Alexander's Artillery

[j2klbs]

Has anyone put Alexander's artillery to effective use? It seems to me that without field fortifications, one would have to devote a unit of infantry to protect it, and with only 2 Art available, it seems that not enough dice would be generated to make a real difference.

Thoughts?

[ars_belli]

In the Hellenistic world of the 4th-1st centuries BC, artillery was employed far more often in sieges than in field battles. This was precisely because they were vulnerable to attack from enemy forces unless protected by fortifications, just as you suggest. And when, for example, Julius Caesar did deploy artillery for a field battle against the Belgae in 57 BC, he took care to place them in well-fortified positions.

Cheers,
Scott