Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[scott holder]

Against my better judgement (too last minute), I'm going open some of the rules under consideration in Dark Age Warrior for use at Cold Wars. Sure, this might be a bit confusing but it gives us a chance to playtest the stuff in a live environment. This applies *only* to lists in Dark Age Warrior. As for Shieldwall, yeah, we haven't figured out which lists and troop types so for now, it'll apply to any Irr barbarian troop type (don't be Power Gamer on me, you can figure out where it should apply and if you want confirmation, email me) in DAW. Here goes:

VIKING INFANTRY RULES
The following applies to troops named “Viking” or “Varangian” in Lists 7-9, 13 27, 29, 30, 32-36 and generals’ elements incorporated into a unit with such troops:
1. Hirdsmen or Beserkir, either in separate/mixed units or as parent/detachments with each other, not armed with JLS may fight 1.5 ranks in hand-to-hand combat if charging, countercharging, or pursuing;
2. Hirdsmen/Warriors may have Beserkir detachments;
3. Warriors/Hirdsmen may fight in mixed units of the same order and may fight in mixed units with each other of the same order. Beserkir may fight in mixed units with Hirdsmen/Warriors;
4. Any troop named “Viking” may embark or disembark from a boat counting it as a maneuver or single march segment; such troops are considered steady when disembarking as an exception to Warrior 5.221;
5. Boats count as a steady friendly body for support purposes; Any Viking with a boat anywhere within 240p is considered supported as an exception to Warrior 5.131.

BYZANTINE RULES
The following rules apply to bodies containing Byzantine troops of the stated name below in Lists 11-12, 19, 23-24 and 25 and incorporated generals’ elements:
1. Skutatoi Spearmen/Bowmen may fight in mixed units;
2. Skutatoi Spearmen may adopt testudo;
3. Skutatoi Spearmen in Lists 11, 23-25 always fight two ranks in hand-to-hand combat;
4. Skutatoi infantry in Lists 11, 23-25 may adopt “Crusader Order”:
a. It has the same characteristics as a block and must be marked or made obvious to the opponent in some way;
b. It must be entered using a maneuver (Warrior 6.12);
c. It reverts to a block on entering hand-to-hand combat or making any but an approach move;
d. While in Crusader Order, Skutatoi may not charge or countercharge.
e. Kavallarioi may voluntary interpenetrate steady Skutatoi in Crusader Order as an exception to Warrior 6.52 without disordering either body and are not subject to the limitation on shooting in the last sentence of the 6th paragraph of Warrior 6.52. Interpenetrating troops that exceed their movement allowance remain subject to the limitations on charging and shooting in that paragraph.
5. Boukkellarioi/Kavallarioi that contain EHC may skirmish as an exception to Warrior 6.45.

SHIELDWALL RULES
The following applies to close/loose troops in Lists X through X not containing any HTW/LTS and/or Irr A and generals’ elements incorporated into a unit with such troops:

Shieldwall has the same characteristics as a block and must be marked or made obvious to the opponent in some way. Shieldwall must be entered using a maneuver (Change of Formation, 6.12). Shieldwall must be left using a maneuver (6.12) except in the following circumstances:
• When a unit breaks
• When a unit begins rallying.

When any of these circumstances occurs, the unit involuntarily leaves Shieldwall and reverts to a block of the same dimensions as it was when in Shieldwall and then recoils, breaks or rallies depending on the circumstances.

Shieldwall cannot be formed if any portion of the unit is in Difficult or Impassible terrain. Loose order bodies wanting to form shieldwall must be 3 ranks or greater deep.

Movement in Shieldwall:
• A unit can change its frontage by up to two (2) elements when entering but not leaving Shieldwall.
• Units in Shieldwall may:
o Make a tactical move no greater than 40p which can include a wheel but NOT drop back elements to pass a gap or revert to a block (Basic Tactical Move, 6.111)
o Charge non-impetuously or countercharge no greater than 40p; they do not roll for variable distance when charging.
• Units in Shieldwall may not:
o Expand in a follow-up move if loose order.
o Pursue.
Combat in Shieldwall:
• Bodies firing at units in Shieldwall suffer a -1 Shooting Tactical Factor (8.93) unless artillery or handguns or if the unit otherwise counts shieldless toward shooting.
• Units not armed with HTW and fighting against a body in Shieldwall suffer a -1 on their HTH factors if fighting to the unit’s front.
• Units in Shieldwall that normally count shieldless in HTH (for example 2HCW) are always considered shielded while in the formation if fighting to the unit’s front.
• Units in Shieldwall do NOT get the 3rd/4th rank benefits if using Barbarian Foot Rules.
• Units in Shieldwall do NOT get any List Rule 1.5 rank fighting capability.

[Frank Gilson]

So, if I have a front rank of 1E LHI 2HCW,Sh (viking hirdsmen) and a rear rank of 1E LMI 2SA fighting...then the Viking rules have this fight as...3 with 2HCW and 3 with other infantry? (1.5 of 6 figures is 3 from 2nd rank)

Frank

[Frank Gilson]

Oh, and skutatoi spearmen who fight in two full ranks...that's two full ranks WITH JLS plus for those w/ JLS? ...or only half the second rank gets JLS plus...

Frank

[scott holder]

Skutatoi: Only half of the second rank get the JLS bonus.

Viking Beserkers: For now, as you describe it, yes. Gotta mull that one over but again, for playtest purposes, yes.

scott

[Frank Gilson]

Thanks, Scott...

personally I'd rather have 2 figures from a 2nd rank Berserkir with 2HCW than 3 with 'other infantry...

Frank

[Frank Gilson]

Scott, you have listed for DAW lists containing Byzantine troops:
11-12, 19, 23-24 and 25

List#11, Early Bulgar, has no Byzantine troops on it (unless you're adding some and haven't told us yet)
Same with List #23, Italian Lombard

Then you have a strict naming constraining the use of certain abilities to Skutatoi and Kavallarioi on lists 11, and 23-25...there are no Byzantines (yet) on 11 or 23 (as above)...and the spearmen on list #25 are called Kontaratoi, not Skutatoi (so can't use your rules mods).

I also take it that those specific rules are for list #24, Thematic Byzantine, Skuts and Kavs and not the other Byzantine lists (12 and 19).

...and just to clarify, Crusader Order, as avoiding the Disorder for 6.52, does so for ALL the bulleted causes in 6.521 (that could apply):
moving bodies, disordered bodies, in a CHARGE or COUNTER CHARGE, are interpenetrated themselves, etc.

Frank

[Frank Gilson]

Also, what about Norman HC special rules?

And Gepid and Lombard cav dismounting 1-for-1?

Frank

[scott holder]

If there are references for allied troop contingents in lists that currently don't have them, ignore those references. You are correct in that such troops will be included in the updated publication of DAW.

[Frank Gilson]

ok...got it...was just checking as per the avoidance of ALL disorders...and understand the moving bodies problem.

It's clear now...you intend Kavallarioi to be able to evade back through or charge up through Skutatoi in Crusader Order without either disordering.

Frank

[Ed Kollmer]

Ok
Here I go again, What is "Crusader Order"

Ed the pest