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#1
Weapons and Tactics / Re: Infantry charging cavalry
Last post by Imperial Dave - Today at 09:54 PMQuote from: Justin Swanton on Today at 02:51 PMQuote from: Jim Webster on Today at 02:08 PMYes these medieval examples do seem to fit the same general criteria. Cavalry disordered, already engaged, in difficult terrain, or just already in trouble, seem to be suitable targets.So how to replicate those circumstances in a wargame? (please don't say dice!)
Six sided rolling devices with numbers on them
#2
Ancient and Medieval History / Re: Chaironeia reconstruction ...
Last post by RichT - Today at 04:47 PMI hope somebody will read this and review it for Slingshot. I should do it myself, but I'm a bit hesitant because though I like Nic Fields work on the whole, it tends not to contain many new arguments. So for example the illustration of a Macedonian phalangite shows all the usual features (connecting tube, big butt (!), teeny tiny shield on a strap). OK these are the orthodoxy, but only because everybody keeps repeating them over and over (with the authority of each other). Maybe the text justifies them.
The overarm hold has been suggested by various people over the years, so I suppose it is "an accepted interpretation" of the pike phalanx, but it's not the usual one. Until I've read the book I can't say definitely that there's no evidence for it, but I can say that I'm not aware of any evidence for it, and I have some doubts that any new evidence has come to light. But I'm just being lazy in commenting without having read the book first.
The open order Companions though are a bit odd. Maybe these are Prodromoi?
One thing I can say is that these illustrations are by Renato Dalmaso and of course I really like his work, but from my experience what the illustrator produces is not always 100% what the author had in mind, and there's an extent to which the illustrator gets to exercise artistic licence. What appears in the pictures may not always be fully justified by the contents of the book. Which means, again, that I should really read it before commenting.
The overarm hold has been suggested by various people over the years, so I suppose it is "an accepted interpretation" of the pike phalanx, but it's not the usual one. Until I've read the book I can't say definitely that there's no evidence for it, but I can say that I'm not aware of any evidence for it, and I have some doubts that any new evidence has come to light. But I'm just being lazy in commenting without having read the book first.
The open order Companions though are a bit odd. Maybe these are Prodromoi?
One thing I can say is that these illustrations are by Renato Dalmaso and of course I really like his work, but from my experience what the illustrator produces is not always 100% what the author had in mind, and there's an extent to which the illustrator gets to exercise artistic licence. What appears in the pictures may not always be fully justified by the contents of the book. Which means, again, that I should really read it before commenting.
#3
Weapons and Tactics / Re: Infantry charging cavalry
Last post by Jim Webster - Today at 03:47 PMSome circumstances with be 'self evident' (although the rules might have used dice to create the circumstance, other rules might not.)
So a cavalry unit could be in combat with another unit and is unable to do anything about it
A cavalry unit could just have defeated one opponent, might even have pursued, and is now rallying and is in no position just to ride the infantry down.
The cavalry are in difficult terrain and the infantry pounce.
Another circumstance is probably where skirmishing light horse get too close to infantry, try to evade but are slowed or trapped by terrain or impenetrable obstacles.
These might be tricky to achieve but easy enough to fit into the rules.
A more difficult one is where you have a line of Sassanid armoured cavalry facing a line of legionaries. Both lines can deluge each other with missiles. Can the infantry line just grind forward, perhaps more slowly than usual, because the front ranks are keen to maintain the wall of shields and also to be ready to brace if the cavalry do charge. At some point the infantry will 'bump' into the cavalry and thus melee will ensure, but any charge might literally be the last handful of yards.
So a cavalry unit could be in combat with another unit and is unable to do anything about it
A cavalry unit could just have defeated one opponent, might even have pursued, and is now rallying and is in no position just to ride the infantry down.
The cavalry are in difficult terrain and the infantry pounce.
Another circumstance is probably where skirmishing light horse get too close to infantry, try to evade but are slowed or trapped by terrain or impenetrable obstacles.
These might be tricky to achieve but easy enough to fit into the rules.
