Pontic Pikes and Legionaries - 28mm

[Mithridates]

I am re-hashing/up-dating my Pontics after a long absence from wargaming and was hoping I could get some thoughts on the FoG list.

You are allowed to mix a limited number of imitation legionaries with pike - I am always curious why this is so? Did not Mithridates raise Roman style troops only after the pikes were destroyed?

On the subject of pikes - both FoG and WRG allow a mix of brazen shields and freed slave phalangites. My question is whether the freed slaves were raised only after the brazen shields were destroyed in the early wars?

In the Bosphoran list there is allowance made for armoured city militia - could one argue that Mithridates had access to the same troops?

What would be your recommendations for Pontic heavy cavalry in 28mm - assuming that these 'knights' are on (partially) armoured horses, javelins and shields. I have some BattleStandard late Achaemends that are certainly impressive!

Grateful any comments.

Thanks

Garry

[rbodleyscott]

You are allowed to mix a limited number of imitation legionaries with pike - I am always curious why this is so? Did not Mithridates raise Roman style troops only after the pikes were destroyed?

He had some Roman exiles before that - see Appian. They are mentioned as deployed in one battle - I don't recall which off the top of my head.

On the subject of pikes - both FoG and WRG allow a mix of brazen shields and freed slave phalangites. My question is whether the freed slaves were raised only after the brazen shields were destroyed in the early wars?

No, they weren't.

In the Bosphoran list there is allowance made for armoured city militia - could one argue that Mithridates had access to the same troops?

Well they are militia, and you would not expect them to fight outside the Bosporus. The Pontic list is not really intended to cover the army of the Bosporus under Pontic domination.

[Mithridates]

Thanks for the advice - will do some more reading.

Must have been a lot of disgruntled Romans out there to fill up 2 BG's!

[LambertSimnel]

Wasn't this the era of Sulla's proscriptions? If so, I wouldn't be surprised for there to be a lot of disgruntled Marians.

[rbodleyscott]

Thanks for the advice - will do some more reading.

Also check out Plutarch and Dio Cassius.

[Mithridates]

Thanks again - Plutarch is on the shelves, Dio Cassius I will have to look for.

Have found the Jeff Jonas web site useful, albeit focused on WAB. http://www.ancientbattles.com/index_01_ ... ttles.html. His section on Successors in particular, the extracts under 'Pike versus Legion' is a good study aid.

Also found that Nik Gaukroger's site has handy Pontic ideas - based around DBM, http://www.endoftime.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm.

Given Sulla's renowned lack of forgiveness you would hope that those Roman exiles died fighting!

All good grist for the mill! With imitation legionaries from GB the Pontic general has even more options. Now when will someone do a 28mm Cappodokian heavy cavalry on an armoured horse (Xyston makes a good one in 18mm).

Cheers

Garry

[DaiSho]

Wasn't this the era of Sulla's proscriptions? If so, I wouldn't be surprised for there to be a lot of disgruntled Marians.

So, you have your choices... defect to the Bosporus or listen to horrible "Monte Python" jokes for the rest of your posting in Judea... which would YOU choose?

Ian