Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[John Murphy]

Okay. I think before I go all-out playing a Viking-Irish army I can
ease into it easier with something like the following, which bears
some similarities to my knight-missile armies I have been playing
mostly recently.

Are there any glaring issues with this as a one-off list to
gradually work in more of the Bonnacht/Ostmen types?

Middle Anglo-Irish 1,600 pts (15mm, though I have most of the troops
for 25mm)

17 units @ 1,571 pts.
1 CinC 2E Irr B HK/HC L,Sh (PA) @ 164 pts.
1 Ally 2E Irr B HK/HC L,Sh (P) @ 129 pts.
4 units 2E Irr B HC L,Sh @ 79 pts.
2 units 6E Irr B HI/MI 2HCW,JLS,D/JLS,D @ 133 pts.
5 units 4E Reg D LHI/LMI 2HCW,LB,Sh,stakes/LB @ 78 pts.
2 units 6E Irr C LMI 2HCW,JLS,Sh/JLS,Sh @ 88 pts.
2 units 8E Irr C LI S,Sh/JLS @ 65 pts.

note I know the longbows are not configured as what everyone
considers ideal - but let me claim stylistic issues (read idiocy)
and in any event take a pass on discussing that aspect of this list
for now

would probably try to wiggle another unit in (likely a large LI B)
by dropping some items

I would appreciate any online/offline commentary on this or on my
previous.

Thanks,
John

[Mark Stone]

--- On October 18 John Murphy said: ---

> Okay. I think before I go all-out playing a Viking-Irish army I can
> ease into it easier with something like the following, which bears
> some similarities to my knight-missile armies I have been playing
> mostly recently.
>
> Are there any glaring issues with this as a one-off list to
> gradually work in more of the Bonnacht/Ostmen types?
>
> Middle Anglo-Irish 1,600 pts (15mm, though I have most of the troops
> for 25mm)....
>
> .... note I know the longbows are not configured as what everyone
> considers ideal - but let me claim stylistic issues (read idiocy)
> and in any event take a pass on discussing that aspect of this list
> for now

Well, I'm not sure how to respond to a request that essentially says "I'm going
to be an idiot, so don't challenge me on that, but I want your advice anyway."
For what it's worth, I don't think your longbow configuration is idiotic, just
sub-optimal. Nonetheless, I'll ignore that point and focus on others.

I think you need one more LI unit, and I'd give some thought to how you want the
LI configured. Seems to me each unit should be all S or all JLS, not a mix. Any
units with S should be all shielded if possible. The function of the S units is
to stand in front of enemy shooters, skirmish and get shot at at a factor of -1,
and thus be very hard to dislodge with shooting. The purpose of the JLS units is
to challenge enemy LI.

The overall purpose of LI here is to buy you some space and maneuver room so
that your opponent does not simply line up against the matchups he wants and
tee off on you. Two units of LI won't get you out of that problem. Three units
of LI will somewhat alleviate that problem.

Beyond that issue, I'd say you need to think about why you're playing this army
rather than 100YWE. Generally, trying to morph one army into another you're
familiar with is a recipe for disaster. An army should be played to its unique
strengths, for better or for worse. Here the strength is clearly the
Galloglaich. But by buying them in only two units, and as large blocks, you
pretty much assure that your opponent will be able to keep away from them.

I would drop one or two of the longbow units, and instead try to add 2 8 figure
units of Galloglaich. That gives you a couple of small infantry units that can
function much like knight units function (though slower, and with a
disadvantage on initiative). Still, it gives you some versatility to your
strike force that you'll need. You can charge your cavalry into enemy cav with
a small unit of Galloglaich ready for follow up. Alternatively, you can charge
your Galloglaich into steady foot that the cav don't want to charge with the
hopes of "unsteadying" it and making a target for the cav. Lots of combined
arms options here, but only if you have a couple of smaller infantry units to
work with.


-Mark Stone