Slitherine

Starting an army from scratch; that is; Buying the lead, researching the army; painting the army and organizing your forces is quite a project. Pick an army that you have a lot of personal interest in. How they perform on the table top should really be a minor concern. When you look at all the time and money that goes into your new army, it has to be a labor of love.

The FoG army lists are very easy to use and with a little research, you can build a very historic model of the army you have chosen. Don't try to out-think the lists and choose BG's for gamey reasons. The army you have chosen, fought as it did for a reason. If your taking Caesarian Romans then focus on Legionaries, the rest are just filler.

Once you have your first army finished and ready to go, build an army that would have fought them. In the case of Caesar; more Romans (Pompey) or Gauls; etc. Then you have a pair of historic armies and all you need for a game is a willing opponent. Always think "pairs" when building armies. So if you want to do Hannibal, plan on MRR also.

As for BG sizes for Legionaries; I can never seem to land on what is best. I have tried 4's, 6's and 8's. 4's are brittle and are not forgiving when your dice rolling goes 'south'. 8's are strong, but limit the number you can field and are harder to manuver. 6's sound like a good compromise, but as often with compromises ... the result is watered-down. Try a mix of 4's for your better (superior and elite) legionaries and 8's for poorer/recruits. Part of the fun of the game is trying different army lists, something FoG readily allows for.

Good luck,
Mike B

I agree. Just build an army you have an interest in and battle with it. That's the only way to truly figure out what you like as far as army composition/structure goes. Plus, this will alter depending upon opponent. If Romans facing barbarians, those superior HF will be the best thing going. If facing some ghastly pike horde (not mentioning any names here) those same HF will have their work cut out for them and will have to hope they didn't offend some god somewhere along the line.

I couldn't agree more with the idea that continued play is the best way for one to find success with their army, I myself have been swearing by it for years in regards to 40k, but with no army and no one else to play against I won't be getting any games in until I have one that I can field. Although I love the idea of building armies in matched pairs and using them to get my friends to play with me, but it would be far easier, faster and cheaper to simply get one on the go now and find an opponent. Dying to play.

In terms of Fluff these are the armies that grab me the most, I have always found Carthage fascinating, and Marian Roman Legionaires strike me as being the end all and be all of heavy infantry. So these will likely be the armies that I build first. The first one likely being which ever one I can make a legal list out of the selection at my local game store. That store rocks, and carries the company of miniatures that I want to compose my army (and their prices rock), but they get lots of folks through their doors and may have sold out of something as specific as Marian Legionaires and Carthaginian Vets in Roman equipement.

But this is where I have to be careful, (and I am likely singing to the choir on this), but I have always been crazy about the ancient world, read about it when I was young, experianced it on trips back to the old country, and even majored in it and human evolution in college, had the chance to work on a Roman Fort near Coventry, and even got to wear a Auxilary mans armour and field kit. So there is a very likely chance that I will be buidling alot of these armies.

Alot.......

Well I got somethings to mull over, and I just bought a new dollarstore notebook for my lists/D&D scheming, crappy poems and crappier punk riffs, so I think me and the Kitty will be heading to bed with a stack of books and a pen. But I have never been a good sleeper, so I may be posting what I come up with before morning. After which I might have to play some Neverwinter Nights to help promote body fatigue through eye fatigue.

Ave Emma
(my cat)

Jack

JackfromVancouver wrote:I .............. After which I might have to play some Neverwinter Nights to help promote body fatigue through eye fatigue.

Ave Emma
(my cat)

Jack

Just don't go into the cellar of that burnt out house.

JackfromVancouver wrote:In terms of Fluff these are the armies that grab me the most...

It's history, not fluff !

As a thought, you might want to take a look at the Field of Glory PC game while you are in the process of choosing and building your army. Both the Carthaginians and the Mid and Late Republican Romans are covered by it so it would be a way to start playing sooner. It really isn't the same as the table top game but it will show you how the different troops types interact and other facets that are much the same as in the table top rules. And in multi-player mode especially it's a good game all on its own.

Chris

JackfromVancouver wrote:I couldn't agree more with the idea that continued play is the best way for one to find success with their army, I myself have been swearing by it for years in regards to 40k, but with no army and no one else to play against I won't be getting any games in until I have one that I can field. Although I love the idea of building armies in matched pairs and using them to get my friends to play with me, but it would be far easier, faster and cheaper to simply get one on the go now and find an opponent. Dying to play.

