Hott Arthurian Armies (and dba too)

[Alan Saunders]

Originally Posted by Bob and his dog

How are Warband disadvantaged in bad going in DBA vs HOTT? Neither take the -2 penalty and both move 200. Neither get second rank support. True DBA Wb are +2 vs mounted but they get a second move into combat.

The tactical factor at the bottom of my Page 10 of DBA says:

"-2 If any but Auxilia, Bows or Psili and in close combat in .... bad going ..."

So Warband get a -2 in DBA.

Mind you, I have V2.0, dated February 2001. Perhaps it's changed since then?

Edit: Indeed it has; Warband were added to the list of immune elements in 2003. That's what I get for not bothering to update my copy of DBA in the last ten years. As I've said before, I don't play it - I only keep it for the lists.

[Paul Potter]

a little more paint on these guys tonight:



-Paul

[PubliusTerentius]

Hmm perhaps there is something in the air...I too am working on a 5th century(ish) set of broadly Arhurian themed armies. Figures are all Splintered Light with a few embellishments of Trey Corbies ladies and some resurrected Martian Metals Christian Missionaries.

Romano British are done (sorry no pics yet) and Saxons waiting to be flocked. Irish are on the painter's workbench with Picts to follow shortly.

My approach has been heroic. While I generally enjoy an all 2AP army, for this heroic age I have taken the opposite approach

Sample RB List
1xHero (Arthur)
2xRider (Cavalry)
1xHero (Derfel Cadarn)
4xSpear (Wolftails)
1xMagician(Merlin)

Sample Saxon List
1xHero (Aelle)
1xHero (Liofa)
6xWarband (Warriors)
1xMagician(Wyrd Worker)

These play fast, exciting, sudden death games. This style works well for a multi-game campaign format against a matched pair, but I am unlikely to take either list to the next open HOTT tournament.

The current compliment of elements accomodates 4 Romano British armies and 3 Saxon armies.

I am interested in hearing more about how others are playing and categorizing element types. I too was tempted to treat the Saxons as spear. In any case the SLM figs demanded a deeper base so now Spears and Warband are both on 20mm bases for this set.

Saxons also have mastiffs and Irish have wolfhounds (beasts). Christian bishops are clerics (obviously) except for St Patrick who is treated as a magician. You can't drive the snakes out of Ireland with a +2 defensive bonus...

I also have cameo appearances from the Red and White Dragons (dragons) and the Pictish Beast (who can be played as either a dragon or a behemoth.) Beowulf (Saxon Hero) and Grendel (Large Warband) can be thrown in for good measure in an appropriate list.

The Irish monstrous contingent is made up of Balor of the Evil Eye (Behemoth or Magician) and the Fomorians (Behemoth.) These parts are played by a Ral Partha cyclops and a small flock of Martian Metals Ogres.

Strongholds are Camelot (Baueda Late Roman Gate), Romano-Christian Church (JR Miniatures), Roman Ruin (Gallia), Stonehenge (from a build your own Stonehenge kit at Barnes and Noble) and a beached Saxon ship (Essex Dark ages ship.)

Shall I keep you all posted on the work in progress?

[Paul Potter]

PubliusTerentius, I hope we will get to see them, even the ones that aren't finished yet.

I like my Saxons to have some spear, some war band, a shooter or two, a valkrie (flyer), perhaps Woden, Beowulf is obviously a hero but I have also played him as a behemoth. I have also played various Saxon kings as behemoths (representing the ferocity of their warband/body guards).

I plan on doing a stand of saxon mastifs that will play as a knight.

Here are an assortment of pics of various Irish, Morgan Le Fey, Merlin, Patrick, some clerics, druids, The questing beast (a lurker-his rear is the front of the base, an arthur type guy, Woden and Beowulf (all of these elements are battle tested veterans who have made numerous appearances at the local club):







-Paul

[elliesdad]

Originally Posted by PubliusTerentius

Shall I keep you all posted on the work in progress?

Errr... yeah. It's always good to listen to someone else's ideas.
Let us know how ya get on. And "bring on those photos".

Geoff

[Lewchips]

Thanks for the list Alan.

PubliusTerentius, yes please.

I like the questing beast Paul

[Paul Potter]

the Saxons and their assorted cousins are a misunderstood bunch, these enterprising civic minded folk are seeking real estate in the British Isles. here is the first batch of the son's or Wod plus I finished the painting on the green knight, Arthur and Lancelot:





-Paul

[Paul Potter]

I have finished the flocking on the Arthurians and the Saxons and am getting ready to start 2 elements of romanized Arthurian spear.
nest up for the Saxons- Bearshirts and Wargs:





-Paul

[Paul Potter]

rather than go with Valkyries for the Saxons I have found references to the old English Waelcyrge, the slaughter choosers and guidse of the dead to wodens hall, sacred to woden and called his daughters, perhaps a female priest class or warriors that had spears as a symbol. Proto Valkyries so to speak. not sure how to base these, perhaps as warband, maybe even as magician to represent their special status and working of battle magic.



-Paul

[larryessick]

Originally Posted by Paul Potter

rather than go with Valkyries for the Saxons I have found references to the old English Waelcyrge,

Rather than proto-valkyries I think it is just a language difference that refers to the same thing.

That, of course, has no bearing on whether you base and treat them differently.