Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[Mark Stone]

--- On May 4 J. Murphy said: ---

> Are the brigans really all that useful? Not only close-order but one-
> shot irregular shieldless (HtH) foot to boot? I am thinking self-
> vaporizing Varangian types here. Wouldn't billmen be better in this
> role?
>
> That said I know the "experts" are weighing in in favor of the
> brigans. Just not sure quite what the distinction is here.

OK, I'll throw some matchups at you to think about regarding the Brigans. I'm
just doing this off the top of my head, without the charts in front of me, but
hopefully it'll get the idea across. Even die rolls are assumed throughout.

Also note, this is assuming open tournament format; Brigans in a historical
matchup would be a different analysis.

(1) Brigans vs. LB for shooting:
Situation: Assume that 6 stands of LB get a 120p shot at 4 stands of close order
Brigans, HI,Pa in the front.
Analysis: Note that LB has the capacity to halt or disorder most non-skirmishing
foot in this situation. With the Brigans, on the other hand:
LB vs. HI = 2. 18 @ 2 -2 (Pa counts as shielded and in cover for prep shooting)
= 0. 18 @ 0 = 18. A whopping 1 CPF. The Brigans yawn.

(2) Brigans launched impetuously vs. pike
Situation: Assume 8 stands of MI P,Sh stand to receive 4 stands of Brigans
charging impetuously, 2 stands HI 2HCT,Pa in the front and 2 stands MI JLS in
the back.
Analysis: Pikes vs. HI = 2 -1 (facing 2HCT) = 1. 16 @ 1 = 24. 1 CPF doubled to
2. 2HCT vs. MI = 5 + 1 (charging) + 1 (impetuous) -2 (facing pike) = 5. 8 @ 5 =
32. Other foot vs. MI = 3 + 1 (JLS) + 1 (charging) + 1 (impetuous) -2 (facing
pike) = 4. 4 @ 4 = 12. 32 + 12 = 44. The pikes take 1 CPF and more, and hence
become disordered, setting them up nicely to receive a charge from SHK next
bound.

(3) Brigans launched non-impetuously vs. pike
Situation: same as (2), except that we'll assume there are elephants or
something nearby causing the Brigans to be uneasy. Note that we are assuming
the pikes can't get into a 2 wide, 4 deep formation because of a need to hold
frontage. This isn't always a safe assumption, and it is incumbent on the
Brigans player to put the right pressure on the pike player to get the matchup
needed.
Analysis: Pikes vs. HI = 2 +1 (charging) -1 (facing 2HCT) = 2. 16 @ 2 = 32. 2
CPF doubled to 4. 2HCT vs. MI = 5 + 1 (charging) -2 (facing pike) = 4. 8 @ 4 =
24. Other foot vs. MI = 3 + 1 (JLS) + 1 (charging) -2 (facing pike) = 3. 4 @ 3
= 10. 24 + 10 = 34. The pikes take 1 CPF and more, and hence become disordered,
setting them up nicely to receive a charge from SHK next bound.

(4) Brigans launched impetuously vs. elephants charging
Situation: let's assume the worst possible case for the Brigans, namely a 3
model Seleucid elephant unit (crew of 1 w/P, 1 w/JLS, 2 LI on the base).
Brigans are charging impetuously, 2 stands HI 2HCT,Pa in the front and 2 stands
MI JLS in the back.
Analysis: El vs. HI = 2 + 1 (charging) -1 (facing 2HCT) = 2. 10 @ 2 = 20. crew
vs. HI = 1 + 1 (JLS, for 2 of crew) = 2. 2 @ 1 = 3. 2 @ 2 = 4. 20 + 3 + 4 = 27.
2HCT vs. el = 3, as does other foot + JLS vs. el, + 1 (impetuous) -1 (facing el
pike) = 3. 12 @ 3 = 30. Brigans take 1 doubled to 2 = 2 CPF; with support
shooting from the LI on the base they probably take 2 doubled to 4 and hence
become tired. The elephants take 1 CPF and more, and hence recoil. If you have
something to throw in next bound (say, some LHI LB with 2HCW) the Brigans are
in good shape. Otherwise, they start to lose. Note, however, that this is their
absolute nightmare scenario in terms of elephant matchups, and they don't come
out too badly.

