While we wait for the arrival of Croctales 7, I thought we might pass some time in a discussion about tactics.

1. How do you normally deal with Spiky Ground in Aegyptus and how will a phalanx of expensive but slow-moving hoplites deal with Spikey Ground?

2.What unit size makes the most sense for hoplites?

question 1. kill the wizzard before they cast it, depending on where units are if cast, either reform arround it and form back up after walk, through anyway, or just wait behind it.

question2. I've always thought towards 15 at a minimum though milage may vary.

1. Until there are rules for some sort of Olympian Spellcaster, if ever,evrey Olympian Warband facing an Aegyptus one should make killing the opposing MOW a top priority.

2. I'll go with 13. At 13 you can still form Phalanx, your opponent has to kill 2 hoplites to force a phalanx check, 3 hoplites to force a Rout check, and another 4 to force a secondary rout check.

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Slayer of the Minotaur Lord of Knossos (S.D. '10), Savior of Calydon (S.D. '11)

I agree about 13. for all the same reasons Akori mentioned. How to get over to a MoW absent serious missile troops, which the Greeks presently lack, is a question, I think. A nimble MoW is unlikely to be taken by a Spartan chariot, especiall if the master can fly.

I believe phalanaxes are always a serious threat as long as you can protect their flanks. Additionally placing your Demigod in a chariot always tends to scare the yogurt out of my opponents when they see him coming. While most players don't opt for the War Altar, if I am taking my Demigod of Ares and have the points left over, I will let the Spartan Ephors give me the opportunity to try and roll up the Crimson Ares Demigod-lite version, if i'm fortunate.

Lastly, everytime I have Artemis lead my Olympians, I always take the Satyrs with musician and Hero (DISC: 7) to the battle. It usually doesn't take me long to summon them to the party and can go head-to-head against any Basti unit and has turned the tide of games for me as a result.

Respectfully, KEVIN

I must say I like both of Kevin's plans. The Ares idea is fun and the Artemis/Satyr idea is fabulous. Also, unless I am mistaken as I have not looked at the playtest guide in a while but, it is only the hoplites and helots that are restricted to certain kit outs. As such characters are not and can be armed with bows. While not at Basti character archer level they can still do some damage, especially when riding a chariot to get closer sooner. Again I could be wrong it has been a while since I have peeked at that book.

I hope that there's useful auxilliary troops for Myceneans who don't want to run a demigodess of Artemis...

1) When playing Olympians, I deal with Spikey Ground in exactly the same way that I deal with it when I’m playing an Ægyptus army without a spell caster – either kill the caster, as others have suggested, or just walk around it. I admit that walking around can take a while … but just because your hoplites can form a phalanx, doesn’t mean that’s the only formation they can form.

If I’m playing defensively, I use it as a first line of fence, turning the tables on my opponent .

2) I usually run a phalanx of 18 hoplites – and am looking at increasing that to 21. I know that’s a lot more than others usually take… but I’ve found it very successful. It’ll grind anything you throw at it into the ground. You also need to kill 7 hoplites (no mean feat) before I even look at taking a test to remain in phalanx.

I protect my flanks with peltasts who, due to their manoeuvrability, make excellent flank protectors. That and I use the terrain to my advantage, by trying to fix at least one flank to some kind of obstacle. If my opponent wants to throw down a spikey ground for me, that’s the best flank protector I know!

Nebseni; the Spartans have their helots already… and I would imagine that most city-states would have similar, lightly armed skirmish type troops armed with sling and javelin. Plus we’re only seeing the very beginnings of the Olympains. Thracian peltasts, Rhodian slingers, Cretan archers… just to name a few of the more famous troop types, and not even getting into the mythical groups and creatures like centaurs, harpies, amazons and many, many more.

There’s plenty of fertile ground there, just a matter for the Powers-That-Be to make their selection and work out what fits best where and how… if they haven’t already…

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Morituri Nolumus Mori.. - ..we who are about to die don't want to