warband sizes and frontage

[mad ulric]

Just starting in CoE. Wondering about warband sizes and best frontage. Tried 25 in 5 x 5 but that seemed not to make the most of the warband rules. Any advice from 'fellow barbarians' would be appreciated.

thanks
mike

[aecurtis]

Didn't Stuart answer this on Saturday?

http://rofe.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=2268

[mad ulric]

Didn't Stuart answer this on Saturday?

http://rofe.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=2268

All 'CONSTRUCTIVE' replies greatfully received.

[aecurtis]

Yes, I thought Stuart gave you a very constructive reply! Can't do much better than having the author of the rules indicate what he thinks are the most effective unit sizes and deployents.

FYI, I had the mods turn off my PMs years ago--thanks to a WAB Forum stalker--so I received an e-mail notice that you PMed me, but can't access it.

Allen

[mad ulric]

Stuart's views are very relevant, but others may have different views, and its always good to get as many as possible. IF I had ONLY wanted Stuart's views as expert as they are, I would have e-mailed him directly.

My PM to you said that; I wasn't aware that posting on one forum precluded me from posting on this one.? Especially as Stuart in a podcast I listend to today, (Historical Wargames episode eight, said that 'WAB forum was the BEST place to post on CoE'. Hence why I repeated the question to give it a wider audience.

I do not understand why you are responding in this way.?

As I stated. I am new to CoE and jsut wanted to hear the opinions of fellow 'barbarian players', (other than Stuart), with their experiences of different unit sizes and frontages.
Why is that wrong.?

[aecurtis]

It's not wrong. It just seems peculiar to me, just as Stuart's statement that the "WAB forum was the BEST place to post on CoE" seems peculiar to me. In my opinion, you had it right the first time posting on the official GEG/CoE forum.

The Yahoo group would have been another good place to ask, I would think. But if more players are actually seeking information and discussing issues her rather than on the two fora which GEG have set up and maintain, so be it. Seems silly, though.

[Leondegrande]

Hi MadUlric.

Nothing wrong to ask/discuss here anything.
That's what the internet and especially this forum is about!

Cheers
Olaf

[Old Buzzard Bilbo]

I would say 8 wide that way you get 4 extra attacks from the 2nd rank.

If you are playing against Romans you have to "do it" in the 1st round of combat or you will loose unless you gan arrange a flank charge.
The meat grinder Roman Legionary is faithfully reproduced in these rules.

Bill

[MightyEinherjar]

Hi Mike

I usually run my warband 8x3 to get the most out of their charge. With warbands its usually all or nothing, so I try to get all I can.

[mad ulric]

Hi folks,

Thanks for the replies

OLAF; 8 x 3. Interesting. The very knowledgeable Stuart as you may have already read, recommends 8 x 4. Which is fine, but 8 x 3 makes for more warbands. ..........And this is my point. Trying to get some kind of 'optimum size', and frontage.
I will experiment further.

BILL; Yes, the Roman meat grinder/buzz saw......which I have already met, (albeit the Republican version). Yes, I'd agree entirely that these rules certainly reproduce it well.!!!!! Eight wide seems to definetly be the number, and 3 or 4 ranks.
I appreciate all the constructive opinions.
Mike

[stuartmcc]

I echo the ideas above.

4 ranks, 8 wide may give a little durability if the charge doesn't work out because units that are deeper (and at least 4 ranks in depth) than the opposing unit they lose to, gain +1 to their morale score.

I have tried 10 x 3 as well to combat heavy infantry, such as legionaries, that deploy in units 8 wide.

It may be interesting to mix it up with some units deployed in order to absorb a little damage and others designed to support them as hard hitting, smaller units.

Better still perhaps is to form all your warbands in the same manner as wide as you can in order to cause as much damage as possible.

[Old Buzzard Bilbo]

I echo the ideas above.


Better still perhaps is to form all your warbands in the same manner as wide as you can in order to cause as much damage as possible.

The problem with that is there is no room in the list to get in the unit that is going to make the flank charge that will win the game for you.
It gets tight on the table top too.

Bill

[MarsUltor]

We played a game last weekend - my Republican Romans vs. the Gallic Army list. Warbands were 10X4 and 2 out of 3 caused horrific dammage to my Hastati units (16 attacks at HTH 4; they killed 7 in both units on the charge). Broke one and caused two Principes units to fail ML tests (even with the manipular re-roll and inside the Consul's command range - talk about a rash of unlucky rolls!). The other unit only stood due to luck (but it must have pissed them off 'cos they proceeded to use Expert Swordsmen to skewer some Gallic hides.

I forgot about the +1 due to four ranks though.