French dismounted knights

Rattleshirt · Post by **Rattleshirt** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:16 pm

Hi there,

I'm looking to expand on my Medieval French. I've got the starter army at 600 points or thereabouts. I'm looking to add to it and want to add a BG of dismounted knights. It gives the option in Storm of Arrows to dismount knights as Superior, Heavy Foot, Heavily armored, undrilled, heavy weapon.

However, there's no actual line for them in the army list in Storm of Arrows... do I just use the points for the knights when mounted? If so, it's not a great value, in my opinion.

Anyway, any help? Do I construct the points myself using the main rulebook... something like 72 points for 6 bases, I think? Thanks!

Steve B

david53 · Post by **david53** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:24 pm

Rattleshirt wrote:Hi there,

I'm looking to expand on my Medieval French. I've got the starter army at 600 points or thereabouts. I'm looking to add to it and want to add a BG of dismounted knights. It gives the option in Storm of Arrows to dismount knights as Superior, Heavy Foot, Heavily armored, undrilled, heavy weapon.

However, there's no actual line for them in the army list in Storm of Arrows... do I just use the points for the knights when mounted? If so, it's not a great value, in my opinion.

Anyway, any help? Do I construct the points myself using the main rulebook... something like 72 points for 6 bases, I think? Thanks!

Steve B

You pay the points for them mounted and play them dismounted.
Dave

Rattleshirt · Post by **Rattleshirt** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:28 pm

Dave, thanks for the quick reply.

I'm disappointed, however. I'm going to have to search elsewhere to give a little bite to my footmen. I've already got voulgiers which are very nice, and peasants which are the other end of the spectrum. And the crossbows are very average...

Ok, back to the army list...

Steve B

daleivan · Post by **daleivan** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:11 pm

FWIW you basically just decide to deploy a knight battle group as dismounting during set-up. I see it more as a way of deciding to use the knights on foot at the last minute; certainly you could decide well advance to do that. You're certainly right that they are expensive to buy as knights but use as dismounted but the nice thing is that you have a choice, and heavily armored heavy weapon superior foot are nothing to sneeze at in my book

Cheers,

Dale

Rattleshirt · Post by **Rattleshirt** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:54 am

Dale, I agree completely. It would be a powerful unit. I'm just trying to expand my current army on a budget. If I'm going to buy a BG of knights on foot, I'm going to use them in my army and that's it. That, and I already have 3 full BG of knights already... so, I'm wondering if that's too many points on the BG when I can use them towards something else.

Then again, I also play friendly games only (no tournies) so if I were over 800 points, it probably wouldn't be a big deal... hmmm...

Redpossum · Post by **Redpossum** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:51 am

daleivan wrote: heavily armored heavy weapon superior foot

OMG yes!

Andy1972 · Post by **Andy1972** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:25 am

Never have played the French.. But i usually never take more than 2 BG's of 4 HA,sup,UD, lance, sword.. They eat up alot of points and once they are commited they are hard to get back in line.. In 15mm i like for my armies to have 12 BG.

hammy · Post by **hammy** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:00 am

I have seen a French army with 24 bases of knights. Granted it was in a 900 point comp but it looked rather intimidating.

From memory it either won big or lost big, no in the middle stuff.

Rattleshirt · Post by **Rattleshirt** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:23 pm

Yeah, I think possum's reaction is along with mine. I'm going for it.

A bit of history here, I play mostly against a HYW English (continental) opponent. We each began with the starter armies in the book and are now ready to upgrade. Well, his army is pretty much foot men, often waiting for me to attack, so he's increasing his mobility with mostly mounted units... some knights, some cavalry, some light horse. I forget the exact details of the HYW English list. And more offensive options, offensive spear allies or some such.

Anyhow, since we're in a bit of an arms race, my philosophy has always been that the strength of the French list is it's knights... so a third mounted BG (I mispoke earlier, I only have two full at the moment) and one on foot to help bolster the foot men... the weakness of the French list. Lots of MF, mostly crossbows which aren't too great unless massed at one target. The voulgiers hold up nicely and I'd like another unit like them. Believe it or not, I also enjoy my 2 points per base peasant levy... they're a great unignorable speed bump that he needs to negotiate whether he likes it or not. I'm also debating the French archers... I'm very envious of the longbow POA, even if they are rated poor.

