Art De La Guerre

[Nostrebor]

In list 173 do Mounted Huscarls dismount as Huscarls?

Is this an example of what is meant by "unless specified in the army list" on page 19 in the Dismounted Troops section (i.e. you can buy either 4 mounted or dismounted Huscarls therefore that is how the mounted dismount)?

[Ramses II]

Looking at the other Feudal Ages lists, there are several which group mounted and infantry unit types together in the same unit banding (Feudal Scots #177, Anglo-Irish #178) which make me think that these are the exceptions referred to on p19; so I suggest that the Huscarles would dismount as HI rather than MI (as is usually the case).

That said, I am relatively new to these rules . . .

[ethan]

No, the huscarles will dismount as med swordsmen as specified on P.19. I agree it might seem reasonable that mounted huscarles dismount as huscarles, but the rules make no provision for that.

They also can only dismount when facing stakes, elephants, etc.

The only troops that can choose to dismount as med and heavy knights when they can be bought as something else.

[Ramses II]

Ok, if you look at the top of P19, before the list of troop types and their dismounted equivalents there is the statement

[Hazelbark]

[Longtooth]

Take a look at #237. This contains a clear exception to the dismounting rule

[JohnTheBoring]

Historians dispute whether Anglo-Saxons fought mounted, or normally just used horses to get to the battle. Mounted seems to have been the second choice at best.

If you have huscarls on horses you have chosen the mounted option, and they are less used fighting on foot than the foot version.

[Ramses II]

Lists #173, #177, #178, #236 and possibly others list a mounted unit and an infantry unit together. All the ones I have found except #173 provide the correct dismounted option, raising the question that either #173 is incorrect and the dismounted Husscarls should be Medium Infantry armour etc, or that they are indeed the exception identified on P19.
Note that the dismounted Husscarls also gain 2HW, which raises further questions - or encouraging players to adopt the historical foot option as suggested by Johntheboring

List #237 is very interesting. The troops listed are not an exception to P19 in that their dismounted options are correctly described. However, it raises the thought that these may operate outside the normal rules, dismounting during the game rather than at the start under particular conditions, and possibly even remounting . . . .

Both seem to be questions for El Kreator

[ethan]

It seems to me the way the rules are written you are being presented with both plausible historical options for the troops. They can either be heavy viking style dudes or they are more typical Dark Ages cavalry. If they are the cavalry guys and dismount they are lighter, didn't bring along big axes, etc.

[ethan]

[Ramses II]

Ah, so there is indeed nothing new under the sun.

And while I am sure that they would have put the big chopper in their saddlebags, it seems that dismounting with this option has been denied by the list creators.

So be it, I have no particular axe to grind either way . . .
(I couldn't resist that)

[belinconnux]

By the way, the wrong thing in the Viking's list is to allow Houscarl to fight has HC! Cause they were juste mounted infantry not really cavalry!
And the rules are clear with dismount : never mounted again.
_________________
Hasta la victoria Siempre!
Peter Lord dobeul impact

[Hazelbark]

[Nostrebor]

So the net result of this discussion is that the default Dismount Rules given in the rule book apply unless a specific exception is noted in the Notes portion of the army list. The army list options where "you can buy x of mounted A or Foot B" has no effect.

[Ramses II]

Apparently so.