EIR or LRR???? and 6's or 4's for the HF

[nigelemsen]

Hi,

Played a few test games with LRR (max'd HF and yes with the Elites) and played a few EIR games (balance of the MF/CV/HF)... Tried the 4x and 6x element BG comb's. I am building a general 15mm "all round" type of list for the moment. Yes you cant cover all the options, but still....

fun point: the elite HF BG's did seem seem to have an opponent player zone of infleuence, well worth the high level of pts to see the look on their faces as they go out

Seriously.

LRR are linear, but for me easier the play. (In that I am actually starting to win a few games and yes before the Oxford Club members jump in it has only taken 15yrs at the club... The elite foot+TC I use to hold up Knights and even push back Cv. The Sup HF just cover the over roles on the board. I even sent them into Terrian without too many mishaps. ( I DONT do the gamey "Marion Roman" +Art + TF option).

EIR provide a more balanced army with drilled CV and a unit of MF with LSp and a unit of MF (Bow). But fewer SUP HF. Although there are lots of evidence to do locally researched "themed" army. Which I think is also part of the hobby.

Questions:
1. Which do people think would provide a the better all round army for club and the occasional comp play?
2. Roman HF. 6's or 4's? (Protection v's shooters or manoverablity/higher army break point)

Any thoughts?
Thanks
Nigel

[neilhammond]

Questions:
1. Which do people think would provide a the better all round army for club and the occasional comp play?
2. Roman HF. 6's or 4's? (Protection v's shooters or manoverablity/higher army break point)

After experimenting with LRR (which I took to Helsinki and enjoyed using) I'd go for BGs of 4. Provided they don't get isolated even as 4's they're resiliant against shooting because you need 5's to hit.

The EIR is probably a better all-rounder.

Neil

[daleivan]

I'm painting up an LRR army that can morph into early Principate (Augustan). I like both but lean towards the LRR for the moment. I've ran LRR using other figures for practice against Indo-Greeks (three times), Gallic (twice), Pontic and other LRR once each.

I like the focus of an LRR army on the legions, backed by a variety of barbarian auxilia you can add (I like the Spanish but the others certainly have their uses) and allies if need be. I also like the fact that the legions can range in quality from all being superior to some as average or elite. I have tried poor in the civil war battle and they did o.k. considering. It certainly gave the Pompeian side more bases

Against armies with pike I've used a couple of six base battle groups of average legionaries for more staying power and frontage against the pikes, since superior swords aren't necessary against pike, and used four base superior BGs on the wings and in reserve. It works, but I do hate giving up the maneuver elements.

Cheers,

Dale

[nigelemsen]

I am going to go for the LRR. using average impact foot (6's) to stand off pikes... missed that one on the SSw . I prefer the sup/elite fours to maintain the manouverablilty which i think is one of the real strengths of the army...

Using poor to bolster the army break point is something to consider. and then hope to hide them at the back

I am going to use the sup hf as terrian denial troops...

My army has 4x sup, cv,undrilled, prot, JLS to run interferance on the flanks/ mobile rear support.

[nigelemsen]

Here is an attempt at a "big" LRR (797pts)

4 x TC's
2 x BG's of 4x Cv,Undrilled,Average,protected,Lsp,Sw
1x BG of 6x LF, Average run of mill Slingers.
1x BG of 4x Run of mill LH JLS
1x BG of 4x Run of mill LH Bow
3x BG's of 4x HF,Poor,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen (Army padders - See Irr Ax(i) )
2x BG's of 4x HF,Average,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen (Pike matchups)
2x BG's of 4x HF,Elites,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen (Just for fun)
4x BG's of 4x HF,Superior,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen

16 BG's

[daleivan]

Here is an attempt at a "big" LRR (797pts)

4 x TC's
2 x BG's of 4x Cv,Undrilled,Average,protected,Lsp,Sw
1x BG of 6x LF, Average run of mill Slingers.
1x BG of 4x Run of mill LH JLS
1x BG of 4x Run of mill LH Bow
3x BG's of 4x HF,Poor,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen (Army padders - See Irr Ax(i) )
2x BG's of 4x HF,Average,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen (Pike matchups)
2x BG's of 4x HF,Elites,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen (Just for fun)
4x BG's of 4x HF,Superior,Armoured,Impact Foot, Swordsmen

16 BG's

Nigel,

This is an impressively large army
It avoids the problem of buying too many non-legionary troops, a problem I've struggled with a bit.

I don't know if I would go with 12 bases of poor legionaries but since you aren't buying any barbarian 'auxilia' why not? At least try it and find out

I tend to buy the cavalry as superior but this keeps them cheaper. They can always deploy in a single rank and evade from enemy cavalry and generally be a nuisance.

Thanks for sharing this.

Dale

[nigelemsen]

Dale,

thanks. the general game plan is to use the TC's in combat with Average/Elite BG's, hence 4. The roman nobilty do not get chance to grow old in my armies

I use my roman cav as none shooty light horse to refuse against other cv. Or attack skimishers/chase off. I need to check the maths, but dropping one poor BG should pay for upgrading to superior. This will also move the total army size to the magic odd number break point.

Going to work on a swarm MRR although I have found 2 element BG's a bit restrictive.

[ars_belli]

I have tested the 4-base LRR legionaries in some historically-based scenarios, and they appear to work very nicely indeed!

Cheers,
Scott

[Ninthplain]

3 x TC's
2 x BG's of 4x Cv,Undrilled,Superior,protected,Lsp,Sw
1x BG of 6x LF, Average Slingers.
3x BG of 4x LF, Average Javalin
1x BG Elephants
6x BG's of 4 HF,Superior,Armoured,Impact Foot, SSW
1x BG HR, Average, Armoured, Impact, SSW
1x BG of 6 Light horse
1x BG of 6 Ligurian MF, Protected,Average,Undrilled, Lsp
1 Fortified Camp

I basically keep everything together and run it forward. With the camp I get 17 groups.
I was having a decent time with a smaller group version but was getting tired of losing the LF screens. Now they are just there as a delivery system.
<BRIAN>