Kingdom of Strathclyde (more properly Alt Clud at this date), 614AD, theoretically based upon the battle of Bangor-is-Coed:-
CinC - King (later St) Constantine
Irr Cv(O) CinC
2 Irr Cv(O)
1 Irr LH(I)
21 Irr Sp(I)
3 Irr Ps(I)
[Irr Bge(F) in army Bge command]
20/5.5/7/10.5
Sub-general - Prince Neithon
Irr Cv(O) Sub
2 Irr Cv(O)
1 Irr LH(I)
2 Irr Ax(O) Irish
[Irr Bge(S) in army Bge command]
12/3.5/4.5/6.5
Ally-general - King Bledric of Dumnonia
Irr Cv(O) Ally
2 Irr Cv(O)
1 Irr LH(I)
24 Irr Sp(I)
1 Irr Bge(F)
20/5.5/7/10.5
Army Baggage
1 Irr Bge(S) 1,000 praying monks
1 Irr Bge(F)
5/1.5/2/3
Stratagem: Scouting [don't leave home without it]
In terms of structure, the Cv(O) and LH(I) are forced by the list to be evenly split between the commands. I wanted the Ps(I) with the CinC to use as scouts, so really the only remaining deckchairs to move around on this particular Titanic were how to allocate the Sp(I). A 21/24 split allowed me what felt like the most resilient ME structure and also worked well in terms of being able to deploy in fairly even 3 or 4-rank formations. The basic plan was to have the Sp(I) in a mass in the centre, with a few Cv covering one flank and "massed" (this is 240AP, so 6 Cv(O) including 2 generals is "massed") cavalry on the other flank. The idea was to be able to redeploy Prince Neithon's command to wherever seemed most appropriate.
Command 1 (25.5ME/6.5/9)
General as Irr Cv (O)
5 Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr LH (O)
18 Irr Sp (I)
3 Irr Ps (O)
2 Irr Bg (F)
Command 2 - as above, except led by Ally general
Command 3 (21/5.5/7.5)
Ally general as Irr Cv (O)
3 Irr Cv (O)
18 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Ps (O)
2 Irr Bg (F)
Command 4 (14.5/4/5)
Ally as Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr Cv (O)
9 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Bg (F)
4 commands:
Urien Rheged in charge of Cv(O), LH(O), Reg Ax(I), Ps(O)
Morcant Builc (Bryneich SRB ally) Cv(O), 28 Irr Sp(I) and 1 Hd(I)
Gwallawc Marchawc Trin (Elmet SRB ally), Cv (O), 20 Irr Sp(I), Ps
(O), Ax(I), 1 Hd(I)
Rhydderch Hael (Strathclyde SRB ally), Cv(O), LH(O), Wb(F), Reg Ax(I)
Command 1: 25.5 ME
General as Irr Cv (O)
5 Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr LH (O)
19 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Ps (O)
2 Irr Bg (I)
Command 2: 22.5 ME
Ally as Irr Cv (O)
3 Irr Cv (O)
19 Irr Sp (I)
4 Irr Ps (O)
1 Irr Hd (I)
2 Irr Bg (I)
Command 3: 25.5 ME
Ally as Irr Cv (O)
5 Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr LH (O)
19 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Ps (O)
1 Irr Hd (I)
2 Irr Bg (I)
Command 4: 15 ME
Ally as Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr Cv (O)
10 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Bg (I)
Urien's army (in my hands) was:-
Urien (CinC) – Irr Cv(O) CinC
6 Rheged Cavalry – Irr Cv(O)
3 Rheged light horsemen – Irr LH(O)
4 Trained militia – Reg Ax(I)
4 skirmishers – Irr Ps(O)
2 elements of Rheged camp – Irr Bge(O)
21 - 5.5/7.5
Morcant Builc (British Ally) – Irr Cv(O) Ally
2 Builc Cavalry – Irr Cv(O)
28 Builc Spearmen – Irr Sp(I)
1 cell of proselytising monks – Irr Hd(I)
2 elements of Builc Baggage (rustled sheep and herds) – Irr Bge(I)
24 - 6.5/8.5
Gwallawc Marchawc Trin (British Ally) – Irr Cv(O) Ally
2 Elmet Cavalry – Irr Cv(O)
20 Elmet Spearmen – Irr Sp(I)
1 Elmet Militia – Reg Ax(I)
4 skirmishers – Irr Ps(O)
1 more cell of proselytising monks – Irr Hd(I)
2 elements of Elmet's Baggage – Irr Bge(I)
22.5 - 6/8
Rhydderch Hael (British Ally) – Irr Cv(O) Ally
5 Strathclyde Cavalry – Irr Cv(O)
2 Strathclyde light horsemen – Irr LH(O)
2 Strathclyde trained militia – Reg Ax(I)
10 Strathclyde warriors – Irr Wb(F)
2 elements of Strathclyde's Baggage – Irr Bge(I)
21 - 5.5/7.5
The basic plan was simple. The Builc and Elmet contingents would
provide an infantry centre. Not tough, but hopefully resilient enough
to wear out opponents whose better quality did not match our quantity
(unkindly christened "the pillow of death"). Their Hd(I) monks acted
as unreliability-triggering pickets and had a number of other gamey
and unrealistic uses. Elmet had a single Ax(I) and some Ps(O) to
provide some anti-marching cover out wide, should I decide to mass the
Cavalry on one flank or to flank-march the Strathclyders. Rheged and
Strathclyde would provide mounted wings and light-infantry cover. The
Strathclyde Wb(F) could either threaten any quality infantry we
encountered or at the very least be sufficiently self-directing to
cause trouble to an enemy without diverting too many PIPs.
