Welcome to Ancient Strategy and Tactics.

Hi - so who is a wargamer and who is "just" a historionado?  (If you
don't mind me making up a new word, defined to be someone who studies
military history for a purpose less practical than wargaming. :)

I have done some wargaming, DBA, Warhammer Ancients, and I am currently
slaughtering many nations in Rome: Total War, but my interest is more
academic that game oriented.  What periods interest you most?

I guess that makes me a historionado.
Roland

(Whew - it sure did take me a long time to get back into the swings of
things.  You gotta love saving up all your vacation all year long to
take over christmas.)

Note that 'historionado' is not intended as a slam or anything like
that.  A parallel situation for me exists with running.  I love running.
  But I cannot stand to just run for the sake of running.  I need a ball
or frisbee or whatever to chase (or someone to chase me :).  I love
reading about ancient military history.  But I just cannot do it for the
sake of just reading about ancient military history, I need to apply
that knoweldge somewhere somehow.  That is probably why I am an engineer.

Tony

Tony,

I have been looking for an engineer :)  If you'd like to apply your
expertise to history I'd like to see an engineer examen the load
bearing ability of the convex face of the Greek hoplite shield.
Specifically how a bronze facing might add to the domed shape and
reinforcing rim.  Also the possibility that the rope handle which may
have run around the interior circumference may add strength by flexing
the whole structure when held tight.

Paul

*Ahem* That is software and chemical engineering.  Sorry.  I took basic
physics but not much more that will help me with that one.  Want to know
what is inside aspirin and how to render the molecule in python?

:(

Tony

oh well, I'm a biologist, so I can tell you how to get Yew bark into a Python, but I am even more lost.  I have seen research on how the individual layers of a compound bow, with various levels of compressability and flexability interact and have always wondered about the Greek Aspis in that light.

What wargames do you play and what period armies?

Paul

Hi! I am a fledging "historionado" in the professional sense since I am
taking up History (still an undergraduate) but I'm drooling over those
games like "Total War: Rome," "Age of Mythology" etc. (can anyone
suggest any good strategy game? coz I'm totally in the dark when it
comes to these things) The only thing is, my computer is too ancient
for me to play those games on it and even if I have a new one (I'm on
my way), I guess I would have to buy those additional
programs/accesories to be able to actually install those games if I'm
not mistaken.

Unless you are into realtime farming/gathering wars I would avoid the
Age of series of games, and most RTS in general.

For an older machine look for the original Total War series.  Sure it is
Samurai based but it used to work great on my old P2.  I have not yet
tried the latest Total War but I really really want to soo.  (My problem
is I was unplussed with the medieval one so I am afraid I'll be
disappointed with Rome.)

I always highly recommend gaming for helping with familiarity with old
war stuff.  Playing Combat Mission for a while really helped me get a
handle on the WW2 German military in a way that simple reading did not.
  I also have an old game Centurion that was a lot like Total War back
in the 90s

Tony

Oh yeah, it just occurred to me that instead of "historionado,"
"historiador" is a more apt and proper and thus, more acceptable word.
Although I myself would have chosen "historionado" since it's more
original and it has a zesty appeal to it... hehe. Just sharing what I
thought.