A more difficult one is where you have a line of Sassanid armoured cavalry facing a line of legionaries. Both lines can deluge each other with missiles. Can the infantry line just grind forward, perhaps more slowly than usual, because the front ranks are keen to maintain the wall of shields and also to be ready to brace if the cavalry do charge. At some point the infantry will 'bump' into the cavalry and thus melee will ensure, but any charge might literally be the last handful of yards.
#4
Weapons and Tactics / Re: Infantry charging cavalry
Last post by Justin Swanton - Today at 02:51 PMQuote from: Jim Webster on Today at 02:08 PMYes these medieval examples do seem to fit the same general criteria. Cavalry disordered, already engaged, in difficult terrain, or just already in trouble, seem to be suitable targets.So how to replicate those circumstances in a wargame? (please don't say dice!)
#5
Weapons and Tactics / Re: Infantry charging cavalry
Last post by Jim Webster - Today at 02:08 PMYes these medieval examples do seem to fit the same general criteria. Cavalry disordered, already engaged, in difficult terrain, or just already in trouble, seem to be suitable targets.
#6
Weapons and Tactics / Re: Infantry charging cavalry
Last post by Erpingham - Today at 01:14 PMThere are a few medieval ones I know of, which fit the ideas.
At the Battle of Laupen, a portion of Freiburg cavalry was charged in the rear while engaged to the front. Poor situational awareness meant they seem to have missed that the rest of their army had run away, leaving the rallied Bernese to come to the rescue of their comrades. It did not end well for the cavalry.
At the Battle of Loudon Hill, Bruce ordered a charge to prevent the English cavalry rallying. The English made the mistake of trying to rally too close, expecting the Scots to remain in their defensive position.
At the Battle of Hausbergen, between the city and bishop of Strasburg, the Strasburg militia advanced to support the civic cavalry who were hard pressed by the bishop's knights. These were too entangled to disengage so were mobbed in a standing fight. Here the Strasburgers were ordered to target the horses and subsequently took a lot of the bishop's knights prisoner for ransom.
Overall, these suggest that cavalry deprived of the ability to manoeuvre were vulnerable to infantry attack.
At the Battle of Laupen, a portion of Freiburg cavalry was charged in the rear while engaged to the front. Poor situational awareness meant they seem to have missed that the rest of their army had run away, leaving the rallied Bernese to come to the rescue of their comrades. It did not end well for the cavalry.
At the Battle of Loudon Hill, Bruce ordered a charge to prevent the English cavalry rallying. The English made the mistake of trying to rally too close, expecting the Scots to remain in their defensive position.
At the Battle of Hausbergen, between the city and bishop of Strasburg, the Strasburg militia advanced to support the civic cavalry who were hard pressed by the bishop's knights. These were too entangled to disengage so were mobbed in a standing fight. Here the Strasburgers were ordered to target the horses and subsequently took a lot of the bishop's knights prisoner for ransom.
Overall, these suggest that cavalry deprived of the ability to manoeuvre were vulnerable to infantry attack.
#7
Battle Reports / Re: Refighting almost the Batt...
Last post by Jim Webster - Today at 12:36 PMThank you kindly good sir.
#8
Weapons and Tactics / Re: Infantry charging cavalry
Last post by Jim Webster - Today at 12:35 PMYes that seems to sum it up
Infantry can charge cavalry when the cavalry don't see them coming in time to react, or the cavalry are too busy to react.
It intrigued me that the examples we have are Roman, but then they did write a lot. What examples have we of earlier or later?
Infantry can charge cavalry when the cavalry don't see them coming in time to react, or the cavalry are too busy to react.
It intrigued me that the examples we have are Roman, but then they did write a lot. What examples have we of earlier or later?
#9
Ancient and Medieval History / Re: 50 medieval.sayings
Last post by Imperial Dave - Today at 11:53 AMMini tigers...
#10
Shows & Events / Re: South West Model Show 2026...
Last post by Ian61 - Today at 11:20 AMQuote from: Nick Harbud on Today at 08:23 AMWell as it happened, I found out about this event from the Warlord guys who had the stand next to ours at the Attack show in Devizes. We thought it might be a great place for the Society to put on a participation game, but we could not rustle one up in the limited time available.
If anyone fancies helping us with a stand or game at next year's event, please get in touch.
Let me see what the set up looks like this year, I may be persuaded. Its the same distance for me or a little shorter than Newbury or Devizes.