Slitherine

OK, I was finally able to install the patches up to 1.3.1, and now have to decide whether to buy IF. Frankly, I'm struggling to justify the puchase for the following reasons:

1) it sounds like the focus of the module is hoplite battles, which sounds rather dull?
2) all of the alexandrine and successor lists sound fun, but not terribly different from the existing phalanx armies?
3) the various persian armies are a new addition, but seem like not much more than phalanx-fodder?
4) I would probably buy IF just for more maps for large (800+) battles--how many new maps are there, and are they any good?

What are the best reasons for getting IF?

The main thing I want is for the devs to fix the lists so that we can create 800-1000 pt armies with more than a few armies--when is that going to happen?

76mm wrote:OK, I was finally able to install the patches up to 1.3.1, and now have to decide whether to buy IF. Frankly, I'm struggling to justify the puchase for the following reasons:

Full disclosure: I bought it, I enjoy hoplite battles, and I would be playing it right now if I weren't studying for a bar exam (take it on Tuesday & Wednesday, long bloody test, then I can resume playing, sorry everybody who I skipped out on).

1) it sounds like the focus of the module is hoplite battles, which sounds rather dull?

There are a few, almost pure-hoplite armies, but actually they're a small minority. To select a few more exciting armies for you, there are some that field swarms of chariots, the Indian armies can get 6 or so elephants on the field if you desire, and the ancient Egpytian and Persian armies are pretty far away from hoplite-combat. The Indian army actually gets some strange donkey-cart things too that utterly suck.

I actually think the variety is better in this pack than in any of the other expansions/original, but I'm biased because I really like the time period.

2) all of the alexandrine and successor lists sound fun, but not terribly different from the existing phalanx armies?

They're all a little different, but the most notable one is Bactria and the Graeco-Indian Kingdom. There is one Bactrian variety that focuses very heavily on mounted units, and the other variety has lots of eastern infantry type forces. I haven’t used the other successor kingdoms that much yet, but I do recall finding the Alexandrian Macedonian army to be different than the RoR successor states; must have been the cavalry and medium hypaspist/hvy hypaspist hoplite foot or something.

3) the various persian armies are a new addition, but seem like not much more than phalanx-fodder?

I had a game against a Persian player whose infantry definitely crumbled for the most part, but actually they do get an elite, or at least superior, mixed archer-spear unit that was very tough to beat. Also, their cavalry is really irritating.

4) I would probably buy IF just for more maps for large (800+) battles--how many new maps are there, and are they any good?

Meh, this is probably the weakest part; there are very, very few scenarios packaged with the expansion. However, the DAG seems to have a few new maps; there are a couple that put one side on a strong hilltop with terrain guarding their flanks, for example.

What are the best reasons for getting IF?

You like chariot, hoplite, or Egyptian and eastern forces. I actually found the army lists to be new and exciting; it’s not a big pile of hoplites at all. Probably my favourite army right now is Kyrenaean Greek; I just bring along 14 chariots, a hoplite line, and some skirmishers. Just keep the hoplites in place as bait, while the chariots charge around the sides. When you’re in position, let the lines engage and the chariots will come around the rear. The idea of having chariots is just fun, and I actually seem to be winning with this army. Maybe people don’t take the horse and cart seriously, but let me tell you they get the job done when you have a giant swarm.

Galatians: endless superior impact HF + lots of superior light spear Cav (and scythies if you want!)

Thracians: interesting early imperial Roman variant (sans the HF for now )

Blathergut wrote:Galatians: endless superior impact HF + lots of superior light spear Cav (and scythies if you want!)

Thracians: interesting early imperial Roman variant (sans the HF for now )

Have to persuade the powers that be to throw in a Thracian list with Imperial Roman allies when they do Legions Triumphant.

Blathergut wrote:Galatians: endless superior impact HF + lots of superior light spear Cav (and scythies if you want!)

Ah, how could I forget them. Yes, the Galatians feel very unique, too, and I must say that the miniatures are very impressive for this army list.

Blathergut wrote:Galatians: endless superior impact HF + lots of superior light spear Cav (and scythies if you want!)

Thracians: interesting early imperial Roman variant (sans the HF for now )

If you like all mounted armies, this is the expansion
Graeco Bactiran Al lmounted or Saka and Skythian (both more tradional light shooty types) or go for the Sarmation/Sarm-Rhoxi lists where you can have an almost pure shock cavalry army!

Eyptians Lydians and very unique lists as well..

As others mentioned Indian lists are very intersting to play 6 pachs on the field , yeah!

rbodleyscott wrote:

Blathergut wrote:Galatians: endless superior impact HF + lots of superior light spear Cav (and scythies if you want!)

Thracians: interesting early imperial Roman variant (sans the HF for now )

Have to persuade the powers that be to throw in a Thracian list with Imperial Roman allies when they do Legions Triumphant.

I am hoping/expecting that they will keep up with the allies lists as they go along. If not, I will buy very few of the remaining expansions. I would look for Legions Triumphant and Wolves from the Sea but that would be it. Being able to interconnect lists makes things much more interesting!

The Thracians with a Principate Roman ally would be very interesting!

Thanks for all of the input so far! Any more input on the maps? I am only really interested in DAG maps, rather than historical scenarios.

You must buy this 76mm so we can have some vast battle together. Those hoplites are so cheap, they're almost like horde armies. As for the Persians, I defeated a large Thessalian hoplite horde quite handily with Early Persians taking all eight armored superior Immortals.

Deeter

The earlier Persian list are pretty much all bow/spears. Later lists lose the bows for some reason so lose their punch in my opinion. Some of the armies you can't get to 800 points, Bactrian with all allies will fall just short of it by 26 points I believe. But some of the armies are hordes at just 500 points.

Not sure about the new maps, I have been on some that I have not seen before, most seem okay some I don't like fighting on, there is one with impassible with swamps right in the middle, not a pike friendly map thats for sure, as my Alexandrians found out.

Nice to see a couple armies with superior light spear armoured cavalry ..not prone to anarchy...best against spear-armed LF...

heh OK deeter, I guess I'll get it in the next couple of days--watch for my challenges!