Slitherine

Hi,
I am new to FOG being an X-DBM player, just finished reading the rules and a few forums and I was after some comment on this Pontic army before I commit to buying & painting it. It seems balanced and nice (to me that is haha) any thoughts will be much appriciated. Cheers.

1 x FC
2 x TC
(Last number is the size of the BG)
1 Pontic Heavy cavalry CV Armoured Superior Undrilled - Light spear Swordsmen - 4
2 Pontic Heavy cavalry CV Armoured Superior Undrilled - Light spear Swordsmen - 4
3 Pontic Light cavalry LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light Spear - 4
4 Javelinmen LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light Spear - 6
5 Archers LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow - - 6
6 Thureophoroi MF Protected Average Drilled Offensive Spearmen 8
7 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
8 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
9 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
10 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
11 Sarmatian cavalry CV Armoured Superior Undrilled Lancer Swordsmen 6
12 Skythiam cavalry LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow Swordsmen 6
13 Thracians MF Protected Average Undrilled Heavy Weapon 8

ormguard wrote:Hi,
I am new to FOG being an X-DBM player, just finished reading the rules and a few forums and I was after some comment on this Pontic army before I commit to buying & painting it. It seems balanced and nice (to me that is haha) any thoughts will be much appriciated. Cheers.

1 x FC
2 x TC
(Last number is the size of the BG)
1 Pontic Heavy cavalry CV Armoured Superior Undrilled - Light spear Swordsmen - 4
2 Pontic Heavy cavalry CV Armoured Superior Undrilled - Light spear Swordsmen - 4
3 Pontic Light cavalry LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light Spear - 4
4 Javelinmen LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Javelins Light Spear - 6
5 Archers LF Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow - - 6
6 Thureophoroi MF Protected Average Drilled Offensive Spearmen 8
7 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
8 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
9 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
10 Imitation Legionaries HF Protected Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen 6
11 Sarmatian cavalry CV Armoured Superior Undrilled Lancer Swordsmen 6
12 Skythiam cavalry LH Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow Swordsmen 6
13 Thracians MF Protected Average Undrilled Heavy Weapon 8

I would steer clear of average protected imitation legionaires. They will get snotted by real legionaires, pike or any armoured or superior opponents. There arent many good targets for them.

The skythians are not much point as two shooting dice are pretty worthless unless they are supporting some other shooters. I'd go with a pike pontic army if you really like Mithridates.

After a coupel of years of the dust settling most folks either take an IC or a TC as thier CinC If a TC then either use the extra points for 3 TC subgenerals so they can help in hand to hand or upgrade a subgeneral to an FC for flank marching.

Actually a TC CinC with an FC subgeneral probably more historically represents an army led by Mithridates Eupator.

Would this then work ?

4 x TC
2 x Pontic Hvy Cv (4s)
2 x Pontic Lt Cv (4s)
1 x Javmen (6)
2 x Archers (6)
2 x Thureophoroi (6) = mf, off spear, pro, av
1 x Thracian (8) hvy weap
2 x Pikes (12) - avg
1 x Sarmatian cav (6)

that has dropped the FC, the Sky Horse archers, Imm Legio and replace with Pike, more MF, diff LH and a few more archers.

Thanks for the advice btw...

ormguard wrote:Would this then work ?

4 x TC
2 x Pontic Hvy Cv (4s)
2 x Pontic Lt Cv (4s)
1 x Javmen (6)
2 x Archers (6)
2 x Thureophoroi (6) = mf, off spear, pro, av
1 x Thracian (8) hvy weap
2 x Pikes (12) - avg
1 x Sarmatian cav (6)

that has dropped the FC, the Sky Horse archers, Imm Legio and replace with Pike, more MF, diff LH and a few more archers.

Thanks for the advice btw...

No worries. that looks ok. If you can upgrade the theorphooi to armoured that woudl be great and the 2 blocks of 12 pike Id change to 3 groups of 8 but you are after figure purchase advice so no change in number - just structure.

I think this list looks like reasonable. difinately not a dog and you will be able to morph it fairly easily as you dont have lots of the one troop type.

I would still get the Skythians btw. I find even a lone LH BG is useful in some armies. In this one it can help skirmish on one flnak if needed, or work with your Cv to chase down enemy LH.

ethan wrote:I would still get the Skythians btw. I find even a lone LH BG is useful in some armies. In this one it can help skirmish on one flnak if needed, or work with your Cv to chase down enemy LH.

Also, since the Skythians are equipped with sword as well as bow, they are also generally more effective at dealing with enemy LH than the Javelin, Light Spear armed Pontic light horse. Definitely worth taking.

I don't have my copy of Rise of Rome here, but I might look for another BG of shock foot or mounted than you currently have in exchange for some of the LF or MF just to give your army a little more punch.

Chris

I would recommed keeping your mounted units in 4's. When we first played we had LH units in 6's. We found they just get in the way 4 seems to work better. Using a pike army myself, I would also suggest keeping your pikes in 8's. One advantage is that if you do a 90 degree turn you keep the same frontage, with 3 pike frontage you turn and end up with a new frontage of 2 pikes and 6 deep until you can expand out 1 rank again next turn.

The LH with bows and swords can come in handy if your opponent has any lights that think too highly of themselves and you end up in melee with them, can be a nasty surprise when you get a + on them.

Not a big fan of Thracians if your facing Romans, skilled sword cancels your weapon so they end up + on you anyway, I have dropped them from my army. Your much better to go armoured offensive spear this cancels the Romans sword, equals out armour and gives you a + in melee for the spear.

deadtorius wrote:Your much better to go armoured offensive spear

Sadly there aren't any in the army list.

I think the Bastarnae are more worth a punt than the Thracians. (But use some of your compulsory LF to screen them from shooting).

Alas the problem with always thinking Selucid.

Bactrians are my next army, I can swing the pikes into it and use some of the cats to help make up the 4 cat units. Lots of cav, could be all cav if I wanted. One of these days it will be Classical Indian army, first shot at actually having some real chariots in an army for a change.