28mm sassanids

[Shahbahraz]

Yep. I would expect that agnatic groups would include a core of heavily armoured nobles of the higher ranks, a larger group of armoured archers, and lightly armoured or unarmoured horse archers.

[Atheling]

Yep. I would expect that agnatic groups would include a core of heavily armoured nobles of the higher ranks, a larger group of armoured archers, and lightly armoured or unarmoured horse archers.

Thanks.

That was my thinking and will be very useful. i'm putting together a 6th-7th Century Sassanid army at present- well buying the miniatures and I wanted to have the second wave of Clibs without any horse armour (or perhaps a mix?), backed up by horse archers.

Regarding the horse archers- am I looking at Iranians, Hephthalites Avars, Sogdians, or a mix of all of the above? I really need to do more reading but I can only go at a certain pace

[Shahbahraz]

I would use a mix of ethnic Iranians and some Sogdians, the murals at Penshikent show unarmoured light horse with lances.

[Atheling]

I would use a mix of ethnic Iranians and some Sogdians, the murals at Penshikent show unarmoured light horse with lances.

Thanks again. Just to be certain, this is a Late Army for Dara 530 CE - Solachon 586 CE?

[Codsticker]

I am actually aiming for the same period (late Sassanid) with my 15mm Sassanid force. Although most if it came to me painted it was formed almost entirely of Savaran so I am in the process of adding infantry as well unarmoured horse.

[Atheling]

I am actually aiming for the same period (late Sassanid) with my 15mm Sassanid force. Although most if it came to me painted it was formed almost entirely of Savaran so I am in the process of adding infantry as well unarmoured horse.

I've just had a conversation with someone with much more knowledge than I, who confirmed my thoughts about the horse tack, armours and bards being variable in style depending on what part of what was essentially a very large empire, the cavalry came from. This of course, also includes horses without bards too.

[timyeh]

I just started this army with only 2 games under my belt. I'm still playing it with Warhammer Ancient Battle.
I am curious as to what are your experiences and tactics with the Sassanids either for or against them.

[Atheling]

I just started this army with only 2 games under my belt. I'm still playing it with Warhammer Ancient Battle.
I am curious as to what are your experiences and tactics with the Sassanids either for or against them.

Early or Late Army? There is quite a difference. Early armies being mainly Cataphracts and Horse Archers/Light Cavalry (you can add infantry but these should be considered to be Levy at this time IM HO).

Late Armies would have more infantry, is appears of a slightly better quality and instead of Cataphracts relying instead on the nobility and the Clibanarii which, in general had less armour than the Cataphracts (I believe the quality and amount of armour could vary wildly in the latter period- probably the early period too).