Slitherine

Time to start my second army...

How does this look? I like the idea of massed Pike, but I'm not sure if the balance is correct, so all help and advice is much appreciated.

Alexander IC
Troop Commander x 2
Agema x4 - Cv, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Lancer, Swordmen
Thessalian Heavy Cavalry x4 - Cv, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lt. Spear, Swd
Thracian Light Horse x4 - LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Javelin, Lt. Spear
Hypaspists x12 - HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pike
Foot Companions x12 - HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pike
Foot Companions x12 - HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pike
Greek Mercenary Iphikratean Hoplites x8 - MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Off. Spear
Agrianian Javelinman x8 - LF, Unprotected, Superior, Undrilled, Javelin, Lt. Spear
Thracian Peltasts x8 - MF, Protected, Average, Undrilled, Hvy Weapon
Cretan Archers x6 - LF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
Prodromoi x4 - LH, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Lancer, Swordmen

Total 794 point.

Many thanks

John

Although I have and use Prodromoi, I'm not exactly finding them all that useful...

As Lancer, Swordmen, they should get in the fight. As Unprotected, Light Horse, they are fragile in melee. So, where do they excel? I guess if you aim them towards enemy Light Foot and Light Horse, they'll do well. The only problem is that they are still fragile and are easily over-whelmed with numbers.

So, I'll still keep using them, but right now, I don't have a good idea about how useful they really are...

Put them behind your own LF or LH. If enemy LF charge your LF they evade and next impact you will charge the LF without having been shot at. same with the LH except they will have to evade around and his LH may hit at initial charge.

i think there is some value to BGs of 8 Pike especially on the outside of the phalanx.

I don't think this list is legal.

The list requires 4-6 "other companion cavalry".

I'd say that you were low on cavalry, but you say you want massed pike. Try it out.
Warning ... Thracians in the open with heavy weapon are lance bait!

Prodromoi have only a few uses. Skythians/sogdian/bactrians have more uses for similar points.

Thanks for the advice.

I hadn't noticed the requirement for "Other Companion Cavalry". I built my list from the Starter Army which also doesn't include them. Is the Starter Army also illegal, or am I missing something (quite likely as I'm a complete beginner)?

John

A number of the starter armies may be slightly illegal apparently. But they are starter armies, so look nice

Many of the starter armies were created before the lists were finalised - as a result some are illegal due to tweaks in the main list before publication, and there wasn't enough time to go back and check all the starter armies.

johnnyW wrote:Time to start my second army...

How does this look? I like the idea of massed Pike, but I'm not sure if the balance is correct, so all help and advice is much appreciated.

Alexander IC
Troop Commander x 2
Agema x4 - Cv, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Lancer, Swordmen
Thessalian Heavy Cavalry x4 - Cv, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lt. Spear, Swd
Thracian Light Horse x4 - LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Javelin, Lt. Spear
Hypaspists x12 - HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pike
Foot Companions x12 - HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pike
Foot Companions x12 - HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pike
Greek Mercenary Iphikratean Hoplites x8 - MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Off. Spear
Agrianian Javelinman x8 - LF, Unprotected, Superior, Undrilled, Javelin, Lt. Spear
Thracian Peltasts x8 - MF, Protected, Average, Undrilled, Hvy Weapon
Cretan Archers x6 - LF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
Prodromoi x4 - LH, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Lancer, Swordmen

Total 794 point.

Many thanks

John

to many supports they never will need to fight your pike block

alexandathegreat wrote:

johnnyW wrote:Time to start my second army...

How does this look? I like the idea of massed Pike, but I'm not sure if the balance is correct, so all help and advice is much appreciated.

Alexander IC
Troop Commander x 2
Agema x4 - Cv, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Lancer, Swordmen
Thessalian Heavy Cavalry x4 - Cv, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lt. Spear, Swd
Thracian Light Horse x4 - LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Javelin, Lt. Spear
Hypaspists x12 - HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pike
Foot Companions x12 - HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pike
Foot Companions x12 - HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pike
Greek Mercenary Iphikratean Hoplites x8 - MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Off. Spear
Agrianian Javelinman x8 - LF, Unprotected, Superior, Undrilled, Javelin, Lt. Spear
Thracian Peltasts x8 - MF, Protected, Average, Undrilled, Hvy Weapon
Cretan Archers x6 - LF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
Prodromoi x4 - LH, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Lancer, Swordmen

Total 794 point.

Many thanks

John

to many supports they never will need to fight your pike block

youve got 11 units lose halve and you run away so put your supports behind the pike block if no where else to go because there be chased of the board. i couldnt use prodomi well mybe you could the genaral idea of them is to chase of LH or LF great choice with making the javelinmen and archers superior rerolling ones really helps siriously. maybe more CV? up to you and all ways protect the flanks of your pike if your flanks are hit you leg trust me i khow too much about it but overal i like your army.

Byron (Alexandrathegreat) - good points, but your spelling Dad

I can't believe you called your son Alexandra. It obviously cuts both ways.

his choice of spelling and username for the forum

He is actually named after Lord Byron the poet

At least he uses a boys name for himself, in a gangsta rap sort of way, Alexanda, not the girls name you give him, Alexandra

oh raspberries to you

For what its worth my Alexandrian army for Britcon (13th place )
IC and 2 TC
2 x 12 pike average
1 x 8 pike superior
1 x 4 Cv superior companions
1x 4 Thessalian LH
1 x 6 LF Macedonian archers average
1 x 8 LF Thracian javelins
1 x 8 Iphicratean Hoplites
1 x 8 Thracian peltasts Offensive spear
2 x 4 Elephants
1 x 8 Indian bow swordsmen
1 x 4 horse archers bow
The thinking behind it
1 .it was to compete with shooty cav armies,+3 initiative and enough bow to press 1 flank whilst bringing the heavies round to trap them,as it is I only played one ,Stephanes Ilkhanids resulting in a very hard fought and enjoyable draw
2.Average skirmishers ,I like to give rear support to my skirmish line and only realised half way through Helsinki that the pike couldn't support Cretans or Agrianians
3.I wanted 3 x 12 pike but couldn't afford them as it was they coped ,I used the Hypaspists in their MF role in Helsinki
4.I havn't had much success with HW Thracians and much prefer Offensive spear,especially with the likleyhood of faciong Medievals with Almughavar IF/SW,the spear if they stay steady will be + in melee
5 The elephants were to deter any Knights and give another option against Romans
Overall 2 wins and a draw against Medievals,1 draw as above,1 win against Crusaders and a loss to the Dominate swarm of Grahams
David

I did use the Prodromoi in Helsinki ,indeed they were the sole reason for using the army at that point ,however they were rarely used ,the only time I actually charged something it was over an open field and we realised the lance dosn't count so disaster.
Usually they ended up as a deterrant to other light troops
David

ive worked out a mini swarm of LRR (16 BG's)

Hoping to tryout on th e1st Sept at the cllub, David....