In terms of Fluff these are the armies that grab me the most, I have always found Carthage fascinating, and Marian Roman Legionaires strike me as being the end all and be all of heavy infantry. So these will likely be the armies that I build first. The first one likely being which ever one I can make a legal list out of the selection at my local game store. That store rocks, and carries the company of miniatures that I want to compose my army (and their prices rock), but they get lots of folks through their doors and may have sold out of something as specific as Marian Legionaires and Carthaginian Vets in Roman equipement.

But this is where I have to be careful, (and I am likely singing to the choir on this), but I have always been crazy about the ancient world, read about it when I was young, experianced it on trips back to the old country, and even majored in it and human evolution in college, had the chance to work on a Roman Fort near Coventry, and even got to wear a Auxilary mans armour and field kit. So there is a very likely chance that I will be buidling alot of these armies.

Alot.......

Well I got somethings to mull over, and I just bought a new dollarstore notebook for my lists/D&D scheming, crappy poems and crappier punk riffs, so I think me and the Kitty will be heading to bed with a stack of books and a pen. But I have never been a good sleeper, so I may be posting what I come up with before morning. After which I might have to play some Neverwinter Nights to help promote body fatigue through eye fatigue.

Ave Emma
(my cat)

Jack

Polkovnik wrote:

JackfromVancouver wrote:In terms of Fluff these are the armies that grab me the most...

It's history, not fluff !

Quite true.

Sauromatæ = history

Amazons = legend

Orkz = fluff

I agree with the assessment that this is indeed History instead of Fluff, but history is such a broad term and I am being specific about the nerdy momentum and curiousity that motivates us to pick an army and love it even when it loses. Therefore I propose that for the remainder of my post I am going to use a new and experimental term to refer to this concept. Paraphrasing a friend of mine, who happens to be a Hedgehog, I submit "Houff" which she uses when annoyed, disapproving or throwing up a Phalanx whenever my Cat wanders by. Don't worry they signed a mutual non-aggression pact, and actually get along fine, except that my Cat finds her fascinating to watch.

Anyway back to my initial motivation for this rant.................

Went down to my favourite local gamestore today, okay so its in Richmond and I am in East Van, but I grew up in Ditchmond so as my first I will default to it. Its called Imperial hobbies and likely has the best selection of anything nerd related in the entire south west corner of Canada, seriously RPGs, GW, model cars, a boner inducing comic section, osprey books, every FoG book I could think of, Corvus Belli and....... Old Glory 15s. My initial plan was so see if they had more Marian Roman of Carthaginian stuff and go with that one, as I have equal Houff for both. Oddly enough they had zero Marian Roman stuff and a bucket o Carthage. So my innner Phoenician won, which is cool cause I really like their Houff, especially the 400 + years of conflict in Sicily, now wouldn't that make for a cool map based campaign.

Sorry had to split this into two posts as my friends laptop started farting.

Anyway these two bags hold enough little metal dudes to make 2 BGs of 6 bases, (even before making unit HQs) 4 commanders, 2 infantry command stands, and still have 2 complete infantry command squads left. Thats easily enough to make a small game of some sort of Peoni civil unrest, which will likely help me iron out my obvious ignorance of this game.

Not only that the magnetic bases came in packs of 5 for around a dollar........

wow.......

I am pretty darn stoked to be honest, the quality of these models are pretty impressive too, I think I am going to like playing and modelling in this scale. Just a little bit of spear straightening and flash filling and I am on it. Although I `don`t think that I will be making anymore purchases until after Christmas, but I likely have enough to keep me busy until after that.

Thinking of starting a work in progress blog, but no way I am attempting that on this tiny little laptop keyboard, my big clumsy tradesmen hands want to strangle this thing.

Thanks again for the insight chaps, and look forward to a link to a blog shortly.

Cheers Jack

Started that blog if you are interested here's the Link

http://lazykhornate.blogspot.com/

Be warned though there will be 40k stuff on there, maybe some recipes or pictures of my cat and likely the odd Hockey related rant.

Take care.

Can't help but think its fitting that my post that contains the link to my blog elevates me to Javelinmanhood.
Now if only they would trust me with protective gear better than my new avatars teeshirt.

JackfromVancouver wrote:Can't help but think its fitting that my post that contains the link to my blog elevates me to Javelinmanhood.
Now if only they would trust me with protective gear better than my new avatars teeshirt.

*Ahem*

Belt. Sandals. Bracers. No gratitude or respect for the empire, I swear!

'Upgrade' that man with a shovel and send him to the cavalry lines immediately!

Naw just give me a stick, a jersey, a helmet and some skates and point me at em.....

