Heavy weapon protected vs armoured

[Fluffy]

Good morning

I have the choice between 6 avg. armoured and 8 avg. protected HF heavy weapons.
My thinking is that the 6 armoured will test just as often from 6 shooting dice as 8 protected and the 6 are a smaller frontage so will take 6 shots less.
Also the armoured can "punish" enemy for being protected.

So I went with armoured, would anyone like to correct me?.

If you're wondering the heavy weapons are there to support my armoured defensive spear (2x6) in my Later Medieval German army.

[marty]

HW is one of the few times you would consider not taking armour for non skirmisher foot. Normally the decision is easy. For what it is worth I always run my chinese HW as protected even though I can have them as armoured. Many would disagree with me though and I suspect the pros/cons are about even.

Martin

[grahambriggs]

It's a toss up. 8s are more resilient. Armoured give a bit more cut through.

I'm thinking 2x6 defensive spear are there for resilience not cutting through the enemy, since they prefer enemy to come to them. So I might edge towards protected myself.

Plus, in period, there might not be that much protected enemy around to beat up?

I wouldn't worry that much about being shot up either way

[gozerius]

If you are just using them for support, go with protected. buy 6 or even 4 and use the saved points for something else. Also, check out Lost Scrolls for some diversity for Late Medieval German armies. Late Medieval German City Leagues or Late Medieval German Feudal give a broader range of options over the Storm of Arrows: Late Medieval German list. Both army lists in Lost Scrolls give you more armored foot than the LMG list in SoA.
If you like HW, a Swiss ally pre 1425 can provide a nasty shock of up to 24 superior protected HW in 2 or 3 BG.

[grahambriggs]

I suspect he meant support rather than rear support. If two sixes of DS are the only solid foot they'll die through overlaps otherwise.

[gozerius]

Well, without knowing the composition of the rest of the army, its hard to give good advice. Is the armored DSp the only foot in the army besides the compulsary MF Xbow? What is the purpose of the Foot? Are they supporting the knights or are they the main line with the knights and mounted Xbow serving as a counter strike? Since this army lacks universally effective missile troops, how will the Xbows be deployed?
I tend to mass the X bows and use the DSp to protect the flanks of the Xbows, with the HW providing rear support to both. The handgunners screen the DSp and increase the odds of -1 CTs for the shooters targets. I try to skirmish the Xbow armed cav and mass the knights on one flank or the other. I have found that massing the Xbow increases their effectiveness. splitting them up dilutes their shooting. I have been able to outshoot English longbow with this formation. Sometimes.

[IanB3406]

If you are going to face medieval pike armored will stand up to them on even poa in melee.....also think about your opponent.

[Fluffy]

The army looks like this:

4x TC
1x6 LF bows
1x4 LF firearms
1x4 LF firearms (protected)
2x4 LH bows
2x6 MF Xbows
2x6 HF Dep Sp (armoured)
1x6 HF HW (armoured)
3x4 Kn (superior) (dismount as HW)

13 Battle groups at 798 pts total

The idea is a balanced "combined arms"army with knights and\or HF doing most of the work.
The LH are invaluable and make the army worthwhile (IMO), even though they mean NO SWISS.
The Xbows are used to help out where ever they are needed, by helping my LF vs LF , rear support for the HF or to hold terrain.

The HW are there to bulk out my HF line and give the HF some attack potential.

Also note that I learned long ago that trying to run a decent amount of knights and a decent amount of pikes in the same list leaves support for both lacking.

[ravenflight]

Good morning

I have the choice between 6 avg. armoured and 8 avg. protected HF heavy weapons.
My thinking is that the 6 armoured will test just as often from 6 shooting dice as 8 protected and the 6 are a smaller frontage so will take 6 shots less.
Also the armoured can "punish" enemy for being protected.

So I went with armoured, would anyone like to correct me?.

If you're wondering the heavy weapons are there to support my armoured defensive spear (2x6) in my Later Medieval German army.

I believe armour always has its place.

Armoured HW are evens against a pike block for example, and can quickly get an advantage.

[grahambriggs]

The army looks like this:

4x TC
1x6 LF bows
1x4 LF firearms
1x4 LF firearms (protected)
2x4 LH bows
2x6 MF Xbows
2x6 HF Dep Sp (armoured)
1x6 HF HW (armoured)
3x4 Kn (superior) (dismount as HW)

13 Battle groups at 798 pts total

The idea is a balanced "combined arms"army with knights and\or HF doing most of the work.
The LH are invaluable and make the army worthwhile (IMO), even though they mean NO SWISS.
The Xbows are used to help out where ever they are needed, by helping my LF vs LF , rear support for the HF or to hold terrain.

The HW are there to bulk out my HF line and give the HF some attack potential.

Also note that I learned long ago that trying to run a decent amount of knights and a decent amount of pikes in the same list leaves support for both lacking.

I see the plan. I'm not sure that the Germans are necessaily the list for a combined arms approach. Against more heavy duty armies your main line could be overmatched. Against more manouverable enemies your soft stuff might be too easily picked off. I'm looking at you, MF crossbows!

[Fluffy]

I see the plan. I'm not sure that the Germans are necessaily the list for a combined arms approach. Against more heavy duty armies your main line could be overmatched. Against more manouverable enemies your soft stuff might be too easily picked off. I'm looking at you, MF crossbows!

I like the mix of heavy and light troops, compared to the Spanish lists, which I feel have too many lights.

The xbows serve their purpose, but that purpose is being sacrificed to buy time or being bait more often than not.