Lanista

@ Melvadius - I also had my toes in a documentary about Ancient London. We walked in circles for hours and I had the worst hayfever ever on that day *lol*

Thanks, Deciums...and yes, we do need to hear more, Melvadius!

Ghost - It was yours truly who gathered up the ladies for that one *lol* Metella - thanks, really glad you liked it. Keep me posted, but if you're on twitter, the guy who made the trailer is @CartoonBeardy Cheers Russ

I know you were ;-) One of the models has red hair - you'll see her when the t-shirts come out, which should be pretty soon. Yes, Medusa is definitely in RV - that's her fighting name. I called her "Swanhilde" which was the best/nearest I could get to an ancient Germanic "Svenja." (there's an "Audicia" in there as well, courtesy of Nephele. Its great, I just cast the books with all my mates these days...

Never satisfied, Medusa... *lol*

A mate of mine did this, and I absolutely love it.

Cheers, Gaius. Its a brilliant book - I've got loads on the subject and this is by far the best. Medusa - we spoke at length about your input on the project. Maty said that he could not have "known" all the practical stuff in there without your help. No need for modesty here, I think... your input really gave the book depth, you know. Like I said, its those little things like resting the shield on your greave...that's an insight you can only get from having done it for real (well as real as it can get!). Cheers Russ

Thanks, I've sent you a mail, will follow up shortly! Cheers Russ

Hi Guys. My manuscript arrived well late, I've only got my hands on it now. My publisher is kicking my ass to check my made up Latin. I really need the help of our linguists here... please can someone contact me and let me know if they can check my mistakes. The only thing is I have like a one or two day turnaround on this. If anyone can put their hands up, I can promise my eternal gratitude and a character in my next book who will be killed in a merciless and bloody manner. Cheers Russ

That works for me, man - Regina Arena just sound like an 80s New Romantic Band. Thanks!

Not "Regina Arena" surely? Nephele batted this one back, so I thought I'd throw it the forum... err... lions. Any ideas on this one? Cheers Russ

Funny enough, this actually cropped in Rome Total War - I was playing, sad I know). I took on the legions when they invaded one of my towns and managed to defeat them by blocking the corridors and just holding out (it was close run thing). Then I was caught in a forest by some other legions, and after a close run thing again, was defeated *lol*.

That's the game I'm playin' Kosmo... *lol* Great stuff here, thanks so much man (and men above!) Cheers Russ

Hi Bryaxis - Matthew Amt, a noted re-enactor who's made tonnes of his own kit says "No, the Classical Greek "hoplon", actually called an aspis, is not special, really. They were no heavier or thicker than a scutum, and the bronze facing was too thin to help much against javelins." Seems that the consensus (of two thus far!) that the engagement will be decided by the quality of the cavalry on the wings.

I'll ask over at RAT - they may have a reenactor or two that knows about that, Bryaxis.

This is brilliant stuff, Caldrail. One of the things that we discussed was that the pilum made it really tough for the classical phalanx. Get rid of those shields and the hoplites are in trouble. I thought maybe adapting the formation into some sort of wedge might work (similar to what the Romans did to Boudicca's lot), but an offensive variant of that. But I don't honestly know if that'd be possible. The Macedonian's aren't at such a risk from the javelins, but here (as with the Greeks), the battleline they're facing isn't going to give in and stand firm all the same time. So if my centre is winning, my left drawing and my right dithering, this will cause gaps and the sword wielding Romans pile in and its game over. The phalanx sandwich is a good one - kind of doing a Hannibal on them might be feasible?

So your light troops move in and try be an annoyance whilst you form up your massive phalanx, ready for the real killing to begin.

Interesting stuff, Bryaxis. So our Greeks would go down the Iphicrates route. Our Macedonians would just pin the Romans, take the pila and hope the cavalry battle would be won on the flanks and plough into the Romans once their horsemen have been routed?

I don't know - what would Iphicrates do?

I had dinner with Maty the other day (which was ace fun and enlightening) and we discussed the age-old Legion vs Phalanx thing. We established that - basically - the legion was always going to win given the inherent weaknesses of the Greek or Macedonian phalanxes (IE - they only have to break in one place to be totally broken - even if they're on the offensive, greater and lesser reistance up and down the Roman line will cause disruptions of its own accord). But I'm thinking - let's pretend we're in Rome: Total War World. You're an ambitious Greek or Macedonian General. You've heard all about these Romans with their pila and swords and Pyrrhus has made it clear to you that the "old way of war" just won't work against these upstart Italians. You don't have time to ape their training a la Mithridates... and you don't really want to. After all, the Hellenic way of war is better, right? But you know you have to adapt. So - Is there a way for the Classic Greek Phalanx to adapt to face down the legions on equal terms. Same for the Macedonians, circa Philip/Alexander when they were at the height of their power? What would you do to change your aging system to give you a chance. Change their weapons? Change their formation? Or just resign yourself to the fact that your polies will soon be crushed under the hobnailed calligae of Roman oppression? Just one for fun - you've got a chance to alter the facts and use some historical hindsight to swing the balance in your favour! Cheers Russ

Well... I dunno, Ghost. It's really speculative, but we have a few contacts. Of course, I don't know if its any good, its only at the first draft stage now, so we'll see what happens. But if anything were to come of it, it'd take years to sort out apparently, so I won't be retiring to San Francisco anytime soon! Cheers Russ

Can't believe no one enjoys drinking, smoking, watching telly and DVDs, eating takeouts, spending inordinate amounts of time Playing Rome:Total War and wasting time on the internet. Aside from that, I practice martial arts once or twice a week. There's a story there, though: I train with the person who inspired me to write the "Gladiatrix" novel. I saw her documentary on telly and thought "There's a book in that" so I wrote it - five years on since I saw thing...I'm actually training with Lysandra. Which is bizarre. Check it out: http://www.cecilyfay.com http://www.warrioress.co.uk

Have you been reading my notes, Maty! Tartan Sonja - actually, that's a good name for a heavy metal band. As long as its an all female one for Scotland. This isn't for a book: its a speculative TV script. I've just finished the pilot and handed it over to a director...so we'll see where it goes (probably nowhere, but there we are *lol*). Cheers Russ