Vibius Tiberius Costa
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Posts posted by Vibius Tiberius Costa
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Absolutely fantastic stuff caldrail, I shall construct from there
TY
vtc
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Just what i thought was a good idea for the site
I always find when I'm here that I post lists of questions in almost bullet point style. I was wondering if it would be possible to perhaps have a permanent topic or even subforum where everybodys easy to answer bullet point style questions could be accumulated.
Example, if i asked (which i have) where the dagger is placed on the body of a typical roman soldier? hopefully there is one answer (the direct front i believe) Then the question and answer would be posted or added to an existing post by a moderator to the topic
I know the info is on the site somewhere and most definitely the internet, but if i could search a whole topic just for my small batch of questions quickly and efficiently it might ease the traffic or stop repetition or even not waste some peoples time.
One disadvantage of this is of course that spurrious debate cannot arise from trivial things.
Its a half-idea maybe worth a thought.
vtc
ps if it were a forum or in a specific existing forum each topic could be reserved for similar or subjected questions
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Only really 2 other 'history's for me and its the 2nd and 3rd crusades, especially Salah ad-dins battles at Jerusalem and Arsuf and the whole arc of Richard the lionhearted.
and
Carthages birth and the 3rd punic war
vtc
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Okay from memory its 4 in a tent 8 to a contubernum i was wondering how a tent would really be laid out, a minor question i know.
Would the 4 or 8 be in each corner?
Would the shields and gear be propped outside or inside at the soldiers feet perhaps?
Feet to feet or head to head.
Would there be anything inside the tent tent?
I know I can just ram 'em in anywhere, anyhow but guidance would be great.
as usual a levied army at about 150bc
vtc
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I don't know about odd but I like a huge range of music,
I love my rock and radio rock/pop as my staple but i have swathes of jazz, orchestral, operatic and for a 20-ish yo lots of 60s 70s and 80s rock.
vtc
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Welcome back vtc, where have you been hiding??
I may be wrong but I seem to remember that you were in the proccess of writing a novel set in ancient Rome the last time you were around here???
Did you ever manage to get the book finished? or have I got you completely mixed up with somebody else
Indeed, you are correct the book pretty much fell away in importance around about the same time i stopped reguarly visiting here.
Now I'm back though, so is the book
vtc
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As far as ironic how about King Richard the Lionhearted (compeletely French couldn't speak a single word of English) battles his French brother for the crown of England, in between crusading for the Pope who has no idea who Richard belongs to alongside Austrians who he is also at war with, and he warred with France too if I remember, this was an essay i wrote 6 years ago so i would research most of that but i'm pretty sure its all true just check if this is for something serious.
vtc
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I would think (as this is my era) that the sacking of Corinth in 146 should be there.
-Every man to the sword
-Every woman and child to slavery
-Then set fire to the place
Lucius Mummius got 'a medal' (cognomen) for it too.
I know it was war but the battle was won, I am still trying to see the motive of the sacking maybe that needs a new topic.
I might put the slavery thing as a whole in as well,
vtc
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What a split in opinion here, I am amazed.
In my opinion to get into that elite bracket reserved for heroes you need to be doing your cause for morally, socially and fundamental good and not for personal gain.
This is where for me Caesar drifts out of being a hero, a conqueror will always be hated by many, a liberator loved. He was a conqueror and tactician on both sides of battle and is a true great in history.
A villain, he is not. He did not seem to have an agenda against a race like the typical villains we know, it was more of a conquest for power.
If I had a choice over the two: Hero
vtc
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Believe it or not I am back and have many more questions to ask and maybe answer this time around.
Hopefully a few people rember me from 2006 (wow time flies).
Anyway nice to be back
vtc
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Well good luck, every contribution will be appreciated to the max
ps nephele i'm staring at you, surely your good for a thousand names.
While waiting for better options from Neph and other UNRV members, what about "Veritas Victrix"?
Thats cool, translates something like 'truth the victor' correct me if i'm wrong never took latin.
I'll have to run it by the lads but keep em coming.
TY
vtc
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Hey everyone, few probably remember me vtc now.
I should be back for a while at least.
Anyway me and a mate or two (depends) have been a band for almost a year now and done several gigs but we still have no name, I thought maybe a latin name or roman/romanised name would be cool.
If it helps:
I don't really mind how many words or syllables but I prefer stuff like - the some-thing(s) or some-thing 2-3 syllables would be great.
