Later selucid List- any good

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:05 am

Another odd thought, anyone ever tried the Selucid mob? at 12 strong only costs 24 points and could be used to counter LH charging them and driving them off. Also makes for a good gap plugger that has to be dealt with while you bring something up on the flank.

JCgoose · Post by **JCgoose** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:49 am

rbodleyscott wrote:
batesmotel wrote:I haven't used cataphracts enough yet to have a real feel for their effectiveness. Are a BG of 4 Superior,Heavily Armorured,drilled Cataphracts really better than a BG of 4 Elite, Armoured Cavalry for the same cost? Does the extra armor buy more than the better re-rolls and movement rate of the Companions? I would think that having a BG of each rather than 2 BG of cataphracts would provide more tactical flexibility and probably about as much punch in a frontal assault.
Well you pays your money and you takes your choice. But I would rather have the cataphracts.

My version would look something like this

4 TC
2 x 4 Superior Cataphracts
1 x 4 LH bow
4 x 8 Pikes
2 x 4 "Roman" Argyraspids
1 x 6 Thorakitoi
1 x 6 Thracians
1 x 8 Poor LF archers
2 x 8 Poor LF slingers

I was going to use companions tihnking them far better than Cats but you've made me start to second guess myself. Are the Cats that much better?

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:04 pm

Like everything else depends on what you are going up against. If you have armoured targets the cats are better since you will get the + for better armour, the companions will even out on the POA.

Personally I like them both, the companions are faster than the cats and I use them as an emergency rescue force. My companions have saved my battle groups on several occasions. I would say it comes down to personal choice.
other than speed and the re-rolls the companions and cats are the same for POA's and cohesion test mods. I run both in my army I find the companions get into it a lot more than the cats, but that is just how the game works out in the end.

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:08 pm

After our last game we were talking and Blathergut suggested I use scythed chariots between the pike blocks with the companions behind the chariots. The chariots charge forward doing what they can, the pikes either close to keep out the overlaps or stand back and keep the enemy from trying a flank move. the companions move up after the chariots die (assuming they didnt get rid of what was in front of them) and batter the disrupted/fragmented enemy which hopefully opens a gap in the line they can run through and make a flank/ rear charge on the Romans.
Does that sound possible?
Still haven't tried chariots yet so not sure how it will work out for me.

JCgoose · Post by **JCgoose** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:37 pm

deadtorius wrote:Like everything else depends on what you are going up against. If you have armoured targets the cats are better since you will get the + for better armour, the companions will even out on the POA.

Personally I like them both, the companions are faster than the cats and I use them as an emergency rescue force. My companions have saved my battle groups on several occasions. I would say it comes down to personal choice.
other than speed and the re-rolls the companions and cats are the same for POA's and cohesion test mods. I run both in my army I find the companions get into it a lot more than the cats, but that is just how the game works out in the end.

I'll have to look into grabbing a few of them knowing my luck

Nicola_GMBS · Post by **Nicola_GMBS** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:27 am

expendablecinc wrote:
deadtorius wrote:only thing I can say about the Argyraspides is that they operate in non-clear terrain better than the pikes will. Haven't tried them myself yet but one day I might give them a run to see. Next experiment will be the scythed chariots and see how they work as replacements for the elephants on the ends of the pike lines.
dont use scythed chariots anywhere as part of a line. Holes will form almost instantly. They cant respond to flank attacks. The best they can do in this role is to hang back to be in a position to intercept flank charges.

anthony

Scythed Chariots are also good to draw the attention of enemy missile troops. Enemy has to shoot 'em to avoid bad impact and you can lose them.
In the meanwhile you have reached the enemy line with your pikes (or elephants) that are very fragile against skilled shooting troops.
Or you can try to do some good trick with your cavalry

Blathergut · Post by **Blathergut** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:46 pm

Am looking forward to see how the scythies work. Thinking maybe they could be tempted out by a small pak of LF...if the LF survive...ehehehehe...

philqw78 · Post by **philqw78** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:47 pm

But why risk losing 2 attrition points for no gain of AP if you destroy them.

Blathergut · Post by **Blathergut** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:03 pm

philqw78 wrote:But why risk losing 2 attrition points for no gain of AP if you destroy them.

the look on the opposing general's face when they go down to LF?...I would be the first to admit to playing the game to have fun as opposed to keeping tabs on the AP and such. Something has to fight those things tho...it would be 6 dice to 2 on impact against the LF...trick will be to pass that cohesion test...i'd rather have the casualties to the LF than the 4pak of Roman heavies behind...was thinking of contracting the LF BG down to frontage of two in front of the scythies so that only the chariots test to not charge and hopefully fail

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:10 pm

scythed chariots cost points to take but do not count against your army attrition points. I do not believe that they add to your total battle groups either which is the down side to them if you ask me

Guess I will have to keep some light horse around the chariots to drive off Blatherguts light foot and thwart his evil roman intentions. We will get a chance to see them in action soon enough

nigelemsen · Post by **nigelemsen** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:55 am

"I haven't used cataphracts enough yet to have a real feel for their effectiveness. Are a BG of 4 Superior,Heavily Armorured,drilled Cataphracts really better than a BG of 4 Elite, Armoured Cavalry for the same cost?"

My son uses a BG of Ct's and a BG of Elite companions. He finds when they work together you get good range of options. Also I think he also tries to attach a BG of LH. fortunately with my LRR army I hav enot had to fight him yet.. But with School hols coming up, not much chance of avoiding that one

... He did bet Lynda on Sunday so currently he has bragging rights in our household.

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:46 pm

from my own experience, the cats are slower so can't react as fast as the companions. My companions have saved my bacon on more than one occasion arriving like the cavalry from some Wayne John western. The cats tend to destroy a target and then as they trundle towards the centre the next closest enemy is defeated and by games end they are still trundling towards the fighting. Mind you I still won't run my Selucids without them.

Against Romans they will get a + on the POA's, the companions will even out. I still have both in my army but find the companions are much better save the day types than the cats will ever be. Next time I am going to put them behind the scythed chariots or in the middle of the pike blocks and see if they can't smash a hole which they can move through and then turn on the Roman rear.

Blathergut · Post by **Blathergut** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:02 am

*Prepares lots of little LF BGs to offer tempting targets*

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:30 pm

Prepares lots of little LF BGs to offer tempting targets

Hopes those targets are for my cats, I don't mind running down lights and scewering them on my lances, still counts 2 atrition points