Please critique my 802 point Alexander Army...

[OhReally]

Still waiting for the main rulebook to come in the mail, so I actually have no clue what allot of the troops do in game terms so I went with a mix of what I had for models, what felt fairly historically accurate, and what I thought would look good on the table top.

I'm not sure how much a stickler people are going to be over 2 points, or if the rulebook covers this at all since it is hard to trim small amounts of points as you would usually have to kill two bases to get any points back. If I had to drop I would lose the allied Greek Hoplites and go with 8 more bases of Companion Pike instead.

Command: 135 points
Alexander
Troop Commander x2
Note: I have no clue what these do in the game, so I went with Alexander because I wanted to and with the other cheapest two I could get.

Cavalry: 258 Points
Agema 4 bases
Companion 4 bases
Thess (upgraded to Superior) 4 bases
Thracian LH 6 bases

Phalanx: 328 points
Foot Companions with pike 24 bases in 3 BG
Hypastist with pike 12 in 2 BG
Greek Mercenary Hoplites (drilled and armored) 8 bases
Note: I've strongly considered just doing 32 foot companions instead of the hoplites as I have the models and would have to buy the greek hoplites. I'm also dubious about the Hypastists being all armored out and am considering making one BG pike and the other more mobile as I understand they are supposed to be foot support for the Companion Cav.

Light Foot: 66 points
Javelin (upgraded to superior) 6 bases
Cretan Archers 6 bases

Again I have no clue what I'm doing, but I think I have most of the key elements I need to feel historical. I opted to avoid elephants and all of that nonsense and stick with the basics. I feel maybe I should have some more light foot and can see several ways of making that happen.

First I figured I would get some veteran input on my first list.

[willb]

you are 15 under in command points. alex as ic with 2xtc would be 150 unless you are fielding alex as fc then it would be 120. the difference has to do with command ranges. ic cover a greater radius.
the hypaspists should be in one bg instead of 2 as pike are usually fielded 4 deep.
800 points is the maximum allowed in competition with no overage.

[neilhammond]

I'm not sure how much a stickler people are going to be over 2 points, .

Fine for a friendly / club. In a comp you will have to stick to 800 AP limit.

Command: 135 points
Alexander
Troop Commander x2
Note: I have no clue what these do in the game, so I went with Alexander because I wanted to and with the other cheapest two I could get..

IC plus 2 TCs is okay. And Alexander should really be an IC. As an alternative you could use Philip as a FC and save 30 pts (cheaper but not as effective as an IC)

Cavalry: 258 Points
Agema 4 bases
Companion 4 bases
Thess (upgraded to Superior) 4 bases
Thracian LH 6 bases.

Good cavalry. The only problem is that cavalry is expensive. For the same price as the Agema you can have a 12 base pike phalanx or 8 base undrilled hoplite BG plus 6 bases of slingers. Or 2 BG of 6 hoplites for 84 pts.

Phalanx: 328 points
Foot Companions with pike 24 bases in 3 BG
Hypastist with pike 12 in 2 BG
Greek Mercenary Hoplites (drilled and armored) 8 bases
Note: I've strongly considered just doing 32 foot companions instead of the hoplites as I have the models and would have to buy the greek hoplites. I'm also dubious about the Hypastists being all armored out and am considering making one BG pike and the other more mobile as I understand they are supposed to be foot support for the Companion Cav..

I wouldn't drill or armour your hoplites. I think this army need quantity, but its a personal perspective.

Light Foot: 66 points
Javelin (upgraded to superior) 6 bases
Cretan Archers 6 bases.

Fine. Again, it's always a tough call whether to upgade or not.

I've got this army and used it in friendlies. In the end I tend to try and restrict the mounted (4 LH, 4 Companians, 4 sup arm HC) and then try and max out on the infantry. Taking the pikes as 12s is useful because you can then break them down into MF, but again it does cost points. I tend to take hoplites to extend the frontage and compensate for the cost / depth of the pikes. The IC or FC stays with the infantry, which should be in a battle line, to help the undrilled hoplites wheel or short-move where necessary.

[Luddite]

Command: 135 points
Alexander
Troop Commander x2
Note: I have no clue what these do in the game, so I went with Alexander because I wanted to and with the other cheapest two I could get.

1x FC & 2x TC should do with an army this small. Personally i normally go for 4x TC if possible, but its really a personal call on how you structure your commands.

Cavalry: 258 Points
Agema 4 bases
Companion 4 bases
Thess (upgraded to Superior) 4 bases
Thracian LH 6 bases

Nice. I'd drop the LH to 4 bases.

The elite Agema are brutal. With a commander fighting up front thay're fierce on close combat, but they are very fragile and need to go in supported...

Phalanx: 328 points
Foot Companions with pike 24 bases in 3 BG
Hypastist with pike 12 in 2 BG
Greek Mercenary Hoplites (drilled and armored) 8 bases
Note: I've strongly considered just doing 32 foot companions instead of the hoplites as I have the models and would have to buy the greek hoplites. I'm also dubious about the Hypastists being all armored out and am considering making one BG pike and the other more mobile as I understand they are supposed to be foot support for the Companion Cav.

Small BGs for mobility, large for fighting. the phalanx is the ultimate fighting BG so you want them as large as possible.

Companions should be 2x 12
Hypastpists 1x 12

I take the Greek mercs are MF to give me some solid terrain fighting troops as well as the option to hold the flanks of the phalanx.

Light Foot: 66 points
Javelin (upgraded to superior) 6 bases
Cretan Archers 6 bases

These are fine, although they aren't key fighting troops so i wouldn't upgrade them.

