Slitherine

In the early Persian starter army on page 13 the Persian and Median foot as well as the Bactrian and Saka foot are listed as - half bow, Light Spear, half Bow.

Is half bow a combat capability?
Does it mean 2 thirds of the BG has bow and 1 third has Light Spears?

It means that half the battle group has bow and light spear, the other half has only bow.
You put the bow/light spear troops in the front rank and bow only troops in the second rank (if you want the best results).

pezhetairoi wrote:It means that half the battle group has bow and light spear, the other half has only bow.
You put the bow/light spear troops in the front rank and bow only troops in the second rank (if you want the best results).

Not a bad combination IMHO either
The plus for light spear against most enemies and the second rank of MF firing into impact.

Dale

daleivan wrote:

pezhetairoi wrote:It means that half the battle group has bow and light spear, the other half has only bow.
You put the bow/light spear troops in the front rank and bow only troops in the second rank (if you want the best results).

Not a bad combination IMHO either
The plus for light spear against most enemies and the second rank of MF firing into impact.

Dale

Makes them pretty tough, but not as tough as the mighty SPARTANS!

Ok, I'll calm down now.

Ian

Nothing is as tough as the mighty Spartans and nor should it be. See the Ephors laconic reply to Philip of Macedon.

If...

It reflects the most typical infantry of EAP: the sparabara. Formed ten ranks deep, the first one held those big shields called spara,, and a short spear, while the rest of the file shot their bows. Spara could stand alone with a kind of support, allowing the first rank to shoot their bows too. Once in combat, the first rank tried to keep their enemies away from the almost unprotected archers. In FoG, sparabara soldiers are represented as 1/2 light spear/bow and 1/2 bow (the former in the front rank)