Dbm Army Lists Book 2

I can't guaranteetheir quality - although some have been used, and done well. For some of thefirst 10 or so in the list may have been used prior to the new army list books comingout, but if you want to try something different, and can't be bothered to workit out or play-test it, this page might well give you a few clues. They are yourhelping hand to become the next wargame equivalent of Caesar, Hannibal, or anynumber of other successful tabletop generals.

D.B.M. ARMY LISTS BOOK 2 - THE CLASSICAL PERIOD, 500 BC TO 476AD These lists are intended for use with our De Bellis Multitudiniswargames rules, more familiarly known as DBM. While mainly intendedfor competition games, they also provide a general guide to armiestroop classification and proportions for use in conjunction withmore detailed sources such as the W.R.G. army handbooks. Each listis designed to produce 300 AP to 500 AP armies which closelysimulate their real life prototype, while still allowing sufficientflexibility to cover historical variations during the period andlegitimate differences of opinion or personal preference. Most ofthem include about 200 AP of compulsory troops and allow greaterfreedom of choice for the remainder, this choice diminishing as thesize of the army increases. You will often find that there is lessfreedom of choice than in previous W.R.G. army lists. Inparticular, we have taken pains to ensure that minority troop typesare not over-represented. There is an unfortunate if naturaltendency on the part of the illustrators of some series of armybooks to concentrate on the more glamorous components of an army atthe expense of the more common. The permitted number of elephantsis still on the generous side. All lists have been updated in thelight of the latest historical and archaeological research. We havehad help from many people and an inordinate amount from a few whoare recognised authorities in their field. However, we alone areresponsible for the final decisions, so too much blame should notbe laid at those worthies doors. Where there is disagreement aboutthe more obscure troop types or only minor doubt, we have oftenchosen to specify only the interpretation we think most likely.This has been done not through hubris, but for the sake ofsimplicity, and to reduce the scope for tailoring of armies byover-competitive players. Where a decision has been finelybalanced, we have elected for the interpretation producing the mostrealistic effect against the armys historical opponents.Regretfully, some new research necessitates changes in existingwargames armies. We can only plead that we are the slaves ofhistory and not its masters. The first part of each list comprisestroops available throughout the historical time period covered.Some armies then have additional sub-lists of troops available toparticular historical generals, or in different geographicalregions, or during only part of the period. An army includingtroops only available to a particular general cannot include troopsavailable only to a different general. An army including troopsonly available in a particular geographical area cannot includetroops available only in a different geographical area. An armyincluding troops available only in a particular historical periodcannot include troops available only during an incompatiblehistorical period. An army must have a commander-in-chief (C-in-C)and at least one other general. No army can have more than fourgenerals. All armies must also have two baggage elements for eachgeneral whose command is not initially entirely waterborne. ALLIESIn most cases foreign allied contingents are specified by referenceto their own list. Each such allied contingent must include asingle general and two baggage elements. The generals type can bethat of the allied contingents lists specified C-in-C orsub-general. Unless otherwise stated in a particular list, theallied contingent can include only compulsory troop types, and musthave at least a quarter of the specified minimum number of elementsof each such type. It cannot include more than a third of thespecified maximum number of each such type, or 1 element, whicheveris greater. Allied troops have only those options specified intheir own list for that date, and any minima or maxima for suchupgrades are modified as above. An allied contingent cannot includeallies of its own. Unless otherwise specified, only one foreignallied contingent of each nationality can be included. In somecases the maximum total number of elements that can be included inthe allied contingent, including the general and 2 baggageelements, is specified. If so, this is because allies of thatorigin never exceeded a quarter of the total force fielded by theallies in any historical campaign. Where foreign allies do not havean appropriate list of their own, their contingent is specified asan indented sub-list within a nations main list. In this case theminimum and maximum number of elements of each troop type will beas specified in that sub-list. 2 baggage elements must also beincluded. Where ally generals are specified unindented in a nationsmain list, such generals are of the same or a closely relatednationality. Unlike foreign irregular ally generals, they willnever change sides except in a civil war, and may then do sowhether regular or irregular. Each such generals command must,unless stated otherwise, include at least a quarter of the minimumnumber of each compulsory troop type. It can also includenon-compulsory types. All elements count towards the total numberof each type specified in the list. 1

