Menavlatoi
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 6:57 pm
The Nikephorian Byzantine army contained a troop type called Menavlatoi. These were anti-mounted specialists who would sortie out in front of the main battle line with very heavy spears to receive mounted charges. In FOG they are given Heavy Weapons which aren't really specialist anti-mounted weapons - especially in the Impact phase. I suspect they might have got this classificaton via DBM, with the reasoning going:-
1) They are weird anti-mounted troops. Bd(X) are weird anti-mounted troops. Therefore they are Bd(X).
2) Bd(X) are equivalent to Heavy Weapons
Is there a better way to classify them? How about:-
1) Just incorporate them in the Spearmen and delete them as an option
2) Make them stronger against mounted eg Offensive Spear
3) Represent their effect against mounted by using a limited number of Portable Defences - either a couple of frontages worth for one of the Spear/Bow BGs or as a small BG of Spear with PD
What do you think? The main point is that this should be a bit of colour not something that makes the infantry component of the Nikephorians too strong - historically it should be a combined arms army with the mounted the more important.
1) They are weird anti-mounted troops. Bd(X) are weird anti-mounted troops. Therefore they are Bd(X).
2) Bd(X) are equivalent to Heavy Weapons
Is there a better way to classify them? How about:-
1) Just incorporate them in the Spearmen and delete them as an option
2) Make them stronger against mounted eg Offensive Spear
3) Represent their effect against mounted by using a limited number of Portable Defences - either a couple of frontages worth for one of the Spear/Bow BGs or as a small BG of Spear with PD
What do you think? The main point is that this should be a bit of colour not something that makes the infantry component of the Nikephorians too strong - historically it should be a combined arms army with the mounted the more important.
