Slitherine

Is it worth spending the extra points on a Field Commander?

More so in V2 since an FC can move a battle line of 4 BGs versus 2 BGs for a TC. So it really depends on how your army breaks up into logical groups and how you will use your commander. I often prefer 2 FCs and 2 TCs to an IC plus 3 TCs for an 800-900 point army.

Chris

Fcs can also grant a +1 on PBI.

For my Classical Indians I dropped the IC + 3 TCs and went for Allied FC, FC CnC, FC sub and 1 TC sub.
The army , being un drilled, works much better.

What does PBI mean?

To summarize the advantages of an FC vs a TC:

1. Command range for CMTs is 8 MU vs 4 MU.
2. Can control 4 BGs in a BL instead of 2.
3. Gives a +1 when rolling for a flank march to arrive.
4. Gives a +1 when rolling for PBI. This is only applies the FC will be the CIC. (Edit - Added after Rob's next comment - I missed this one ) (Re-edited after Mr Briggs comment below. )

The real question is: Are any of these advantages worth 15 points (2 to 4 fighting bases) considering the way you intend to play?

Pre Battle Initiative.

Rob

bbotus wrote: To summarize the advantages of an FC vs a TC:

1. Command range for CMTs is 8 MU vs 4 MU.
2. Can control 4 BGs in a BL instead of 2.
3. Gives a +1 when rolling for a flank march to arrive.
4. Gives a +1 when rolling for PBI. (Edit - Added after Rob's next comment - I missed this one )

The real question is: Are any of these advantages worth 15 points (2 to 4 fighting bases) considering the way you intend to play?

Good response. Note, that point 4 requires the FC to be the CiC.

If you were to deploy an FC sub or allied commander on table and only deploy and keep two BGs in his range, both within 4MU then you'll get no benefit whatsoever from your extra 15 points. Plus as soon as he fights he might as well be a TC.

If you tend to just put an army together on paper without thinking of how you'd use it then frequently you won't see much benefit from an FC. But if you plan ahead, or are tweaking an existing army:

- I've got four big spear units that I need to get forward to pin the enemy centre.
- I need a general to cover a defensive flank where I'm got to get a lot of shooting coming in and causing tests
- it would be handy to have these three mounted units come on behind the enemy flank really early
- it would be really handy to win the initiative with my terrain sensitive army but I can't afford an IC

Are all thoughts that will find the extra 15 points a bargain

And thats only 190 points worth of Generals