Sword and Spear Fantasy - first thoughts

[Hobgoblin]

Nice quick review and we have played a decent number of games of the ancients version of the rules. It played well and is fun. For the record though due to the command meta you mention we have found that the best format for an army is to have some really good fighting units which you want do most of the combat with, supported by a decent section of more mediocre troops. You can then have a 'cheering section' of dross in the back/avoiding fighting if possible to provide extra dice if needed/you have points.

An all crap horde army or an super elite force both suffer a little - which is likely correct, but hard to balance with any points system due to luck being a factor.

Yes, it's clear that a core of heavy infantry is pretty much essential for most armies (though I'll certainly be trying out armies with fast, savage medium foot as their core).

The 'cheering section' rings true - Bannockburn springs to mind as an example.

[monkeylite]

An all crap horde army or an super elite force both suffer a little - which is likely correct, but hard to balance with any points system due to luck being a factor.

Yeah, my Goblin army is all Discipline 4, while not a crap horde (it's an average horde) it does mean that nearly half the dice you roll will be useless. Having a third, 3, a third 4, and a third 5, would be the same amount of points (all things being equal), but would make much more sense mathematically.

There again, Goblins can only count up to 4, anyway.

[mellis1644]

Yeah it's the discipline which is really key. A force of all 5's in hard pressed and is not a good option - a true horde is not going to work. I have tried it and it's not pretty. An all 4 force works but is not an easy one as mentioned. You really want some dis 3's units to be the core fighting units the army - 4's are ok for the line troops and 5's are the cheering section.

A discipline 3 unit with a commander is a very tough unit. The way saves and rally work off that stat mean the extra point is a huge impact.

[monkeylite]

I did a bit of a write-up of a game I've played with myself to check out the rules:

http://tewblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/sword-and-spear-fantasy-test-1.html

http://tewblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/sword-and-spear-fantasy-test-2.html

http://tewblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/spear-and-sword-fantasy-test-3.html

[Nord]

Nice report, thanks for posting that.

[Sunjester]

A great AAR, clearly explaining what's going on.

[monkeylite]

Thanks, I've done the rest of the battle, now:

http://tewblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/sword-and-spear-fantasy-test-2.html
http://tewblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/spear-and-sword-fantasy-test-3.html