Hittites

[Jodebane]

Hi.

I'm new to field of glory and the community. I thought the hittite army list in Swifter Than Eagles looked really cool with all those chariots, so I ordered everything in the starter army. What I need now is tactical advice. I need to know their strengths and weaknesses. I would also like advice for playing against Principate Romans from Legions Triumphant because I will be playing against them frequently.

Thanks.

[deadtorius]

When fighting Romans if they are superior armoured, then staying back and shooting them down is a good idea. I think you will end up getting slaughtered when they close with you as the skilled swords and superior re-rolls will spell doom for you army. Check the POA's and see where you can get even or up on them in impact and melee. Light chariots can bugger off like Cav if charged, so move and shoot might work for them. If possible (and thats a big if) try to get flank or rear charges on them, you will be ++ at impact and hope for the best as far as disordering them and hoping for a fragged result goes. Try to fight them so you can get overlaps, use light troops to try and force an impetuous charge. If they charge your line and you have lights out front and your lights will not cover the entire Roman line, try to see if your lights will stand. That will break up their line and you might get some overlaps in the ensuing melees till the lights die.
Of course loaded dice and lots of luck can always help too

[hazelbark]

I'd say versus Romans you have only one troop type that can beat the legion and that is the heavy chariot. When you go in, fight with generals wheel hub to hub, try and get overlaps. Maybe have 1 BG of Chariots in the middle fight 3 wide and have the 1 base back to fill in or expand on losses.

Then actually people underate the Drilled Lt Spear/Sword. They will get slaughter head on to the legion, but 2 should be able to outflank the roman line that gets anchored on rough terrain.

The issue is how much of the Pricniapte forces are MF. If they don't have much then terrain is your friend. If they have a lot then hit the MF inthe open with your chariots.

I'd bring the gasgans but do not send them into skilled swordsmen. Use them against the MF. Or use them to pin and be destroyed byt he Roman center, while your chariots break the flanks.

Attack the Roman mounted it shoud be vulnerable to the bow fire.

But your drilled MF should keep seeking the flank of the roman line. Stretch the roman out. If the roman turtles up, then taunt him repeatedly.

[SirGarnet]

I'll echo Hazelbark and elevate one of his themes to a principle - outwing the Roman and either stretch his front out or outflank him. With gaps or angles to exploit you can converge shooting or seek close combat with overlaps.

[deadtorius]

I haven't had to deal with Principate just republican and Imperial Romans, but my experience has been that in 25mm anyway they can get pretty close to covering one table end to the other so not much room to get on the flanks. Those little 4 BG's are a pain, they can maneuver well and are hard to flank. Going for the cav and the auxiliaries is probably your best bet, but the chariots would probably give the legions a hard time alright. I just find there are so many of them its hard to get overlaps and all that they can't counter. try to delay the hit with the Legions and go for the support troops first if you can, get his battle group losses up before he gets a chance to slaughter you

[elysiumsolutions@fsmail.n]

I played against Hittite last night and Phil pointed out to me that Hvy Chariots with light spear are the only troops who are at + vs impact foot in the impact phase.
So I would max out your hvy chariots give them generals and try and ride him down.
Terrain is not to bad as the unprot def spears are at even in impact (if they dont charge) and if they dont disrupt evens in melee vs the aux. They are only 2/3 the cost.

Paul Longmore

[timmy1]

As a Principate Roman player, Hittites are the army I most fear coming to grips with. Everything else I want to melee soonest - not Hittites.

[david53]

I played against Hittite last night and Phil pointed out to me that Hvy Chariots with light spear are the only troops who are at + vs impact foot in the impact phase.
So I would max out your hvy chariots give them generals and try and ride him down.
Terrain is not to bad as the unprot def spears are at even in impact (if they dont charge) and if they dont disrupt evens in melee vs the aux. They are only 2/3 the cost.

Paul Longmore

Who won then Paul

[elysiumsolutions@fsmail.n]

It was the best terrain I have ever rolled with 3 pieces of rough (one max sized) all across the centre.

In a comp I think Phil would have sat in the open on his backline and challenged me to come out but he made a game of it by flank marching and attacking through the 12 inch gap at the edge. His chariots did ride down a legion.

It was 6AP each after 5 hours 20min when we called it a day (everyone else at the club had gone home). He had 12 BG and I had 18BG.

So a 12-8 draw.

As always with Phil it was a fun game.

Paul Longmore