Help building an Army

[Lluis of Minairons]

Hi everyone,

I need your advice and/or opinions on what a Carolingian Frankish army should look like.

I mean, there's on my workbench a small pile of pewter awaiting to be painted, but I have no idea about the average/recommended size of units in such an army.
Besides, there are a few subtleties in base types, sizes and figure placing that I don't quite understand - most likely due to my own pityful ignorance on how Martin's Dark Ages ruleset actually works.

Would anyone give me a few tips or examples on how an archetypical Carolingian Army would be built, please?

Thanks in advance,
Lluís

[Colonel Kilgore]

Lluis,

I'm sure others will jump in on more specifics - or I can do so in due course - although I've bought an army to cover all options which saves me working out a specific list at this point.

My feeling is that since each of the "Longships" armies have their own flavour, the army should reflect that. Hence the Carolingians should maximise their Cavalry, since they are the only army to really feature proper cavalry.

Simon

[John Watson]

Is the army for Longships, Conquerors and Kings or both?
John

[Stewart 46A]

Hi Lluis
For Longships, the rules have the following

Army leader
Figure + standard. 40x40mm base

Unit leaders  single figure 30x40mm base (some of mine have a standard as well )
Armoured base 3 figures
Unarmoured.    4 figures
Levy.                5 figures
All on 30x30mm base

Mounted units
30x40mm base
1 figure less from above
No mounted levy

Units are built on a point system and consist of a number of bases, 5 units in the army

C&K
Each army has a list with minimum units required
Armoured, Bow , skirmish, auxiliary etc
Each unit is 3 bases
Skirmish units 2 bases

Army lGeneral figure + standard 40x40mm base
Close order infantry 4 figures per bases
Auxiliary infantry.     3 figures
Skirmish infantry.     2 figures
All on 30x30mm base

Cavalry 3 figures per base
Mounted Skirmish  2 figures per base
All on 40x40mm base


Stewart

[Lluis of Minairons]

Ohhhh thanks Stewart and all, I'm starting to understand now.

So the goal here would be building an army eventually suitable for both rulesets, although with a main focus on 'Longships'?

Also, I've learnt that there can be 'half bases' too (these being 30 x 15 mm). Out of curiosity, what are these used for?

Thanks again,
Lluís

[Stewart 46A]

Hi Lluis
Yes I'm building a longships force but may be used in C&K

Dead bases are used in both and 1/2 bases in C&K as units take casualties

Stewart

[martin goddard]

Stewart

I think half bases are not used in Longships?


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I think that's what Stewart is saying, Martin 

Some additional punctuation may perhaps have helped, but he does have his words spelled correctly and in the right order 

Simon

[Stewart 46A]

I'm typing with 1 finger

Stewart

[Colonel Kilgore]

You're doing better than most of us with 8, Stewart.

Simon

[Lluis of Minairons]

Just found this amazing review on Carolingian cavalry, which is also plentiful of pictures:
https://deadliestblogpage.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/elite-warriors-of-the-dark-ages-caballarii-of-charlemagne/

Lluís

[Colonel Kilgore]

There's some nice information there, Lluis.

I'd thought that they'd been cheeky "borrowing" Osprey pictures, but they say this is with permission. It's certainly a nicely condensed summary.

Simon

[Lluis of Minairons]

Hi again,

I'm a little confused about one of Martin's Carolingian foot figures - to be precise, the one at the right of photo below:



What is that guy supposed to hold in his right hand? (Humble apologies for my blatant ignorance)

Lluís

[Panzer21]

A horn?
Neil

[Colonel Kilgore]

I too had thought it was a horn.

Simon