Slitherine

The Skythian or Saka list in Legions Triumphant have an umbrella 0-12 bases of Noble cavalry.

There are three categories:

Before a certain date (Cav Bow Sword)
After a certain date (Cav Lance Sword)
Saka only (Cataphracts lance Sword)

If you take a Saka army after the magic date could you field 12 cataphracts (yes obviously) what about 12 lance armed cavalry? what about 1 Bg of 6 cats and 1 BG of 6 cav?

The argument has been made that because it says 'Only Saka' under cataophract verson of the noble cavalry that this is exclusive and that the cavalry must only be for skythian armies?

Anthony

IIRC the list is in Immortal Fire.

I read the list to say that only the Saka may have cataphracts, not that Saka may only have the cataphracts. The lighter armed cavalry option should be available to Saka IMO.

expendablecinc wrote:The Skythian or Saka list in Legions Triumphant have an umbrella 0-12 bases of Noble cavalry.

There are three categories:

Before a certain date (Cav Bow Sword)
After a certain date (Cav Lance Sword)
Saka only (Cataphracts lance Sword)

If you take a Saka army after the magic date could you field 12 cataphracts (yes obviously) what about 12 lance armed cavalry? what about 1 Bg of 6 cats and 1 BG of 6 cav?
Anthony

As said elsewhere it's Immortal Fire, but I'd agree with you that you can. In other lists they say things like 'only [Saka] as an exclusive and incluive... for example the Early Successor of the same book it's very specific on who can have what. Look at the Elephants. They are very restrictive, which means who you have to be to have 2, 6, or 4 Elephants!

ravenflight wrote:

expendablecinc wrote:The Skythian or Saka list in Legions Triumphant have an umbrella 0-12 bases of Noble cavalry.

There are three categories:

Before a certain date (Cav Bow Sword)
After a certain date (Cav Lance Sword)
Saka only (Cataphracts lance Sword)

If you take a Saka army after the magic date could you field 12 cataphracts (yes obviously) what about 12 lance armed cavalry? what about 1 Bg of 6 cats and 1 BG of 6 cav?
Anthony

As said elsewhere it's Immortal Fire, but I'd agree with you that you can. In other lists they say things like 'only [Saka] as an exclusive and incluive... for example the Early Successor of the same book it's very specific on who can have what. Look at the Elephants. They are very restrictive, which means who you have to be to have 2, 6, or 4 Elephants!

Thanks All,

I wouldnt want to hoodwink my league colleagues by playing with a Saka army and in some games taking cav while in others taking cats. Particularly as I am the organiser and Ive been flipping form Cats to Cav willy nilly.

Anthony

As the list is written, for Saka only, from 250BC you can take the armoured cavalry as cavalry, cataphracts, or a mix of both, upto the limit of 12 combined.

expendablecinc wrote: Thanks All,

I wouldnt want to hoodwink my league colleagues by playing with a Saka army and in some games taking cav while in others taking cats. Particularly as I am the organiser and Ive been flipping form Cats to Cav willy nilly.

Anthony

The funny thing is, I play SAKA and I never even thought of it

ravenflight wrote:

expendablecinc wrote: Thanks All,

I wouldnt want to hoodwink my league colleagues by playing with a Saka army and in some games taking cav while in others taking cats. Particularly as I am the organiser and Ive been flipping form Cats to Cav willy nilly.

Anthony

The funny thing is, I play SAKA and I never even thought of it

Yeah its the only flexibility in the list really so not great for a legue where you can change your composition from game to game.

I would use the Cats Vs armoured oppnoents and Cav vs opponents who are mostly protected (eg gallic or biblical armies).

The hard choice is what to do Vs shooting armies.

The LH will be outgunned. Do you take cav to try and get in as quick as possible or Cats to take less damage due to heavy armour?

expendablecinc wrote:

ravenflight wrote:

expendablecinc wrote: Thanks All,

I wouldnt want to hoodwink my league colleagues by playing with a Saka army and in some games taking cav while in others taking cats. Particularly as I am the organiser and Ive been flipping form Cats to Cav willy nilly.

Anthony

The funny thing is, I play SAKA and I never even thought of it

Yeah its the only flexibility in the list really so not great for a legue where you can change your composition from game to game.

I would use the Cats Vs armoured oppnoents and Cav vs opponents who are mostly protected (eg gallic or biblical armies).

The hard choice is what to do Vs shooting armies.

The LH will be outgunned. Do you take cav to try and get in as quick as possible or Cats to take less damage due to heavy armour?

There aren't enough cataphracts to be able to just line them up and charge them in, and they are too slow and unmaneuverable as undrilled to be able to out maneuver an opponent so I think the cavalry lancers are the better otpion in most cases.

Chris

batesmotel wrote:

expendablecinc wrote:

ravenflight wrote: The funny thing is, I play SAKA and I never even thought of it

Yeah its the only flexibility in the list really so not great for a legue where you can change your composition from game to game.

I would use the Cats Vs armoured oppnoents and Cav vs opponents who are mostly protected (eg gallic or biblical armies).

The hard choice is what to do Vs shooting armies.

The LH will be outgunned. Do you take cav to try and get in as quick as possible or Cats to take less damage due to heavy armour?

There aren't enough cataphracts to be able to just line them up and charge them in, and they are too slow and unmaneuverable as undrilled to be able to out maneuver an opponent so I think the cavalry lancers are the better otpion in most cases.

Chris

I have used the Skythians for the past year as well as looking and discussing with Dave Ruddock whos has run Skythians for ages the best compustion of the Saka/Skythians.

I have found the Cats as to slow and being undrillesd can't move about the board quick enough. As with either army the 12 bases are the hard bit you need to move them to a good position hence the Cavalry Lancers as they can move and turn.

About the LH being outmatched having 8 BG's of Bow/Sword LH you'll well outnumber most armies in period for both numbers and skills.