First FoG army: Alexander's Macedonians

[weavil]

Right so after much dallying and debating I've decided to get started on my first FoG army. I've settled on Alexander's Macedonians and after getting a few samples from different companies decided to go with Xyston Miniatures.

To begin with I'm going with the starter army listed in the Immortal Fire book as having never played before this presents at least somewhere to get started.

Now my current problem and the reason for this post is that I'm a little unsure of which miniatures in the Xyston range are correct for a couple of troop types. So if anyone has some experience in this area and would be kind enough to take a look at my selections below and let me know if I have the right figures that would be a great help.

Agema: I'm guessing these are in effect Alexanders companion cavalry?
Macedonian Companions http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/Macedoni ... hants.html

Greek Mercenary Iphikratean Hoplites: Not sure how generic these are or how they should be armoured, so a very random guess below.
Later Hoplites in linen cuirass http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/Infantry.html


Also with things like officers, musicians, standards etc is there any convention of where these should go on a base and indeed how many you can have or is just to a historically accurate standard?


There's still a little bit left in the budget after getting the figures for the starter army so if anyone has suggestions on some good units to add on I'm all ears. Either something that will make the army more competitive or give it another dimensions to play would be ideal.


Thanks for any and all advice.

[ethan]

There are a couple of things to do with officers, musicians, standards, etc.

- The obvious is to use them for generals. Make a little mini-diorama for your generals base with the great man and some followers.
- I often have one base in 6 or 8 or so have some officers, a standard or a musician on them. This can be handy to help signal where your BGs start and stop and often just looks nice.

[nikgaukroger]

Right so after much dallying and debating I've decided to get started on my first FoG army. I've settled on Alexander's Macedonians and after getting a few samples from different companies decided to go with Xyston Miniatures.

To begin with I'm going with the starter army listed in the Immortal Fire book as having never played before this presents at least somewhere to get started.

Now my current problem and the reason for this post is that I'm a little unsure of which miniatures in the Xyston range are correct for a couple of troop types. So if anyone has some experience in this area and would be kind enough to take a look at my selections below and let me know if I have the right figures that would be a great help.

Agema: I'm guessing these are in effect Alexanders companion cavalry?
Macedonian Companions http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/Macedoni ... hants.html

The Agema were the senior squadron of the Companions - so those chaps are spot on

Greek Mercenary Iphikratean Hoplites: Not sure how generic these are or how they should be armoured, so a very random guess below.
Later Hoplites in linen cuirass http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/Infantry.html

Difficult one as there are contradictory sources I'd refer you to http://www.ne.jp/asahi/luke/ueda-sarson ... ates1.html for a well researched article on these guys - then make your mind up as to what is best. Possibly not the answer you were looking for I'm afraid

[batesmotel]

Right so after much dallying and debating I've decided to get started on my first FoG army. I've settled on Alexander's Macedonians and after getting a few samples from different companies decided to go with Xyston Miniatures.

To begin with I'm going with the starter army listed in the Immortal Fire book as having never played before this presents at least somewhere to get started.

Now my current problem and the reason for this post is that I'm a little unsure of which miniatures in the Xyston range are correct for a couple of troop types. So if anyone has some experience in this area and would be kind enough to take a look at my selections below and let me know if I have the right figures that would be a great help.

Agema: I'm guessing these are in effect Alexanders companion cavalry?
Macedonian Companions http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/Macedoni ... hants.html

Greek Mercenary Iphikratean Hoplites: Not sure how generic these are or how they should be armoured, so a very random guess below.
Later Hoplites in linen cuirass http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/Infantry.html


Also with things like officers, musicians, standards etc is there any convention of where these should go on a base and indeed how many you can have or is just to a historically accurate standard?


There's still a little bit left in the budget after getting the figures for the starter army so if anyone has suggestions on some good units to add on I'm all ears. Either something that will make the army more competitive or give it another dimensions to play would be ideal.


Thanks for any and all advice.

I might try the unarmoured later Theban hoplites http://www.xyston.com/acatalog/info_ANC ... Greek.html for the Iphikratean hoplites. Besides being generally more lightly equipped than normal hoplites, I beleive that one of the reforms mentioned for Iphikrates is a particular type of boot named for him. These figures are wearing boots (vs others which are barefoot) and are suitably lightly equipped.

Chris

[weavil]

Thanks for the replies.

Ethan: Sounds like I've got the right idea on the musicians, standards and such. I like the idea of using them to denote battle groups, gives them a bit more reason for being on the table.

Nikgaukroger: That was a very interesting article, thank you, although I think I may be even more confused now. I've been doing some reading on Alexander and the Macedonians so it was nice to get a few cross references with that article, starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere. It did raise the issue of shields though, which types would I need? Also does anyone know of a good set of transfers for the macedonians?

Batesmotel: I like that we are now looking to see if these tiny little men are wearing boots or not Those seem as good as any of the range though and as I can quote that little reference about the boots to any doubters I'm happy with them.

[nikgaukroger]

Nikgaukroger: That was a very interesting article, thank you, although I think I may be even more confused now. I've been doing some reading on Alexander and the Macedonians so it was nice to get a few cross references with that article, starting to feel like I'm getting somewhere. It did raise the issue of shields though, which types would I need? Also does anyone know of a good set of transfers for the macedonians?

http://www.littlebigmenstudios.com/cata ... /63_86_109

[petedalby]

Xyston is an excellent choice for this army - have fun with it!

[will05]

Hi
Here is what I would use, they come with peltast shields, but you could swap these if you want.
...lightly armoured, boots.....

Peltasts with Attic & Chalkidian helmets--Pack Code - ANC 20032

Peltasts with Boiotian Helmets--Pack Code - ANC 20031

They are in the Greek section on the Xyston web shop.

Will