tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post5830592485713979936..comments2024-03-22T10:01:23.989+00:00Comments on Wargaming for Grown-ups: To Ur is HumanTrebianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-69827844054378865942014-02-25T19:18:53.109+00:002014-02-25T19:18:53.109+00:00Good point on the taxi. On the depictions there...Good point on the taxi. On the depictions there's not a lot of evidence at all. Where I'm going with this is that they'll only break a line if the line is less than sure of itself, - hence a Fear Test.<br /><br />That's a good point on the javelins as well. We can discuss this on Wednesday over the game.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-1656819568704520962014-02-25T17:42:24.886+00:002014-02-25T17:42:24.886+00:00I can see no reason at all why you wouldn't ri...I can see no reason at all why you wouldn't ride over fleeing opponents in your ancient battle taxi ... what's the point of the taxi if not to keep up with and overtake those fleeing enemy. But is there a single depiction of one breaking that formed line? Not that I'm aware of ...<br /><br />As for the javelins, I would give any missile weapon delivered from a platform a one-stage better chance to hit. Any period. Most rules writers haven't ridden a Chariot and (so) don't give an edge for the massive benefits of being 8' tall .<br /><br />PhilSoA Shows Northhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14181076390844159417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-90727443128760040252014-02-25T12:06:41.790+00:002014-02-25T12:06:41.790+00:00Thanks for your faith in me. I've had several ...Thanks for your faith in me. I've had several goes, but they've really been tinkering round the edges. This Wednesday's game with the Fear rules is the "Great Leap Forward".<br /><br />I'm really not sure what the carts do, but I'm fairly sure it isn't what they do in WHAB & AMW. At Natholeon's suggestion I've downloaded a recent translation of Gilgamesh to my Kindle (cost me 77p!!!!) tp see if that gives me any inspiration.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-75309411959288388172014-02-25T10:33:21.227+00:002014-02-25T10:33:21.227+00:00I have no idea how the Sumerian battle carts were ...I have no idea how the Sumerian battle carts were supposed to work either. It does seem like there are a few ideas, some more convincing than others, but nothing definitive. I am all for whatever rules you may come up with!Shaun Travershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05691522858410783769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-2905440238194755172014-02-24T21:00:01.710+00:002014-02-24T21:00:01.710+00:00Actually, I am a trained historian, but not in the...Actually, I am a trained historian, but not in the ancient period...<br /><br />I agree with you on the time and distance argument for Homer, but we have so little evidence that there are straws we clutch at.<br /><br />Let's see how the game goes.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-90566288509053771492014-02-24T20:37:44.397+00:002014-02-24T20:37:44.397+00:00I'm not an expert, but whilst Homer seems to d...I'm not an expert, but whilst Homer seems to describe a variety of periods of Aegean warfare pretty accurately, it's thousands of miles and years away from Ur so it's dangerous to draw too many parallels. <br /><br />Turning back to the Ur battle carts, some of the few representations we have of them show them trampling enemies. For me that buries the battle taxi notion, and supports your "weapon of shock and awe" (cue John Wayne jokes).<br /><br />Of course, as neither of us are trained historians, there's no way that we could possibly get it right anyway, so just enjoy :-)Clive Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734079828281213063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-7136410507800640762014-02-24T19:44:20.991+00:002014-02-24T19:44:20.991+00:00The dragoon/battle taxi idea is persistent. Howeve...The dragoon/battle taxi idea is persistent. However it's a lot of kit to get one man into battle, especially when he isn't wearing heavy armour or carrying a weapon that warrants getting lift rather than walking.<br /><br />I'll let you know how the intimidation goes.<br /><br />Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-49503569332901873092014-02-24T19:42:14.504+00:002014-02-24T19:42:14.504+00:00I do find the battle taxi thing sort of unconvinci...I do find the battle taxi thing sort of unconvincing, and the heroic stuff not all that credible. Homer is a collection of things bolted together from different periods and we're using fiction to talk about fact.<br /><br />(Waits silently whilst roof falls in as breadth of my ignorance is exposed by bronze age enthusiasts)<br /><br />I have the Sumerian bit of AW11.5. it's good, but just exposes more that we don't know how they fought.<br /><br />All we have is a picture of men being trampled by battle carts.Trebianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02221916804339000102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-74342636868552460712014-02-24T18:57:36.639+00:002014-02-24T18:57:36.639+00:00I am also unfamiliar with this period . . . but I ...I am also unfamiliar with this period . . . but I think that I would look at them sort of like Dragoons . . . a mobile "mounted infantry" type of troop.<br /><br />They can get to (and from) places faster, with less fatigue (and more armor) . . . and I like the "intimidation factor" that you are playing with as well.<br /><br />Anyway, I wish you good fortune with your work in this period, sir.<br /><br /><br />-- Jeff<br />Bluebear Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171345165563779232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7615782020735321095.post-74610299657390074112014-02-24T18:38:50.903+00:002014-02-24T18:38:50.903+00:00Hi Trebian
With Sumerian battlecarts I'd favou...Hi Trebian<br />With Sumerian battlecarts I'd favour the battle taxi role. This seems to be how it was done in Homeric times, and when I think about what separates the rich from the poor throughout time, one of the things that comes to mind is the fact that they don't have to walk everywhere!<br />Having said that, this isn't my period of expertise, and i guess like everyone and everything we just hold to the theories we find most logical. <br />Ancinet Warfare did a special on Sumerian Warfare (AW II.5) and it is available digitally. I don't have that issue, but it is available digitally for a rather small price.<br />As to heroic combat, again I haven't read much about it, but does the epic of Gilgamesh shed any light on heroic combat.<br />NateNatholeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359406949497306737noreply@blogger.com