Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

I've always played 15mm, but I've been convinced that 25mm is the way
to go and so far I'm very pleased with a Russ army I'm painting.

I've played a Russ army in 15mm since the late 80s (TOG and DBM) with
a core of spear backed up by small Viking units and a large Pechneg
ally working a flank. I've always ground the enemies center with the
spear, counterattacked or preempted charges with the Vikings, and
aggressively skirmished with the LC. I've never used close order B,
only LI,B.

I'm wondering will this army be more effective in 25mm by maximizing
the spear, skipping the Vikings, and using a small Bulgar LC,
HC,L,B,Sh command to hold in reserve. I'll use it to exploit victory
or counterattack local defeats. My only woods troops will be two
small 4E LI,Jls,Sh units. The spear are much stronger than the
Vikings (really only worry about Moogs), but I'm worried that the
lack of mobility and woods troops will hurt the army. I'm also
considering using two 8E MI,B,1/2Sh units for the first time.

Basicially I'm asking for opinions. Does anyone effictively use
Viking LHI,Jls,B,Sh?

Wes

Never played 25mm so cannot comment but I also have run Russ for
several years in 15mm.
I use the LTS and Bowmen in 9E Blocks HI LTS Jls Sh Front MI LTS Jls
Sh 2nd with a rear of MI B They do take quite a bit of shifting and
HC don't like them cos of the bows and they soak up lots from MI B
then flatten them
I do however like the Viking Bowmen I run them with ALL the options
except horses they really do like elephants 8E LHI Jls B Sh Irr B
stick em in some brush an they are not easy to shift. Cost ain't
cheap but I really do like em.
I use either the bulgars or pechenegs but me too used to Vikings and
still ain't got my head around cavalry
I use the Slav scouts LI jls Sh for Woods
Mike

> I'm wondering will this army be more effective in 25mm by
maximizing
> the spear, skipping the Vikings, and using a small Bulgar LC,
> HC,L,B,Sh command to hold in reserve. I'll use it to exploit
victory
> or counterattack local defeats. My only woods troops will be two
> small 4E LI,Jls,Sh units. The spear are much stronger than the
> Vikings (really only worry about Moogs), but I'm worried that the
> lack of mobility and woods troops will hurt the army. I'm also
> considering using two 8E MI,B,1/2Sh units for the first time.
>
> Basicially I'm asking for opinions. Does anyone effictively use
> Viking LHI,Jls,B,Sh?
>
> Wes

Wes,
I've been playing for years as am anything but an expert, so I'll
give up my opinion based on years of frustration with odd units :)

First the viking unit you listed above is an *ss kicking anti-EL,
take over the woods or brush, impetouos killer of other LMI, and is
perhaps your only terrain option if you plan on taking terrain,
placing terrain, or even nearing terrain.

Second while the HC L/B/sh units are good, they are vulnerable to
everything the LTS can't handle themselves, so will not effectively
support the spearmen.

If I faced you with my Normans, I'd make you fight from brush all
over the board, skirmish the close order spears out of the game,
charge with Ireg A HC L/sh into your supporting HC, and generally use
my brush troops to narrow down the board and thereby render your LC
of little value. It has been my experience that when I want to hold
terrain with LI, I loose the LI.

The MI B are one of those troop types I've run all my life because
someone told me they suck. Well...they do. I've won games with
them, but only when the enemy charged uphill with L armed mounted
that took so many CPF in prep and support that only a couple of hats
and a spur where left when the last dead horse reached by troops
(they evaporated). I've also lost entire games when they ran
screaming like little girls (after taking a mere 3 CPF) back through
the meat of my army forcing half the army of IrgCs to shake. If you
get them on a hill and they roll up they can force units to halt,
halt disordered, or waver, but none of those types of units will be
approaching your bowmen, so they are best used to back the spearmen.
Trust me when I say that 6E of shieldless MI B (they will be
disordered before anyone charges)are just so many victory points for
the enemy; plus they rout so slow that somebody in your army is going
to have to take a waver check if you plan on counterattacking the
persuers.

Wanax