I started playing the French with knight BG of only 4 bases but they were too vulnerable, especially as they were nearing the longbows. Six bases per BG is much more durable. Perhaps less maneuverable, but I've managed my way around that.... I'd rather hit with a full strength BG than with one that's been disrupted by longbows.

In any case, thanks for the thoughts gents. This thread is really making me analyze what I've got and what I need/want!

Steve B

Redpossum · Post by **Redpossum** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:02 pm

I mean, really!

How many lists in FoG ofer the possibility of HA, Superior foot at all? The HW part is just gravy. Do I understand correctly that HW negates the Skilled Swordsman POA? Could these be legion killers?

If these guys were Drilled, they'd be demi-gods.

"You are Frenchmen. I am your king. There is the enemy. Charge!"

Of course, the guy who said that got his ass handed to him...but his knights attacked mounted.

hazelbark · Post by **hazelbark** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:15 pm

possum wrote: How many lists in FoG ofer the possibility of HA, Superior foot at all?

Not a lot, but they also include some of the Varangians in the Byzantine world, but otherwise dismounted knights. Some lists have them available without horses too!

Do I understand correctly that HW negates the Skilled Swordsman POA? Could these be legion killers?

Well Legion killers maybe not but tough dudes for the legion absolutely.

Dismounted Knights
Heavy Armor +
vs
Legion
S Sword +

The skilled sword negated the heavy weapon. You have it backwards. But ordinary legions with just swordsmen have a problem

nikgaukroger · Post by **nikgaukroger** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:15 pm

possum wrote:
Do I understand correctly that HW negates the Skilled Swordsman POA?

Other way around

GrumblingGrognard · Post by **GrumblingGrognard** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:49 pm

Rattleshirt wrote:I play mostly against a HYW English (continental) opponent....we're in a bit of an arms race...I'm very envious of the longbow POA, even if they are rated poor....

Steve B

Have you looked at the possiblity of a Scottish ally?

GG

Rattleshirt · Post by **Rattleshirt** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:52 am

I have looked at it a bit... but, to get alot of bows, I'd need to pay for a Scottish commander. And I could get HF that are heavily armored, but not the superior rating... but then I couldn't get that third BG of knights... and that's one thing I definitely want. I'm not willing to give up the mobility and the "fear factor" that the knights provide in my opponent. You'd think he was actually on the field facing them as they come in...

Good thoughts though, GG... The Scots would be my choice if I didn't want more knights also...

Rattleshirt · Post by **Rattleshirt** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:07 pm

GrumblingGrognard,

I take it back... I CAN have my third BG of knights as well as taking a decent BG of MAA and decent archers... much better than the French "speedbump" archers. We've decided to up our 600 point armies to 900 points... so that gives me the room to take what I want. Of course he's doing the same, but I think it's time the Scots took the field in support of the French!

Steve B

GrumblingGrognard · Post by **GrumblingGrognard** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:37 pm

Rattleshirt wrote:GrumblingGrognard,

...I think it's time the Scots took the field in support of the French!

Steve B

Well, win or lose with the Scotish there it will at least piss off the English.

GG

Redpossum · Post by **Redpossum** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:01 pm

GrumblingGrognard wrote:
Rattleshirt wrote:GrumblingGrognard,

...I think it's time the Scots took the field in support of the French!

Steve B

Well, win or lose with the Scotish there it will at least piss off the English.

Always a laudable goal in and of itself

ColeF · Post by **ColeF** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:39 pm

nikgaukroger wrote:
possum wrote:
Do I understand correctly that HW negates the Skilled Swordsman POA?

Other way around

Yesss!!!

The roman legions beat EVERYTHING! (except the mongols

)

French dismounted knights

French dismounted knights

Re: French dismounted knights