John Kettler Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Bil, I was being playful, and the kids' testudo was woefully deficient,but what you provided stopped my breath. What follows was something I wrote yesterday, which somehow vanished before I could post it. Happily, it's back and is full of legionary living history goodness, which may aid you in your work. On a more serious note, there is a lot of nitty gritty living history here, including such details as the shield covers Caesar talks about in fighting the Nervii. This video show all manner of details of the soldier's kit, his footgear and much more. You, too, can learn about the furca! This one looks at projectile weapons and has some marvelous torsion artillery--after slings and pila. The computer game isn't anywhere nearly as correct. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bil Hardenberger Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 1 hour ago, John Kettler said: Bil, I was being playful, and the kids' testudo was woefully deficient,but what you provided stopped my breath. Regards, John Kettler I like how they kids maintained formation until they made contact then lost all cohesion... heh.. such a lack of discipline could end up with decimation! Thanks for the videos John, I'll review those when I get a moment. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) Can't view your blog sadly Bil. I live in Worcester, which was a rather interesting Roman settlement, defending against incursions from both the Welsh and from sea-raiders who would follow the Severn from the Bristol-Channel.....The locals had a fairly imposing defensive position of their own: 'British Camp' Malvern, Worcestershire. Edited July 25, 2017 by Sgt.Squarehead 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Bil, Something not covered in the two videos is that the legionary had a strap to help carry the shield when on the march. Forget what it was called, but it's definitely in some of the literature on the Roman soldier. Andy, I'll say. Am surprised someone didn't build a castle there. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 (edited) The border had moved to the west by the time the serious fortifications started to spring up, but there are plenty of those too.....If you've watched a few British made 'Medieval Docu-Dramas' chances are you're looking at my part of the world in many instances, but that's for another thread. PS - Apologies to Bob Embleton for not crediting his fine image when I posted it, if I'd had the information I'd have used it.....But maybe don't post your stuff in public locations if you don't want people to use it? Edited July 25, 2017 by Sgt.Squarehead 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bil Hardenberger Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 5 hours ago, Sgt.Squarehead said: Can't view your blog sadly Bil. I live in Worcester, which was a rather interesting Roman settlement, defending against incursions from both the Welsh and from sea-raiders who would follow the Severn from the Bristol-Channel.....The locals had a fairly imposing defensive position of their own: 'British Camp' Malvern, Worcestershire. Yeah sorry about that, I made the blog private for now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger73 Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 (edited) LOL! I think the active missile defense mode John referenced occurs at -0:18 when the NFA's front rank starts using their gladii to deflect incoming nerf tubes . . . I suspect one might only be able to use beagles or dachshunds to test the strength of the Northwest Fencing Academy's Testudo formations . . . More seriously, as Bil points out, the Roman engineering approaches to war provided options not possible with Macedonian, Thracian, or Hoplon shields. Edited July 28, 2017 by Badger73 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Badger73, 16 hours ago, Badger73 said: LOL! I think the active missile defense mode John referenced occurs at -0:18 when the NFA's front rank starts using their gladii to deflect incoming nerf tubes . . . Exactly correct. I note the left side of the kids' testudo was wide open, and I'd bet the far side was, too. Would say their understanding of the concept was only partial. Bil is right, but I would observe the Spartans had excellent staying power vs a veritable deluge of Persian arrows by virtue of their extensive armor protection. Only after the betrayed Spartans were completely surrounded and the Persian commander, having had even his elite Immortals ripped to pieces, turned the job over to huge formations of archers, whose weight of fire inevitably found vulnerable spots, did the end come to supremely brave Leonidas and his fight-to-the last men. Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Summat like that then JK? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Jack Ripper Posted August 9, 2017 Share Posted August 9, 2017 'The Complete Roman Army' by Adrian Goldsworthy is a good read for anyone interested in the subject. I did happen by your blog a while ago Bil, but I haven't read it as much as I should have. Maybe if I get down to doing a Rome II Campaign on my channel I'd be over there more often. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Bil, In going through the delight/torment of going through the deeply discounted side of the splendid bookstore Articles of War on Biblio.com, I came across this. It would appear to be dead on the subject of your series of novels. MARIUS'S MULES 1 - The Conquest of Gaul by Turney, S.J.A https://www.biblio.com/book/mariuss-mules-1-conquest-gaul-turney/d/710940476 Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bil Hardenberger Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Thanks John, looks interesting. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.