Empire Campaign Armies

Camillan Roman (Vanilla Roman)
 Four Legions, each comprising:
  • 8 Leves Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins in one rank
  • 12 Hastati Veteran Medium Infantry with pila in one rank
  • 24 Principes Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears in two ranks
  • 12 Triarii Elite Heavy Infantry with spears in one rank
Supporting Troops:
  • 2 units of Equites or Italian Cavalry, each comprising 18 Militia Grade Medium Cavalry with javelins
  • 2 units of Italian Light Horse, each comprising 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • 2 units of Italian Foot, each comprising 24 Militia Grade Medium Infantry with spears
  • 2 units of 12 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with slings or bows
 Camillan Roman (More Varied)

 Two Roman Legions, each comprising:
  • 8 Leves Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
  • 12 Hastati Veteran Medium Infantry with pila in one rank
  • 24 Principes Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears in two ranks
  • 12 Triarii Elite Heavy Infantry with spears in one rank
Two Latin Socii Legions, each comprising:
  • 8 Leves Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
  • 12 Hastati Veteran Medium Infantry with pila in one rank
  • 24 Principes Veteran Medium Infantry with spears in two ranks
  • 12 Triarii Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears in one rank
Supporting Troops:
  • Two units of Equites or Italian Cavalry, each comprising 12 Militia Grade Medium Cavalry with javelins
  • Two units of Italian Light Horse, each comprising 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Two units of Italian Foot, each comprising 36 Militia Grade Medium Infantry with javelins
  • Two units of 14 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with slings or bows
Or:
  • Two units of Equites or Italian Cavalry, each comprising 12 Veteran Medium Cavalry with javelins
  • Two units of Italian Light Horse, each comprising 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Two units of Italian Foot, each comprising 32 Militia Grade Medium Infantry with javelins
  • Two units of 11 veteran Skirmish Infantry with slings or bows
Notes on Camillan Roman:
  1. The Legions must set up in four consecutive lines as follows: Leves, Hastati, Principes and, finally Triarii.  The massed infantry lines must set up with spacing of between 4-8" between each line.  This will allow them to support en echelon.  This formation denies enemy depth formation, but does not confer it upon the Romans.  Thus, a full legionary array counts as four ranks deep: one for Hastati, two for Principes and one for Triarii, reducing as the successive lines are destroyed.
  2. Legionary infantry only test morale when they see Triarii rout.
  3. Destroyed legionaries do not count towards army morale until the entire legion is destroyed.
  4. The Roman legions must set up in a central pair, flanked to left and right by a Latin legion.
  5. The second army above is designed to give some variation for players who wish to simulate differences in battlefield effectiveness between Romans and Latins; the first army has rather less flavour.
  6. Legionaries rated as Heavy Infantry count as partially protected against missile fire.
  Tarentine
  • Hoplites: four units each of 48 Militia Grade Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Italian Foot: two units each of 36 Veteran Medium Infantry with spears
  • Greek Cavalry: two units each of 12 Militia Grade Medium Cavalry with javelins
  • Tarentine Light Horse: two units each of 12 Superior Quality Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Samnites: two units each of 12 Superior Quality Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  •  13 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
  • 10 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with slings
Notes
  • Option to change the Hoplites to four units of 36 Veterans, which gives enough points to increase the Italian Foot units to 48 figures each.
  • Option to upgrade the Greek Cavalry to Veteran.  This could be paid for by reducing the numbers of Skirmish Infantry or by reducing either the Tarentine Light Horse or Samnites to average quality.
  • The Hoplites should set up as a central block, flanked by a unit of Italians on either side.
  • Hoplites count partial protection against missile fire.
  • This army pre-dates the intervention of Pyrrhus.
 Late Achaemenid Persian (with Hoplites)
  • Satrap's Guard: 12 Elite Heavy Cavalry with spears
  •  Armoured Cavalry: 2 units of 12 Veteran Heavy Cavalry with spears
  • Persian Cavalry: 2 units of 18 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Colonists: 2 units of 18 Militia Grade Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Skythians: 3 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with bows
  • Persian Cavalry: 6 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Satrap's Guard: 24 Elite Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Hoplites: 4 units of 24 Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Takabara: 2 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Peltasts: 2 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Skirmish Infantry: 2 units of 8 Veteran archers
  • Skirmish Infantry: 10 Veteran javelinmen
 Notes
  • The later Persians can have many options, especially with infantry.  The Hoplites, for example, could be replaced with Kardakes and/or levy.  There are also many more skirmish and light infantry options.
  • Potential mounted options include more Colonists; more Persians; and the famous scythed chariots.
  • This particular army is that of the successful Satrap of Syria in our campaign.  So far, he has seen off Alexander and destroyed a Royalist army sent to quell his uprising.  Cyrus the Youngest (as we are calling him) is a distant cousin of the current Great King, and is now laying claim to the throne of the King of Kings himself.
  • Hoplites and the Armoured Cavalry have partial protection against missiles; the latter represent Armenians and similar on half-armoured horses.
Late Achaemenid Persian (with Kardakes)
  • Satrap's Guard Cavalry: 12 Elite Heavy Cavalry with spears
  • Armoured Cavalry: 2 units of 12 Veteran Heavy Cavalry with spears
  • Persians: 2 units of 18 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Colonists: 4 units of 18 Militia Grade Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Persians: 6 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Skythians: 3 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with bows
  • Satrap's Guard Infantry: 24 Elite Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Kardakes: 2 units of 48 Militia Grade Medium Infantry with spears
  • Takabara: 4 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Skirmish Infantry: 2 units of 10 Veterans with bows
  • Skirmish Infantry: 10 Veterans with javelinmen
This army is the likely composition for an interior army after the hoplites have gone.  Note the profusion of Colonist cavalry and Kardakes infantry.  It is a large army, but morale is highly suspect.  The armoured cavalry are Armenians and similar; they count partial protection against missiles.

