Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[Mark Stone]

OK, I've had a few days to think about this one, and here's another I'll put out
there for consideration. This one you'll learn less from than from playing Russ,
but you will learn something about the vital role that light infantry can play
as a skirmish line, it's actually a pretty competitive army, and there are
virtually no matchups where you don't have something you can try.

Feudal French
CinC w/2 Stands Irr B EHK/HK L,Sh and Sacred Standard
2x Subgen w/2 stands Irr B EHK/HK L,Sh
3x French Knights 2 stands Irr B EHK/HK L,Sh
1x French Knights/Sergeants 4 stands Irr A/C EHK/HC L,Sh
2x Brigans 4 stands Irr C LHI 2HCT,Sh/LMI JLS
2x Cathars 6 stands Irr A LMI JLS,Sh
1x Crossbowmen 6 stands Irr C LI CB
3x Archers 8 stands Irr C LI B

Note that relatively few of the French knights have been upgraded to Irr A. I
think a beginner can get themselves in more trouble and bad habits with the
allure of Irr A. It's good to learn the value of never rolling down Irr B units
with a general. Knowing what you can count on in the long run matters more than
knowing what you can hope for.

The Brigans and Cathars give you something that can deal with things the knights
don't want to deal with (pikemen, elephants, difficult terrain). And the sacred
standard gives you something to help get the Brigans going impetuously, as well
as a source of eagerness for all those times when a beginner forgets to support
his units.

The tactics are very simple. You throw out a light infantry screen in front of
the rest of the army, and then attempt to line up matchups you find desirable.
Probably you're going to lead the attack with the Brigans, and use the knights
and/or Cathars as follow up troops. There's a subtle reason for this approach
often lost on beginners, but one that Chris D'Amour has beaten into my head
over the years: you might as well lead the attack with your lower morale
troops, because they are the ones who will be doing the routing, not the ones
who will be testing for routers. You need your higher morale troops in reserve
to pass those wavers and then clobber whatever is in front of them.

Anyway, overall a pretty simple and pretty forgiving army. Screen you opponent,
line up your shock troops behind your screen, and charge home with the attack
troops while holding the counter punch troops in reserve to respond to the
disruptions created by the attack troops.


-Mark Stone