This is where to find recommendations and reviews of military history books useful for scenario design and background reading to support it, covering the time period from after the Great Schism in 1055 AD until just before the discovery of the New World in 1492 AD.
Bianchi John & Minculescu Dan & Schifani Steve Vlad The Impaler & The Ottoman Wars In Europe Warhammer Historical Wargames, Games Workshop (2006) ISBN-10: 1844163342 ISBN-13: 978-1844163342
This is a clearly written and well illustrated introduction to the conflicts in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe between the late 13th and early 16th centuries. Despite the title ; the real focus of the book is the growth of the Ottoman Empire, and, its enemies in the region with the Albanians, Bulgarians, Byzantines, Catalan Grand Company, Hungarians, and Walachians all being well covered.
The book contains historical and biographical background, army lists and special rules, which can be converted fairly easily for use with “Field Of Glory Digital”. Like all the titles in this series I have seen this one is packed full of information useful to the scenario designer
Cheetham, Nicolas Mediaeval Greece Yale University Press; 1st Edition (1 July 1981 ISBN-10: 0300024215 ISBN-13: 978-0300024210
Another book which while its been around for quite a wile has stood the test of time and deals very well with the kaleidoscope of factions and marauding armies that make Greece in the middle ages such an attractive wargaming proposition. Its particularly good at looking at what was going on in the15th century, suggesting that the Byzantines, specifically in the Peloponnese, were a much stronger military force much later than they have often been given credit for.
There is a lot of scope for using this book in company with “Scenarios For Wargames” (see “General Works” section) for putting together some interesting 15th century Ottoman / Byzantine ambush scenarios.
Heath, Ian Armies of Feudal Europe, 1066-1300 Wargames Research Group; 2nd Revised edition (Sep 1989) ISBN-10: 0904417433 ISBN-13: 978-0904417432
Does exactly what it says on the tin, giving details of dress, equipment, army organization, tactics and outline descriptions of major battles of the period, for which unfortunately there are no maps. Good background on the armies, how they fought and what they looked like. One to get your hands on if you want a good source for constructing “Oath Of Fealty” scenarios, It works particularly well if used with Warfare in the Medieval World by Brian Carey, (see General Works section) which has the battle maps that it lacks.
Wise, Terence The Wars of the Crusades 1096-1291 BCA/Osprey .; 1978 Edition ASIN: B001W8QE4K
A good general (if rather dated) history of the wider crusading process with a focus on armies and battles. The book gives detailed coverage of campaigns, weaponry, armour and costume, fortification and tactics.
From a scenario design point however where it really shines is in the large number of anglicised versions of Arabic military words which it provides and gives explanations of. I apply these via OCR software and MS Word into the name field of the “battlegroup properties” screen. Also currently available on Amazon at knock down prices.
Bianchi John & Minculescu Dan & Schifani Steve Vlad The Impaler & The Ottoman Wars In Europe Warhammer Historical Wargames, Games Workshop (2006) ISBN-10: 1844163342 ISBN-13: 978-1844163342
This is a clearly written and well illustrated introduction to the conflicts in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe between the late 13th and early 16th centuries. Despite the title ; the real focus of the book is the growth of the Ottoman Empire, and, its enemies in the region with the Albanians, Bulgarians, Byzantines, Catalan Grand Company, Hungarians, and Walachians all being well covered.
The book contains historical and biographical background, army lists and special rules, which can be converted fairly easily for use with “Field Of Glory Digital”. Like all the titles in this series I have seen this one is packed full of information useful to the scenario designer
Cheetham, Nicolas Mediaeval Greece Yale University Press; 1st Edition (1 July 1981 ISBN-10: 0300024215 ISBN-13: 978-0300024210
Another book which while its been around for quite a wile has stood the test of time and deals very well with the kaleidoscope of factions and marauding armies that make Greece in the middle ages such an attractive wargaming proposition. Its particularly good at looking at what was going on in the15th century, suggesting that the Byzantines, specifically in the Peloponnese, were a much stronger military force much later than they have often been given credit for.
There is a lot of scope for using this book in company with “Scenarios For Wargames” (see “General Works” section) for putting together some interesting 15th century Ottoman / Byzantine ambush scenarios.
Heath, Ian Armies of Feudal Europe, 1066-1300 Wargames Research Group; 2nd Revised edition (Sep 1989) ISBN-10: 0904417433 ISBN-13: 978-0904417432
Does exactly what it says on the tin, giving details of dress, equipment, army organization, tactics and outline descriptions of major battles of the period, for which unfortunately there are no maps. Good background on the armies, how they fought and what they looked like. One to get your hands on if you want a good source for constructing “Oath Of Fealty” scenarios, It works particularly well if used with Warfare in the Medieval World by Brian Carey, (see General Works section) which has the battle maps that it lacks.
Wise, Terence The Wars of the Crusades 1096-1291 BCA/Osprey .; 1978 Edition ASIN: B001W8QE4K
A good general (if rather dated) history of the wider crusading process with a focus on armies and battles. The book gives detailed coverage of campaigns, weaponry, armour and costume, fortification and tactics.
From a scenario design point however where it really shines is in the large number of anglicised versions of Arabic military words which it provides and gives explanations of. I apply these via OCR software and MS Word into the name field of the “battlegroup properties” screen. Also currently available on Amazon at knock down prices.