We are a acoustic band mainly using the acoustic and bass guitars with vocals. Covers of coldplay, linkin park, switchfoot, lostprophets etc etc
My name is spoon if that is an aid
Well good luck, every contribution will be appreciated to the max
TY in advance!
vtc
ps nephele i'm staring at you, surely your good for a thousand names.
pps soz if thiss topic has already been done.
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Salve, VTC! G2CU!
So this time you're illustrating Africanus Minor, Polybius & Co in their way to the Hispanic or Punic campaigns?
Was playing a musical instrument acceptable? which ones?Indeed it was, maybe this NICE LINK may help you.
Please show us your Art ASAP.
Ummm... Well i could show you my art if you really want.
It is JP Vieira who does the best art on this site, maybe you're thinking of him. I am writing a novel not illustrating. However thanks for link.
Thank to PP too. I have acquired a book with the info about winery-villas in just a few minutes ago. But the link will still prove to be useful.
vtc
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Ooh what about UNRV official figurines. Like Ursus bears and Primus Pilus action dolls.
vtc
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Couple of bumps in my road I have to smooth out.
Did crucifixion occur in 150-ish bc ?
Were there any areas of Rome renowned for their squalor/ underworld nature?
Was playing a musical instrument acceptable? which ones?
What could a travelling soldier take with him apart from his military equipment and how?
Also, does soemone know how a wine-making villa was arranged. Like a floor-plan. i can't find any good descriptions or pictures.
Any Information will be much appreciated and thanks in advance
vtc
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Usual period (150-ish bc)
How could an illiterate but rich-ish (if it matters) plebeian communicate with someone many miles away?
Were letters or papers or scrolls available for plebeians? was there a postal service? could a messenger deliver certain speech?
vtc
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A much-loved regular gone.
Why not create some kind of honour on this site to/for him, although I didn't know him well, he would surely of liked that.
His input in my questions was always helpful and cheery.
I send a prayer.
vtc
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Hello team
probably one for moonlapse, on the blog page (which is great) you click the blog you wish to read then to go back to the larger forum page you get confused and eventually click on the smaller link at the top.
My suggestion is why not have like in the rest of the site something like
Blogs - "Whoevers" Blog
insteasd of just
"Whoevers" Blog, I don't need a link back to where I am
Where 'Blogs' is a link back to the main blog page from which to choose.
just an idea. TY
vtc
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Thanks Caldrail, just what I needed.
If it makes a difference 180-140 bc is the time period
Also would an archer therefore be an outcast if he somehow picked up the ability (theoretically) or praised, I suppose as it is a foreign skill litle attention owuld be made of it, especially when in a legion there is no time to do such a 'petty' task as archery.
thanks again
vtc
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I'm disappointed to see that nobody gave me a nudge about this topic.
My Top 20 tips would be:
1: Think of things that you enjoy to do, read and any hobbies however silly, from this you can create an area to divulge into. Such as Rome but not just that, if your into football (whatever kind), the camaraderie of sport is a lot like of a unit in a legion, yet always a progressive thing. Thats is a poor example but I hope you get my drift.
2: Choose an era, the more research the better, think of an era which is both riddled with what you want your book to be about and yet if you want to not just retell an historiacl event but expand and intricate a story.
3: Choose whether you rae going to do exactly that, is this a recount of events or a fact based story , or even a mix. A few half-truths and elabortaions of the past shoul dgo unnoticed
in most novels.4: Before evn thinking about characters or any of that sort see what happened in your chosen era, even minor parts can be weaved into your story making it credible, believable and still showing you are historical. There is no need to add parts to a plot if they could have really happened.
5: Read heavily on your area, I suggest a good site : UNRV. Just get yourslef in tune iwth what you rae about to start.
6: Plan like you've never planned before, pictures, drawings, a few character profiles, cities, routes, roots. Don't plan too much though keep yourself loose and free.
7: Construct the roughest of plots, will it be a quest, does your protagonist(s) want to go from A to B, or follow history or even does your characterperfom a task. There are several choices, and I don't want to be here forever.
8: Slowly develop characters, try not to make them carbon copies of people you know or yourself yet personal experience helps make a charcter seeem believable. Know your characters, what would they do if all faced by the same dilemma?
9: Use personal experiences, they provide such reality and depth to story.
10: Start writing before you drive yourself insane, don't get bogged down in planning, do it the same time you start. The worst that has to happne is you start again.
11: Always enjoy writing, if you are not enjoying it, your novel will seem a chore.
12: Frequently go over your work to edit, it helps you follow your own thought process.
