Early Byz.

madcam2us · Post by **madcam2us** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:05 pm

What about the following...

In march order:
2 * 6xHF Pro,ave + 3 sup LF
2 * 4LH Unp, sup, undrilled bow/swd
1 * 4LH Unp, ave, undrilled Jav/Lt spr
1 * 8LF unp, ave, undrilled, jav/lt spr
1 * 8LF unp, ave, drilled, bow
2 * 4CV arm, ave, drilled, bow/swd

2 * 6CV 1/2 - arm sup, drilled, lance/swd 1/2 arm sup, drilled bow/swd
or
3 * 4CV arm sup, drilled, lance/swd
IC + 2 * TC

Idea being to use drilled status to move, +4 initiative to get terrain and hope the HF hang-on till one of the cav BGs can work a flank.

Thoughts?

Madcam.

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:12 pm

If you only want the infantry to hang on why take more than the minimum. I would take the minimum and use them to guard the baggage or just hide them. Concentrate on the shooty and lancer cav if thats what you're good at.

babyshark · Post by **babyshark** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:28 pm

That looks a lot like the list I came up with, although I made the foot poor to remind myself not to get it involved in any fighting. I was a huge Early Byz fan under DBM*, and look forward to trying them out in FoG.

Marc

* Not that I had huge success with them, to be sure. I did manage to win a small event or two, but could never find the right combo to achieve great fame and fortune. But it is a fascinating period.

IanB3406 · Post by **IanB3406** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:48 pm

One of my favorites as well and I always seemed to roll up when facing Marc - we fought in at least two civil wars and he never learned the tactic ----6:1.

I don't have the book yet but assume the foot are defensive spear. I think they are not bad troops. The archers help bulk up the BG against shooting and they have a decent chance against shock mounted. They are in trouble against impact foot......You could put them first to tempt your opponent to targeting them.

I think the Lance / Bow mixed BG's are better as 4s.

I worry that the 3 LH is not enough.....but don't want to drop anything for it.

Hmmm, maybe I'll use your list at Millenium.

Ian

IanB3406 · Post by **IanB3406** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:50 pm

ps: In DBM I always wanted to move first with this army, and my record was much better when I did. I know this is a different rule set, but getting that first double move could be advantageous.

It's an interesting question to explore with FOG and this army......

madcam2us · Post by **madcam2us** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:34 am

philqw78 wrote:If you only want the infantry to hang on why take more than the minimum. I would take the minimum and use them to guard the baggage or just hide them. Concentrate on the shooty and lancer cav if thats what you're good at.

Taking more than the minimum is necessary if you plan on using them agressively. That is what I mean by hanging on. Being DF SP they are good front line troops. Being average means one has to be semi cautious with them and make sure they are used in conjunction with other BGs.

Placing them first makes the opponent either screen them off or place his IF/Swd opposite. Either way I get to know by how he places his groups...

I like DF SP as mobile terrain and a pivot point.

Madcam.

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:41 am

I thought the legions were light spear in the early Byzantine?

madcam2us · Post by **madcam2us** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:18 pm

Quite right!

Still, Lt spr swd aren't crap troops... nearly but not quite.

Madcam

nikgaukroger · Post by **nikgaukroger** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:43 pm

madcam2us wrote:
Still, Lt spr swd aren't crap troops... nearly but not quite.

So crap that an army based around them won Britcon.

Mind you those were armoured and MF

IanB3406 · Post by **IanB3406** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:27 pm

madcam2us wrote:

Still, Lt spr swd aren't crap troops... nearly but not quite.

I guess i needa pick my book up.....in this case they don't fit near as well and I would rethink using them downgrading them and hiding them in the back may be better. Considering most comps will be open in the US, not sure this army is up to snuff.

Ian

daleivan · Post by **daleivan** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:38 pm

madcam2us wrote:Quite right!

Still, Lt spr swd aren't crap troops... nearly but not quite.

Madcam

Lt spr without sword that's a different matter

Cheers,

Dale

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 4:42 pm

not sure this army is up to snuff.

I think its the best Byzantine in the book!

IanB3406 · Post by **IanB3406** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:25 pm

not sure this army is up to snuff.

I think its the best Byzantine in the book!

--------------------------------------------

OK, but I don't see any Decline and Fall theme's coming up any time in the near future ....so if I bring these guys out it will be against a friendly of the same period (No one has any armies in this period in Dallas that I know of, maybe there is a Sassanid around though).....

or in an open comp. With nothing solid to hold the center as the foot is poop it is to easy to focus on and destroy the mounted. We'll see...as I'm still tempted to bring out B-man and the Biscuit eaters.