Almughavars - How do you take them?

pcelella · Post by **pcelella** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 11:28 am

Almughavars in the Catalan Company list can be taken in two different configurations - either as Offensive Spearmen or as Impact Foot, Swordsmen. I was wondering what everyone thought would play better, or which is more historically accurate, or even which one you would prefer to use?

Thanks

Peter C

madcam2us · Post by **madcam2us** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 1:10 pm

In period, Off. Spear. Hands down. Too many kniggets about to risk them as IF/Swd

Open, I would be hard pressed not to take them as OS as well. Too useful versus many different types whereas IF/Swd shine only vs other foot.

However, that being said, I like IF/Swd concept. But rarely do I find it decisive at impact. For some reason, I rarely win impact enough for the extra minus to be handy. Being MF hurts as they still receive the short end when fighting "heavies".

Madcam.

azrael86 · Post by **azrael86** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 2:03 pm

The key point is how they fit into your army (and what proportion of your BG's are almughavars). The main options are Catalan company, within one of the aragonese armies or as an ally. In the first case OS is probably right, but the others they can be IF because you have enough knights that they don't have to fight them.

Even so, its not good to be an IF on the steppe..

ethan · Post by **ethan** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:08 pm

azrael86 wrote:The key point is how they fit into your army (and what proportion of your BG's are almughavars). The main options are Catalan company, within one of the aragonese armies or as an ally. In the first case OS is probably right, but the others they can be IF because you have enough knights that they don't have to fight them.

Even so, its not good to be an IF on the steppe..

Actually on the steppes it isn't a disaster. IF get (+) versus mounted if they are not charging, most things on the steppe don't have lances in the first place so the net effect of being MF OS or MF IF is the same in impact (fight Cv at evens). In the melee phase if the OS is in good order it has an advantage (as the Cv don't get to count swords) but the IF are still at events (sword v sword) so it then depends on armor levels. Of course if the spear are disrupted it is exactly even and at fragmented the IF/Swords have the advantage.

The real problem are knights more than steppe cavalry types.