Ancients british army Tactics

[He Who Is Nameless]

I'd personally ditch the throwing spear idea for warriors and keep the mixed weapons.

Is that because you believe that an extra point per figure is not worth it to get an extra rank fighting?

[Guy]

Is that because you believe that an extra point per figure is not worth it to get an extra rank fighting?

Not quite... It breaks down into three parts.

History - (Oh that horrible word!) - I don't see the Ancient Britons fighting in such a style. Mixed weapons fits the profile of the army better IMHO. I'll save throwing spears for my early Saxons.

Style of Play - If I wanted to win games 'at all costs', I'd use the main rulebook Frank list for all my Barbarian needs. I'd use some spurious rubbish about Ancient Britons being armed with Gae Bulg. No, there is far more skill and fun playing without throwing spears, the blanket approach of FOTW is lamentable - I can win games happily without them.

Points - cheap barbarians mean I get even more. Barbarians win by outflaning their opponents (historical as well you know..).

Guy

[He Who Is Nameless]

Thank you. Yep, those are clear reasons.

[colhodg]

Just wondered what peoples thoughts are on using druids - is this a cheesy character addition, or legitimate flavoursome addition?

Have just reread the rules for hatred, hadn't realised it causes Ld regardless of combat res - provided you don't take any panic tests this gives you a near unbreakable unit to anchor your warbands. Combined with a big unit of Pict spearmen this is a nasty unit given rerolls to hit.

My 1100pt Picts list (for our camaign - no army generals needed till we reach 1500pts)

Druid
31 Warriors, command, with spears
32 Warriors, command
32 Warriors, mus, champ
24 light inf, mus champ

4 Chariots with shields, mus, champ
9 light cav, mus champ
10 Javs
10 Javs

Comments and criticism welcome.

[Guy]

Have just reread the rules for hatred, hadn't realised it causes Ld regardless of combat res - provided you don't take any panic tests this gives you a near unbreakable unit to anchor your warbands. Combined with a big unit of Pict spearmen this is a nasty unit given rerolls to hit.

Not a problem really, you just kill the Druid...

Guy

[shieldbreaker]

I agree with Guy .Druids ,Bearzarks ,Ulflanders cann be chessy but it all depends on what you are fighting.Romans Normans and Vikings are tough. And you bought the book you are playin Bucketnaked Barbarians
so if you want to bring a Druid bring one. Just remember its a game and its supposed to be fun.

[stuartmcc]

hmm - do you not have to dismount to get the rank bonus?

No I think dismounting is an old rule. For British chariots its just the size of the unit that gives you the rank bonus.

[stuartmcc]

zedeyejoe wrote:
hmm - do you not have to dismount to get the rank bonus?


No I think dismounting is an old rule. For British chariots its just the size of the unit that gives you the rank bonus.

You do indeed need to dismount to claim a rank bonus. I've never seen anyone do it, though!

[HaF]

Im little bit confused about the size of the front size celtic warbands. I thought that "more warriors in the front line more romans soldiers can make kills in first turn".
So i placed only 4 models to the first rank. But this looks bad for looking. I would like to place them more in the first rank than 4 but worth for it is?

And how to solve the problem of mixed armours. In the first rank are musican, standart, leader, and chieftain. Opponent can never target music, standart. Only leader and chieftain. How to use my "light armours" under the rules of "mixed armour"? Count into it command group or not?

[Guy]

Im little bit confused about the size of the front size celtic warbands. I thought that "more warriors in the front line more romans soldiers can make kills in first turn".
So i placed only 4 models to the first rank. But this looks bad for looking. I would like to place them more in the first rank than 4 but worth for it is?

You might want to consider enveloping your enemy. Having a front of 4 figures is silly, it denies you the depth you need to outflank your opponent.

A friend of mine used to do that, columns of barbarians led by a chieftain. however I soon wised up and set him up for flank charges at every opportunity.

And how to solve the problem of mixed armours. In the first rank are musican, standart, leader, and chieftain. Opponent can never target music, standart. Only leader and chieftain. How to use my "light armours" under the rules of "mixed armour"? Count into it command group or not?

What problem with mixed armour? There is no provision in the rules for basic barbarians (and the ancient Briton lists) for light armour. Your chieftain obeys the rules for characters, so he only takes hits targeted on him. Your basic barbarians are assumed to have no armour (they haven't paid for it) even if the odd model has light armour. It may be mice for the leader to be dressed in chainmail but it has no effect on the unit.

Guy

[HaF]

But in Hannibal book "celtic ally" is option for the warriors to have light armours up to 1/4 of figures.

[Guy]

But in Hannibal book "celtic ally" is option for the warriors to have light armours up to 1/4 of figures.

As the thread is about Ancient Britons that rule would not apply here. I assume that eventually then Ancient Britons would be in Legion. For the time being we have the lists in WAB 1.5.

Guy

[Darren Woodward]

But in Hannibal book "celtic ally" is option for the warriors to have light armours up to 1/4 of figures.

As the thread is about Ancient Britons that rule would not apply here. I assume that eventually then Ancient Britons would be in Legion. For the time being we have the lists in WAB 1.5.

Guy

Not another Roman book surely!!?

[Guy]

Not another Roman book surely!!?

I have heard of two; Caesar and Legion.

I would guess the Ancient Britons would be in the latter as the permanent invasion was under Claudius.

Guy

[colhodg]

So tactics for beating Romans - discuss

1. Try to isolate roman units by having a wide deployment
2. Try to have smaller warbands on flank as are more manouverable so you can set up simultaneous flank charge
3. Always get the charge in (pillums follow the christmas rule - its better to give than recieve). Movement 5 helps in this.
4. Always outnumber 2:1 on the charge if poss.
5. Always issue a challenge with hero - hopefully you take out his champion or he has to remove him to the back reducing return hits by two.
6. Light cav in the rear having worked round a flank should deliver the coup de grace.

Thoughts?

[Darren Woodward]

"5. Always issue a challenge with hero - hopefully you take out his champion or he has to remove him to the back reducing return hits by two".

Negative - this only works against Characters. Leaders aren't. d