If I could create my own army list it would have...
If I could create my own army list it would have...
Since some army lists are better than others and the points system doesn't properly compensate for that, what army list would you have if you could choose any troops you liked? I was thinking it might be fun to create a solo campaign using such lists, so I would need a list for the human player and several lists for the AI player. You would need to name your list (eg the "Gallo-Roman Greek Barbarian" list) and it would have to viable at 2,000 points. I once ran a tournament where players were allowed to create their own lists, and every one came up with a different list and it was fun to play. That makes more sense to me in a tournament context, where only lip service is paid to re-creating history.
Re: If I could create my own army list it would have...
Hmm...
Hmm... difficult question. Different armies tend to offer different advantages. I suppose...
-A relatively small number of Roman Hastati/Principes, legions, and/or warbands/superior warbands to form my main line of battle. I like that impact bonus, not just for the offensive punch but because it makes them scary for an opponent to attack as well. Veterans are very nice as well, though possibly not necessary if I've got massed bowmen to soften the enemy up for my already good-quality infantry (would be nice to have the option as they're great at holding up phalanxes).
-Massed archers to screen the front of both the infantry and the cavalry potentially.
-A decent number of foot skirmishers. Even when I have massed archers, I like to have more mobile elements to harass enemy cavalry. They can also screen against enemy bow units in a pinch.
-Access to armoured and regular cavalry with some nobles. Some medium horse archers wouldn't go amiss either.
-A small number of javelin/horse archer cav. I'm not as sold on light horse as I am on light foot. The light foot seem like the right compromise between mobility and firepower, though I often take the light cav as well if I'm going for a heavy skirmisher build. I'm rather underwhelmed by the light cavalry's charge potential.
-Samnite foot as my mediums. A medium infantry unit which is also an impact foot unit sounds good to me.
-Elephants; can throw enemy lancers into chaos, though they need to be protected.
-As a last point, light chariots. They can be surprisingly effective when deployed in swarms alongside skirmishers. That, and they make the most wonderful sound while rampaging around the battlefield.
Notable absences.
-Phalanxes. A little too unwieldy and expensive for my taste. Even if they break through, any units in reserve can mess them up. (Though phalanxes can sometimes be so tough that they come steaming through your frontline anyway, it's usually curtains once you get round their sides.)
-Lancers. They feel like they have the vulnerabilities of infantry without the resilience of infantry. Enemy cav can dodge them, enemy infantry can withstand them (most of the time). They can be very dangerous, but there are also too many ways to counter them. (Though as I say this, I am reminded of the fact that my army of Gauls got its tail handed to it by an army of Rhoxolani lancers, so they are definitely effective when handled correctly.)
I'm partial to other units not mentioned like the other medium infantry and mobs, but they don't quite make my favourite unit list.
Anyway, this army is all about coordination. Infantry and medium cavalry lockstep with each other, with skirmishers and massed archers screening them. The army can operate on rough terrain. It can operate on smooth terrain. It can skirmish well. It can emphasise a heavy infantry push. The skirmishers, massed archers, elephants and medium cavalry offer counters to cavalry heavy armies. The impact status of the heavy foot means that attempts to lock them down from the front and then quickly flank them may not work due to the attacking unit losing the initial engagement. Overall, I feel that the above units are just a well-rounded force that can deal with just about anything. Attempts to spread wide will allow the heavy infantry to punch through, while attempts to go deep will see the cavalry get you. Lancers can be shot down or overwhelmed. Elephants will struggle to get near enough to fight. Skirmishers will be shot on sight; survivors will be shot again.
Hmm... difficult question. Different armies tend to offer different advantages. I suppose...
-A relatively small number of Roman Hastati/Principes, legions, and/or warbands/superior warbands to form my main line of battle. I like that impact bonus, not just for the offensive punch but because it makes them scary for an opponent to attack as well. Veterans are very nice as well, though possibly not necessary if I've got massed bowmen to soften the enemy up for my already good-quality infantry (would be nice to have the option as they're great at holding up phalanxes).
-Massed archers to screen the front of both the infantry and the cavalry potentially.
-A decent number of foot skirmishers. Even when I have massed archers, I like to have more mobile elements to harass enemy cavalry. They can also screen against enemy bow units in a pinch.
-Access to armoured and regular cavalry with some nobles. Some medium horse archers wouldn't go amiss either.
-A small number of javelin/horse archer cav. I'm not as sold on light horse as I am on light foot. The light foot seem like the right compromise between mobility and firepower, though I often take the light cav as well if I'm going for a heavy skirmisher build. I'm rather underwhelmed by the light cavalry's charge potential.
-Samnite foot as my mediums. A medium infantry unit which is also an impact foot unit sounds good to me.
-Elephants; can throw enemy lancers into chaos, though they need to be protected.
-As a last point, light chariots. They can be surprisingly effective when deployed in swarms alongside skirmishers. That, and they make the most wonderful sound while rampaging around the battlefield.
Notable absences.
-Phalanxes. A little too unwieldy and expensive for my taste. Even if they break through, any units in reserve can mess them up. (Though phalanxes can sometimes be so tough that they come steaming through your frontline anyway, it's usually curtains once you get round their sides.)
-Lancers. They feel like they have the vulnerabilities of infantry without the resilience of infantry. Enemy cav can dodge them, enemy infantry can withstand them (most of the time). They can be very dangerous, but there are also too many ways to counter them. (Though as I say this, I am reminded of the fact that my army of Gauls got its tail handed to it by an army of Rhoxolani lancers, so they are definitely effective when handled correctly.)
I'm partial to other units not mentioned like the other medium infantry and mobs, but they don't quite make my favourite unit list.
Anyway, this army is all about coordination. Infantry and medium cavalry lockstep with each other, with skirmishers and massed archers screening them. The army can operate on rough terrain. It can operate on smooth terrain. It can skirmish well. It can emphasise a heavy infantry push. The skirmishers, massed archers, elephants and medium cavalry offer counters to cavalry heavy armies. The impact status of the heavy foot means that attempts to lock them down from the front and then quickly flank them may not work due to the attacking unit losing the initial engagement. Overall, I feel that the above units are just a well-rounded force that can deal with just about anything. Attempts to spread wide will allow the heavy infantry to punch through, while attempts to go deep will see the cavalry get you. Lancers can be shot down or overwhelmed. Elephants will struggle to get near enough to fight. Skirmishers will be shot on sight; survivors will be shot again.
Re: If I could create my own army list it would have...
If I could create my own army list it would have... Flaming Pigs!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_pig
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_pig
-
Barrold713
- Master Sergeant - Bf 109E
- Posts: 456
- Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:34 am
- Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
Re: If I could create my own army list it would have...
Battle in the morning...pig roast in the afternoon.jomni wrote:If I could create my own army list it would have... Flaming Pigs!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_pig
Nice
Re: If I could create my own army list it would have...
I wonder if it would be possible to have legions with embedded carroballista, or cart-mounted ballista. Basically, these were small, portable ballista that could be mounted on carts. Having embedded artillery (much like in Pike and Shot: Campaigns) could give the unit a POA advantage when first charging into melee, making them even more dangerous on impact.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroballista
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroballista