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Chris, interesting question on "class warfare" in the GWS.  There is no direct question and the questions that asked this indirectly by bifurcating Top from Bottom choices was scrubbed in last year's survey to only capture Top preferences.  Hierarchies with Top Preferences certainly do fall out from the survey, though.  The most popular (in whatever category) always rises to the top of the aggregations.  In this year's survey, I plan to submit a question on hex-and-counter (and similar) wargames do see if there is much crossover with miniatures wargaming.  I certainly utilize and enjoy both but being less "Imperial" I may be in the minority of devoted miniatures wargamers.

There was definitely a love/hate relationship in the two camps with respect to System 7 Napoleonics.  That relationship may be not much different in the WoFun debate.

You are correct in that finding time to slip in a Raphia boardgame is problematic for me.  I have an unpunched copy of MMP's Raphia sitting on my desk now so i have at least taken the first small step in that direction.

Perhaps controversially it says " They were typically armed with a long spear, or hasta, and a short stabbing sword similar to the Roman gladius."

And "During the Samnite Wars, their armies resembled those of the ancient Greek city-states. They used the phalanx, they had hoplites, maniples, and cohorts made of 400 men."

There is an excellent book by Paul Cohen "History in three keys", which explores the Boxer Rebellion through three different types of history.  First is the record of history as lived experience.  Second is history as analysis - the realm of the scholar trying to make sense of the records of lived experience, archaeological finds and so on.  Finally is history as myth, the stories we tell ourselves and others to enlist the past in service of our present needs.  The latter is the dominant key.

Quote from: Erpingham on Today at 09:21:07 AM

Quote from: gavindbm on May 28, 2024, 10:16:11 PMHow about 'medieval infantry was useless against (easily defeated by) mounted knights'.

.........

I think this created a persistent myth which turned up in many wargames rules - impetuous knights.

Impetuous knights would be a great topic.

Here's another one deserving a mention.  This is from the website of a reputable organisation, the Rare Breeds Survival Survival Trust

"Originally referred to as the Great Horse, the Shire was of enormous importance in Medieval Britain carrying knights into battle."

Although most would suggest the Great Horse is one of the ancestors of the Shire Horse, the Shire Horse breed is an 18th century one whose more immediate ancestor is the Friesian Black Horse, surprisingly enough a heavy draft breed.  While this is a bit academic, we do get this back projection of knights mounted on big shire type horses with their heavily feather feet. 

Cheers Imperial Dave and less imperial (but still famous) Jon,

Thanks for taking the time to read and weigh in.

To Jon's point or note re the argument cited: These were the words of Mr. Perkins. They were voiced (published) in 1980 and just like today, had their supporters and detractors.

Indeed we are free to choose . . . The context or language is key, I think. Many may not argue, but as many may not approve. (Does the GWS [Great Wargaming Survey] relate any information about "class warfare" or any hierarchy with respect to pursuit and participation in the hobby?)

I recall those System 7 Napoleonics . . . I am not sure that I recall the buzz they produced. I wonder if one could equate those to the plexiglass-plastic 2D figures made by WoFun?

Going back to the "who can argue with your approach" comment - I once sent in a submission to Henry Hyde way back when he was editor of Battlegames, not Battlegames with Miniature Wargames. If I recall his wording, he decided to "punt" with my article, and include in his magazine. Apparently, it caused a bit of a kerfuffle.

Thanks again fellows, for your kind words and time. Here's hoping, Jon, that a possible encounter with Raphia (see what I did there?) does not keep you from your painting, game hosting, or cycling schedule.

Chris

not something to lose one's head over...

Absolutely. Read the Mabinogian 

Quote from: Erpingham on Today at 09:31:54 AMThere is a less journalistic account of the provenance of this helmet on the Royal Ontario Museum website.  Curiously, the finder also went to Thermopylae and found another "Spartan" helmet there (but no skull).

It might be interesting to find out how many Spartan helmets from Thermopylae there are in collections around the world, and whether there are more of them than 300 or than pieces of the true cross?

Quote from: Keraunos on Today at 01:14:32 AMSo the Mycenaeans were from Wales as well were they now?

I thought actually they were from the other side.  Brutus, the ancestor of the Ancient British, and hence Welsh, was a Trojan.  The Trojans also founded the Roman Empire.  What are the odds ?