Some new "ideas" from books i've read - are they plausible?

[Lockcaps]

I've just finished reading a few Roman-themed books, by Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. I noticed a few interesting things in these books that could possibly be added as cool features to Rome2 - but as always the question is; true or fiction?

1. When a dictator died, every legionnaire would wear black tunics instead of their legions regular colour for a year.

2. Praetorians would acompany the emperor if he decided to go to battle/campaign(the emperor did this to gain support from the people mainly, he would only be present at the "final battle") and when they did they would wear white and silver armor.

[Bobz]

I think the black tunic thing is just fiction, just thinking logistically it seems infeasible to have tunics only to be used in the case of a dictators death. Besides, before the times of the professional legions there weren't that many dictators and most only served short terms, not that the state gave the previous levies equipment anyway. Perhaps it was a one-off thing that some soldiers adopted happened for Caesar, that seems the only candidate if it has any basis at all. What book was it out of interest?

The Praetorians would accompany the emperor of course, but if the description comes from the Scarrow books you've remembered it wrong. Should be white tunics, which IIRC is historically correct, and standard armour.

[Ultra123]

scarrow details praetorians as wearing white as bobz said, the black tunic idea is interesting, might add some flavour, since after all your re-creating your own 'ceasers'.


scarrow books are fantastic btw really recommend them.

[♔The Black Knight♔]

The first thing is probably not going to happen but the 2nd idea isn't that hard.

I'm sure the the emperor's guard will be there as well. Hopefully we can name and customize them to make them more personalized to the emperor.

[Merchant]

The Black tunics from Conn Iggulden's books were for when Sulla died, except the whole part isn't historically accurate. It has a young Sulla and his Legion return from defeating Mithridates to attack/infiltrate Rome, which is held by Marius and his Legion. Marius is killed by Sulla who then becomes Dictator for a year or so before being poisoned. Also Marius has no son in this book.

It is still one of the best novel series I have read though, and Simon Scarrows books too. If you haven't read them already you should check out his Genghis Khan series, best books i've ever read and made me want to learn more about Genghis Khan and the Mongol hordes, although it might have been because i didnt know anything about them going into the books?

First idea i think could work in-game but would probably be better if it's only the Legion that the Faction Leader is travelling with when he dies. The second is easy, would be suprised if Praetorian Guards aren't included.
As for fact or fiction, the first is probably fiction, but is believable, i think the soldiers in the book were town guard or something like that? As for the second one, only info i could find on the Praetorian Guard uniform was that they were the same as normal soldiers until after the death of Augustus, then they were aloud special breastplates and blue oval shields decorated with moons, stars and scorpions. Most sources say that Praetorians wore pretty much the same as ordinary Legions though, apart from when they were within Rome.

[Jarvisimo]

I own both series' and recommend both!

OT:
Praetorians will probably be recruitable; you can send them and do with them as you choose.

[Ichon]

Conn Iggulden's books... check out his Genghis Khan series, best books i've ever read and made me want to learn more about Genghis Khan and the Mongol hordes, although it might have been because i didnt know anything about them going into the books?

Never heard of these but seems interesting and few authors write of Mongols in China in historical fiction. Might have to try at least one as it doesn't seem too crazy though I think the entertainment value is more than any historical facts going by the reviews.

[Merchant]

Never heard of these but seems interesting and few authors write of Mongols in China in historical fiction. Might have to try at least one as it doesn't seem too crazy though I think the entertainment value is more than any historical facts going by the reviews.

Aha yeah, they aren't 100% accurate but still are really good books and don't stray too far from history.

[Ticklestick]

IIRC they said factions will be color-coded again. I doubt we will be seeing historical things like different colored praetorians/different colored shields for different legions. I'd expect everyone to be red, with praetorians having fancier hats like in Rome 1.

[Lockcaps]

It would really look awesome if the Praetorians wore silver/white armor like it's described in the book when they are in the field.

[Captain Grimes]

I've just finished reading a few Roman-themed books, by Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. I noticed a few interesting things in these books that could possibly be added as cool features to Rome2 - but as always the question is; true or fiction?

1. When a dictator died, every legionnaire would wear black tunics instead of their legions regular colour for a year.

2. Praetorians would acompany the emperor if he decided to go to battle/campaign(the emperor did this to gain support from the people mainly, he would only be present at the "final battle") and when they did they would wear white and silver armor.

I wouldn't read Conn Iggulden if I were you, unless you want a game that has no bearing on what actually happend in ancient Rome - Caesar and Brutus adopted brothers? Servilia, mother of Brutus, acting as a madame of a brothel? poof give me a break...

[Captain Grimes]

If you want to be inspired by good, historical fiction books try Robert Harris Cicero series or the Roman Mystery books - very well written, entertaining and accurate. The way Cicero interacts, deals and knives his way to the Consulship and his fall from that highest office would add such an indepth layer to the game on top of the much anticpated blood and gore.

[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]

Scarrows books Not perfect, but well researched.

Iggulden basicly adventure novells, which a lot of fantasy and you recoqnize very soon that he lacks deeper knowledge about the time.

If you like real historical novells with a strong part of social information and an authour who really had knowledge about what he wrote, than try Gisbert Haefs novells. His Hannibal is my favouret book of all times and his Troy was great too. He focused on the events behind the wars and gives for example a very demythifical view of the Troy-War out of traders sight.

I think they are limited avaible in english too. German authour.