Beginners Guide to the
DBAv1.1 Tactics

Skirmishing
Skirmishers (LH & Ps) are probably the most underrated troop types in DBA and most players will overlook their importance completely when selecting any army. Skirmishes by themselves are not battle winners but when you consider that DBA is generally dominated by heavy foot armies, the use of skirmishers can become a decisive factor. How?

Battles in DBA are won by inflicting losses on your opponent. If you confront an enemy with troops he cannot kill, its extremely difficult for this opponents to win. Skirmishers flee from heavy foot and are excellent for pinning down larger numbers of enemy elements in time consuming combats. On the other hand, skirmishers are ridden down easily by mounted troops (Kn, Cv..) and require some level of support in a battle to prevent this.

One strategy for winning in DBA is to concentrate a stronger part of your forces onto an opponents flank and overwhelmthem while refusing combat on the other. This usually means contracting your battleline and exposing flanks to your opponent. When fancing heavy infantry, skirmishes are excellent in holding gaps in battles lines or covering a refused flank. The following examples should illustrate the tactic I'm attempting to explain here;

 

Marian Roman vs Early Seleucids
This example will use Marian Romans (9xBd, 2xCv & 1xPs) against Early Seleucid (3xKn, 2xEl, 4xPk, 2xPs & 1xLH). Terrain has been ignored for the sake of simplicity.

The Marian Romans are a one dimensional force with deployment options limited to lining up Bd’s and mixing their few Cv elements in between. Both the Cv in this case have traditionally formed up on the wings with the lone psilio in support against any mounted troops.

The Seleucids (bottom) will have trouble matching the width of the Romans battleline. To do so would invariably give poor matchups against them. A recommended formation is to combine the 4 Pikes flanked by Elephants creating a very powerful block. To get this into contact with Bd’s will provide an excellent chance of breaking the Roman line assuming the flanks aren’t seriously threatened

Both battlelines approach each other. The Seleucid skirmishes on the right fan out to screen the gap. They deliberately line up opposite the front of two Bd elements to pin them and make it difficult for the Bd’s to line up return. This effectively pins down almost half the Roman line with troops they cannot kill (ie. Ps flee from Bd’s).

The main Seleucid force which is now concentrated on the left, can move in to contact with superior combat odds to the Romans opposite. The Roman right is pinned down against psilio and has to clear them away before assisting its opposite flank. The Seleucid Kn on the far right is merely backup for the psilio and should avoid combat unless necessary.

With moderate luck, the Seleucid left should sweep away its opposition to win the game. The only liability for the Seleucids in this battle is the manoeuvrability of their elephants.

Blade (Bd) elements in DBA are particularly resilient making them a very popular selection for competition use. If you compare their combat factors against mounted they are on equal terms (3 to 3 against Cv or Kn’s), easily capable of beating all foot with the exception of double ranked Pikes & Spears, and even with Auxilia in bad terrain.

Marian Roman vs Gauls

A more historical matchup with Marian Roman vs Gallic army. This battle is extremely one sided against the Gallic player who must double rank the Wb to achieve any effectiveness against the opposing Bd’s or Cv. The Gallic size battleline is well exceeded by the opposing Romans

Using the same skirmishing tactic as shown with the Seleucids, the Gauls must rely more heavily on their Ps to pin down the excess Roman Bd elements and bide time for the Wb to achieve a decisive breakthrough. Note the Cv on the far right supporting the Ps. Unless the Roman Cv on the right has a crack at the Gallic Ps, this Cv element should effectively refuse combat as long as possible.