26 Dec 2008
Camelot Games
Now added to the 15mm manuacturers directory, as well as an Italian distributor for the Miniature Wars ranges. Camelot sell several ranges including Polybian/ MRR Romans, Huns, Vikings & Rus, Crusader Knights & Arabs, and CXIII medievals
22 Dec 2008
Merry Christmas
Madaxeman.com and Festive Nasty Hannibal wish everyone a Happy Christmas & New Year. As a Christmas treat you can send this image as an eCard to all your friends - just click the link, register for the 15mm photo gallery and e-mail away (by clicking the envelope icon in the top right corner of each image page!
Osprey War Elephants
I've just picked up a copy of Osprey's much discussed book on War Elephants, so thought I'd do a quick review here.
The book is the standard Osprey-format paperback, 48 pages cover-to-cover and written by Konstantin Nossov with illustrations by Peter Dennis. Unlike older Ospreys, this book has colour photos or illustrations on virtually every double page spread.
The book is divided into sections covering different armies use of elephants, namely Indian, Alexandrian, Phyrrus, Carthage, Roman, South East Asia and "Elsewhere" (China and Persia), then an overview of types of elephant and their types of use.
Many of the illustrations and photos come from - unsurprisingly - India - where use of elephants has been well documented in art and on record, especially from the relatively recent Moghul and similar eras.
The use of elephants in Classical warfare is covered in as much depth as posible, especially where important recorded battles used elephants - but inevitably there are gaps in the historical record which the book wisely leaves open rather than assertively plumping for one or other possible historical interpretation.
Many of the key classical battles are covered in some depth with lengthy quotes from historical sources, and in particular the history of Indian war elephants gets a very in depth coverage, looking at armour, tactics, equipment and usage - and there is still no definitive statement on whether Carthaginian Elephants had towers!
Getting the balance right between in-depth and superficial coverage of the whole global historical record of elephant warfare in a 48-page booklet is always going to be a tough ask, especially when the historical record itself can often be quite thin or patchy, and so this book leaves you with a slight feeling that it "should" be better - but maybe it's impossible for it to be so.
At the end of the day we all already know that Elephants are big old beasts which frighten horses, skittle over unprepared infantry formations and knock down castle doors. They are scary for your enemies if they charge them, and even more scary if they panic and rout back through your own army.
This book says all of this, it has some great illustrations (especially of Indian/Moghul era elephants) and it also provides enough detail on some of the Classical era battles as well. Will it tell you anything astounding you didn't know - probably not, but thats maybe more of an issue with the subject matter rather than the book.
Buy the book here:
The book is the standard Osprey-format paperback, 48 pages cover-to-cover and written by Konstantin Nossov with illustrations by Peter Dennis. Unlike older Ospreys, this book has colour photos or illustrations on virtually every double page spread.
The book is divided into sections covering different armies use of elephants, namely Indian, Alexandrian, Phyrrus, Carthage, Roman, South East Asia and "Elsewhere" (China and Persia), then an overview of types of elephant and their types of use.
Many of the illustrations and photos come from - unsurprisingly - India - where use of elephants has been well documented in art and on record, especially from the relatively recent Moghul and similar eras.
The use of elephants in Classical warfare is covered in as much depth as posible, especially where important recorded battles used elephants - but inevitably there are gaps in the historical record which the book wisely leaves open rather than assertively plumping for one or other possible historical interpretation.
Many of the key classical battles are covered in some depth with lengthy quotes from historical sources, and in particular the history of Indian war elephants gets a very in depth coverage, looking at armour, tactics, equipment and usage - and there is still no definitive statement on whether Carthaginian Elephants had towers!
Getting the balance right between in-depth and superficial coverage of the whole global historical record of elephant warfare in a 48-page booklet is always going to be a tough ask, especially when the historical record itself can often be quite thin or patchy, and so this book leaves you with a slight feeling that it "should" be better - but maybe it's impossible for it to be so.
At the end of the day we all already know that Elephants are big old beasts which frighten horses, skittle over unprepared infantry formations and knock down castle doors. They are scary for your enemies if they charge them, and even more scary if they panic and rout back through your own army.
This book says all of this, it has some great illustrations (especially of Indian/Moghul era elephants) and it also provides enough detail on some of the Classical era battles as well. Will it tell you anything astounding you didn't know - probably not, but thats maybe more of an issue with the subject matter rather than the book.
Buy the book here:
16 Dec 2008
Warmodelling/Fantassin 15mm Ancients Photos
..now in the Ancients gallery, with a review, size comparison shots vs Essex, Old Glory, Xyston and Corvus Belli.
15 Dec 2008
FoG Tactical Tips Guide & WIKI
In a collaboration with MikeK, the FoG Tactical Tips Guide now appears on this site in WIKI format - so you can edit it and share your own FoG experiences with other gamers.