Ok now that I have a better idea of how to move my army (or rather both BGs haha), and am making decent enough progress painting them up, I scribbled together a list that I think I will try to make my first build. It should leave me with enough extra stuff to expand the army later as well, so who knows where it will end up. Since 650 pts seems to be fairly common, and it wouldn't be too hard to drop 50 points (say good night second BG of Javelinmen, and fortified camp) that aiming for around that wouldn't be too bad of a plan.

Inspired CinC, 2 Troop Commanders and a Fortified Camp.

2 BGs of 6 bases of African Spearmen.

3 BGs of 4 bases of Numidian Light Horse.

1 BG of 4 bases of Armoured Gallic Horse.
- I think the points are worth the upgrade, I don't have access to a lot of armoured troops.

2 BGs of 6 bases of Numidian Javelinmen.

2 BGs of 6 bases of Drilled Spanish Scutarii
- Drilled has to be worth the slight cost increase.

1 BG of 6 bases of Balearic Slingers.
- Eat rocks.

1 BG of 4 bases of Libyphoencian Cavalry.
- Like the Gallic Horse, but drilled. Sweet.

Grand total?

650 pts even.
Which is kinda odd, but cool too.

Yes it is likely way too generalized, but I am thinking of this as a spine or bone structure to add to later. Likely need more heavy foot, but even throwing protected offensive spears at each other during one on none playtesting had me worried about their durability. Tried to hand out as much drilled BGs and upgrades as I could, seems to make sense specially with the Spanish Scutarii as its only one point per base. What else could be worth the 12 points?

So feel free to get out your vine canes and give this raw recruit a sound what for.
Love to hear it.

Thanks again eh?
Jack

Drilled troops are rediculously good, so definately get as many of them as possible. The only troops i would probably take as undrilled in most armys would be alncers because, as cavalry, they can still turn 90 and move.. but since being lancers they cant evade, going into one rank isnt a big deal (which is the main difference between drilled and undrilled cav).

Looks like a good army mate, i'd get it up to 800 points personally.. i cant stand smaller games.

Only thing I would say is half your BGs are light. Try the army, play it as is. See what you like. But you might find you want another couple of heavier BGs.

@ Cerberias I absolutely intend to get this list up to 800 pts and likely more so that I can jump between early and late Carthage, and I also intend to build 3 6 packs of African vetern spearmen so that I can play as Hannibal at any point in his career.

@ Blathergut, yeah I couldn't agree more with your concerns about my lack of heavy foot, but I can only get so many for this amount of points. But the Huns didn't have a lot of Heavy foot, nor did the Mongols, and they seem to have done alright. Basically I am just trying to build a small army so I can get a game in.

Also @ Blathergut, you live in southern Ontario and haven't gotten in on the Hockey thread yet? For shame. Watching the Leafs Coyotes game right now, I won't mention the score.

JackfromVancouver wrote:@ Cerberias I absolutely intend to get this list up to 800 pts and likely more so that I can jump between early and late Carthage, and I also intend to build 3 6 packs of African vetern spearmen so that I can play as Hannibal at any point in his career.

@ Blathergut, yeah I couldn't agree more with your concerns about my lack of heavy foot, but I can only get so many for this amount of points. But the Huns didn't have a lot of Heavy foot, nor did the Mongols, and they seem to have done alright. Basically I am just trying to build a small army so I can get a game in.

Also @ Blathergut, you live in southern Ontario and haven't gotten in on the Hockey thread yet? For shame. Watching the Leafs Coyotes game right now, I won't mention the score.

I don't do sports.

JackfromVancouver wrote: @ Blathergut, yeah I couldn't agree more with your concerns about my lack of heavy foot, but I can only get so many for this amount of points. But the Huns didn't have a lot of Heavy foot, nor did the Mongols, and they seem to have done alright. Basically I am just trying to build a small army so I can get a game in.

Attila and Genghiz had superlative horse archers who could fight at a distance, and they were unburdened with foot. The horse available to the Carthaginians are alright but are not outstanding, and they are relatively few. Applying Alexandrian doctrine to the Carthaginians will be hard. Applying steppe nomad doctrine to the Carthaginians will be virtually impossible.

Just my two cents, since you asked.

@ deadtorius

Dude, spent 1.5 of my hard earned Canadian pesos on some magnetic medium foot bases. Since the pack I purchased had an equal number of spearmen in Linen Cuirasses (team Cuirass) and spearmen in Tunics (team Tunic), I decided to split them up. Team Cuirass will be the first of 6 units of African Spearmen, (One bag of Old Glory's Liby-Phoenician Spearmen and three BGs of Vetern Spearmen in captured Roman swag being the others) and team Tunic will be my MF Poeni foot. I think they look the part.

Best news is now that I am now home from the holidays and can get back on to painting.