Slitherine

I've just finished painting a few cataphracts (6 bases).

I'm looking for an army to surround a battle group of cats, any ideas?

OMG - Too Many to mention!

Selucid, Palmyran, Indo Skythian (or one of its versions), Korean, Chinese etc

bertalucci wrote:OMG - Too Many to mention!

Selucid, Palmyran, Indo Skythian (or one of its versions), Korean, Chinese etc

Pure Skythian, Sassanid Persians Parthians

With a bit experience I would try and take them drilled if possible if you can take them in fours

If what you meant was you want an army to surround your single BG of 6 cats, Foederate Roman would be a perfect fit

BGs of 6 cats are fine...not quite as flexible manoevrable as 4s (but that's not really cat's forte anyway!) and if you just want something to charge more or less straight ahead and try to cause damage, 6s can do better than 4s especially if you add a general to fight with them. Not a clear-cut choice IMO.

Whether a single BG of cats is likely to be effective in an army is another matter though...I tend to think not, but there is no rule that says that armies always have to be put together with an eye on maximum competiveness. Good thing too, or most of mine would not be allowed on the table

You'll want something that also has a 'get stuck in' mentality. Seluecid is decent if you want combined arms.

ShrubMiK wrote:Whether a single BG of cats is likely to be effective in an army is another matter though...I tend to think not, but there is no rule that says that armies always have to be put together with an eye on maximum competiveness. Good thing too, or most of mine would not be allowed on the table

I found with my Seleucid list (pike and Roman-style argyraspids) that the cats tend sit around.
So I was thinking to use them as support for some lancers in a mounted heavy army, with some elephants for open comp.

What about Kushan or Graeco-Bactrian

frederic wrote:What about Kushan or Graeco-Bactrian

I looked at Greaco-Bactrian and came up with this:

1x FC
3x TC
4x4 LH, Unprot\avg\undrilled Bw, Light spear
1x4 Cv Unprot\avg\undrilled Bw, Swords
1x6 LF Prot\avg\drilled Jav, Light spear
1x6 LF Unprot\avg\undrilled Bw
1x6 LF Unprot\sup\drilled Bw
1x8 Hf Prot\avg\drilled Pk
2x2 Elephants
2x4 Cv Arm\sup\drilled Lancers, Swords
1x4 Cats HArm\sup\drilled Lancers, Swords

The pike come with any foot and I wanted some LF for filler and to put something in terrain, could use the pike as bait though...
For the rest the plan is screen and smash.

Fluffy wrote:

frederic wrote:What about Kushan or Graeco-Bactrian

I looked at Greaco-Bactrian and came up with this:

1x FC
3x TC
4x4 LH, Unprot\avg\undrilled Bw, Light spear
1x4 Cv Unprot\avg\undrilled Bw, Swords
1x6 LF Prot\avg\drilled Jav, Light spear
1x6 LF Unprot\avg\undrilled Bw
1x6 LF Unprot\sup\drilled Bw
1x8 Hf Prot\avg\drilled Pk
2x2 Elephants
2x4 Cv Arm\sup\drilled Lancers, Swords
1x4 Cats HArm\sup\drilled Lancers, Swords

The pike come with any foot and I wanted some LF for filler and to put something in terrain, could use the pike as bait though...
For the rest the plan is screen and smash.

I would rather go with 3x8 (or 2x12) of pikes than one pike and the two BGs of elephants. While the pikes are slower than the elephants, being drilled generally makes them more useful and maneuverable. Also, with the points left over, you could almost upgrade the unit of cataphracts to a 6 which is seriously more durable when they get stuck in.

Chris

8 pike cost 48 points, leaving me with 4 points if I drop the elephants for 2 groups of pike.

Dropback the FC to TC . LF jav are much more effective in 8s I find , they handle enemy shooting better and can fight better (against bow LF in sixes )

The way you have taken the Bactrians has too much of everything and not enough of anything.

Fluffy wrote:

ShrubMiK wrote:Whether a single BG of cats is likely to be effective in an army is another matter though...I tend to think not, but there is no rule that says that armies always have to be put together with an eye on maximum competiveness. Good thing too, or most of mine would not be allowed on the table

I found with my Seleucid list (pike and Roman-style argyraspids) that the cats tend sit around.
So I was thinking to use them as support for some lancers in a mounted heavy army, with some elephants for open comp.

Then I would humbly suggest you change your tactics.

Think Pikes Cats Pikes Cats Pikes Cats Pikes with extra Pikes, other foot and lesser cavalry (light and heavy) to cover the flanks.

Huge crunch potential, will beat Romans frontally more often than not but still mobile enough to react to the enemy.
Although you will probably have to decline a flank.

philqw78 wrote:The way you have taken the Bactrians has too much of everything and not enough of anything.

But is there any other way to take Bactrians?

Chris

batesmotel wrote:

philqw78 wrote:The way you have taken the Bactrians has too much of everything and not enough of anything.

But is there any other way to take Bactrians?

Chris

Lancers, lancers, lancers and a few LH.

batesmotel wrote:

philqw78 wrote:The way you have taken the Bactrians has too much of everything and not enough of anything.

But is there any other way to take Bactrians?

Chris

http://www.madaxeman.com/wiki2/tiki-ind ... o-Bactrian
I like the last two lists.

Amra wrote:Dropback the FC to TC . LF jav are much more effective in 8s I find , they handle enemy shooting better and can fight better (against bow LF in sixes )

.

I thought about that, but I decided that the jav LF are already protected and initiative is important for an army like this one against foot heavy opponents.
What do the rest of you think?