Fictional ancient wargaming: gaming The Sunbird

[Pijlie]

Recently I have been re-reading The Sunbird, a 1972 novel by Wilbur Smith. It is probably the only Wilbur Smith novel I really like and have read more than once, despite its obvious sexism, racism and dodgy political views, which would even in the 70ies have been rather wobbly. But you may think a lot of things about mr Smith, but my point of interest here is the subject of the novel and its possibilities for war gaming.

The novel is a two-part story in which the first modern storyline about an archaeological discovery of an ancient Punic city in South Africa, intrigue, violence and terrorism in 1970ies South Africa is mirrored in the second story of the King and High priest of the fictional city of Opet around its fall in 500 AD.

The novel is based on the premise that survivors of the sack of Carthage fled the city in a small fleet of ships, sailed south along the African coast and founded the city of Opet on the shores of an inland sea near the border of modern South Africa and Zimbabwe. Opet was based on the Carthaginian model of slave labour and trade and flourished in the 600 years of its existence. Opet came under pressure from the southward Bantu migrations and was finally destroyed when a former slave united the tribes that had been raided for slaves by Opet for centuries, triggered a massive slave revolt and overran the city, eventually utterly destroying it in a similar way as the complete destruction of Carthage 600 years earlier. The second storyline ends with the fall of Opet and ties up with the first story again.

The book has wonderfully exotic battle scenes with small Carthage-style armies, complete with elephants against the massive regiments of the black tribes attacking Opet. Its tribal enemies are clearly based on the Zulu and the Matabele of the 19th century. There are some quirky bits, like the "Carthaginian axeman", of whom I have no historical knowledge at all and the fact that the Opetians domesticated African elephants, but the whole fluff is very inspiring.

Now I own a Carthaginian army (and elephants), surely there must be a lot of Zulus aroundin the world so my question is, has anyone done this and what rules were used?

[toxicpixie]

/stock answer for Ancients - use Impetus, they're great rules

[Zippee]

Not done it - thought about it when I first read Sunbird in the 70s though 

Also recently re-read it, last year 

Would also second the recommendation - Impetus

Carthage is readily modelled as per standard lists (no Iberians, Celts or cavalry though - probably replaced with local tribes with similar stats.), the Bantuesque would be Zulu looking I agree - Large units of impetuous FL in impetus terms, so err Gauls basically (without the cavalry).

I think the axemen thing comes from cave art in Zimbabwe and has some (slightly iffy) analogies with Bhaal priests in Phoenician art.

[Leman]

Also recommend Impetus. I base 10mm armies on 60mm frontage and use the 15mm Us for measurement (U = unit of measurement)

[Bodvoc]

Same as Dour Puritan, 10mm figs on 6cm bases, also recommend Impetus, although have been playing Sword and Spear recently. also a great set of rules and uses the same base sizes.

[toxicpixie]

We use 80mm wide bases for Impetus in 10mm, works very well on that as well.

Proto-Zulu - I suspect the actual "armies" of the time would be more likely modelled as FL & S with javelins than Gallic style warband but it's probably not true to the book that way Would there be any sufficiently good close order to warrant decent FP warband (or even FP Legion style?)?