It's a matter of Scale!
In DBM, the authors make the statement that each "element" represents a sub-unit with "a nominal full strength of 128 to 256 riders or foot." This key statement is the only hint were given as to any troop scale used in the rules. If taken literally, a first-time reader might assume that Caesar's army at Munda 45BC with 32,000 legionaries will need a 125 elements of Blades ...... yet the Marian army list has only 32 Bd(O) maximum? So what's with the scales here?
Take your average 400 point DBM army with 40-80 elements. It represents about 10-20,000 troops. About 80% of all historical armies will fall outside this range. Its would therefore be safe to assume that some other level of scaling, (besides the 256 troops/element) has been used when developing most of the army lists. As a side note, the lower 128 troops/element scale is applicable for light troops and skirmishes who fought in loose formations according to the authors. An element of Psiloi, for example, represents only half the number of troops compared to their more heavily arrayed counterparts such as Blades, Spear, Pikes.....etc.
The "128-256 men/element" should at best be considered a "design scale" used by the authors for developing the rules. The following illustration provides some idea of what a "single element" looks like at a micro level. The sketch illustrates a unit of hoplites arrayed four ranks deep by sixty four wide (256);
DBM is designed to recreate battles at a strategic "macro" level using historical armies ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 men. To cope with such a broad range, an additional level of scaling has been applied by list authors to further bring armies within the scope covered by DBM. This may mean that elements can represent, not 128-256 troops, but as little as a 100 up to 2000 troops per element. Unfortunately we aren't given any hints as to what these scales are unlike DBR which is probably not without reason since most lists rely heavily on educated guesses and stabs in the dark!
To further explain how scaling is used in DBM armies, we can analyse a few popular armies and do some "reverse engineering". To try and estimate the scale used for an army, its recommended to study the best documented part of that army.
Seleucid 320-83BC (book 2, list 19 version 1)
Seleucid military strengths are well established so calculating a possible troop scale is straight forward. Looking at key units in the army, we can tabulate there actual strength alongside the number of elements allowed by the Seleucid army list. From this a troop scale per element can be estimated;
Unit Actual Strength DBM List Companions 1,000 0-1 Agema 1,000 0-1 Argyraspids 10,000 3-12 Phalanx 22,000 4-22 Raphia 217BC The Companions & Agema are obviously scaled at 1000 men/element. Both the Argyraspids and Phalanx are just below 1000 men/element. These have probably both been rounded up to make a neat multiple of 4, being Pikes. Its fairly safe to say the Seleucid list is designed on a minimum scale of 1000 troops per element.
Early Achaemenid Persian (EAP) list (book 1, list 60 version 1)
This particular army, we guess, is based on two scales; 2000 men/element & 1000 men/element. Its was compiled by Duncan Head, author of "The Achaemeneid Persian Army" book (Monvert Publication) which is regrettably out of print. Troop numbers appear to be based directly on those quoted in the book so if you disagree with them, please take them up separately with Duncan.
The list is essentially based around the two EAP armies; Xerses' Invasion force of 480BC and the army at Plataea, 479BC. Both were significantly different in size.
To estimate the troop scales, we use the same core of Immortals and Sparabara infantry present in both armies. Numbers for cavalry and skirmishers are highly conjectural, so are best left out.
Xerses’ Invasion force; 480BC - best renowned for its clash with the Spartan led army at the pass of Thermopylae.
Actual numbers Translated to
DBM Elements40,000 Sparabara
(in 4 x 10,000 men regiments)20 x Irr Bw(X/O) this is the max Sparabara elements available (20)
giving a scale of 2000 men/element.10,000 Immortals
2,000 Royal Guards6 x Reg Bw(X/S) To get the right proportion of Immortals to Sparabara,
we must select the minimum number of 6. This gives us a matching scale of 2000 men/element (hardly coincidental.)Total: 52,000 Total: 26 elements Scale; 2000 troops per element Army of the Battle of Plataea; 479BC - when Xerses left Greece to returned to Asia, he left behind a smaller army of picked troops under the command of his general Mardonius. They fought and lost the battle of Plataea.
Actual numbers DBM Elements 10,000 Immortals
2,000 Royal Guards12 x Reg Bw(X/S) The maximum number of Immortals is 12 elements (includes Royal Guard?) giving a scale of 1,000 troops/element. 8,900 Sparabara (Medes) 8 x Irr Bw(X/O) To get the correct proportion of Sparabara to Immortals, we must use the min. 8 (14 less 6 which can be subtracted if Immortals are used.) This also gives us a scale close to 1000 troops/element (again, hardly coincidental.) Total: 20,900 Total: 20 elements Scale; 1,000 troops per element
From the above it can be concluded that the EAP army list was intentionally designed around two scales.
This form of analyse can be carried out on most army lists assuming you have decent background information on strengths and battles. As shown, troop scales are not necessarily based on a single battled. Army lists are also designed to accommodate many "what if" scenarios as long as there is was some shred of evidence to support the possibility or capabilities of the particular army/empire/nation in question.
