Field Fortifications Anyone??

[Blathergut]

Curious if anyone (in particular Romans) has tried field fortifications (ditches, etc...as in the roman lists @ 3pts ea)...and how well/not so well they worked.

Defended with anything in particular? How did/does LF fair when holding behind it? Did it delay/hold the ever-present roman-flank-collapse?

Artillery behind? Anyone have that hit? How does it fair?

Dan T.

[gozerius]

I have tried using field fortifications with my Low Countries army. I put up a ditch and bank with the 3 BG light artillery behind it. Then flanked it with 2 BG 8xOSp on both sides. MF Xbow on the left and MF Lbow on the right. The HF HW backed up the arty and the small BG of KN were a reserve. My opponent weighted one flank and crushed me like a grape. The arty never got off a shot. I blame a too defensive posture that kept me immobile too long to reinforce the pressured flank. Also putting all the arty in one basket was foolish. Better to have split it up and tried to set up converging fire zones than a solid wall of arty that could be screened and avoided. I'm considering creating V shaped fortifications so my guns can shift fire without losing their protection. Sure, it would require passing a fistful of CMTs, but it could work.

[expendablecinc]

I have tried using field fortifications with my Low Countries army. I put up a ditch and bank with the 3 BG light artillery behind it. Then flanked it with 2 BG 8xOSp on both sides. MF Xbow on the left and MF Lbow on the right. The HF HW backed up the arty and the small BG of KN were a reserve. My opponent weighted one flank and crushed me like a grape. The arty never got off a shot. I blame a too defensive posture that kept me immobile too long to reinforce the pressured flank. Also putting all the arty in one basket was foolish. Better to have split it up and tried to set up converging fire zones than a solid wall of arty that could be screened and avoided. I'm considering creating V shaped fortifications so my guns can shift fire without losing their protection. Sure, it would require passing a fistful of CMTs, but it could work.

If your bastion is too strong noone will attack it and you'll be relegated to waiting for your supporters to be ridden down or you'll have to abandon your FO.

I have used them a bit with the assyrians and dotting the FO here and there doesnt give away where you are going to be and ensures you have a bit of a boost no matter where the fight takes place along your line. I am finding them good for getting an extra 5 inches in and moving away from them at turn 1 so perhaps they will act as a good launchpad for you legions. Then you can have lesser troops move up to the FO to defend them if necessary.

My suspicion is that they are not worth the points in the Assyrian list and may be better is a larger army of rubbish (Ming anyone?) where points are more available.

[ars_belli]

One way to do goad your opponent into attacking your legions would be with ballistae/bolt shooters, and protecting these with field fortifications is a must.

Cheers,
Scott