By the Sword Divided

[Correus]

Hello everyone!

I'm looking at purchasing a copy of 'By the Sword Divided' - is it any good? How accurate is it?

Thanks for the input.

[Morsleib]

It's dated being a 1980s production but pretty true to the spirit of the time. Battles generally take place off screen except for minor skirmishes. Costumes are of their day too so expect 1980s re-enactor quality. I would recommend it if only because there is little else (sorry if that sounds damning with faint praise). There are two series which run up to the end of the war(s) but the second is much harder to find (at least cheaply).

A good yarn.

Terry

[Correus]

It's dated being a 1980s production but pretty true to the spirit of the time. Battles generally take place off screen except for minor skirmishes. Costumes are of their day too so expect 1980s re-enactor quality. I would recommend it if only because there is little else (sorry if that sounds damning with faint praise). There are two series which run up to the end of the war(s) but the second is much harder to find (at least cheaply).

A good yarn.

Terry

Thanks Terry. What is the other series (assuming the second is 'By the Sword Divided')?

[charge the guns]

Its an ok yarn; the cropheads are not quite evil enough in it, but other than that not too bad. (I still have nightmares about "Old Minty". ) I fondly remember my early ECW games with 25 mm Minifig armies played with Gush's WRG Renaissance rules, Royalist 'A' class cavalry chasing the rebels from the field, and the sound from an episode of By The Sword Divided playing from a Woolworths C60 in the background. Ah, heady days - did I mention jumpers for goal posts?

Oh yes, David, off the Archers, was in it as well

[Morsleib]

Thanks Terry. What is the other series (assuming the second is 'By the Sword Divided')?

It's "By the Sword Divided" Series 2 Seriously that's all they could think of back then.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sword-Divided-C ... 901&sr=8-4

Prices seem to have gone silly since I bought mine about 2 years back.

Terry

[Correus]

Thanks Terry. What is the other series (assuming the second is 'By the Sword Divided')?

It's "By the Sword Divided" Series 2 Seriously that's all they could think of back then.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sword-Divided-C ... 901&sr=8-4

Prices seem to have gone silly since I bought mine about 2 years back.

Terry

Thanks Terry. The set I'm looking at is this one.

As for pricing...try living in the US.... Here, to get the same set, would cost you £193.58!!!!

[Correus]

Update....

I went ahead an purchased the complete set (at the behest of SWMBO - especially when she saw the price comparison). The deal I got was all 8 discs for £18.

[Correus]

Well...I just finished watching the first three episodes of 'BTSD'.

The first thing that struck me was the look of the young bucks in the show, especially those with a mustache and beard. I know long hair, mustaches and beards were common, and I have no problem with them, but some of these guys look like cheesy 70s/80s porn stars!!

I know that you all on that side of the pond have been more liberal than those of us in the puritanical colonies, but I was a bit taken aback when the twin brother rose, stark naked (an inch or two lower and it would have been full frontal), from his bath and asked his twin sister to hand him a towel - in all his glory!!!

On top of this there was even several minutes of boob....perky and nice as they were, it was still a bit of a shock. Scenes like these two are not often seen here on public television - especially in the early 80s!!!

Other than that, which really was not a big deal, just surprising for the time it was filmed, it is a rather good story. Some parts are a bit cheesy and theatrical, but all-in-all good.

I am rather disappointed in the lack of battle scenes though - Edge Hill has just been fought and the closest the show gets to the action is the sound of the guns. I hope there will be some battle scenes!!!! However, there have been some interesting historical tidbits that have popped up.

There has also been a wealth of ideas given for the gaming table as well as terrain pieces. The show has also given me the idea to create a unit of Sir Lacey's Troop of Horse.

While I do like the Prince Rupert mini created by WG, I do wish the model would have been based more on the Price Rupert in this show!