ochoin | 15 Dec 2016 10:55 p.m. PST |
Being somewhat of a compulsive painter, virtually all of my armies are too big for a normal game. I like to think of them as 'smorgasbord armies'. by this, I mean I can tailor them to any scenario, specific enemy or time by choosing or leaving various units. Thus, my Napoleonic French can have fewer/more cavalry & infantry depending on what side of the cataclysmic 1812 divide they might be fighting. Or my Carthaginians will take the maximum number of Heavy Infantry & elephants if opposing Romans, rather more Medium Spanish infantry if fighting Gauls. Do you have something like this approach? |
raylev3 | 16 Dec 2016 3:19 a.m. PST |
I tend to do the same thing. I don't settle for a single army of a single size, for periods I'm really interested in. Like you, I like having options for various scenarios which requires me to have more troops of different types. |
Temporary like Achilles | 16 Dec 2016 4:13 a.m. PST |
Yep. Not a compulsive painter though, unfortunately! |
etotheipi | 16 Dec 2016 8:13 a.m. PST |
Yes. Generally I start with a "core" force … whatever I consider (for whatever reason that may be) to be the "most representative" force combination. For most forces, this is heavy on medium infantry. Then I start branching out into other appropriate areas of combined arms. For example, if my basic force has a small contingent of light infantry or scouts, I might beef that up for different mixes. Or maybe I started with no cavalry and need to add some. If my basic infantry were a mix of swords and axes, another route might be to flesh it out so I have a complete force of only swords and one of only axes. If swords and axes have appreciably different behaviours (stats), then we have different mixes. Or I could have swords stand for elite (veteran, trained, etc.) units and axes as more run of the mill types, or maybe conscripts (those aren't war axes, they're farm implements). |
79thPA | 16 Dec 2016 8:26 a.m. PST |
My ACW armies are over-staffed as well. |
Whirlwind | 16 Dec 2016 8:44 a.m. PST |
Do you have something like this approach? Yes. A strong core then with progressively more oddities as the Army expands to cover the stuff for one-off scenarios. Sometimes, because I am happy to re-stage scenarios from one conflict to another, the army taken as a whole can start to look a little odd. My WotR armies are too heavy on the pike, mounted knights, crossbowmen and handgunners – because the armies serve as proxies for a wide range of C14-C16 conflicts. |
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 16 Dec 2016 9:29 a.m. PST |
I used to do this, particularly with WH40K, Dark Age, and Vor: The Maelstrom. These days, not so much. Once I have a warband/army up to a playable size, I begin to work on an opposition force. |
79thPA | 16 Dec 2016 10:25 a.m. PST |
Well, if you are going to try and bring reason into the discussion … |
Timmo uk | 16 Dec 2016 11:03 a.m. PST |
It's my ultimate goal although I guess four of my six armies are at that size already and my air combat stuff is way over subscribed with models. All good fun and good to be able to change things around a bit as and when you feel like it. |
Oberlindes Sol LIC | 16 Dec 2016 12:56 p.m. PST |
I like having some options, but I've only made a couple of full-sized units. One is my 25mm Zhodani infantry company, which has far more troops and vehicles than I need for a StarGrunt game, but I do enjoy putting them in formation on the dining table and inspecting them -- and I did have the entire company, albeit without its vehicles, on the table for a game I ran at a convention. I only have one platoon of corresponding Imperial marines, and I don't think that I will ever fill out an entire company. I'd have to rent a couple of ping pong tables to have a StarGrunt game pitting two company-sized forces against each other. The other large unit that I have put together is a 1:300 scale mechanized (grav) infantry company. Parts of it have seen action in Striker and Dirtside games, and those games can accommodate company-sized forces. |
Okiegamer | 16 Dec 2016 1:59 p.m. PST |
I'm way too busy painting more figures to have time to think about such things! |
Early morning writer | 17 Dec 2016 8:57 a.m. PST |
It's a common infection amongst miniature gamers. No known cure for those afflicted. Some gamers have a natural immunity. Most don't. Occasional instances of spontaneous regression of the disease. |