Slitherine

Bear with me because I haven't checked the "legal" allocations for some battlegroups in the Companion list books. Nevertheless, after spending a bit of time with the starter armies from FOG, I am begining to wonder why anyone in their right minds would EVER take a two base battle group. Whether elite or not, they always autobreak after only one base loss at the end of the JAP.

What is the point in ever taking them?

Does anybody see the benefits that I cannot. or is it a case of the lists restricting you so that you must take the group in two's only (like elephants or Triari)

Triarii can be in 4's I think?

True but most BGs that come in 2s either fight in 2 ranks (which means they will usually only lose taking a couple of hits so "easy" death roll), or are elephants in which case you get a +1 to that death roll. Nothing like putting stuff on the table and seeing how it works.

carlos wrote:True but most BGs that come in 2s either fight in 2 ranks (which means they will usually only lose taking a couple of hits so "easy" death roll), or are elephants in which case you get a +1 to that death roll. Nothing like putting stuff on the table and seeing how it works.

2 bases of something can sit behind two four-base BG, and provide a +1 to cohesion tests.

i saw a couple of groups save the bacon of an entire roman infantry line at the local club yesterday.

you'd call that points well spent.

2 Base BGs fighting in two ranks with troops either side to prevent overlaps are very hard to kill. Most of the tile they are tough troops so even beating them is hard and as long as they win they can't actually lose a base.

I See! So, the best way to use them is in a column as part of a battle line. I had been using them to the rear of the Hastati/Princeps as a kind of supportive group (as it suggests in Rise of Rome). Will try the way you suggested.

I don't mind rules if I understand why they are there.

Brainsnaffler wrote: I See! So, the best way to use them is in a column as part of a battle line. I had been using them to the rear of the Hastati/Princeps as a kind of supportive group (as it suggests in Rise of Rome).

Which is their proper historical role in that army, and effective under the rules.

In a Nikephorean Byzantine army, however, the 2 base Kataphraktoi (Klibanophoroi) BGs are most effective used in a battle line between 2 battle groups of tagmatic cavalry.

Which is their proper historical role in that army, and effective under the rules. (In a different way).