In Praise of Poor Troops

[petedalby]

Can we have more 'Poor' troops please?

As an example, the Late Republican Roman list allows legionaries to be anything from Elite to Poor with everything in between. So plenty of flexibility.

But in other lists all / most of the troop types are 'Average'.

Can we have a default option to downgrade any troops by at least one level to show unenthusiastic / unwilling troops please?
Pete

[thefrenchjester]

they will come soon
with the sumerian armies and associates , asian eastern armies of the song , the biblical armies ( super chariots and poor followers ) , the period will surely give you all you wish ( I wait also that's sure )

thefrenchjester " average but enthusiatic "

[nikgaukroger]

We're including Poor troops where we can identify that they are reasonable, but we aren't putting them in if we don't think that. I'd suggest that if Average troops are common in the lists we are doing something right

Have you spotted any cases where you think Poor troops are justified based on the historical record but are not available? We are more than open to suggestions, we know we aren't infallible.

[petedalby]

Hi Nick,

Unfortunately I'm not sufficiently well read to be able to provide specific examples.

But I keep looking at the Later Jewish list and all those LF - all of whom are Average. Army sizes seemed to grow and shrink remarkably - suggesting a high degree of desertion?

Contrast that with say Seleucid or Ottoman where most Light Foot can be downgraded to Poor.

I think it would add more flavour and give more flexibility on army choice.

Peter

[nikgaukroger]

But I keep looking at the Later Jewish list and all those LF - all of whom are Average. Army sizes seemed to grow and shrink remarkably - suggesting a high degree of desertion?

As far as I can see the troops that did fight were OK and as the desertion happened pre-battle it is not really within the scope of the lists as that would mean representing troops who weren't there

Contrast that with say Seleucid or Ottoman where most Light Foot can be downgraded to Poor.

I think it would add more flavour and give more flexibility on army choice.

It would indeed add flexibility but, in the opinion of those contributing to the lists, it would be spurious to have such troops without some evidence - in the case of seleukid and Ottoman we believe that at times these troops justify Poor.

However, as I said if anyone can supply info we're all ears.