Art De La Guerre

[warlordNZ1]

A friend has a large Big Battle DBA Gallic army and has started to use it in ADLG, he gave it a run against some EIRomans yesterday and was badly mauled, in fact squashed rather flat into the grass....!!! Historical yes !!!
Some army lists would be gratefully appreciated.
He found the Chariots totally useless.
Thanks

[fdunadan]

The chariots are totally useless...
basically it's Middle Cavalry, with no shooting ability and badly disadvantaged in rough terrain( and can't go in difficult)

As with any Cav that is not impact, you can't beat HI in clear, except with flank/rear attack. So, the best use is to have a large number and manoeuver to get in that flank/rear position. That may be tricky to pull this up against a wary Roman, with superior command...

For the infantry, Impetuous units only, you will fight à +1/+2 on the first shock if you charge the legionnaries, or +2/+2 if they charge you, so 30-42% of winning.
If you did win the first fight, the "charge percutante" will do an extra disorganisation point and the ensuing fight will be at +2/+1 for you.

If you lose (and it will be the case in 2/3 of the fights...) you will continue fighting at +1/+2...

Last week, we replayed Teutoburger, with MI elite impetuous vs HI impact armor and MI impact. The barbarians win by mopping the auxiliaries (fighting downhill was a little help...) but the legionnaries killed 3 of my troops, losing only 1...with flank attack and general included...

The fact is, taking a legionnarie in a fair fight is impossible for most of the troops, especially MI or Cav. The impact, the cancellation of impetuous impact, 4 cohesion points and armor makes them very tough. But they cost 11 pts (13 in elite) so Zerg rush them with 7 pts troops, using terrain and manoeuver to get the upper hand.
.
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Audentes fortuna iuvat.

[Commodore]

I do not consider light chariot as totally useless. For an impetuous infantry army (medium or heavy) , light chariots can be use as cheap 2nd line units, able to fill any gap created by losses and/or mandatory impetuous pursuit. This also avoid trying to manoeuver at high PIP cost with your infantry .
Supported by one or 2 LI they are able to match most of enemy units and avoid first line units to be attack on their flanks.
Furthermore, if placed between impetuous infantry units (sheltered by LH or LI of course) they are able to catch harassing and evading shooting MC/HC units who, if they choose to hold instead, will have to fight supporting infantry.
Against the fanatics warriors Nemesis, the Cataphracts, they are equal (except armor) as they can be elite also. At a cost of 7/9 instead of 11/13
So not so useless....
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"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
Cdr Farragut,Mobile 1864

[Commodore]

For army list example, 1st choice has to be made Strategist or not.
this is the option with strategist
fortified camp
1st corps
included ordinary gen
1 HC elite
2MC elite
2 LH javelin
2nd corps
strategist Vercingetorix
2 HI impetuous elite armor
5 HI impetuous
4 LI (2 jav, 2 bow)
1 Lch elite
3rd corps ordinary gen
6 MF impetuous
2 LI (1jav, 1bow)
1 Lch
init +3 27 bases
_________________
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
Cdr Farragut,Mobile 1864

[Commodore]

Option without strategist
fortified camp
1st corps
included ordinary gen
1 HC elite
2MC elite
2 LH javelin
2nd corps
brillant gen
6 HI impetuous elite
1 HI impetuous
4 LI (2 jav, 2 bow)
1 Lch elite
3rd corps ordinary gen
6 MF impetuous
2 LI (1jav, 1bow)
1 Lch
init +2 27 bases
_________________
"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
Cdr Farragut,Mobile 1864

[belinconnux]

In fact LCh are worse than medium cav because they have the same caracteristics except they more disavantage in rough and difficult features.
Medium cavalry has no impact and "charge percutante" against infantry like cataphracts. But, Medium cav can escape! This a cheap manoeuvrable troup. I think it's usefull in "mass" or in form of little corps like Commodore's exemples.
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Hasta la victoria Siempre!
Peter Lord dobeul impact

[madaxeman]

Yeah, Medium Chariots are useless...

Apart of course from when they win a tournament on their own...)




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www.madaxeman.com

[fdunadan]