Slitherine

The descriptions of the shield wall formations used by the Offensive Spear of a number of Wolves from the Sea armies indicate that it would be appropriate to mix in figures with weapons other than spears. At what point would adding non-spearmen make it confusing to an opponent that these guys are meant to be Offensive Spearmen?

It depends on what else is in the army. The important thing is that say your Viking shieldwall spearmen are distinct from your Viking heavy weapons. This can be achieved in a lot of ways not just the figures (banners, paint job, etc).

If all 48 stands of your heavy foot are protected offensive spear, the fact that some, perhaps many, are armed with something other than spear IMO doesn't matter much at all.

If you have 12 stands of heavy foot with heavy weapons and 36 stands that are offensive spear than it is nice if those groups are distinct.

If you have 12 stands of heavy weapons, 12 stands of superior spearmena and 24 stands of average spear then all three groups should be distince in some way. Now I might approach this as follows:

- The heavy weapons are more clearly armed with 2 handed axes and such
- The superior guys have a banner or two for each battle group
- The average guys are the least well equipped figures and have no/fewer banners than the other guys.

Personally, I think they should have used the name "shieldwall" for troops now called "spearmen."

and if you aren't using Heavy Weapons, then stick one or two axemen bases in the other BGs, right?

LambertSimnel wrote:and if you aren't using Heavy Weapons, then stick one or two axemen bases in the other BGs, right?

Sure.

LambertSimnel wrote:and if you aren't using Heavy Weapons, then stick one or two axemen bases in the other BGs, right?

I'd put them in the back rank as nobles bolstering the peasant rabble in front off them.

Irmin wrote:

LambertSimnel wrote:and if you aren't using Heavy Weapons, then stick one or two axemen bases in the other BGs, right?

I'd put them in the back rank as nobles bolstering the peasant rabble in front off them.

Peasant rabble? You mean to say you allow your læt to carry weapons?Know you not the penalties that King Ine laid down for such an offence? I'll have you know that no warband of mine would include anyone lower than a ceorl or twyhyndne mon, and such men (though they have but an ashen spear and a linden board) do not need to be driven like sheep, but to be led like wolves.

if you really want just stick a non-spear armed guy in the middle of your base of spears. That should help keep the confusion out of it.