Sassanid army

[martin goddard]

Wargamers really like sassanid/sassanian (chose a spelling?) armies.
They have bright Persian colours, armoured cavalry and elephants.
Manufacturers find them a good seller too.
Most makers of ancient armies in 15mm do Sassanids.


Here is a suggested CK army.
3 units of cataphracts. Armoured, veteran.= 99
6 units of armoured, bow cavalry Trained= 180
6 units of Skirmish cavalry=48
327 points

This army should find somewhere to attack and hit that point in two zones.
Some skirmish units are needed to stop the Sassanid flanks being  enveloped.

This army will usually be 12 ahead on the piggy chase. That should allow it to deploy second. A big advantage if the above tactic were used.


martin

[martin goddard]

Here is a Sassanid army with a different approach.
6 units of Levy close order (10)= 60
5 units of skirmishers (7)= 35
4 Elephants (7)=28
5 units armoured + bow cavalry (30)= 150
7 units Skirmisher cavalry (=56

329 points

Tactical
A zone full of levy close order with rear support. Plus an elephant. Plus a skirmish unit. With a general it should fight OK (although the general cannot join a levy unit).
Enough cavalry to sweep off a flank?
Loads of skirmishers to use in rough scenery and flank support.

Defend so that the infantry can hold hills etc.

Scenery
Rough hill, building, rough ground, gentle hill

martin

[Moggy]

Wargamers really like sassanid/sassanian (chose a spelling?) armies.
They have bright Persian colours, armoured cavalry and elephants.
Manufacturers find them a good seller too.
Most makers of ancient armies in 15mm do Sassanids.


Here is a suggested CK army.
3 units of cataphracts. Armoured, veteran.= 99
6 units of armoured, bow cavalry Trained= 180
6 units of Skirmish cavalry=48
327 points

This army should find somewhere to attack and hit that point in two zones.
Some skirmish units are needed to stop the Sassanid flanks being  enveloped.

This army will usually be 12 ahead on the piggy chase. That should allow it to deploy second. A big advantage if the above tactic were used.


martin

Would be interesting how that army worked in defence. Could field the same army for Mongols to make it even on the chase

Derek

[martin goddard]

I think a high quality cavalry force such as this should still act aggressively even when it is the defender.
High quality troops that abandon the initiative will probably come "un done". A big mistake for any general.
Initiative is usually a deciding factor in RFCM games.

RFCM games do not allow a player to "best build" an army and expect victory. These sort of rulesets are a a waste of  the game time I feel(?)

To add in some game psychology (pretentious I know).
Some players can be beaten into "no action" by an opponent who is using his initiative to manoeuvre.

An army such as the sassanid one listed above should hit hard at one place and try to convince the opponent that all is lost.  e.g. "I can't win now because one turn of the game has gone against me". It is the skill and tenacity to overcome this that should (?) allow players to win RFCM games.

martin

[Sean Clark]

Parthians for me. A Peter Pig Parthians army is on my bucket list. Along with the model of Fort Sumter and the Steam boat for the Sudan.

Quite why I've never got around to purchasing any of these 3 items, I'm not sure. There always seems to be more infantry, cavalry or guns to buy for the current rules 😂🤣😂

First world problems at their best.

[Stewart 46A]

My Sassanid force for Next Tuesday (23rd)
3 units cataphracts Vet/Armoured
7 units cavalry Armoured/Bow
3 units Skirmish Cavalry

330 points

Stewart