Hoplite Greeks

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:59 am

I have been allocated Hoplite Greeks in the IF league B - so I better learn how to use them pronto!

Anybody, not in division B want to give me a game or three? Just name your army(ies) and we can get started.

Morbio · Post by **Morbio** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:08 pm

I don't have IF otherwise I'd love to give you the practice.

My only tip with Pike and Spear armies is that they are made or broken by cohesion. A solid wall is really effective, but disruption and disorder really reduce the effectiveness. Keep them on steady ground and have commanders in close proximity to survive impact (several troop commanders are better than one Inspired IMHO), because once they disrupt it's like a house of cards.

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:26 pm

Morbio wrote:I don't have IF otherwise I'd love to give you the practice.

My only tip with Pike and Spear armies is that they are made or broken by cohesion. A solid wall is really effective, but disruption and disorder really reduce the effectiveness. Keep them on steady ground and have commanders in close proximity to survive impact (several troop commanders are better than one Inspired IMHO), because once they disrupt it's like a house of cards.

Thanks Morbio, I'll put that in my commander's notebook!

I have played with twice before, I think - and I really enjoyed using them, hence my choice for the league. They may be a bit ponderous though against cavalry-oriented armies. I don't know the IF lists very well so I am not sure how many cavalry armies there are. It is mainly pikes and spears, I believe.

TheGrayMouser · Post by **TheGrayMouser** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:39 pm

I enjoy using hoplite armies as well. Unfortunaltely you have a protected hoplite army , and looking at the line up you will be facing and uhhh, it does not look good. The pike armies will be more maneuvable(pikes = drilled, hoplites: generally not ) than you and you will never have a superior weapons sytem to bear whether in offense or defence (pikes always trumps spear in impact and melee, lancers will bowl over your light spear cavalry) I dont belive the Greek hoplite armies have much in the way of mediums or even skirmishers so you will be outgunned there as well. Now if you were armoured it might be different....

I wish i had some advise but i lost (was crushed is more accurate) in last seasons league with a protected Hoplite army (Syracuse) which is much more flexible than the later Greek ones....
Hopefully you will be more flexible/creative with your tactics than I was.

Sorry that i will be coming at you with a horde army

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:54 pm

TheGrayMouser wrote:I enjoy using hoplite armies as well. Unfortunaltely you have a protected hoplite army , and looking at the line up you will be facing and uhhh, it does not look good. The pike armies will be more maneuvable(pikes = drilled, hoplites: generally not ) than you and you will never have a superior weapons sytem to bear whether in offense or defence (pikes always trumps spear in impact and melee, lancers will bowl over your light spear cavalry) I dont belive the Greek hoplite armies have much in the way of mediums or even skirmishers so you will be outgunned there as well. Now if you were armoured it might be different....

I wish i had some advise but i lost (was crushed is more accurate) in last seasons league with a protected Hoplite army (Syracuse) which is much more flexible than the later Greek ones....
Hopefully you will be more flexible/creative with your tactics than I was.

Sorry that i will be coming at you with a horde army

Have I picked a bad army then?

I don't know much about IF and I expect this will be my only excursion into its league (why am I in division B anyway?) - I'm more a medieval chap myself. So my best tactic appears to be to hide my hoplites behind my Spartan allies then?

And to go and stand in the trees if I am being shot at by a wretched horde army.

Sounds like I am going to have a lot of fun.

TheGrayMouser · Post by **TheGrayMouser** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:05 pm

he he, likly not so many shooters with the thracians, but plenti o mediums and roman type infantry.

I know your post said people in same division need not apply, but i am up for a practice match vs your Hoplites vs anyone you chose (maybe a pike one) so you get an idea what the Greeks can and cant do:)

stockwellpete · Post by **stockwellpete** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 4:21 pm

TheGrayMouser wrote:he he, likly not so many shooters with the thracians, but plenti o mediums and roman type infantry.

I know your post said people in same division need not apply, but i am up for a practice match vs your Hoplites vs anyone you chose (maybe a pike one) so you get an idea what the Greeks can and cant do:)

Yes, OK, TGM. Choose a pike army if you like. I'll put the challenge on now, password "hoplite". Thanks.