Slitherine

Now that my Swiss are about painted and, My Romans are en-route, Any idea how big a 650 Spartan army would be? There is a great sale going on and I like figures that are easy to paint. After painting 800 points of early Renniscance Swiss I think I am due a easy paint job!

Thanks,
Irondog

I'd suspect pretty small.

If I had to guess Spartan Hoplites would be HF, Superior, Armoured, Drilled, Offensive Spearmen and that would make them 13 points per base (same stats as Hannibal's African Vetrans in the Later Carthaginian list). That would make a Spartan Battlegroup of 6 bases 78 points. I'd guess you could end up with 6 of these Battlegroups (468 points), plus a Field Commander (50 points), a couple of Troop Commanders (70 points) and 2 Battlegroups of Helots (one of 6 and one of 8 Light Foot with Javelins @ 4points a base - 56 points). Total 644 points

A little one dimensional, but then they are Spartans!

I like it.

As long as my Flanks are secure it will be a good time.

Irondog

edward wrote:If I had to guess Spartan Hoplites would be HF, Superior, Armoured, Drilled, Offensive Spearmen

In the 6th and early 5th century BC yes. After that they would be Protected.

Great, that gives you more points for some more Light Foot!

Surely there would be an option for at least one battlegroup of spartiates who would be elite. After all if Spartiates aren't elite who are?

miffedofreading wrote:Surely there would be an option for at least one battlegroup of spartiates who would be elite. After all if Spartiates aren't elite who are?

Alas no, there are no elite Spartans (see a very long thread in the rules forum I think in this very subject.

The summary of it is:

Superior armoured offensive spear enmasse are more than hard enough to beat everyone the Spartans beat.

hammy wrote:

miffedofreading wrote:Surely there would be an option for at least one battlegroup of spartiates who would be elite. After all if Spartiates aren't elite who are?

Alas no, there are no elite Spartans (see a very long thread in the rules forum I think in this very subject.

quote]

It's here:

viewtopic.php?t=5076

& let's not go there again!

Not the fascination w/ the leather-underpanted ones again!

An army of armoured superior offensive spearmen scare the hell out of me already.

OK I can't say that I agree but not my decision.

I think the elite of the elite spartiates were only ever a few thousand strong. Large enough to represent on the battlefield.

I presume the Persian immortals are not rated as elite either?

Andy
PS I don't have a spartan army anyway so what do i care

miffedofreading wrote:I presume the Persian immortals are not rated as elite either?

That is correct.

Funny thing. I agree about the Spartans being all superior. And even though I am still fuzzy about the Swiss being only superior I am starting to see the light about the superior rating.

But if we go to the Great Italian wars.......

Irondog

Irondog, you'll understand when you play the game

Spartan design at the top is almost idential to my 650pt Spartan design. You can have some as average if you want but probably not necessary in 25mm. And yes a wall of superiors is definitely elite!!

Have fun with it .... have heart attacks facing it

Si