Need help with my Sassanid army for this week's battle

[Keith]

Above is my army for this weeks battle vs the might of Rome.
My dilema is , should I run 3 units of 4 cataphracts for 2 units of 6 ?

Any other suggestions ?

[caliban66]

I think you have few BG. I would try 3x4 Cat. Six in a line is not very manouverable. You may have to keep some bases in a second line, and that would be a waste of points.

[petedalby]

Personally I'd go with 3 x 4.

I see you have your LH as protected. In the beta test list they were unprotected. I guess we won't know until the list is published but most LH is unprotected.

Pete

[spike]

Personally I'd go with 3 x 4.

I see you have your LH as protected. In the beta test list they were unprotected. I guess we won't know until the list is published but most LH is unprotected.

Pete

Also the majority of the "Cavalry" were not Catafracts but Armoured Bow Sword Cavalry

[rbodleyscott]

Personally I'd go with 3 x 4.

I see you have your LH as protected. In the beta test list they were unprotected. I guess we won't know until the list is published but most LH is unprotected.

Pete

Also the majority of the "Cavalry" were not Catafracts but Armoured Bow Sword Cavalry

Not necessarily. The latest thinking is that the early Sassanid army probably did not differ much from the later Parthian army (whatever that implies).
As a result the Cv are only compulsory after 350 AD.

Last time I used the army I ran 3 BGs of 4 cataphracts. Next time I will run 2 BGs of 6 to get more "bang" from my commanders leading from the front.
This, however, will reduce manouvrability, so I think it is very much "swings and roundabouts".

I don't think I would want to run 2 BGs of 6 cataphracts without Cavalry to protect their flanks.

[shall]

Last time I used the army I ran 3 BGs of 4 cataphracts. Next time I will run 2 BGs of 6 to get more "bang" from my commanders leading from the front.
This, however, will reduce manouvrability, so I think it is very much "swings and roundabouts".

I don't think I would want to run 2 BGs of 6 cataphracts without Cavalry to protect their flanks.

I would go for 2 x 6s personally and try to get a TC in with each.

Si

[nikgaukroger]

I think you have few BG. I would try 3x4 Cat. Six in a line is not very manouverable. You may have to keep some bases in a second line, and that would be a waste of points.

Not sure why you'd want to use catafracts in a single line anyway, except perhaps against LH

Remember they have melee dice like cavalry - I wonder if you are having a DBM-esque moment and are thinking of them as knights?

[Keith]

Ok thanks guys.
Now I only have 9 BG's.
Should I try and increase the numberof BG's by splitting up my LH and LF into smaller BG's ?
This would increase the break point at which my army will rout , but make by BG's more fragile ?

[neilhammond]

Now I only have 9 BG's.
Should I try and increase the numberof BG's by splitting up my LH and LF into smaller BG's ?
This would increase the break point at which my army will rout , but make by BG's more fragile ?

Always a difficult call. 10 BG at 650 is probably okay so maybe create one more BG.

[Keith]

Ok thanks
I have split the LF archers into 2 units of 4.
Thats gives me 10 BG's.

I think I'll stick with 2 BG's of 6 Cataphracts , with a TC in each , I will have to use the elephants and Camels to protect their flanks , the Poor HF might have a job there too.

[Mac]

I can reveal that I am Prefect Macius, and I will be on the receiving end of this list on Friday.

I am fielding a battle group centered around a detachment of Legio VI Herculia. This places our little battle somewhere around 285AD.

I wish I had painted fewer Medium Foot! I have four Auxiliary Cohorts.

Juno help me!

But I suggest that the Sassanids closely read Dio! I have some surprises ready.

[donm]

I ran Sassanids in the Clevedon 25mm competition last year. The only problem I came up against was Richard's Romans, which I realy didn't have an answer for. Anyway here is that list plus the main one I used when play testing.

Clevedon Comp

2 x TC

2 x 6 LF slingers
3 x 4 Cv bow
2 x 2 elephants

1 x TC Sabir Ally

2 x 4 LH bow swordsmen
2 x 8 HF impact foot swordsmen


Test games

2 x TCs
1 x 6 LF sling
1 x 6 LF bow
2 x 4 LH bow
3 x 4 Cv bow
2 x 4 cataphracts
2 x 2 elephants

Hope this helps

Don