14 Dec 2008
Isarus Byzantines now added to the Gallery
More "from the manufacturer" photos of this oft-overlooked but very nice little range.
My Guide to taking pictures of your figures
I've compiled a step-by-step guide to photographing figures, which you can see by clicking the title link above. Its dead easy, and I bet you already have all the equipment already to set up a studio just like mine!
9 Dec 2008
Gifts for Christmas
No, not the Hannibal Mug again. Follow this link for 9 carefully selected "nice to have/must have" books & gifts for you (or your partner) to buy this Christmas. For a proper "surprise" gift, just ask them to buy you one (or two) at random!
8 Dec 2008
I've Shrunk The Adverts!
After getting feedback from some visitors you may notice I've reduced the amount of space occupied by Google adverts at the top of each page of this site. So, no more full colour ads asking you if you "Want to date Single Persians?". Sorry!
4 Dec 2008
Loads more photos in the Ancients Gallery!
...... New photos of LKM, Lancashire, Alain Touller, Irregular, Magister Militum, Museum, Black Hat, Grumpys and 2-Dragons now added. The Supplier Listing has also been updated
2 Dec 2008
LRR Lists & Design Notes
Provided for The Wiki by FoG Author Simon Hall - see where I went wrong at Warfare, and learn how someone who wrote the rules would design and use this list !
1 Dec 2008
Romans vs Parthians on YouTube
If you are really lazy (and like Bob Dylan) you can try the Rome vs Parthia battle on YouTube
30 Nov 2008
Warfare - all 4 reports
FoG battle reports of Late Republican Romans vs Parthians, Early Carthaginians, Bosporans and Selukids now online.
New Xyston Gaesati Photos
Reviews Now added to the Photo Gallery, including some size comparison photos vs Essex Minis Celts, and shots of the figures next to a ruler.
25 Nov 2008
Warfare Army Lists
Lists now posted for My Romans, and all my opponents - Parthians, Early Carthaginians, Bosporans, and Selukids.
24 Nov 2008
Warfare Reading
FOG - A rather painful experience for my Marian Romans at Reading this past weekend. Army lists by the end of the week, reports may take a little longer.
20 Nov 2008
Over 100 more pictures added !
Romans, Greeks, Lydians, Indian, Persians, Thracians... over 100 new pics added to my site (many kindly provided by theonetree Painting Service")
New Additions for the Photo Gallery
New photos added to the Ancients Gallery including some Late Republican Legionaries and Greek Hoplites with funky shield designs.
19 Nov 2008
Later Polish added to the FoGipedia
800 ap army list, external links, pictures and brief useage notes
17 Nov 2008
Gettysburg
Well, the technology all worked, and the live report is available on this site. The posts are in reverse order, so when you click through to the Gettysburg pages you need to scroll down to the end, and then work upwards to follow the course of the battle.
All photos are clickable (to make them larger).
All photos are clickable (to make them larger).
New additions to 15mm Supplier Index
50 Paces and War Modelling now added to my 15mm Ancients Suppliers Directory. There are now 37 different manufacturers listed, with details of all their ranges.
14 Nov 2008
Gettysburg in 10mm - Maybe...
I might be posting live updates from a "Gettysburg Day 2" Fire & Fury game this weekend. But only if I can sort out internet access at the venue. Check this this page for details.
7 Nov 2008
African Vandals added to FoGipedia
Reader-contributed content helps me create a page in the FoGipedia on this hairy bunch.
4 Nov 2008
"Hannibal Speaks" coffee mug now available!
Ideal for Christmas - a selection of "Nasty Hannibal" Mugs with the slogan "This Coffee has about it the bitter taste of defeat". Also comes in "Hot Chocolate" and "Beer" varieties Click here to buy this and other bizzarre items!
3 Nov 2008
4 Match Reports from Roll Call
All 4 battles now uploaded to the website. Photos, writeups, lists and the return of Hannibal's award-winning Post Match Analysis - Click Here.
28 Oct 2008
Roll Call
26 Oct 2008
25 Oct 2008
Roll Call Update:
After the 1st day I am mid table with a big win against Parthians and a big loss to Richard Bodley-Scott's Sassanids. Report next week:
19 Oct 2008
Free Delivery at Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.co.uk has just anounced that it now offers FREE "Super-Saver" delivery on any item over £5!! That means pretty much everything in my UK Bookshop can be ordered with FREE POSTAGE!
11 Oct 2008
FoG Decline & Fall Out Now
The FoG book on the Byzantines arrived today, and looks to have some interesting armies in it - after the rather "samey" Ottoman Book. Order it via this link in the UK, or this one in the US
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