The Conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar

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Aside from being a great general, politician — and perhaps even a great statesman (his handling of the varioius conquered tribes in Gaul speak to this), Jullius Caesar also was a top notch reporter. His report to the Senate on the campain in Gaul in 58 – 50 BC is one of the great pieces of military literature. While some argue that the works are little more than propaganda pieces, the detail with which he writes makes me think otherwise. Caesar’s style is powerful for its detail, and spare. My guess is that he no more would waste words than he would waste supplies, or political capital.

For miniature wargamers interested in ancient wargaming, this book is a must read. It is one of the few first-hand accounts of ancient warfare that have survived to the modern age. Most other works are second hand, at best.

Hail Caesar!

The Conquest of Gaul (Penguin Classics)

The Encyclopedia of Military History by Ernest Dupuy

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I think that this is the one indispensible resource for the miniatures wargamer. This Encyclopedia of Military History covers virtually every armed conflict since 3600 BC. Whenever I think about starting a new period, this is the book I turn to first. While it doesn’t cover any period in the detail that a grognard would demand, it does offer enough names, dates and places to satisfy your curiosity, or settle a bet. It occupies a prime spot on my shelf.

The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present

Pairs Print and Play Game

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Pairs is a free print-and-play game from Cheapass Games. You can also purchase printed editions of the game at the same site. From the publisher’s description:

The Pairs deck contains only the numbers 1 through 10, in a triangular distribution (1×1, 2×2, 3×3, and so on up to 10×10).  The basic goal of Pairsis to avoid getting a pair. Your odds will depend on what cards you hold, and which cards you have seen! Scoring pairs earns you points, and the first player to reach a target score is the loser.