to oppose them, and the beauty of this is you can join the two armies together and have one MAHOOOSIVE Army! |
Caliban | 11 Apr 2014 10:18 a.m. PST |
Another way to think of it might be to come at your choice from a different angle. Two considerations might be which kind of troops you like to paint, and also whether or not you are painting the opposition too; if not, who is already available for you to fight. That might make the choice easier for you. Having said that, one period that hasn't been mentioned so far is Camillan. These are earlier Republican than the 2nd Punic War types, but with mostly the same massed infantry troops types, and perhaps a more varied supporting cast. They fight just about everybody in Italy, from hill tribes to hoplites, including the Greek city states, as well as Gauls and Etruscans. Their limit comes with the advent of Pyrrhus, which also gives you a pike-armed opponent. |
BelgianRay | 11 Apr 2014 11:15 a.m. PST |
You can always fight Romans vs Romans when making 1 army of most time periods. Both players having equal forces
also interesting for avoiding rule discussions, and allowing to make a real big amount of Romans. |
NobleHero | 11 Apr 2014 11:40 a.m. PST |
I am currently working on 28mm Romans for the second Punic War as well. But, I am also painting their Carthagian opponents. This gives me lots of smaller varied units to break up painting block after block of Roman Legion. |
Costanzo1 | 11 Apr 2014 12:23 p.m. PST |
Early republic and late empire. |
wminsing | 11 Apr 2014 12:25 p.m. PST |
If I was going 28mm I'd stick with plastics, which gives you 2nd Punic War (Victrix or Agema), Late Republic (Wargames Factory or Warlord Games) or early Imperial (Warlord Games). -Will |
Axebreaker | 11 Apr 2014 12:25 p.m. PST |
First and always foremost it has to be the one you like the most. Which miniatures do you keep looking at is likely your answer. Christopher |
Henry Martini | 11 Apr 2014 7:13 p.m. PST |
It depends on what sort of opposition you want for them. Polybians still have lots of regular opponents available, and armies tend to have a dominant type; so you have pike armies, warband armies, auxiliary (in DBX terms )armies, and skirmisher armies. Later than Polybian, the Romans having by then defeated all the other organised states and empires, aside from other Romans opponents tend to be irregular. |
Field Marshal | 12 Apr 2014 3:59 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the great discussion! I think I will go eir and Dacians for opponents. |
bobblanchett | 12 Apr 2014 7:47 a.m. PST |
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Henry Martini | 13 Apr 2014 7:42 a.m. PST |
The one major exception to the above generalisation, of course, being Carthaginians, whose dominant type you might call 'mixed'. |
freecloud | 13 Apr 2014 3:32 p.m. PST |
Republicans fighting Pyrrhus, Carthage, Hellenistics et al or Late Imperial/Early Byzantine fighting Sassanids & various Hairy Germans. Good thought re plastic Republicans if you're starting now. One thing I have found is everyone builds the Romans, so building the opponents gets lots of games:) By that way, did you know that the shield patterns in every Western unit, and all Eastern foot units, of the Late Roman army are known from the Notitia Dignitatum – it does add an extra element to modelling the armies. |
Sobieski | 28 Jul 2014 9:39 p.m. PST |
Republic. You can fight Carthaginians and the big Hellenistic powers; nothing to match those opponents in the imperial era. And you get to use Scipio, who is my favourite Roman! |
mashrewba | 29 Jul 2014 3:53 a.m. PST |
I went for Marian mainly because I liked the Foundry figs so much. Also you don't have to worry about the best way to represent the whole 3 line thing… |
LEGION 1950 | 29 Jul 2014 4:19 a.m. PST |
It is Marian for me!!!! Then Republican and EIR. Mike Adams |
mashrewba | 29 Jul 2014 5:15 a.m. PST |
Mind you I'm going to get some Aventine spear blokes and morph my Marian into Polybian -they can't touch you for it -it's not like they're wearing power armour or anything!!! |
Come In Nighthawk | 22 Mar 2020 9:50 a.m. PST |
Have always been fond of the "Early Imperial" period, with the Romans making up for that "minor reversal" in the German forest in 9AD by going on to annex a large swath of the Levant, and Britannia! In fact the numerous campaigns in Britain up to the founding of the twin walls have always fascinated me! And contrary to the opinion of some people I do not find the episodes of "Time Team" digging up "Roman Britain" boring at all!! But I just started reading Harry Sidebottom's "Ballista" novels, so now am getting "intrigued" by the "Crisis of the 3rd Century," and have long "admired from a distance" the A&A figures. Now I am admiring the unpainted lead/pewter in the boxes that just recently arrived! |
catavar | 22 Mar 2020 12:42 p.m. PST |
Like some have put forth I think it depends on what type of opponents you want. I think Punic War Romans have a lot of interesting enemies including Hannibal of course. There's plenty of written sources if you wish to recreate some of the historical battles that occurred during this period as well. But be aware, most of you historical opponents (including the Romans themselves) will rely heavily on foot who don't move very much in my opinion. I think the same thing can be said of Imperial Romans for the most part. I myself prefer Later Romans. I feel they are generally more mobile and will have more mounted, as will several of their opponents. To my knowledge Roman Civil Wars can include a number of interesting configurations; some of which hardly appear Roman-like to me. I find the pace to be quicker and, at least for me, more enjoyable. Opponents I have are: other Romans, Moors, Alans, V-Goths, O-Goths, Huns, Sassanids, and Slavs. Good luck. |
Vancouver Brit | 02 Apr 2020 7:21 a.m. PST |
Right now I have Marian Romans, but have just started building up a mid republican/Polybian force as well. The nice thing is that my Gauls, Numidians, Spannish, Cretans etc work well for both time periods. I can see Macedonians, Successors and Pyrrhic forces coming next. These are all in 15mm. I suppose the exploits of Hannibal, Pyrrhus, Scipio and Caesar were what swayed me. |
Dervel | 02 Apr 2020 10:51 a.m. PST |
Polybian Romans have always been a favorite of mine. Lots of interesting enemies! Meshwesh is a free army list site for the game Triumph, which is useful for looking at different army lists and provides a list of historical enemies for that army. Polybian Romans for example: link Even if you don't play Triumph it might be useful for selecting historical opponents. |
The Last Conformist | 04 Apr 2020 11:42 a.m. PST |
I have "Polybian" (i.e. Punic Wars era, 3rd century BC) and "Marian" (i.e, Late Republic, last century BC) Romans, in both cases chosen largely on the basis of what I wanted an historical opponent for. If I'd gone purely what era intrigues me most, I'd gone for the Late period, fourth, fifth or sixth century AD – but then I'd had no historical opponents locally. |
Legionarius | 11 Sep 2020 11:23 a.m. PST |
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Midlander65 | 15 Sep 2020 9:39 a.m. PST |
It has to be 4-5th Century for me. Growing up in England I loved books by authors like Rosemary Sutcliffe about the end of Roman rule in Britain with valiant but ultimately futile attempts to hold back the tide of barbarian chaos. Later I found reading about the epic wars with Sassanid Persia (elephants and armoured cavalry: what's not to like!) equally inspiring. The final and decisive argument has to be that we actually have the unit names and shield patterns. Late Roman armies are all about shield patterns. smallitalianwars.blogspot.com |
Midlander65 | 15 Sep 2020 9:41 a.m. PST |
Just to add: reading the other replies, I do fancy a late republican army and I always liked looking at Trajan's column when visiting Rome so once I get my Late Romans finished… smallitalianwars.blogspot.com |