Command 1 (23/6/8)
Brilliant C-in-C as Reg Kn (F)
1 Reg Kn (X)
2 Reg Kn (F)
1 Reg LH (O)
1 Irr LH (O)
4 Reg Bd (O)
2 Reg Ps (O)
4 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Bg (F)
Command 2 (26/7/9)
Ally as Irr Cv (O)
4 Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr LH (O)
18 Irr Sp (I)
6 Irr Ps (O)
2 Irr Bg (F)
Command 3 (26/7/9)
Ally as Irr Cv (O)
6 Irr Cv (O)
2 Irr LH (O)
18 Irr Sp (I)
2 Irr Ps (O)
2 Irr Bg (F)
Stratagems: Exaggerated Army Size, Change Deployment, Concealed Command
"Arthur" - Brilliant CinC, Irr Cv(O)
8 x Irr Cv(O)
5 x Irr LH(O)
2 x Cmnd Irr Bg(O)
21/5.5/7.5
"Theodoric" - Sub, Irr Wb(O)
3 x Irr Wb(O)
4 x Irr Bts(O)
12 x Irr Sp(I)
4 x Irr Ps(O)
2 x Cmnd Irr Bg(O)
19.5/5/7
Ally - SRB Ally, Irr Cv(O)
5 x Irr Cv(O)
10 x Irr Ax(O)
2 x Cmnd Irr Bg(I)
18/5/6.5
Ally - SRB Ally, Irr Cv(O)
2 x Irr Cv(O)
18 x Irr Sp(I)
4 x Irr Ps(O)
2 x Cmnd Irr Bg(I)
21/5.5/7.5
8 x 2-pt TFs
Stratagems:
Delaying Battle
Flank Attack
+Concealed Command (as Brilliant stroke)
The idea would be to operate on the flanks with Arthur and the Cv/Ax
ally, with Theodoric on table and, if appropriate, the Sp-based ally
coming in as a delayed arrival (or just up front and personal if
that seems appropriate, making it hard for the enemy to avoid his
troops if he is unreliable).
The "heavy" infantry is largely a target (although it'd be useful
against a predominantly Bw-based enemy). I'm hoping to lure the
enemy forward with it while overwhelming with Cv/Ax on the flanks.
Delayed arrival keeps the opponent guessing about the missing
command (what it is, where it is coming) and also ensure
reliability. It could Flank March - with slightly bigger move-
distances than DBM (and the possibilty of coming on in the enemy
rear corners if it rolls a 6), I have a feeling that it's no longer
completely useless to FM spear. Even if the Sp can't kill much, as
long as it doesn't die in complete droves the fight should last a
while when you can lose 13 or 14 spearmen before you break.
Alternatively, I am pondering replacing some of the the Sp(I) with
Reg Ax(I). I have a lot of them painted up... :o) Not sure how
much use they'd be in DBMM though. At least in DBM they were
filler, and held their own uphill in terrain.
I am assuming that the allies need Bg(I) if they are to be allowed
to flank-march/delayed-arrive, and that the Delaying Battle
stratagem will be available as long as I have a fortified camp, i.e.
just Arthur and/or Theodoric's Bg, even if not all the baggage is
fortified?