Recommended reading for MTW 2?

[RLuke07]

Evening everyone! I've just ordered this game for the first time but before I play it I was wondering if anyone could recommend a book to me set during this period? My knowledge of Medieval European history is pretty basic but when playing a game like this I like to indulge my brain and I want to try and get into a Medieval kind of mood or frame of mind for when I play.

For example, I've played RTW since near enough release, at the same time I was reading 'In The Name of Rome' which a brilliant bit of reading, on a select number of Roman generals describing their greatest military campaigns and battles. Exactly what you want to read when playing a Total War game.

Does anyone know of a similar book but for this games time frame? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Ishan]

I don't think you need to read any books for this. But i suppose you mean how to immerse yourself into the medieval world before playing this game? Then you can always read something on Mongols, Crusades, Saladin. Or just watch kingdom of heaven like me since i'm not much of a book person.

[Kaiser Nonsense]

I don't think you need to read any books for this. But i suppose you mean how to immerse yourself into the medieval world before playing this game? Then you can always read something on Mongols, Crusades, Saladin. Or just watch kingdom of heaven like me since i'm not much of a book person.

God Ishan, you cannot possibly enjoy that awfully depicted film! It insults every source of history we know!

@Thread: Read anything of Bernard Cornwell, his medieval books, that is. Or read Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott.

[Vampiresbane]

God Ishan, you cannot possibly enjoy that awfully depicted film! It insults every source of history we know!

I love that movie.

Plus it's not that off base historically. Granted some relationships are different and some characters are off, but the general timelines and events are fairly accurate. In all honesty, I actually was suprised of the historical accuracy that it DID have, completely expecting it to have none whatsoever being a Hollywood film.

[Rinan]

Don't read books. The less you know about history before you play this game, the better! You won't rage at CA's innacuracies then.
Then afterwards, you should read up on medieval times.

God Ishan, you cannot possibly enjoy that awfully depicted film! It insults every source of history we know!

Don't expect a time-machine when you go watch a Hollywood movie. It's a pretty damn awesome movie, methinks!

edit: Maybe the OP would like Lars Brownworth's podcasts.

You can hardly get more true medieval glory than with the Normans! And it will make you wanna play Sicily, which is a fun faction in game.

http://normancenturies.com/

[RLuke07]

Thanks all for the help, I know CA aren't exactly known for their historical accuracy but since I know almost nothing of medieval history I thought a little knowledge is better than no knowledge. Right time to get stuck in! Still have to pick a mod as well, so looks like I'll be a while, spoilt for choice!

Sorry for bumping this thread, I would have replied sooner if there was a way to see what threads you've posted in instead of trawling through pages trying to find my thread title

[AntiDragon4185]

Although it only dealt with the medieval era for several segments, James A. Michener’s The Source is one of the best books I have ever read, if not my favorite. In fact, the focus on the entire timeline, and not just the medieval era, gave greater context and significance towards the events that happened at that time.

Another book I loved was Stephen R. Lawheads's The Iron Lance. I can't vouch for its historical accuracy, and the author seems biased at times, but it was still a highly engaging, well written, and very poignant account of the First Crusade. The sequel, The Black Rood was also quite good, but for some reason the Author insisted on writing from a first person perspective instead of a third person, which diminished the experience somewhat. I never got around to reading the last book in the series, but I’ve heard only great things about it.

Other books I would also highly suggest, but haven’t read myself, are Byzantium, also by Stephen R. Lawhead, and London by Edward Rutherfurd.

I also once read a book called The Knight Throughout History, which was written like a textbook, but still very informitive, and gave me a much greater apreciation for the fudel system, the knightle orders, and the importance of warfare in the middle ages. Sadly, I can't remember who wrote it or where to find it...

[Kaiser Nonsense]

I think we all know that movies are almost never going to do things according to history/story/original movie and so on, so i say just relax and enjoy the epic battles, speeches etc. If you dont bother with the historical inacurracies it is a decent movie IMO.

I love that movie.

Plus it's not that off base historically. Granted some relationships are different and some characters are off, but the general timelines and events are fairly accurate. In all honesty, I actually was suprised of the historical accuracy that it DID have, completely expecting it to have none whatsoever being a Hollywood film.

