"Changes to Troop Types in DBM v3.1"
by Martin Morgan

Introduction

 

The main changes to the DBM rules from V3.0 to V3.1 relate to terrain setup, rule clarifications and changes to rear support, combat factors and effectiveness and troop classifications.  In this article I will concentrate on the changes to the effectiveness of different troop types and give my thoughts on who are the winners and losers from these changes.

Each troop type will be discussed, with the positive and negative rule changes outlined.

There are a number of changes that affect all or most troop types.  These are:

• +ve         Double based troops are improved, as you only lose one element if the other would not normally be destroyed.

• -ve          Regular troops do not march so well (+1 PIP for 4^th or successive march moves)

• +ve         Unmounted foot in groups can approach (with certain conditions) to within 50 paces of skirmishers or single elements

• -ve          Fast troops are slightly more fragile in their own bound.

The changes to Fast troops are not very great.  Fast troops count fast in both players bounds, but the +1 to their opponents only occurs if the fast troops are beaten by 2 factors. The only results that this will change are the results where the fast troops are beaten in their own bound by 1 less than the score needed to double them (5-3, 7-4, 9-5, 11-6 and 13-7).  In these instances the fast troops will be destroyed or fled instead of recoiling.  On the other hand a fast element beaten by 3-2 in the opponents bound will no longer be destroyed, so fast troops fighting at low factors will be just about the same.

 

Changes to Troop Types

 

Elephants (El):

• +ve         Quick kill single ranked Sp and Pk

• +ve         Sp and Pk no longer get back rank support against El

Elephants ability to QK single ranked Sp and Pk will probably not be seen very often, but they can now join a battle line against SP and Pk as they will survive a lot longer.

 

 

Knights:

• +ve         No longer quick killed by Bd(X)

• -ve          No longer quick kill Bd(O) or Bd(S) in two ranks

• -ve          Restrictions on marching

• -ve          Single rank Bd and Sp are more vulnerable El

Knights are less manoeuvrable and are no longer Bd killers.  They have a threat potential in that they can force Bd into 2 ranks.  Dismounted knights are more vulnerable to El, so dismounting in front of El is no longer such a good tactic (still better than staying mounted).

 

 

Cavalry:

• -ve          Cv(S) no longer get rear support from Cv(O).

• -ve          Cv(O)/Cv(O) and Cv(I)/Cv(I) have had their attack strength reduced when fighting other Cv and LH.

The changes to the support factors means that many Cv vs Cv fights will take place at lower factors.  This may mean that the fights are resolved quicker although the back rank support will still slow things down a little.  Cavalry have had their ability to destroy LH reduced, no more factor 4 vs factor2 fights.

 

Light Horse:

• +ve         Changes to Cv rear support reduces the threat posed by the LH most dangerous opponent on the battlefield.

• -ve          Changes to marching rules make sweeping advances by LH groups harder to achieve

• -ve          The Press Forward rule and March move changes will reduce the effectiveness of small groups of LH 

LH will have to be deployed in larger groups to be effective.  This will disadvantage those armies that are restricted to one or two LH (many Book 1 armies, early Roman armies). LH may be used more aggressively as they will not be destroyed so easily by double ranked cavalry.

 

 

Camels:

• -ve          Foot passed through by Cm(S) now flee.

• -ve          Cm(S) no longer quick kill Bd if the Bd are in 2 ranks.

The change to troops fleeing will reduce the effectiveness of Bd/Cm(S) combinations, although in some circumstances it is better to have the foot flee.

 

 

Spears:

• -ve          Sp in 1 rank are quick killed by El.

• -ve          Sp no longer get back rank support against El

• -ve          Ps support reduced in effectiveness

• +ve         Can Press Forward and march closer to skirmishers

  Spears are less effective against Elephants and Ps supported Spear have a reduced offensive capability.  The Press Forward rule and changes to march moves will mean that Sp will be more likely to get into contact with their opponents.

 

 

Pikes:

• -ve          Pk in 1 rank are vulnerable to El.

