Who Deserves Inspirational Commanders

[philqw78]

Caesar often describes himself as joining with particular legions in order to bolster their courage, and Alexander is usually described in the historical sources as fighting at the head of the Companion cavalry. If we take those sources as accurate, then it would seem perfectly reasonable to restrict the influence of those commanders

This was posted on a different thread but should they then be considered IC? Scott.

[SMK-at-work]

At some level all commanders are inspirational - anyone who can get men to front up to the possibility of being stuck in het guts with a spear has to have somethign going for them!!

[ars_belli]

Caesar often describes himself as joining with particular legions in order to bolster their courage, and Alexander is usually described in the historical sources as fighting at the head of the Companion cavalry. If we take those sources as accurate, then it would seem perfectly reasonable to restrict the influence of those commanders

This was posted on a different thread but should they then be considered IC? Scott.

As I have mentioned in yet another thread, I think that it really depends on whether you are attempting to recreate a historical battle, or you are setting a general rating for 'balanced' tournament play. In a historical scenario (which is my much preferred mode for wargaming), Caesar could be an IC if in that battle he observed the engagement from behind the lines and isssued orders to a large number of his units (which sometimes occurred historically), or he could be a TC if during the battle he attached himself to an individual legion in order to prevent it from routing (which also occurred historically). Likewise for Alexander or any other army commander - it really depends on which AoW rating most accurately reflects his role in the particular battle being represented. It might even be most historically accurate for a C-in-C's rating to change during a single battle!

I don't really have any interest in tournament gaming, but it seems to me that the most 'balanced' thing to do would be to provide the option of an Inspired C-in-C to any player who wishes to expend the points for it, just as for any other army list feature. I think that a 'mandatory' IC would fairly apply only to those commanders for whom is could be documented that they always (or at the very least least normally) enjoyed that level of command historically.

As always, just my two denarii's worth.

Cheers,
Scott K.

[shall]

I don't really have any interest in tournament gaming, but it seems to me that the most 'balanced' thing to do would be to provide the option of an Inspired C-in-C to any player who wishes to expend the points for it, just as for any other army list feature. I think that a 'mandatory' IC would fairly apply only to those commanders for whom is could be documented that they always (or at the very least least normally) enjoyed that level of command historically.

The author view too. And more fun to debate this. I like refights and campaigns most and will choose the grading to fit the battle. Cesar at Pharsalus (IIRC) is an IC in naction in my view. Pompey is too by prior proven results. But that's just my view so no need for anyone to be bound by it by having it hard wired into the rules.

By the way a generals influence range drops dramatically if he enters combat...so in fact Alexander as as IC has a wide effect until he joins a charge and then instead a larger still but much more local effect, anmd even larger still if he dies. The rules already do this automatically for all generals. I don't want to go into the details of how, but this is the gist of what happens in the mechanisms.

Si

[philqw78]

enjoyed that level of command historically.

But is it a level of command or inspiration in the game, or both? Do the nearby troops get to pass morale tests more easily or complicated manouvres become easier, or both? But different types of generals are needed. A general could be tactically sound at getting his men to do the right thing at the right time, but his men are happy to leave the field given an excuse, or he could be tactically inept, putting his troops in the wrong place, not caring about subtle monouver, but his men will willingly fight to the death for him/her (not wishing to offend fans of Boudicca or Xenobia)?[/b]

[ars_belli]

By the way a generals influence range drops dramatically if he enters combat...so in fact Alexander as as IC has a wide effect until he joins a charge and then instead a larger still but much more local effect, anmd even larger still if he dies. The rules already do this automatically for all generals. I don't want to go into the details of how, but this is the gist of what happens in the mechanisms.

So the AoW ratings represent a commander's relative leadership ability overall, and can be modified by battlefield circumstances. Sounds excellent to me!

Cheers,
Scott K.

[ars_belli]

But is it a level of command or inspiration in the game, or both? Do the nearby troops get to pass morale tests more easily or complicated manouvres become easier, or both? But different types of generals are needed. A general could be tactically sound at getting his men to do the right thing at the right time, but his men are happy to leave the field given an excuse, or he could be tactically inept, putting his troops in the wrong place, not caring about subtle monouver, but his men will willingly fight to the death for him/her (not wishing to offend fans of Boudicca or Xenobia)?[/b]

This is from the "Rome Slaughters Sassanid Invaders" battle report thread:

Finally, the Roman commander was highly talented (an inspired commander in AoW terms) whereas the Sassanid commander was competent (a field commander). An inspired commander is represented on the table by an increased command range and an increased ability for troops within that command range to pass morale tests (called ???cohesion tests??? in AoW).

The AoW authors and playtesters would be able to provide additional insight.

Cheers,
Scott K.

[pzroque]

Hello.

Some Inspiring commanders i know:

Viriatus - II BC: Already mentioned in other post. Probably not very briliant in big manouvre, but very strong uniting vrey tribes to fight a common enemy, Fought the romans for 7 years and get a "Friend of the republic" status, whitch the next consul ignores (returning to the fight). Died by trachery.

Sertorius - I BC: One of the most briliant roman generals ever, standing agains other great names of their time (Sulla, Pompey, etc), whith inferior numbers, and whith less trained troops (witch he tought roman signals and manouvres).

And now, mention to some portuguese inspiring commanders:

Afonso Henriques (The conquerour/ the founder) XII AC: The portuguese first King, gaining the independence agains its casltillian cousin, and standing agains its mother. Althou not briliant in manouvre, its a inspiration to his contrymen, and a guy feared by is enemyes. He fought agains Calstilians and Mours, geting very important Cities, like Lisbon and Santar?©m. He get help from 2nd Crusaders from North europe in the siege of Lisbon. It is said he fought thill 80' (probably esagerated) years old, and that e is a giant - 2,2 meters) which have a huge sword (using it whith one hand) which other man can only handle whith two hands. The mith that its sword is 15 Kg is obvious wrong, but his height, his streght and is logeviness are probable.

D. Nuno ??lvares Pereira (O Condest??vel) XIV AC: In 1383 a crisis in portuguese court have emerged, and the castilian king have some blood rights to the portuguese reign, but in other hand ther is a faction who is for portuguese independence, and suported D. Jo??o I (Grand Master of the Avis Order). The Condest??vel was a fierce suporter of the independence, and in the Aljubarrota Battle (1385), Atuleios, etc ,played a decisive role to the sucess of pro independence faction, even convincig the Future king of Portugal t take arms agains the suposed military superior castillians, and always inspiring the his suporters.





I dont know if anyone have mentioned this generals:

Kublay Kan
Mammud the Gaznavid
Timur

If do you think that this iformations have some utility to the rules construction, about the inspiring commanders, i can provide more info if you ask.



Tankyou for your time, and sory for my lausy english (not used to write it).

Regards
Pedro