First try: Anglo-Normans

[Mehrunes]

I'm starting with Normans and as the next tournament will have an OoF- & SoA-theme, here is my first Anglo-Norman list:

1x IC
3x TC

3x4 Kn, Undrilled, Armoured, Superior, Lancers, Swordsmen
1x6 Kn, Undrilled, Armoured, Superior, Lancers, Swordsmen
2x8 HF, Undrilled, Protected, Average, Defensive Spearmen
1x8 MF, Undrilled, Unprotected, Average, Offensive Spearmen
2x6 LF, Undrilled, Unprotected, Average, Bow
1x4 Cv, Undrilled, Armoured, Average, Lancers, Swordsmen

The Welsh are for contesting an important terrain feature, to lengthen the infantry line against appropriate opponents or just providing rear support for the English. The cavalry is for the flank because they are faster and more manouevrable than the knights. The 6s knights are for hitting lone BGs of enemy knights or for providing a suitable unit of Offensive Spear when dismounted. The archers just screen the other knights, who should do the damage.
What do you think?

[spikemesq]

Don't know the Norman list that well, but a 6-pack of Knights is generally a bad idea. I'd make them another 4-pack and use the points elsewhere.

Also, 10 BGs probably don't need IC + 3 TCs. I'd go with IC + 2 TCs if you are concerned about shooting. 4 TCs might be better because more generals will help those Average Off Spear and the Knights.

HTH

Spike

[grahambriggs]

I suspect your Armoured knights will get torn apart by heavily armoured ones in such a theme. Also, your relative lack of skirmishers might mean that they do a lot of charging in silly directions

[dave_r]

Best one I could come up with is thus:

4xTC's
5x4 Kn, Undrilled, Armoured, Superior, Lancers, Swordsmen
3x6 HF, Undrilled, Protected, Poor, Defensive Spearmen
1x8 HF, Undrilled, Protected, Poor, Defensive Spearmen
1x6 MF, Undrilled, Unprotected, Average, Offensive Spearmen
4x6 LF, Undrilled, Unprotected, Average, Bow

14 BG's 800 pts on the nose

I wouldn't say it is a particularly competative army, but it is certainly a lot of fun

[Mehrunes]

Many thanks for your input. It's the first medieval army for me so the composition of these armies is entirely new for me. So you suggest more or less one skirmisher BG for each knight BG?

I thought the IC might be useful to manouevre this critical BG of knights and of course help against the knights disrupting from shooting.
But maybe he is not needed if the knights are better screened.

Aren't 6s of poor spearmen too juicy targets? I like to have third rank reserves on spearmen, so 8s would be my choice. Especially when poor.

I know that I will suck against the better armoured knights in the theme, but that is a problem of the army, not the list.
I thought maybe 6s of armoured knights might be useful against 4s of heavily armoured ones?

Don't you find the cavalry useful? What's with MF bowmen?

[philqw78]

Armoured knights will not be helped by larger BG. The HA knight BG will just stand closer together. Numbers will only tell at the extremities. Then only 2 dice. If you are not 2 bases wider at impact you are going to be on the same number of dice as he expands to match.

[dave_r]

Many thanks for your input. It's the first medieval army for me so the composition of these armies is entirely new for me. So you suggest more or less one skirmisher BG for each knight BG?

Well, it isn't ideal, but the Anglo-Norman list doesn't give a lot of options

I thought the IC might be useful to manouevre this critical BG of knights and of course help against the knights disrupting from shooting.
But maybe he is not needed if the knights are better screened.

Very true, but to be honest, none of the troops in the army are particularly brilliant, so you really need the numbers and an IC was a luxury I just couldn't convince myself was worth it!

Aren't 6s of poor spearmen too juicy targets? I like to have third rank reserves on spearmen, so 8s would be my choice. Especially when poor.

Yes, they are very juicy targets - unfortunately, so are average, undrilled, protected spearmen. Therefore they sit on the wing or guard the baggage.

I know that I will suck against the better armoured knights in the theme, but that is a problem of the army, not the list. I thought maybe 6s of armoured knights might be useful against 4s of heavily armoured ones?

IF you come up against H. Armoured Knights you've just got to pray you win the impact or make sure you have loads more dice. Or throw better dice than your opponent Apart from that you are in trouble. You can use the LF to tempt a charge if you get around his flank, but that isn't massively likely with undrilled Knights!

Don't you find the cavalry useful? What's with MF bowmen?

No, I don't find the Cavalry useful is the short answer Average, Cavalry in fours are just a massive target. Ditto the MF bowmen.

Basically, I put down as much difficult going as possible, swamp it with LF and then put the Knights in the gaps. And pray my opponent doesn't have H. Armoured Knights!

[david53]

And pray my opponent doesn't have H. Armoured Knights!

Ah so thats what you do not much of a cunning plan

Just joking much better than mine just depending on getting more hits?