Sakae
  • Armoured Nobles: 36 Elite Medium Cavalry with spears and bows on partially armoured horses
  • Nobles: 72 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears and bows on unarmoured horses
  • Veterans: 48 Superior Veteran Light Cavalry with bows
  • Light Horse: 96 Veteran Light Cavalry with bows
  • Hillmen: 72 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Youths: 18 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with bows
I came up with this list based on what I thought would be reasonable for the campaign.  The various types of figures can be broken into all sorts of unit combinations; for example, the armoured nobles could be fielded in two large units of 18 figures each, or three smaller ones of 12, and so on.  All of the light cavalry can swarm in to skirmish formation, as indeed could the Hillmen if they really wanted to do so.  The nobles with armoured horses count partial missile protection.

Greek Confederacy
  • Cavalry: 2 units of 12 Militia Grade Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Sacred Band: 16 Legendary Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Hoplites: 4 units of 36 Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Inferior Hoplites: 2 units of 32 Veteran Medium Infantry with spears
  • Peltasts: 4 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Psiloi: 12 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
This is the army that saw off Philip II of Macedon in our campaign, badly wounding his son Alexander into the bargain.  The battle was technically a draw as both armies reached their breakpoint in the same turn, but in campaign terms this means that the attacker has to retire.  Heavy Infantry receive partial protection from missiles.

The Thracians
  • Nobles: 2 units of 18 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Light Horse: 4 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Getae: 2 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with bows
  • Allied Hoplites: 2 units of 36 Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Warbands: 4 units of 27 Veteran Warriors in loose formation
  • Bastarnae: 2 units of 12 Superior Quality Veteran Light Infantry
  • Thracians: 4 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry
  • Skirmishers: 3 units of 10 Veterans with javelins
This lot had a particularly bad time against the Macedonians.  The hoplites represent forces from Greek coastal colonies; they have partial missile protection.

Syracuse
  • Greek Cavalry: 2 units of 12 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Greek Light Horse: 2 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Tyrant's Guard: 24 Elite Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Hoplites: 3 units of 36 Veteran Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Italians: 3 units of 32 Veteran Medium Infantry with spears
  • Peltasts: 4 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Cretans: 8 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with bows
  • Rhodians: 8 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with slings
  • Psiloi: 14 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
So far this army has defeated the only Carthaginian expeditionary force to reach that far; the other two were scattered by terrible storms.  All of the heavy infantry count partial protection against missiles.

Alexandrian Macedonian
  • Companions: 2 units of 12 Elite Heavy Cavalry Lancers
  • Thessalians: 12 Veteran Heavy Cavalry with spears
  • Prodromoi: 8 Veteran Superior Quality Light Cavalry with spears
  • Thracians: 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins 
  • Hypaspists: 2 units of 24 Elite Heavy Infantry with spears
  • Phalanx: 4 units of 36 Veteran Heavy Infantry with pikes
  • Thracians: 2 units of 18 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Peltasts: 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • Cretans: 10 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with bows
  • Agrianes: 8 Elite Skirmish Infantry with javelins
This is a particularly phalanx-heavy version of the army.  If one phalanx unit were to be removed, many other options present themselves.  There is a special rule for the Companions to be led personally by Alexander in deep formation and the Thessalians can be upgraded to elite status.  Many more support options can be purchased: more Light Infantry; more Light Cavalry; more Skirmish Infantry of various kinds; and some Greek mercenaries in the form of Medium Cavalry and Hoplites.  The Hypaspists count as partially protected against missiles.