NAVAL Naval elements are included only if they played asignificant part in a mainly land battle. Each replaces a landelement of the list, of the type or types that follow it withinbrackets. For example, a Marian Roman quinquireme element Reg Gal(S) @ 4AP [Bd], replaces one of the compulsory or optional Bladeselements of the army list, and also disembarks as that element. TheAP quoted is for the quinquireme only. The blades must still bepaid for. Naval elements with no landing troops specified cannotprovide landing parties. Points spent on naval elements are wastedif they have no access on to the table. Their landing troops andbaggage can still be deployed, however, being assumed to havedisembarked and joined the army prior to the battle. Landingtroops, whose number must be equal to the number of availablevessels, such as marines, seaman or oarsmen, cannot be used unlesstheir vessels have been paid for. CLIMATE, AGGRESSION AND TERRAINThe second line of each list specifies the armys home climate, itsaggression factor, and codes for the types of terrain that can bechosen if it is the defender. Types shown in bold letters arecompulsory. Even if not listed, a single patch of coastal sanddunes or marsh can always be used if successfully positioned incontact with a waterway, or a single patch of marsh if successfullypositioned in contact with a river, or up to 3 open fields if incontact with a BUA and enclosed fields are not specified. A hillcannot have any kind of surface not permitted on the flat. Terraintypes are: Waterway suitable for ships, such as the sea, lakes orgreat rivers. Ordinary rivers. Hill with some or all slopes steep,difficult or rough. Hill or lesser rise with only gentle smoothslopes. Woods. Orchards or olive or palm groves. Vines. Smallfields enclosed by hedges, walls or irrigation ditches. Roughgoing, such as moderately boggy or rocky ground or brush. Inlandmarsh other than on a river. Non-coastal sand dunes. Roads orfrequently used tracks. Built-up areas, such as villages. WW RvH(S) H(G) Wd O V E RGo M D Rd BUA

The home terrain of an empire is assumed to be that of itsheartland or capital, the centre of its power. The home terrain ofa migration is that of the last region occupied before entering onthe stage of world history. That of rebellious mercenaries is theirprevious area of operations. FORTIFICATIONS Any army with BUAlisted among its permitted terrain types can have sufficient PF orTF to enclose the on-table part of a BUA when the defender. Noother permanent fortifications are permitted. Temporaryfortifications can only otherwise be used if specified by the armyslist. Those specified as defending camps or baggage must have bothends touching their sides base table edge and contain baggage.Points spent on fortifications other than those specified by thearmys list are wasted if the terrain includes no BUA, or the armybecomes the invader. COMPETITION PERIODS Where practicable, wefavour the subdivision of competitions into historical timeperiods, to minimise the culture shock arising from the clash ofwildly anachronistic armies. At first sight, the break-down of ourarmy lists into the following four books might appear eminentlysuitable. BOOK 1: THE CHARIOT PERIOD, 3000 BC - 500 BC. BOOK 2: THECLASSICAL PERIOD, 500 BC - 476 AD. BOOK 3: THE EARLY MEDIEVALPF.R[OD, 476 AD 107I AD. BOOK 4: THE HIGH MEDIEVAL PF.RIOD, 1071 AD- 1500 AD. Note, however, that some armies continue into laterperiods than that of the book in which they appear, so thatdivision by books could unjustly prevent them from competingagainst actual historical opponents. Organisers should thereforesubdivide competitions by the periods of the books, not by thebooks themselves. Obviously an army whose list crosses such asub-period boundary can only use those troops permitted it duringthe sub-period in which it is competing. If such subdivision is notpracticable, the initial pairings at least of a Swiss Chesscompetition should try to match armies of similar date andgeographical region. 2

TROOP TYPE ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations are usedfor troop types in these lists: El = Elephants. Kn = Knights. Cv =Cavalry. LH = Light Horse. Cm = Camelry. Exp = Expendables. Sp =Spears. Pk = Pikes. Bd = Blades. Wb = Warband. Ax = Auxilia. Bw =Bowmen. Ps = Psiloi. Art = Artillery. WWg = War Wagons. Hd =Hordes. Gal = Galleys. Shp = Ships. Bts = Boats. Bg = Bagga