I was at the Barnes and Noble 'just looking around' and I bought a book called "Spartacus." This is not the Howard Fast book which was written in the 1950's and spawned a pretty good movie. I was given that book by Mr. Smith, an elderly neighbor when I was about nine years old and I thought it was terrific. A few years ago, I purchased my own copy from a rare book dealer. Needless to say, a few months later, it came out in a reprint soft cover. This book was written by a Scotsman who died young. It is stunning. There are many battles and the story is told the way it was. The slave standpoint is the only one told but this is how it should be. I could not put the book down - get this book now if you're an ancients reader - this is a real book and not the mindless babble that is scrubbed up and tossed in book stores. The author is named Gibbon. So what would a Spartacus battle look like on the tabletop? The Romans are easy Marian Romans in linear formation. Yes, they probably wore white but mine will always wear red and the heck with your archaeology. The shields demand a red color. Some cavalry for the flanks is also good. You can throw in Punic War Romans in to make up numbers - don't worry about Greeks calling you to task for it - have fun! For the slaves you should have four or five contingents. Germans should have their own 'legions' as should Gauls. You need cavalry - any kind - Spartacus rode a white horse. There was an Eastern contingent - mix together Thrucians, Jews, Greek Skirmishers, Illyrians and the kitchen sink. Spartacus had a body guard contingent - we know they wouldn't wear gladiator gear but darn it, they're going to anyway and look great! Finally, an 'imitation legion' with yellow or multicolored shields! Throw in civilians in each group - why not? Then you have a polyglot army against a regular army which is great. No one will turn you in for a few chariots either. There you have it, set up in simple battle or - since it was a campaign - do a simple campaign. Look at the beautiful TACTICA book, get the Spartacus book or both of them, try out the film. Were they marauders or Freedom Fighters? We will never know but well remember them on our tables - there they never die Back to MWAN #116 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com