I feel like somehting a little different, maybe a good fantasty novel filled with some massed battles (rather than the usual skirmishes) would help scratch the itch.  Something along the lines of Pellanor Fields, Battle of Five Armies...that sort of thing.

I've been far more of a SF guy for many years though, so not sure whats out there thats good for wargamer types - any recommendations gentlemen (and ladies!)?

cheers!  

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Tas
My General blog: http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/
My VSF Blog: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/
My ECW Blog: http://declaresir.blogspot.com/

Glenn Cook's Black Company series is high on my list.  Gritty, almost no magic, these stories revolve around a legendary mercenary company.  They will fight as long as you pay them, but try to cheat them at your own risk.  Even better, you should be able to get at least 6 of the 10 books in 2 compilations.

Most of the battle scenes are smaller, but much more than a skirmish.  There's usually a company or more of Cavalry, plus infantry, with both heavy, line infantry and lighter archers.

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"For the Lion and the Emperor!"

Thanks indeed Lion, I've just ordered the first Omnibus (books 1-3) from Galaxy bookshop in Sydney - should have them shortly.

Cheers!  

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Tas
My General blog: http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/
My VSF Blog: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/
My ECW Blog: http://declaresir.blogspot.com/

The Gotrek and Felix series has some good battles, both skirmish level and large scale.

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"I don't believe in destiny or the guiding hand of fate." N. Peart

Lots of battles which are an important part of the storyline:
The Runelords Cycle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runelords
Already the basic concept is that of lords and soldiers becoming powerful warriors through the use of magic runes.
I recommend Books 1-4 (Earth King Series).

I have read book 5 also, but it begins a new storyline (Scions of the Earth Series) and is not as good as 1-4. I have bought book 6 also and will read it to see how the new storyline evolves. Even if not as good as the first one, David Farland is still a lot better than other authors.

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"Your limbs are mighty. Let them smite the foes of our Emperor."

It's been a while since I read it, but the first Thomas Covenant trilogy has some battles in it, specifically the second book, "The Illearth War", which has a large scale battle.

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"I don't believe in destiny or the guiding hand of fate." N. Peart

And the 3rd has a lengthy siege and large battle, too.

Oh right. I forgot about that.

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"I don't believe in destiny or the guiding hand of fate." N. Peart

David Gemmell's "Legend" It's a must... closely followed by "Waylander" and "King Beyond the Gate." In fact just about any of his books really.

Anyone like... or even remember the Horseclans books by Robert Adams? They were some fine battles.

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My head is full of War...

[img]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk120/Warhead40k/Tyranid%20Swarm/DSC02262.jpg[/img]

Thanks guys, I'll be sure to check those out!

cheers!

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Tas
My General blog: http://tasmancave.blogspot.com/
My VSF Blog: http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/
My ECW Blog: http://declaresir.blogspot.com/

Also check out the Malazan Book of the Fallen series. The first two books have some pretty big battles. There are also some fantastic individual scenes and characters.



Aaron

See if you can get a copy of the US Economic Recovery Plan ... I'm sure it's as big as a novel and contains a lot of fantasy !!!       I'm joking, I'm joking !  Now back to your regularly schedule programs ...  

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

While I love the early Black Company books by Glen Cook, they are definitely low fantasy.  There aren't pitched battles because the Company does everything they can to avoid pitched battles.  They get a lot of people killed for little profit.

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Neal

Black Company (which I heartily recommend - one of my favorite fantasy series by far!) isn't so much about pitched battles - though there are quite a few - but the general state of warfare.

Also it's not really low magic but rare magic - if you're up against a serious spellcaster he'll *CENSORED* your *CENSORED* up, no exceptions.

Overall it's a very engaging and a very realistic - within the parameters of the setting, and that's a lot more than many other fantasy series or writers can do - series. I haven't been a soldier but I've heard testimonials of those who were and who praised the books as showing war and soldier's life really well.