• -ve          Do not get back rank support against El.

• +ve         A 4^th supporting rank reduces the combat factor of enemy foot

• -ve          A 4^th supporting rank no longer increase the combat factor of pike against enemy foot

• -ve          No 4^th rank support against mounted

• +ve         3^rd and 4^th ranks are not destroyed if the first two ranks are.

• +ve         Can Press Forward and march closer to skirmishers

Pikes are more powerful against enemy foot and should find it easier to close with the enemy.  They are slightly reduced in effectiveness against enemy mounted but this is compensated by their high combat factors and the fact that only the first 2 ranks are destroyed in combat.  The 4^th rank support against enemy foot can be both a positive and a negative.  It increase the pikes ability to destroy enemy foot but makes the pikes more vulnerable if they follow up and are overlapped.

 

 

Blades:

• -ve          Bd(X) no longer quick kill Kn.

• +ve         Bd(X) count as (S) vs Kn and can fight in 2 ranks

• +ve         Bd(X) count as (O) ( or (S) vs Kn) if double based

• +ve         Bd(O) and Bd(S) not quick killed by Kn or Cm(S) if in 2 ranks.

• -ve          Bd no longer get rear support combat factors from other Bd

• -ve          Ps support reduced in effectiveness

• +ve         Can Press Forward and march closer to skirmishers

Bd(F) and Bd(I) are now more vulnerable to Kn as they no longer get any bonus from being in 2 ranks. Bd(O) are improved as they are better against Kn (if in 2 ranks) and their inability to stand up to Kn was their main weakness.

 

 

Warband:

• +ve         Wb(O) and Wb(S/O) combinations now count 2^nd to 4^th ranks as support against mounted.

• +ve         Wb(O) and Wb(S) have improved in RGo and DGo (now only get -1)

• +ve         3rd and 4th ranks are not destroyed if first two ranks are.

• +ve         Can Press Forward and march closer to skirmishers

Wb(O) are big winners under 3.1, but they were not a very viable troop type to start with.  Wb(S) are also improved.  Wb are also improved by the changes to Ps support (Ax(S) and Bd backed by Ps are now less powerful).  Changes to double based troops also mean that Wb (who are often double based) will suffer less from bowfire.

 

 

Auxilia:

• -ve          Ps support reduced in effectiveness

• -ve          Irr Ax(I) now only count as ½ EE.

Armies that rely on Irr Ax(I) for bulk (Samurai, Early Bk1 armies) will be weakened.  Ps(I) become more cost effective as filler than Ax(I).

 

 

Bowmen:

• +ve         Double basing changes improve Bw(X)/Bw(O/S)

• -ve          Bw vs Bw fights will be less deadly (favours more mobile Bw)

• -ve          Demoralised Bw always get -2 when shooting

The changes to Bw vs Bw shooting (now factor 3 rather than factor 2) will mean that Reg Bw may be more useful than Irr Bw as they may be able to manoeuvre to get more supports.  Bw filler will be improved as they can face enemy Bw without as much risk of being destroyed.

 

 

Psiloi:

• +ve         Ps(S) can now provide rear support to other Ps(S) when fighting skirmishers.

• -ve          Ps(I) and Ps(X) can no get rear support from Ps(O)

• -ve          Ps support reduced in effectiveness

Ps(I) are reduced in effectiveness, but Ps(S) are better.  Supporting Ps are reduced in effectiveness. Ps will be reduced in their ability to delay enemy foot unless massed.

 

 

Artillery:

• -ve          Demoralised Art will always get -2 when shooting.

No real change to Art.

 

 

WarWagons:

 

WWg are not changed.

 

 

Hordes:

• +ve/-ve  Hd(I) are destroyed by interpenetration.

• -ve          Hd(I) get -2 in RGo/DGo

• +ve         Hd(I) don’t recoil if beaten by shooting (?)

• +ve         Hd(I) have no death zone when destroyed.

Hd(I) are the only Hd affected by the changes.  Hd(I) will probably be used close in front of massed troops rather than pushed out ahead of the army.