Slitherine

I'm planning another medieval army, after my Condotta I was looking for a heavy infantry army for variety - enter the Free Company:


- 4xTC
- 6 x dismounted men-at-arms (HF, HARM, Sup, Undr, HvyW) : 84
- 6 x dismounted men-at-arms (HF, HARM, Sup, Undr, HvyW) : 84
- 8 x Lesser Companions (HF, ARM, Avg, Drld, HvyW) : 80
- 8 x Lesser Companions (HF, ARM, Avg, Drld, HvyW) : 80
- 4 x Mounted men-at-arms (Kn, HARM, Sup, Undr, Lanc, Swmen) : 92
- 4 x Mounted men-at-arms (Kn, HARM, Sup, Undr, Lanc, Swmen) : 92
- 8 x English longbowmen (MF, PROT, Avg, Drld, LBow) : 72
- 8 x English longbowmen (MF, PROT, Avg, Drld, LBow) : 72

The list has neither light infantry nor light horse so I'm a bit concerned with having my heavy infantry bogged down by enemy skirmishers - the idea is to use the archers to chase off light troops with a few well-aimed volleys while having the two weak knight BGs as reserves for rear support and covering the flanks of the center.

So, what do you think, is it workable?

IMO this is a decent list, the only bit I am not too sure about are the BG's of 8 average HF, I would like to see you finding a way to get a couple more BG's in there probably at the expense of the numbers in some of the HF groups.

I agree with Hammy here, at 800pts you need more than 8 BGs...I played using an all-foot WotR army in the Birmingham 650pt tournament at the weekend and it wasn't unlike what you are proposing but had 11 BGs.

I played the longbowmen BGs in 6s but wish I had chosen 8s. With 800 pts to play with I might mix 6s and 8s. In a sense, they can often fulfil the role of light foot as even in difficult terrain they are only slowed a little, only lose 1 dice per 3 and are only likely to meet LF. Stakes are almost a necessity if you expect to encounter knights, as I found to my cost!

I played the men at arms on foot in 4s and this was fine except when opponent's shooting ganged up on one or two of them! These will not stand up long term to a charge by knights, however, and the armoured average ones will be even more vulnerable...maybe as they are drilled, using them in smaller groups as mobile rear support for archers?

Not sure about the mounted knights. They will be hard to stop for most opponents and will often take out an enemy BG each, but are expensive to use as flank guards and rear support! Since my WotR army can't field such gentlemen, I was spared having to choose!

Martin

I would consider an Inspired Commander for an army like this that can pretty much all fit within the bonus umbrella, thereby allowing the TCs more freedom of action to pitch in wherever desired.

I think you are right to worry about being slowed by skirmishers, and that Longbowmen can punish those skirmishers for their impudence, but shooting is not going to chase them far enough away to allow second moves. Lacking LH or good LF, you would have to commit the Knights to drive them off far enough. But they are Undrilled, and it's probably safer to advance in your armored porcupine formation to hit something that can't get out of the way.

Having some drilled heavy foot supporting the flanks of your small attacking line is useful, but what would make me most uncomfortable is having undrilled Knights when they are likely to have a lot of support work to do that would benefit from manoeuvre. If your plan is to use them strictly for assault, however, Undrilled is more cost effective.

Interesting choice.

Mike