Slitherine

Hi
I am painting some pre feudal scots, which seem to me to be pretty generic British dark ages troops. I know very little about this period. How should I base the basic spearmen. Helmet, shield, spear, no armour.

I am guessing --MF, protected,defensive spear.

Thanks

I suspect they might still be offensive spear as my books on early scots (even the Picts) suggest that they did do offensive moves. After all they are still the main strike force of the army and need them to be offensive if they are not just to stand around.
My question would be whether they might be unprotected at that period as the shield was still quite small as I recall.
John

Almost certainly based as medium foot - 3 to a stand.

For early dark age British you could have medium foot or heavy foot. As things head towards Saxon and Viking style fighting you are looking at heavy foot. Unless you have a good reason to want them as medium foot I would go heavy foot as then they can be used in more dark age armies IMO.