Ancient Spanish army-Heavy or Medium?

[helot2000]

I've always wanted to paint up an ancient Spanish army. To date, I've been dissuaded by my experience running Gauls where I got tired of being roadkill for my club. I've been peeking at the v2 changes and I'm going to paint up a Spanish army to celebrate version 2. Taking 1/3 of the Scutarii BG as Superior, the increased importance of impact (loser gets and additional -1) and the whole armor change should help move the Spanish from impossible to challenging.

The first decision is whether to build the army as Heavy or Medium foot. The 1/3 limit Superior upgrade is going to mean a max of 16 bases of Superior Scutarii in an army of 48, leaving no room for an allied command. That means if I go heavy, I'll have nothing for terrain except my lights. If I go medium, aren't I going to get rolled up by the Heavies? Clearly, I'm not painting this army up for a tournament but I'd like to be more than a roadbump for my club opponents like I was with my Gauls. Any advice on the Heavy versus Medium thing would be great.

And whats not to love about these guys? Painting these Xyston Scutarii for my Carthaginian army got me hooked!

[Caliph]

I'd base them on the MF sized bases and mix the number of figures on the bases. I did just that with my 25mm Anglo Danish & Viking HF - 3 or 4 single bases and 6, 7 or 8 on double bases. I used the Anglo Danish at Briticon and the Vikings at the club and have had only 2 comments about base sizes and none about the number of figures. And of course, the figures fit on the bases much more easily. You have to define each BG anyway so if you pick them as HF, just tell your opponent.

Personally I think I'd use them mostly as MF and try and have rear support & generals to influence impact.

[helot2000]

Thanks Caliph, I think I'll give it a go as medium and as you suggested, utilize rear support and an IC. I probably need to tweak this a bit but for now...

IC + 3 TC

2 units Scutarii Medium, Superior -16 bases
5 units of Scutarii, Medium, Average - 32 bases
3 Units of Small Shield Cav -12 bases
1 unit of Large Shield - 4 bases
1 Slinger -6 bases
3 units of Caetrati- 22 bases

With a +3 initiative, I'll hope to go first and use a lot of hilly terrain.

[mbsparta]

Cool list ...
Have you thought about building a "Sertorian" army ... A nice mix of Roman goodies and Spanish?
Less of an all Spanish "speed-bump" IMHO.

Just watch your back if you do become Sertorius.

Mike B

[helot2000]

Interesting. All I'd need is 8 bases of Legions. That would give the Spanish a superior heavy foot element. I have 160 Scutarii to paint up but once I'm done, I think I'll grab a few Legionnaire figures and add these as well. Thanks for the suggestion!

[IanB3406]

If you don't go the Roman option, I would consider taking celtibarians mercs as heavy. I seem to remember you have the option this way to mix heavy and medium foot. The issue than is you need to have some way to tell them apart easily. I used to say always take medium foot over heavy foot, as they both are going to loose against Romans or Phalanx, so at least with medium foot you can try somethign with terrain, however with FOG 2.0 it maybe the heavy foot is a better option.


The Sertorius option is a almost a completely different list.

[helot2000]

Ian, an ally would be good but that would screw up the 1/3 BG of Scutarii as superior that way I'm reading the proposed v2 change. I think the Spanish need 2 superior units of Scutarii 8 bases each for some muscle. Maybe I paint and base up the foot as medium on 40 x 20mm bases. If I get rolled over and over and find a medium army is a disaster, I'll simply announce that the whole army is in fact Heavy. This is just for my local club play and they're forgiving this way. Truth is, they'll be salivating to roll up another barbarian army of mine, the buggers!

I'm now thinking I'll run 6 groups of LF (Slinger, Caetrati) in groups of 6 bases and peck at my opponent across the board and from within terrain. And that'll be the key...terrain. With an IC and +3 initiative, I should have a decent chance of getting terrain. If we don't, I'll simply form a Boar's Head formation and yell "charge!"

Just got the first 50 figures primed so I have a little time to lock down on this before I have to base them up.

[helot2000]

After 2 games, I've concluded that Sertorius Lusitanians is the only way to go with ancient Spanish. The results were markedly better than running an Iberian list with all undrilled Medium Foot. Sertorius (IC) gave me a +2 for initiative to pull the Hilly terrain I need plus I passed all of my CMTs. Medium Foot is drilled so they react to the enemy and the 2 BG of Legionaries was instrumental in giving me Heavy Foot where I needed it. Oh, and two BG of 6 bases (out out 6 BGs) of Heavy Caetrati were taken as Superior and that was very useful as well.

So thank you mbsparta as you were right on the button. My Spanish are here and I'll get my Lusitanian v. Early Carthage AAR up shortly: http://twincitiesfieldofglory.blogspot. ... ish%20Army