help! advice on early selecuid list needed!

[OldenTired]

i'm finding that the early successor list is not so competitive... mostly because i'm trying to load up on the heavy stuff, and it limits the number of BG i can have.

but!

i think this list might be a bit better though. advice would be much appreciated

6x Persian Javelins LF Unprotected Average Drilled Javelins
4x Thracian Light Horse LH Unprotected Average Drilled Javelins Light spear
4x Mede Light Horse LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow
6x Arachosian Light Horse LH Unprotected Average Drilled Javelins Light spear
6x Persian Bows LF Unprotected Average Drilled Bow
6x Persian Javelins LF Unprotected Average Drilled Javelins
6x Cretan Bows LF Unprotected Superior Drilled Bow
6x Persian Cavalry Cv Armoured Average Undrilled - Light spear Swordmen
8x Thorakitai HF Armoured Average Drilled - Offensive spearmen
8x Thracian Foot MF Protected Average Undrilled - Offensive spearmen
12x Phalangites HF Protected Average Drilled - Pikemen
12x Argyraspids HF Protected Superior Drilled - Pikemen Pikemen
6x Xystophoroi Cv Armoured Superior Drilled - Lancers Swordmen

C-In-C TC - - - - - - CinC 1
Subs TC - - - - - - - 1
Subs FC - - - - - - - 1

13 BG all up, as in order of march.

i'm thinking that seeing at least half his army before placing my first shock troop will help.

[madmike111]

What is with all the junk lights?

In all my armies the lights generally just annoy the other sides lights until the main battle lines hit, after that the lights almost never do much else.

I would cut down on the lights (or downgrade) and add another fighting unit. I have been trying out poor light foot and it doesn't seem to achieve much less than the average or superior light foot.

If it was my list I would fit in another pike unit or cav unit.

[SirGarnet]

I think the poor lights are intended as BG filler, camp guards and cheap screening for the Pikes? You might find 4 cheap LH are more tactically useful filler than 6+ LF.

People have advanced the thought that since much of a Hellenistic army is built around covering the phalanx to allow it to close on its target, delaying the Pikes to the end of the order of march achieves little since it will be fairly obvious before then where it must go. Often an offensive wing will go on one side and a defensive one (which might include the spears) on the other, and holding back those deployments can be more useful than deferring the Pikes.

Also, Dr. Scott has offered the sage prescription that medium foot should generally be deployed last since it tends to be match-up sensitive, If it is tasked for terrain clearance or defense, earlier deployment should be fine.

Mike

[OldenTired]

What is with all the junk lights?

In all my armies the lights generally just annoy the other sides lights until the main battle lines hit, after that the lights almost never do much else.

I would cut down on the lights (or downgrade) and add another fighting unit. I have been trying out poor light foot and it doesn't seem to achieve much less than the average or superior light foot.

If it was my list I would fit in another pike unit or cav unit.

there are no more cav units! the lights are the only way to fill out the army. i could add another pike unit (say by getting rid of the thracians), but pikes have proven vulnerable to lights.

it's a bit of a catch-22.