"Advice please for 15mm Roman mid Republican allies" Topic

I'm building a 15mm Forged in Battle, mid Republican Roman army. I'm all set for velites, hastati, principes and triarii, but I would like suggestions on which FIB figures to use for Italian ally infantry and cavalry.
I'm looking to pit my Romans against Pyrrus, the Carthaginians and possibly the Macedonians as well.

What would be a good choice for allies please?

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Allies had become 'Romanised' to a large degree and when called on for troops fielded troops identical to their Roman counterparts.

Given that they fought as Romans, with fairly standardised equipment, by the time of the Second Punic War, they probably dressed as Romans too. So you could simply use more Romans.

They look magnificent when historically deployed.

Mine:
Trebbia

Trasimene

I recently pointed out to a certain manufacturer who is thinking of doing such figures in 15mm that there is a small amount of evidence for allied infantry from both Etruria and Apulia (and hence probably from all over Italy) wearing muscle-cuirasses and Montefortino helmets without the Roman feathers – no crest at all, in fact – but otherwise looking quite Roman, with scuta and swords on the right.

As early as Pyrrhus, though, you might still find more distinctive local styles.

I found this issue in 15mm and it's frustrating.

My belive that for the sake of a wargame, even by the Pyrrhic wars, the cities in Latium, and possibly Etruscan, would be armed and orginsed in a Roman fashion though I do agree with GurKhan that there would be some differences. To my mind, only Old Glory have made appropriate 15mm Italian allied legion. I believed these these units have been incorporated into most rules sets.

When rules state Italian allied infantry I believe they are refering to Samnite or Oscan javilin men that the Romans may of hired as mercenaries. The FiB Oscans all have round shields where some should have the tapered scutum. Again, as far as I know, xyston are the only company to do this in 15mm and they are more 18mm

JUST WOW OLICANA --- only you !!! 😛

Russ Dunaway

The allied legion infantry from Old Glory matches pretty well with the FIB Romans – My consular legion is a mix of FIB and OG. I can post a picture of the figs if you like?

Nice to see those Romans again, James. :-)

James ‘Olicanlad' was the inspiration for my Punic Wars and Italian Wars collections, but mine are in 15mm. His forces are just inspirational.

As to Roman allies, all Romanised so when I did my 4 Legions I just used different shields for each one. I also used a variety of tunic colours predominantly red or white but also green, blue and a dark yellow

In 15mm I use Essex early Italians. They make figures with hoplite shields and pilums. While probably not correct, I like the look.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. It sounds like I could use hoplite like figures for the Pyrric wars and more Roman like figures for Punic wars and onwards.

For the time being, I have some Essex hoplites that might do the trick for now and I'm considering using some Essex Spannish scutari figures for the later period. They are armed with pila and a large oval shield.

In due course, I'll probably get more mid republic Romans from Forged in Battle, and paint them up differently, perhaps with white shields. Now for allied cavalry….

The Essex Etruscans are quite nice. Unpainted them many years ago. The FiB, one of the chaps has a very random looking shield?

Cav is easy, both Essex and FiB do some nice sculpts.

The Young Guard. Thanks. Are you meaning the Italian range of FIB ancients? What do we favor, Etruscan heavies, Oscan heavies or Campanian cav? Or any of them may do?

I'm fairly green on these matters. Lots to learn

I'm certainly no expert but I would use the Campanian cav. I might mix in the Etruscans for some variety but not the Oscan. I would have thought that thuros shield would be too long for a horseman.

Defrost. Yes please if you can, to a photo