Ancient Tech You’ve Never Heard Of

[Erpingham]

That in turn arose from a forum discussion presumably about that time, though the search feature for some reason doesn't want to find it for me.

You participated in a discussion about belosphendone in 2016, in which you mention the cestrophendone

https://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=2396.msg27431#msg27431

Much of this seems to be debate with Patrick about how fiery the former weapon was.

[RichT]

Ah there it is, thanks Anthony.

Talking of the "flaming pig effect", I was amused to read Richard Nelson's editorial in Slingshot 60 (or 59 depending which numbering is used), July 1975:

"I recently mischievously reminded a member of the WRG that there were several well-attested references to the use of pigs to disorganise elephants. In one case (a sure fire stratagem!) the pigs were coated with blazing pitch. Suppose that this amendment were introduced, what would be the result? Anyone whose army includes elephants would become used to seeing opponents turn up with an armoured stye plus supporting troops including swineherds armed with Kontos and rhomphaia. Fierce arguments would rage over the realism of classifying pigs as 'C' class since they are domestic animals. The figure manufacturers would produce in response ot popular demand a 25mm flaming sow. And so on...

A good set of Wargame Rules is one which reproduces as simply and concisely as possible the historical characteristics of a period of Warfare. In doing so it cannot reproduce in detail every recorded facet of ancient warfare. To do so means running the risk of having such facets taken out of context to the distortion of that historical reality which it is sought to reproduce."

Wise words, sadly ignored...

Incidentally, this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvbcElk0vT4

seems a bit simpler and more plausible than the one linked above and is based on a lot of research and practice.

[Imperial Dave]

Be still my beating heart