Again I have no clue what I'm doing, but I think I have most of the key elements I need to feel historical. I opted to avoid elephants and all of that nonsense and stick with the basics. I feel maybe I should have some more light foot and can see several ways of making that happen.

First I figured I would get some veteran input on my first list.

I use elephants. They seem to be quite robust and stand up particularly well to enemy cavalry. they also anchor the phalnax flank quite well.

I think you have enough LF, but army construction in FoG is really about having a plan and getting the right troops in to action that plan, so if yours involves difficult terrain go for more LF!

[OhReally]

Thank you for all your replies.

Allot of what I'm trying to do involves me having to have something that feels like the general composition of Alexander's army prior to his invasion of India. Taking elephants just seems cheesy to me so I don't do it, if I wanted to play wild and free I would just go play GW games or something.

I have changed my list around due to some of the suggestions all of you have made. If you could take a look at my revised list I would greatly appreciate it.

Command: 150 points
Alexander 80
Troop Commander x2

Cavalry: 244 Points
Agema x4
Companion X4
Thessalian (Sup) x4
Thrasian LH x4
Some suggested I limit the # of cavalry, but it just does not feel like an Alexandrian army without it. Plus I have the models already painted so they are making the tabletop.

Phalanx: 312 points
Companion Pike x36 split into 3 BG
Hypastists x12 in 1 BG
I'm taking the advice to go with the larger BG's and maxed my # of phalanx out. I took the Greek out as they typically did not play that large of a part of the battle compared to the Macedonian Phalanx, and I actually have an unopend bag of Mak Pike sitting around begging to be painted.

It still feels a little wrong to go with the Hypastists as heavy troops, so there is some chance in the future I would move the list around to make them more mobile.

Light Foot: 90 points
Agrianian Javelin x6
Cretan Archers x6
Rhodian Slingers x6
It was only six points to go from Average to Superior Javelin and since I was able to get this list down to 796

[Luddite]

Looks good.

The only comment i'd make is you'll struglle to fight in terrain and in FoG there tends to be a fair bit of that knocking about. It's why i take the MF Greeks to give me at least a chance of contesting a crucial bit of rough ground...

Other than that, your list looks pretty fearsome...

[OldenTired]

Looks good.

The only comment i'd make is you'll struglle to fight in terrain and in FoG there tends to be a fair bit of that knocking about.

not in half the games i've been playing!

the terrain system can actually produce mixed results.

[OhReally]

Looks good.

The only comment i'd make is you'll struglle to fight in terrain and in FoG there tends to be a fair bit of that knocking about. It's why i take the MF Greeks to give me at least a chance of contesting a crucial bit of rough ground...

Other than that, your list looks pretty fearsome...

I don't have the rulebook and have not seen a game played yet, so again my first list is really based upon historical accuracy and the models I have currently.

I do have some interesting looking Medium Foot options in the list I could play with if that is something that is just going to devestate me if I don't have them.

[Luddite]

Looks good.

The only comment i'd make is you'll struglle to fight in terrain and in FoG there tends to be a fair bit of that knocking about.

not in half the games i've been playing!

the terrain system can actually produce mixed results.

Interesting.

Every game i've played so far, the terrain has been a significant factor in the result of the battle...

I've found MF to be vital.

[Luddite]

Looks good.

The only comment i'd make is you'll struglle to fight in terrain and in FoG there tends to be a fair bit of that knocking about. It's why i take the MF Greeks to give me at least a chance of contesting a crucial bit of rough ground...

Other than that, your list looks pretty fearsome...

I don't have the rulebook and have not seen a game played yet, so again my first list is really based upon historical accuracy and the models I have currently.

I do have some interesting looking Medium Foot options in the list I could play with if that is something that is just going to devestate me if I don't have them.

Here’s the 800pt list i use, to compare...

LoM BG
- 4x Commanders TF
1 6x Agrarians LF, U/pr, Sup, U/dr, Jav Lt.Sp
2 4x Slingers LF, U/pr, Avg, Dr, Sling
3 4x Slingers LF, U/pr, Avg, Dr, Sling
4 4x Thracians LH, U/pr, Avg, U/dr, Jav. Lt.Sp
5 4x Agema Cv, Arm, Elite, Dr, Lance, Swd
6 4x Greek Cavalry Cv, Arm, Avg, Dr, Lt. Sp, Swd
7 4x Greek Cavalry Cv, Arm, Avg, Dr, Lt. Sp, Swd
8 2x Elephants El
9 6x Greek Hoplites MF, Prt, Avg, Dr, OffSp
10 6x Greek Hoplites MF, Prt, Avg, Dr, OffSp
11 12x Hypaspists HF, Prt, Sup, Dr, Pike
12 12x Foot Companions HF, Prt, Avg, Dr, Pike
13 12x Foot Companions HF, Prt, Avg, Dr, Pike

[madmike111]

I have been fielding my Lt foot as poor if its available. At 2pt for a guy with a javelin they do the same job as Lt foot average/superior costing 3 times the price. Once the heavy troops hit each other the Lt foot usually get stuck in the rear for the rest of the game. The points saved are much better spent on heavy troops. The javman's light spear also gives them an edge over archers in combat.

Rejig the army to a max of 800pts even for a friendly game. I only play socially but stick to a strict max figure.

I prefer larger sized units like 12s for pike, makes it very difficult for missile troops to score enough hits for a cohesion test. Also you get more bang for your buck when adding a commander in combat.

Lastly I like a combo of an IC and 3 TC. The IC gives an additional +1 to all your troops from missile fire cohesion tests (assuming the BG is in range). In most games I have at least 2 or 3 units that pass their coh test by the IC +1.