Slitherine

Hello, all..

I haven't managed to get my copy of the Swifter than Eagles book as yet (still waiting on it to arrive), and I haven't found much online regarding the various lists. I was particularly interested in the Philistines. Was wondering if anyone could give me a heads upon them - what to expect, whether they are worth the time and investment, etc?

Any other thoughts on the armies in the book would be welcome. It's a period that interests me, but for some reason haven't been able to get a copy locally.

Thanks!

-M.

Mithras wrote:Hello, all..

I haven't managed to get my copy of the Swifter than Eagles book as yet (still waiting on it to arrive), and I haven't found much online regarding the various lists. I was particularly interested in the Philistines. Was wondering if anyone could give me a heads upon them - what to expect, whether they are worth the time and investment, etc?

Any other thoughts on the armies in the book would be welcome. It's a period that interests me, but for some reason haven't been able to get a copy locally.

Thanks!

-M.

I don't have my book here, but from memory it's one of the better lists from the Swifter than Eagles book - mostly Medium Infantry.

I think Swifter than Eagles is going to rely fairly strongly for themed comps, even more so than Wolves from the Sea. There are a few armies (Babylonians and Assyrians) who could probably handle the open comp, but for the most part the lists are going to suffer against 'more solid' infantry.

That said, I just got my arse kicked from one side of the table to the other with Medium Infantry Scots vs Heavy Infantry Vikings. All you have to do is not lose

Philistines get:

a fair number of chariots, light before 800 BC, heavy after
upto one BG of really good heavy foot spearmen (Sup, Drilled, HF, Arm or Prot, OSpear)
lots and lots of OK spearmen (Ave, MF, Prot, OSpear)
assorted light troops
opto one BG of really rather good medium foot Hebrew mercenaries.

IMO it is not a shabby list. In period I think it could do well, out of period there are far worse armies.

hammy wrote:Philistines get:

a fair number of chariots, light before 800 BC, heavy after
upto one BG of really good heavy foot spearmen (Sup, Drilled, HF, Arm or Prot, OSpear)
lots and lots of OK spearmen (Ave, MF, Prot, OSpear)
assorted light troops
opto one BG of really rather good medium foot Hebrew mercenaries.

IMO it is not a shabby list. In period I think it could do well, out of period there are far worse armies.

with the added advantage of your enemy being able to call you a dirty phillistine!

Ian

DaiSho wrote: With the added advantage of your enemy being able to call you a dirty phillistine!

Ian

And your CinC is 6 cubits tall, about 27mm at 15mm scale (?)

They should have a special rule about counting all Philistine foot as unprotected v's slings wielded by shepherd boys. And if your single base BG of shepherd boy hits the Philistine the remainder of the army must run away.

Philistine armies must all be painted in tawdry colours and only please the colour blind.

Note for Nik G, I believe all the above to be facts.

( First you delete e-mails, then you start deleting people )

HAH! Great and wise comments by all of you;)

... I look forward to having a look.

I already have a small force of Philistines. They did fine until I modeled up a camp featuring a looted scene, with an Ark of the Covenant flanked by chained female captives. From that point, I have never again won a battle with them;) Divine retribution, perhaps. At any rate, that camp's going to need a rework before I field them again.


-M.

philqw78 wrote:

DaiSho wrote: With the added advantage of your enemy being able to call you a dirty phillistine!

Ian

And your CinC is 6 cubits tall, about 27mm at 15mm scale (?)

They should have a special rule about counting all Philistine foot as unprotected v's slings wielded by shepherd boys. And if your single base BG of shepherd boy hits the Philistine the remainder of the army must run away.

Philistine armies must all be painted in tawdry colours and only please the colour blind.

Note for Nik G, I believe all the above to be facts.

( First you delete e-mails, then you start deleting people )

This rule presumes a Hebrew Army on the other side. Alas, FoG rejects the Bible and offers no such list in the STE companion.

Just saying

Spike

spikemesq wrote: This rule presumes a Hebrew Army on the other side. Alas, FoG rejects the Bible and offers no such list in the STE companion.

Spike

Bloody Philistines

Yes. Until Swifter than Eagles, I had understood the FoG rules to be a product of intelligent design. Now, my view of FoG has, shall we say, evolved.

Spike

spikemesq wrote:Yes. Until Swifter than Eagles, I had understood the FoG rules to be a product of intelligent design. Now, my view of FoG has, shall we say, evolved.

Spike

FWIW I agree with Hammy--I think the Philistine list could give other STE armies a run for their bartered goods. A colorful goliath

Dale

There is no better excuse for the 25mm IC figure for a 15mm army than Goliath...