13: If nothing i going right leaev your noel alone, let your characters come back and speak to you again.
14: At key points go back and edit.
15: Read your work for leisure too. Try and occasionally read it without caring how it flows or spells.
16: Don't rush your novel, take your time. The longer you are left conjure ideas the batter your novel will become.
17: Visit UNRV and other research places as and when you encounter problems. I'm sure people here can remember when i would list a load of questions.
18: You don't have to write your novel in order, if you are desperate to write the epilogue do that, there are no rules or boundaries when it comes to your own writing.
19: Style, semantics, convention of the novel and selection of detail. Incorporating literary techniques must be intertwined into your novel, don't forget that a novel need these to be complete
20: Fianlly have funa snd enjoy it.
I hope thats a help feel free to contact me.
vtc
check out my blog for a tiny extract from my own novel
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What about the routes taken by different parties? does anyone have anything like that. For all of the punic wars I 'd love to have a path by path breakdown of each side.
vtc
ps this might be worthy of a topic
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A couple of armour related - republican questions.
Only patricians were allowed to join the army so was their a determinate way of setting yourself out from the rest by buying pparticuarly elaborate armour and waht?
Greaves, would onlya rich patrician where them?
Does your 'rank' in society give you a better cahnce of being an officer?
Did the republic allow plebeian archers/javelinmen into their levied armies, could from there a plebeian make it into the army.
vtc
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I like Marius and other republican leaders like Scipio and Mummius. But greatest Roman Figure has to be Caesar or Augustus they are the personifiactin of Rome and are the greatest FIGURES if not my favourite, best warrior, tactician etc.
vtc
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In my opinion, the most important invention has to be central heating, even if the Romans didn't wholly invent it their adaptations are the key.
I also would say the riot shield is based on that of the roman scuta, i suppose the rounded shield has to be fairly important
vtc
A bunch of general questions
in Res Publica
Posted
Bam! I'm back to those who thought I was gone.
Anyway, more importantly I have a lot of questions for the ol' book. I'll number and break them up because there are quite a few. If anyone can answer thanks in advance. 153bc
Senate
s1. I have my own leading fictitious-ish senators but who do you think were the leading senators/orators in 153 bc - onwards say 4 years
s2. Who were the leading generals and what was their popularity within the senate and with the masses (metellus, scipio and mummius interest me here)
s3. The number of senators at this point is it 200ish
s4. The general consensus of the senate, arguing aside this is a strong period would it be to push forth in terms of the wars
s5. The senate's opinions of Carthage change I know in the coming years but as of early 153 what is the feel
s6. Is Rome rich?
s7. As this senatehouse is pre fires/destruction etc. was it different to the current one did they sit on stone arcs with the two consuls sitting centrally (I currently have made my own style but it does read like modern politics a bit)
People in Rome
p1. General views are always hard to say but along with the generals and senators aforementioned do we know of particularly fashionable Gods, curses and clothing.
p2. Is one area of Rome a little dodgy, I know the majority lived in Aventine but perhaps it is documented the Oppian hill has troubles
p3. Can I assume everything Is bartered no ticket prices
p4. Can a few read/write
p5. Do senators live in the lesser regions still.
p6. Would it be fair to assume some people have never left the city
p7. Is Hannibal still a big talking point amongst the people (senate too)
Legion
l1. Were you paid in arrears monthly or some specific way
l2. Did/could you buy your equipment from the legion smithy
l3. Were fancy engravings common on armour or was most extremely similar
l4. Once levied did you have time to go home and pick up your things
l5. If levied in Rome were you trained en route to destination. As recruits did you stay in legionary contubernium tents while en route
l6. Were there barracks at most major cities for troops.
l7. Was chainmail a luxury
Miscellaneous
m1. Beards and long hair, I'm under the impression both are frowned upon, beards are to Gallic and barbarian and long hair to Greek, yes?
m2. Were there well documented popular wines - Vesuvian, Sicilian
m3. Were there higher alcohol level drink available like fortified wines, mead, non-grape
m4. Do we know what the curse-words or phrases beyond our usual ones are eg. Gods Below, Jupiter's Beard rather than cac
m5. Could I nickname someone by turning there name from Antonius to Antonio, Anto etc. (to many -ius' make it hard sometimes for readers to differentiate)
m6. The majority of slaves would have been from what nationalities
m7. Like Venus was sort of the symbol of the Julii, did the rest of the families have a defining symbol or stamp, like Octavian's sphinx
I've got stacks more but its 2am, they'll have to wait
Thanks again
vtc