companion cavalry

[deadtorius]

Next week I launch my first try with my Selucids against a Roman army. Since this is my first run with them I was wondering if I should run my companions as a single unit of 4 stands or 2 units of 2 stands. The 2 stands makes me nervous since it wont take much to cause a reaction test even if they are elite but running them single wide 2 deep makes them uber manouverable for those flank charges.
Any comments ideas?
Thanks

[OldenTired]

Next week I launch my first try with my Selucids against a Roman army. Since this is my first run with them I was wondering if I should run my companions as a single unit of 4 stands or 2 units of 2 stands. The 2 stands makes me nervous since it wont take much to cause a reaction test even if they are elite but running them single wide 2 deep makes them uber manouverable for those flank charges.
Any comments ideas?
Thanks

the elite lancers are a waste of points. the improved quality doesn't contribute often enough to make them worthwhile.

if you do take them, run them very, very close to your cataphracts. by themselves they're extremely brittle. one base loss is a 25% -CT for starters.

[stenic]

In 25mm the Companions do quite well and I've found the Elite to be jst as good as the Superior cats, and for the same money they move further. I've found 2 BGs of nellies, one on each flank with cats with one BG and companions with the other work well. Certainlt have them in a BG of 4s and not 2 BGs of 2. add a TC and they'll auto break before they ever rout!!

Steve P

[Blathergut]

*eavesdrops*

[Blathergut]

*warms up Cretan bowstrings*

[hazelbark]

The general idea on BGs of 2 stands is that drilled cav can leap on to the enemy flank quite suddenly with a move a turn. The 2 BG cav tend not to be the kind that fight in the middle of the line. EL yes.

So i would say as you are improving your game a BG of 4 probably superior unless you want way cool elite.

when you start getting a solid hang of how to outmanuver or pressure your foe with drilled cav then try a unit of 2 companions.

[deadtorius]

Thanks for your input, think I will try them in a bg of 4, .........Blathergut your doom rides on horses with long pointy lances. First time I get to try elite anything so looking forward to seeing how they work out in the end. When the army gets closer to the points I would like to field I might try them in a BG of 2.

[deadtorius]

*warms up Cretan bowstrings*

Blathergut, warm up all you want. My boys will be boiling their supper in Roman helmets. Besides I have more bows with the medium foot then you do with the Cretans

[footslogger]

I kind of think they are a waste of points. You beat the Romans with pikes and cataphracts. All the other stuff should be structured to help them win the fight. I don't know how the companions do this.

[IanB3406]

Posted: 10 May 2009 22:10 Post subject:

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I kind of think they are a waste of points. You beat the Romans with pikes and cataphracts. All the other stuff should be structured to help them win the fight. I don't know how the companions do this.
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I've found them very usefull. My seleucids have 2*4 Cats and these Elite Companions. The Companions are deployed early at the center rear, are given a general to sweep to a usefull location. The fast move is nice and the elite means that they can take on troops even a POA down if they have to.

Ian

[expendablecinc]

Posted: 10 May 2009 22:10 Post subject:

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I kind of think they are a waste of points. You beat the Romans with pikes and cataphracts. All the other stuff should be structured to help them win the fight. I don't know how the companions do this.
----------------------------------

I've found them very usefull. My seleucids have 2*4 Cats and these Elite Companions. The Companions are deployed early at the center rear, are given a general to sweep to a usefull location. The fast move is nice and the elite means that they can take on troops even a POA down if they have to.

Ian

I like the companions in 2's as elite.
Thier roles are:

- Go down early in the deployement to take up multiple BG slots and not give too much away (they are fast and drilled so early in teh game are easy to redeploy)

- Escort other mounted into combat providing elite overlap dice without risk of base losses.

- easily manouver into flank charge position as the need arises

- Keep LH as bay charging them to keep them away from the phalanx without commiting too much of the army to chasing ghosts

- providing rear support two other superior units of 4 in the frontal clash (elephants, cataphracts, gallic cav, romanised argyraspids etc...)

Having the companions in larger groups is good for some of these uses but is a waste in all of the others. they could probably get by being superior instead of elite but thats just my preference - for colour if nothing else.

[deadtorius]

thanks expendablecnc
Definate food for thought there. We will only be running 600 points at present, far short of where I would like to get to one of these days. Can't resist using elite cav. Will keep your advice in mind and hope for decent die rolls

[Blathergut]

hopes you get decent 'die' rolls too

[guitarmeniac]

as selecuids is my army and i practis against my dad who has roman i have a gd experience cv would do well as your elite but i would bring cataphracts for the armour plus never bring 2s as they sooooooooooo quickly also go cataphracts for if you play open comptions for knights at last resort but i would go for the pikes as there plus's against romans but watch the flanks it hurts

[DaiSho]

*warms up Cretan bowstrings*

*listens to the hum of the bow strings - thinking it sounds like a G string - then again, I've got no ear for music*

[Blathergut]

*warms up Cretan bowstrings*

*listens to the hum of the bow strings - thinking it sounds like a G string - then again, I've got no ear for music*

won't ask how you know the sound of a twanging g-string

[lawrenceg]

*warms up Cretan bowstrings*

*listens to the hum of the bow strings - thinking it sounds like a G string - then again, I've got no ear for music*

won't ask how you know the sound of a twanging g-string

Presumably http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MYzkBiJn5Y

[deadtorius]

Should that u-tube link have a parental advisory???

So far the 2 packs of Companions have been the bane for Blathergut, they can turn on a dime and are nice and fast for those emergency situations. He is jelous that he can't have 2 cav in his armies.

[expendablecinc]

Should that u-tube link have a parental advisory???

So far the 2 packs of Companions have been the bane for Blathergut, they can turn on a dime and are nice and fast for those emergency situations. He is jelous that he can't have 2 cav in his armies.

I played day one of a comp and got two 25-0s using 2 BGs of elete companions.
Because I had them they were great to get in a position to flank intercept guys intending to harrass my phalanx so by having them the phalanx was more effective.

The 2 BGs of 2 scythed chariots and 1 BG of 4 thracians are also good for this. even after a successful flank charge things can go against the companions and a failed death roll is (unsurprisingly) fatal. Being elite and very narrow means less attacks, less liklihood of losing combat, more likelihood of winning combat and with the +2 no failed death rolls.

[lawrenceg]

Should that u-tube link have a parental advisory???

No