(5) Brigans taking generic elephants at the halt
Situation: let's assume a 2 model elephant unit, crew of 2 w/JLS, no LI on the
base. Lots of elephants approximate this configuration. Brigans as per (4)
above, just taking at the halt rather than charging impetuously.
Analysis: El vs. HI = 2 + 1 (charging) -1 (facing 2HCT) = 2. 10 @ 2 = 20. crew
vs. HI = 1 + 1 (JLS) = 2. 4 @ 2 = 8. 20 + 8 = 28. 2HCT vs. el = 3, as does
other foot + JLS vs. el. 12 @ 3 = 30. Brigans take 1 CPF doubled to 2, el take
3 CPF and recoil or break off tired and disordered, setting them up to be
charged and mauled by the Brigans next bound (who are not required to rally in
this situation).

(6) Brigans taking prep shooting from Midianite camels.
Situation: Assume that 6 stands of MCm 2 w/bow in skirmish get an 80p shot at 4
stands of close order Brigans, HI,Pa in the front.
Analysis: Bow vs. HI = 1 -2 (Pa counts as shielded and in cover for prep
shooting) = -1. 27 @ -1 = 20 (I'm guessing on that one; I don't actually know).
A whopping 1 CPF. The Brigans yawn. Note that if the camels have real balls and
don't go into skirmish they get to do 36 @ -1, which is still less than 2 CPF
on an even roll, and enables the Brigans to charge and kill the camels.

So there's 6 very tough situations that SHK would really rather not be in. In
every case the Brigans turn in a very solid performance. Against things where
the Brigans have some vulnerability (SHK, EHK, SHC) they have no chance of
routing at contact, and in any case should benefit from supporting SHK to
either prevent those matchups in the first place or counter those matchups in a
follow-up bound with charges into flanks or overlaps.

Are the Brigans awesome by themselves? No, I'd rate them sturdy at best. But
Warrior is seldom about looking at troops in isolation. The beauty of the
Brigans is that they form a perfect compliment to the things that SHK don't
want to face head on. It's the interaction between Brigans and SHK -- combined
arms, once again -- that makes them worthwhile.


-Mark Stone

--- In WarriorRules@yahoogroups.com, Mark Stone <mark@d...> wrote:
> --- On May 4 J. Murphy said: ---
>
> > Are the brigans really all that useful?

I think so! I placed 2nd at Derekcon 30 using a Feudal French army.

I found people were afraid of them, especially if they were supported
by knights in the gaps between units. They routed big LTS units on
contact twice (I was able to go impetuous and they were caught
flatfooted).

The fear factor was the biggest advantage. A lot of guys ran from
them. One Silla Korean army totally redeployed his center to get
away from the Brigans. His big bow units couldn't touch them and he
didn't have any one that could close in HtH. Of course Derek
dismantled me in my last game. He effectively scened them and
crushed a flank.

I think they are the most effecitive close order unit available to
many late armies. That -1 to all enemies sure doesn't hurt.

Wes

--- In WarriorRules@yahoogroups.com, Mark Stone <mark@d...> wrote:
> --- On May 4 J. Murphy said: ---
It's the interaction between Brigans and SHK -- combined
> arms, once again -- that makes them worthwhile.
> -Mark Stone

Mark is dead on with the interaction here. Where the Brigans are
trouble is on the receiving end of impetuos charges from outside
80p. They bascially ignore shooting, but unless they recoil or rout
an opponant on contact they will themselves become disordered and
vulnerable to a second bound charge/rout situation. Basically the
way to deal with them is to hit them standing still, and being they
are close order this is easier than not often enough. Fighting as
shieldless MI in the second bound means they are an automatic routing
machine.

Wanax

[Kelly Wilkinson]

Boyd,

You sir, are totally correct! This is what my SHC L in my Commagene army
are for. I run them in between my Pike units and effectively stymie Brigans
and/or Romans/Pikes and finish them off with my Pikes. The trick is combined
arms and positioning.

kelly

Wanax Andron <spocksleftball@...> wrote:
--- In WarriorRules@yahoogroups.com, Mark Stone <mark@d...> wrote:
> --- On May 4 J. Murphy said: ---
It's the interaction between Brigans and SHK -- combined
> arms, once again -- that makes them worthwhile.
> -Mark Stone

Mark is dead on with the interaction here. Where the Brigans are
trouble is on the receiving end of impetuos charges from outside
80p. They bascially ignore shooting, but unless they recoil or rout
an opponant on contact they will themselves become disordered and
vulnerable to a second bound charge/rout situation. Basically the
way to deal with them is to hit them standing still, and being they
are close order this is easier than not often enough. Fighting as
shieldless MI in the second bound means they are an automatic routing
machine.

Wanax





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