OSPREY BLOGS
Mike

We need your help to create a new soldier series

February 9, 2012 12:00 AM

Share |
Close

To proceed please login below or register.

Email:
Password:
COMMENTS
Unterschütze
09-Feb-2012 12:42

Looks good so far; but please keep the ahistorical what-ifs away from the solid history.

Report this comment

Railok
09-Feb-2012 13:46

I completely agree with Unterschütze. This could be a very good series, but keep the alternative history scenarios away from it.

Report this comment

Subrt
09-Feb-2012 16:38

Really nice idea, I'm all for it!

Report this comment

MarkL
09-Feb-2012 17:03

I like the idea for this series as well. One question I have as this is the sixth new series Osprey is working on in the last few years (Duel, Weapon, Command, Raid, Air Vanguard, this one) and I know resources are finite and limited: What series are being phased out? Battle Orders is long gone. Essential Histories and Fortress seem to have been shelved. Combat Aircraft and Aviation Elite Units also seem to be winding down. My Osprey budget is finite so I'm curious to know how I'll be spreading it out or if I'll just redirect my Fortress/AEU/CA/EH allocation to newer series.

Report this comment

GI Gene
09-Feb-2012 19:16

Sounds like a cool idea. I hope it will focus more on the soldiers that fought at close quarters instead of those who fought each other from a distance.

Also, how about a Combat Aircraft like series that focuses on a specific military unit in a particular war. The color plates would be composed of tanks, trucks, jeeps, etc of that unit.

Some ideas:

The 1st Marine Division in the Pacific 1942-45
The British 8th Army in North Africa 1940-43
The First Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam
The 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan

Report this comment

Hammerfest-Perth
09-Feb-2012 20:29

Cool! I would however miss the Fortress and Essential Histories.
About the seiries it would be nice if this series focused more on combat unlike the warrior series and the duel series where a large portion of the book is taken up by mechanics or ideology.
Also is this series covering specific encounters like Kursk or Dien Bien Phu or periods like The Eastern Front in WWII or the Russo-Japanese War?

Report this comment

Stonewall115
09-Feb-2012 20:43

Few ideas I came up with after I took the survey that I think would be neat to see:
-1921: IRA vs. Black & Tans/Auxies
-Chickamauga: Thomas' Union Westerners vs. Longstreet's Confederate Easterners
-1917: British tanker vs. German stosstruppen

Report this comment

Stonewall115
09-Feb-2012 20:43

Few ideas I came up with after I took the survey that I think would be neat to see:
-1921: IRA vs. Black & Tans/Auxies
-Chickamauga: Thomas' Union Westerners vs. Longstreet's Confederate Easterners
-1917: British tanker vs. German stosstruppen

Report this comment

Hammerfest-Perth
09-Feb-2012 20:48

I guess my comment is moot. nevermind. would still like fortress and essential histories

Report this comment

formwiz
10-Feb-2012 00:16

One point here is that, if specific types of units in a given conflict will be the focus, then maybe some off-beat ones should be tried, such as dismounted US dragoon vs Mexican infantry. And you could follow several engagements through a campaign.

Something like that

Report this comment

CMB
10-Feb-2012 02:21

I just took the survey. Sounds like an interesting series with a lot of potential.

Report this comment

1830
10-Feb-2012 03:08

Hello

The new serie is a excellent idea! It will solve a shortcoming in the original Duel series, except for naval themes all titles are related to Modern Warfare (1914-present day).
I'm fully agree with Unterschütze, not what-if scenarios.

My suggested titles:
-British Airbone vs Waffen SS (Arnheim 1944)
-English Archer vs French Knight
-Crusader vs Saracen
-Poilou vs Landser
-Conquistador vs Aztec Warrior
-French Legionaire vs Tuareg
-Egyptian warrior vs Hitite warrior (Kadesh)
-US Airborne vs Panzertruppen (Ardennes 1944)
-Roman Legionary vs Gaul Warrior
-Rats of Desert vs Afrika Korps truppen
-US Marine vs Japanese SNLF
-Norman Knight vs Anglosaxon warrior
-US Cavalrymen vs Sioux Warrior

Report this comment

TonyCas562
10-Feb-2012 04:47

I also took the survey today, and I hope that Osprey will consider exploring lesser known subject material for the series as well. Some title suggestions:
-LRRP/Green Beret vs. Viet Cong/NVA Infantryman
-Soviet Motor Rifleman vs. PLA Infantryman (Sino-Soviet Border Conflict)
-ROK Infantryman vs. DPRK Infantryman (Korean War)
-"Federales" vs. Zapatistas/Villistas (Mexican Revolution)
-Polish Cavalry vs. Red Cavalry (Polish-Soviet War)
-Anzac vs. Turkish Infantryman (Gallipoli 1915)
-Cossack vs. Tatar (Russian Conquest of Siberia)
-Hungarian Knight vs. Ottoman Janissary
-Rus' Knight vs. Teutonic Knight
-Samurai vs. Mongol (Mongol Invasions)

Report this comment

Osprey_GP
10-Feb-2012 08:12

Looks good!.
This sounds better to me than the new Air Vanguard series.
I just hope it concentrates more on the personal stories as no Osprey series has really done that yet, and of course the all important battle art.

