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It's all Greek to me

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:20 pm
by ochoin
The Punic Wars have been a staple of my gaming for many years.

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I have a large Carthaginian army & am currently improving on a matching Polybian Roman one.

Which brings me to the Greeks.

I've long owned two late hoplite spear units (6 bases each) and a 4 base Greek slinger unit that have never been used. It's occurred to me that adding a few items might make a small-ish army that could be used both as ally or enemy of the Romans for games set inside and slightly after the Punic conflict.

To this small force, I can add Gallic warband ( who fought for the Syracusans) or armoured Celts - mounted and infantry- (as Galatians for Pergamum), catapaults (anti-elephant weapons), an Italian cavalry unit & a 6 base Italian auxilary, medium infantry unit from existing stocks.

So buy... a unit of Thureophori (say 4 bases)
Tarentine Light Horse (again, 4 bases)
a phalanx of 4-6 bases
And, of course, some mounted Greek generals.

Is this all a bit too "fantasy wargaming" or does it fit the later Hellenistic period with a transition from citizen spearmen, to mercenary Thureophori and the use of pikemen?

donald

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:10 pm
by Essex Boy
It's ancients. You can't get any more 'fantasy wargaming'.

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:28 pm
by goat major
It feels like it would probably work nicely for an Achaean league style force, which might make for an interesting opponent for your other forces.

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 5:53 am
by ochoin
Ignoring Iain (who sort of has a point but don't tell him: it only offers encouragement), I'm trying to fudge a generic force that could, conceivably, cover a number of bases.

Have I left any "must-have" troop types out?

donald

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:22 am
by Essex Boy
I shall resist the temptation to suggest all sorts of 'must have' troop types (which I'm sure I have in stock and available at very keen prices (never knowingly undersold!)).

I forgot to say how gorgeous your game looks. Splendid stuff. Very jealous.

E

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:46 am
by grizzlymc
It's definitely haram to tell Iain he's right. That said, Ocho keeps a fine table.

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:33 am
by FreddBloggs
Look at the Pyrric armies....

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:43 am
by goat major
yeh +1 Fredd

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:45 am
by grizzlymc
They let you say Ä few more victories like that and we are lost"

Re: It's all Greek to me

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 11:06 am
by ochoin
FreddBloggs wrote: Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:33 am Look at the Pyrric armies....
Good suggestion but (& correct me if I'm wrong), didn't P. fight Camillan rather than Polybian Romans?

I've read (but see Iain's comment on fantasy) that the reforms may have been the result of being trashed by the Greatest General in the world (ie Pyrrhus....who may just have had a good PR department)?

I have Polybian Romans.

donald