Dear Warlord, What the Roman range needs next.............

[Biggus Dickus]

Ok I saw a Thread the other week about possible ideas for future Roman models.....off the top of my head i couldn't think of anything that others hadn't already come up with.....However over the past few nights I have been watching the rather awful Bun Hur 2011.......way too much use of Purple!!!!!! But one thing stood out....and gave me an idea.

The Chariots....in particular Messala's....very Romanesque (a must have version).....with a Gold eagle and scorpion device that turned into a hand hold....this then led me to something more obvious....What about a Range of different chariots from all over the empire...with Charioteers to match......and a set of rules a kind of offshoot/supplement to HC.
So a Scalextric with dice......or top trumps with dice!...and maybe a MDF Circus Maximus!....well actually that isn't really going to happen unless Warlord have a big Games room at their HQ!
I did see some pictures a few months ago of a 28mm Chariot areana I think it was the Circus maximus for a model fair maybe in US..it looked cool...but bigger than my house i think!

So, Yes Chariot racing......Historic accuracy doesn't have play a big role in the designs as I'd imagine there aren't any haynes manuals surviving from the period, so artist license could reign free.......no pun intended
But i'd insist on Messala's Chariot as the first one....maybe have a competition for other designs?...this could be fun.
It would be very handy to have some Roman Military Charioteers for when the chariots are being used as Staff cars and not racing!
But I think that is sound idea, one that i would buy into....If it is rejected I might take it up myself!
You could have different stats for horse types....charioteers, random problems like potholes or wheels falling off.

Hopefully a similar set of Rules will be issued for gladiator bouts.....and some crowd figures/ personalities attending the games....some of which could double as figures to be used with Roman Armies...that's all I have.

I look forward to comments/rejection

[Invisible officer]

So, Yes Chariot racing......Historic accuracy doesn't have play a big role in the designs as I'd imagine there aren't any haynes manuals surviving from the period, so artist license could reign free.......no pun intended

I love your optimism.
We have an abundance of evidence showing the differences of the currus triumphalis and the racing vehicles. And the Romas wrote about the racings and the race horse breeding.

But please forget the idea of the staff car .
Since the republic the public fealing disliked everything that looked royal and the quadriga was an old royal symbol. It was only tolerated in religious connection. That was the triumph and some religious promenades, like the pompa circensis.
The races got a religious aspect too.

The currus circensis was a light and low vehicle. Nothing added that could slow it. The currus triumphalis was a high and heavy vehicle decorated with gold, ivory and jewels. The horses are led by men on foot. Julius C. had an accident in his triumph in 46 BC, a broken axle, so he had to walk.
Caesar was the first to use white horses like the kings did (One of the reasons for Brutus and co. to think he wanted to be king!), the emperors did the same. Republic triumph was done with dark horses.

[wright61]

I risk life and limb but here is a link to a set of gladiator rules,I own a copy they are good.There is also a downloadable supplement.
I have of course bought warlord games miniatures to use with these rules.
http://www.warhammer-historical.com/aca ... iator.html

[Big Al]

I risk life and limb but here is a link to a set of gladiator rules,I own a copy they are good.There is also a downloadable supplement.
I have if course bought warlord games miniatures to use with these rules.
http://www.warhammer-historical.com/aca ... iator.html

I have to agree with you here. They give a fast, fun game and there are rules for Chariot Racing! The other set, which can get complex, is Rudis.

[Biggus Dickus]

It seemed like a good idea, but in the cold light of day not so. I'll check out those rule books and see if they fit the bill...thanks guys.
in the mean time I might make some more chariots, probably from Gameworkshop parts, find some appropriate horses, and convert some more figures, it's not difficult and it keeps me amused....

I.O. are there any books about chariots that have illustrations, with English text that i would find useful?? it might be interesting for me to read up on it.

My immediate plans are to finish off the Biremes and then crack on with my Greek force in any case...once Victrix release their greek Hoplites I'll be busy with a few boxes of them, So Rome will take a huge back seat in 2012 while i catch up on all my painting.

[Big Al]

Scalextric with dice has already been done. Try Formula D! An excellent boardgame with plenty of spills and thrills.

[clivethecelt]

Circus Maximus from AH was always the winner for chariot racing, IMHO - a bit like Car Wars, very simple, but great fun! There is or was a miniatures version, which is probably knocking around the 'net - the original went out of print ages ago. Worth looking at, BD - Essex do 15mm racing chariots, with different teams and charioteers, which might be worth a look to get some ideas - before Warlord bring out their 28mm version, of course!

[Invisible officer]

Sorry BD, but there is no special English book on Roman chariots that I know. A very good work on all things about Roman horses is by Markus Junkelmann. 3 volumes, some 900 pages. But in German. Vol 1 Die Reiter Roms, Reise, Jagd, Triumph und Circusrennen would be the volume needed. A lot of very good pics of monuments and mosaics.

Most English books are concerned with all types of chariotry. Mostly Celtic.
There was an article in Art Bulletin 51 / 1969 by Vogel: Circus race scenes in the early empire but I doubt that it is easily available. Cameron wrote a book about the Circus Factions in 1976 but that's more about politics.

The idea of gaming chariot races is not new. Elastolin did a very nice Quadriga in a larger size decades ago and a friend had a game with these. Very funny. It was one of the Elastolin series of "old style" Romans, more Victorian than Roman.

[Biggus Dickus]

Thanks I.O. Thought as much!!!....All the best books seem to be in German!

[Correus]

How about a battering ram.....