Don't read books. The less you know about history before you play this game, the better! You won't rage at CA's innacuracies then.
Then afterwards, you should read up on medieval times.




Don't expect a time-machine when you go watch a Hollywood movie. It's a pretty damn awesome movie, methinks!

edit: Maybe the OP would like Lars Brownworth's podcasts.

You can hardly get more true medieval glory than with the Normans! And it will make you wanna play Sicily, which is a fun faction in game.

http://normancenturies.com/

Templars being executed in Jerusalem, Guy de Lusignan, Gerard de Ridefort, all of those great names are depicted as stupid, arrogant and dishonest in equal measure. The saracens are always nice, intelligent, humble, honest, merciful and kind. It depicts the main character being a bloody peasant blacksmith all of sudden is more important than the King of Jerusalem and high commander of the Crusader Army in the Outremer. And he doesn't care about that, he thinks of a honey love with the King's sister and he thinks bloodshedding is wrong, that he needs to be friend of Saladin.
It also depicts King Richard in the end as if he was naive, silly and unaware of what war truly is, while the stupid peasant smith is the master who thinks war is foolish and he is humble to answer "I'm only the blacksmith".

Seriously, that film is plain stupid. I hate it. It even makes me wonder if it wasn't made by muslims.

And I know Hollywood does not produce films in a high historically level, but, well, there are films which were good, such as Braveheart. Even though it's not 100% accurate, it was enjoyable, it wasn't utterly ridiculous like Kingdom of Heaven. And I'm not talking about battles and action scenes, I'm talking about the way the characters are depicted. We know the french crusader nobility wasn't like that, while William Wallace might not have been like that, not much is known about him, the only thing I disagree with Braveheart is the way they depict the english, it should be more neutral, after all, it's wrong to influence a watcher into one or other's side, but well, perhaps without that there would be no drama or emotional feelings in the film at all, and it would not be good.

[Shroomicide]

The Historical Atlas Of Knights And Castles: The Rise and Fall of the Age of Chivalry- Ian Barnes.

It's a rather monotonous title, but well worth it. It describes all manner of society during the time, including the development of armor, cities, castles, weapons, changing tactics, invasions, and all manner of great stuff. It has a lot of illustrations too (Historical Atlas, eh!). It's about $10 US.

[TWWolfe]

Barbara Tuchmann's "A Distant Mirror" Is also juicy reading, though it deals mainly with the 14th century.

[Highlander of Scotland]

bernard corwnell is great try his thomas of hookton or Utrhed series Utrhed is a bit earlier though

[jackbush]

bernard corwnell is great try his thomas of hookton or Utrhed series Utrhed is a bit earlier though

Thanks for the tip on Bernard Cornwell. I'm half way through Harlequin and it's great fun!

[Kaiser Nonsense]

Thanks for the tip on Bernard Cornwell. I'm half way through Harlequin and it's great fun!

It's great, isn't it? I finished Harlequin, now I'm reading Vagabond.

[Highlander of Scotland]

it is historic fiction though

[Incredible Bulk]

You want to read a book that will
Make into a great general read the "The Art Of War" it's over 2000 years old and still applies today. You can find it at Amazon

[Vissewalde rex de Gerzika]

I think we all know that movies are almost never going to do things according to history/story/original movie and so on, so i say just relax and enjoy the epic battles, speeches etc. If you dont bother with the historical inacurracies it is a decent movie IMO.

[Incredible Bulk]

I lived in IB for 3 years now I'm in La Mesa

[ChewieMuse]

I lived in IB for 3 years now I'm in La Mesa

WHAAAAt no way, what street, i went to West View elementary down near calla, actually lived on calla


I used to work at the subway down near dolphin park too, right on the beach

[Incredible Bulk]

I lived on 16th street corner of 16th and Palm ave

[Sitalkes]

You should read "The Art of war in the Middle ages" by Charles Oman http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rc...41524429,d.aGc and then read The Art of Warfare in Western Europe during the Middle Ages from the Eighth Century by J F Verbruggen. The former argues for the primacy of cavalry while the latter argues for the infantry case. Both are a good read. For historical fiction, Try to get hold of some books by Alfred Duggan, Bernard Cornwall always leaves me feeling like I am being manipulated by a formula writer. My favourites are Count Bohemond and Knight with Armour.