Macedonians/Successors

[Toby]

I thought I'd start a new thread on theses guys as they'll be my next project.

After a trip to the beast I came away with a Character on foot, 8 Theurorophori (or something) and 4 Guard Phalanx models, these were mainly selected on appearance and hopefully will be of someuse in the army
I also borrowed the Alexander the Great book, so i can start planning a army list, this book is due to be replaced, but at least i'll be headed in the right direction.

My first problem arose in the shape of the 8 thero.... models I bought, they appear in the book as Hypaspists and are a whopping 14 points each! They can be armed as a pikeman (pike, shield), spearman (spear & shield) or light infantry (Javelin & shield), I origionally envisiged them as light infantry but at 14 pts, 16 if i wanted to give them light armour they're very expensive!

I've come up with a initial list using them as Pike, which appears as follows:

General - Thrusting spear, LA, Sh = 171
Hero - Xyston, Warhorse, HA = 66
Hero - Thrusting Spear, LA, Sh = 59

24 Pike, Mus, Champ = 250
24 Guard Pike, Mus, Champ = 375 (Stubborn, Drilled)
21 Hypaspist Pike, mus, champ, LA = 346 (Drilled)
9 Guard Shock Cavalry, HA, mus, champ = 289 (Stubborn)
9 Mercenary Javelin = 45
9 Merc Javelin = 45
9 Merc Bow = 54
9 Agrianian Slingers = 72
18 Peltast, Spear, Javelin, shield, mus, champ = 154
12 Peltast, Javelin, Pelta (buckler) = 72

This list gives me 3 large blocks of pike, a heavy hitting cavalry unit, a buch of skirmishers for doing what they do and two units of light infantry (Peltasts) for protecting the flanks. One is deliberately larger and better equipped to sit on the most vulnerable flank.

[Sedge]

Do you have an army plan for 1000pts then 1500 then you 2K?

[Scotty]

Your guys are expensive Toby, but they must be good for that cost. Mind you not much difference in pts compared to the vikings who are 14pts aswell.

[Toby]

14pts gets you mv5 ws & bs 4 Ld8 human, if you give him either spear or pike option they become mv4. They are also Drilled.I would much prefer to have them as light infantry, but to do so would reduce my Pike units to two, which I belive is too few.

No plan as such for 1000pts and then building up, though I will work on that as it makes more sense.

[Scotty]

The same this side, I know I have an army ready to use but I am doing a little more work on it at the moment.

But build up my Romans one unit at a time.

[Toby]

Amended origional post to show which unit is stubborn etc.

[Jonny H]

The Army of Macedonia wasn't the biggest but it was well trained, equipped and led. They were also flexible when they were at war! I wasn't expecting your army to be that big anyway. It'll be hard to break. Your flanks are the key. Lose them and the game will be over!

[Kiwidave]

Just to be a bit anoraky/cardy & slippers, your general ought to be mounted, as this was the elite arm of the Macedonians. Can't have your King trudging around on foot, what!

Do pike units suffer any movement penalties, other than then MV 4 instead of MV5?

[Scotty]

No.

Pikes are good though, always attack in two ranks and strike first (to front though)

[Toby]

It's also -1 to hit a phalanx to the front in combat and shooting. They can wheel and turn 180, but cant turn 90 degrees, or turn to face in combat unless drilled.

Phillip actually led his armies from the centre alongside the Phalanx, it was Alexander who led from the front. The Macedonian characters aren't that good and are really only leadership points, hence why I've equipped them as they are, the hero can go with the cavalry for the addittional attack, note he's also ST3, not 4 like later books.