Report this comment

albertomv
10-Feb-2012 11:38

Excellent idea!

I hope there is room for Ancient Age titles. Some examples:

- Roman Legions vs Phalanx (Gauls, Germans or anybody)
- Greeks vs Persians (Persian Wars)
- Byzantine Empire vs Sassanians
- Vikings vs Franks
- English Longbows vs French Heavy Cavalry
- Romano-britans vs Anglosaxons
- Spanish Tercios vs England/France/Netherlands
- Spanish Conquerors vs Mayas/Aztecs/Incas
- French Cuirassers vs British Squares
- Egypcian vs Hittites

I agree with1830 in some proporsals

Report this comment

Nicum
10-Feb-2012 17:26

It's un excellent idea! I agree also with Unterschütze, keep away with what-if scenarios. They are already good suggestions, I think you have two options, to choose elite soldiers that confronted themselves (see Stonewall 115 or 1830 posts) or lesser known subjects as TonyCas562 indicated.
The topics depends also on the possibility of documentation, study.
Personally, I prefer to be as possible an entire or almost original serie.
So, I would add some examples:
17th Century
Polish-Lithuanian hussars vs Cossacks
18th Century
Black Hussars vs Austrian Dragoons
WWI
Alpenkorps vs Romanian Mountain Huntsmen

Report this comment

jonandoni
10-Feb-2012 17:30

I like the idea, and I agree with Unterschütze and Railok.

Report this comment

peltaste
10-Feb-2012 19:26

It sounds good, I agree with the idea of Stonewall115 :
Here are some themes :
- Peltasts vs Spartan hoplites
- Celtics warriors vs Roman Legionnaries
- Afghan Mujahideen vs Soviet troops
- Heavy French cavalery vs British infantery
- Federales" vs. Zapatistas/Villistas (Mexican Revolution)
- Zulu Wariors vs British infantery
- French knights vs Swiss infantery (Italy XVIe century)

Report this comment

formwiz
11-Feb-2012 00:29

1830's idea of US Airborne vs Panzertruppen (Ardennes 1944) and Peltaste's Heavy French cavalry vs British infantry are the sort of thing I had in mind, a little better expressed.

Something where they types or other factors make the match-up out of the ordinary or unexpected.

Report this comment

Great Khan
11-Feb-2012 17:22

How about Shaolin Monks vs Japanese Pirates (the battle of Wengjiagang, July 1553)

Report this comment

TonyCas562
11-Feb-2012 20:39

I just wanna give a shout out to some of the other reviewers' title suggestions because I believe supporting popular and mutual interests among fellow Osprey community members. The "ayes" have it from me on the following:
Hammerfest-Perth: Hey, buddy, I too want to see more titles on the Russo-Japanese War. It might have been a somewhat geographically isolated conflict, but hey, Mother Russia vs. the Rising Sun?????? ABSOLUTELY!
Stonewall115: Love the idea about "1921: IRA vs. Black & Tans/Auxies",still an underappreciated subject.
1830: "US Cavalryman vs. Sioux Warrior", Little Bighorn and other US Cav engagements with the likes of Comanches and Apaches is always exciting reading : D, also "British Airborne vs. Waffen-SS (Arnhem 1944)--just brutal and exhilirating exchanges of fire and blood!
albertomv: "English Longbows vs. French Heavy Cavalry"--I'm so there with you on that one!
Nicum: I like all your suggestions but esp. "Polish-Lithuanian Hussars vs. Cossacks". I just saw the 1960s version of Taras Bulba for the first time recently and was instantly captivated.
peltaste: Thumbs up for "Afghan Mujahideen vs Soviet troops", this area definitely needs better, less Western/capitalist bias in its coverage.
Keep 'em coming, everybody!

Report this comment

Darren
13-Feb-2012 14:26

British/Commonwealth Mounted infantry Vs Boer Commando 1900
Royal Marine Troop Vs Argentine Marine Troop 1982
Australian Infantry Platoon Vs Japanese Infantry platoon Kokhda 1942
British Army Patrol Vs Indonesian Army section 1964
Australian Infantry Company Vs North Vietnamese Company
Sayret Golani Vs PLO southern Lebanon 1984

Report this comment

1830
16-Feb-2012 00:36

My order of preference for the new series names suggested in the survey (in decreasing order of importance):

1º Combat
2º Versus
3º Skirmish
4º Battle
5º Duel Warrior

My personal suggestion is "Warrior versus Warrior" .

Report this comment