What makes a Keil a Keil

[ravenflight]

Hi All,

I'm looking through some lists, and I notice that the Swiss in the Italian Wars French are Keils but the Landsknechts are just 'Landsknechts.

By the rules they are both Keils correct?

Does a BG that starts life as a Keil cease to be a Keil if/when it drops below the magic number?

[grahambriggs]

Kiel formation is a BG with two files of at least 4 pike (or troops that can count as pike) and is not a tercio. So Landesknechts will use that formation (assuming they have enough bases).

Swiss troops are also described as Kiels in the army list itself. In rules terms, that isn't of any great relevance. It's just that given what you're allowed in those BGs they will have to adopt Kiel formations.

[ravenflight]

So... if you had a French Huguenot list, and used the 4 pike 4 shot infantry formation, stripped out the 4 shot and added 4 pike, you'd end up with a keil?

[rbodleyscott]

So... if you had a French Huguenot list, and used the 4 pike 4 shot infantry formation, stripped out the 4 shot and added 4 pike, you'd end up with a keil?

Yes, briefly, until they lost a base.