Successor States: Early Seleucid
  •  Companions: 3 units of 12 Elite Heavy Lancers
  • "Tarentines": 2 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Skythians: 2 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with bows
  • 2 units of 2 Indian Elephants
  • Elite Phalangites: 3 units of 24 Elite Heavy Infantry with pikes
  • Phalangites: 2 units of 36 Veteran Heavy Infantry with pikes
  • Peltasts: 4 units of 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • 8 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with Bows
  • 3 units of 8 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
We haven't yet got to the stage of using Successor armies in the campaign, so this one and the others to follow are tasters for how they might look.

Successor Armies: Lysimachus
  • Xystophoroi: 2 units of 12 Heavy Elite Lancers
  • Thracians: 2 units of 18 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Thracians: 3 units of 8 Veteran Light Cavalry with javelins
  • 2 units of 2 Indian Elephants
  • Elite Phalanx: 32 Elite Heavy Infantry with pikes
  • Phalanx: 2 units of 32 Veteran Heavy Infantry with pikes
  • Thracian Warbands: 2 units of 36 Veteran Warriors in loose formation
  • Peltasts: 12 Veteran Light Infantry with javelins
  • 8 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with bows
  • 8 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with slings
  • 11 Veteran Skirmish Infantry with javelins
Gallic
  • 36 Veteran Medium Cavalry with spears
  • Soldurii: 48 Elite Warriors
  • Warbands: 4 units of 48 Veteran Warriors
  • Skirmish Cavalry: 12 Militia Grade Light Horse with javelins
  • Skirmish Infantry: 2 units of 10 Veteran slingers
  • Skirmish Infantry: 4 units of 10 Veteran javelinmen
This is an army Simon produced.  There are, technically, too many Soldurii, but he has the figures and paid the points for them.  The Warbands can deploy in either open or close formation.  Open formation permits them to deploy in disordering terrain and fight there without being themselves disordered; they can also launch ambushes.  Close formation is better for open terrain, giving them a more effective combat frontage against Roman legions.  Foot units could be split into smaller contingents; the cavalry can deploy in two large 18-figure blocks, or three units of 12.

Celtiberian

  • 36 Medium Cavalry
  • 16 Light Cavalry with javelins
  • Warbands: 216 loonies
  • Caetrati: 36 "light heavy" infantry with javelins
  • Skirmishers: 16 with slings and 26 with javelins
This is the list for a standard 2,000 point army.  It seems rather dull, but in fact it has various possibilities.  The Medium Cavalry can fight in two large blocks of 18, or three of 12.  The Light Cavalry fights as a single mass, or in two smaller groups of 8 figures.  The Caetrati can fight as two units of 18 or three of 12.  The Warbands can be divided up into various combinations; also, due to the Spanish terrain, up to one third of them can deploy in the flank zones, so long as they are in loose formation.  For example, then, you could have three huge 48-figure close formed warbands in the centre, with two of 36 or three of 24 lurking in nice safe terrain on the flanks.  The odd number of Si with javelins is just due to the points.  Here are some photos of the first time the army has deployed for battle in our campaign:
A ground level shot of the army's right wing, from the wrong viewpoint - right in front of it.  We have used Numidian light horse in lieu of the Spanish I still have to paint.  Beside these is a large unit of 18 Medium Cavalry, with a commander prancing about in front.  On the right of the photo is a large unit of 18 Caetrati in a column ready to infest some woods.  Birds can be seen flying around too...
A higher level shot of the same part of the army.  Next to the Caetrati you can see a loose formation Warband of 36 figures in four ranks.
The photo above shows more of the army as we move a little in towards the centre, with skirmish javelinmen out front.
How it would look to a Veles.  Those birds are still flying around in the background.
The centre of the army: four large units of 36 close-based Warbands.
And the other wing, which is a mirror image of the first shot, apart from the slingers in advance of the main line.
Another ground shot.
Finally, a slightly closer top shot of the left flank.

3 comments:

  1. Very nice Paul!. Having been thinking of doing some Spanish myself as either Roman Allies or eventually opponents.
    Mitch

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Phil. I really enjoyed painting these - completely different from the usual suspects!

    ReplyDelete