V2 Hoplites vs Spara Bara

[Vespasian28]

One wrinkle is we gave the bog standard Persian bow/lt spear armed medium foot large shields (mounted like stakes ) which could be put down as a temporary defence - we gave the Greeks a -1 POA in the impact phase only versus these

I have seen this mooted before but in my experience the Persians don't need it as they are likely to win the impact phase already and don't need any more help to make it a certainty.

[MikeHorah]

One wrinkle is we gave the bog standard Persian bow/lt spear armed medium foot large shields (mounted like stakes ) which could be put down as a temporary defence - we gave the Greeks a -1 POA in the impact phase only versus these

I have seen this mooted before but in my experience the Persians don't need it as they are likely to win the impact phase already and don't need any more help to make it a certainty.

You are right it was an experiment in verisimilitude and not one I would argue for general use!

[grahambriggs]

One wrinkle is we gave the bog standard Persian bow/lt spear armed medium foot large shields (mounted like stakes ) which could be put down as a temporary defence - we gave the Greeks a -1 POA in the impact phase only versus these

I have seen this mooted before but in my experience the Persians don't need it as they are likely to win the impact phase already and don't need any more help to make it a certainty.

I'd suggest that the list writers have given the sparabara the 'light spear' capability in part to represent the influence of the large shields. My thought for a historical recreation would be to have the persians as bow only, protected but with a mantlet wall. Special rules for this could be:

Takes a move to set up, but can take down at will. Can't shoot while doing that (this should make the Persians await the greek charge as they did historically).

Measure ranges from the front of the wall.

Enemy who charge and who hit the mantlet first are in close combat fight a round of impact then melee against the mantlet. This doesn't fight back and is removed in the JAP of the Persian turn. Troops fighting the mantlet wall can be shot at by the defenders of the wall but at a -1 POA.

Generally, the effect would be that the persians will get in two more rounds of shooting (at a minus), so probably wont's do much harm. The hoplites can then charge the Persians at a +POA, since they are only bowmen.

[Vespasian28]

Interesting idea. I will discuss this with my fellow Plataea players to see if it can be incorporated into next years attempt.

[grahambriggs]

Played a game last night where HF armoured average defensive spear engaged Immortals. The Spear general was sensible and formed 3 deep, added a general and gave rear support. The spear never got enough shooting hits to make them test (4 dice needing 5s against an 8 base unit). The spear lost the impact badly, but that was -2, +2 on the dice so they passed. In melee with a POA the Immortals went down in 3 or 4 melee rounds.