"Horse Holders for Cavalry" Topic

Looked over one of my great ideas I did years ago for 15mm TSATF

Bases of 3 horses, saddled, for when your cavalry/Mounted Infantry dismount.

You put one mounted man next to each base, and boom! Horseholders by fours!

Plus I have a handful of single based horses, if you play where the horses can take casualties (you make change, remove base of 3, and set two individuals in its stead)

I went cheap. Got 8 packs of generic saddled horses from QRF (and they come with a generic standing horseholder)
figure).

Also did bases of 4 horses and limbers, with a couple removeable riders, so I can game realistic artillery by simply putting the cannon in back of limber.

Anyway, its a really cool system. Hope it inspires.

Good idea. I was just wondering how/if to model horse holders in Altar of Freedom.

Do it. Easy, and so useful and fun.

3 per base, plus individuals.

Good idea.

Glad to see your horse holder is mounted. So many wargamers have them on foot. Pretty hard to move the horses out of harm's way or up to the skirmish line in a hurry if the horse holder is on foot.

Tom

LOL! I came up with that because it saved me from making FOUR horse stands :)

I LOVE my British Mounted Infantry. Have two units, one in Sudan light blue, and one in scarlet. Have 12 mounted with officer and banner holder for looks, and the same number dismounted for each unit.

For movement, it costs one D6 to dismount or mount, and they get 2d6 on foot. On open ground, they can ride 1D6, Dismount, then move 2D6.

Also, for home games of 2-4 players, horses can take casualties. Adds a new issue for the player. As in actual war, a cavalry unit has to deal with horseless troopers. A Double mount moves at 1/2 :)

Here's my house rules for hit on mounted troopers:

WOUNDS TO MOUNTED TROOPS.

EACH TIME A MOUNTED TROOPER IS WOUNDED, ROLL 1D6 AND CONSULT THE TABLE BELOW:

DIE ROLL HORSE RIDER

1 WOUND DISMOUNTED – WOUNDED – DRAW CARD FOR RIDER
2 WOUND DISMOUNTED
3 WOUND DISMOUNTED
4 WOUND DISMOUNTED
5 O.K. WOUND/DISMOUNTED
6 O.K. WOUND/MOUNTED – DISMOUNTED IF KILLED

Wounded troopers can ride their own horse with the following restrictions:

1) The wounded trooper must be led by an unwounded trooper.

2) The wounded trooper will take 1 one die penalty on each move.

It takes one die of movement for a mounted trooper to transfer a wounded trooper off his own horse and on to the unwounded trooper's horse (ride double).

It takes one die of movement for a mounted trooper to pick up a dismounted trooper.

It takes two dice of movement for a mounted trooper to pick up a wounded trooper (and ride double at normal movement).

It takes two dice of movement for a mounted trooper to get a free horse to a dismounted trooper and get him mounted.

Troopers riding double cannot charge.

Good system, Carter! I'm gonna steal some of your movement/action mechanics! :)

Close to mine, but I like to play Light Wound and Serious Wound, which makes a difference. Light wounded shoot and melee at -1, Serious wounded are down and out and must be carried.

What about horse casualties? I like a 50/50 horse or rider casualty mechanic first, upon taking a "hit". But this is slow in a large multiplayer can like game. Horses are dead if hit.

Also, if an enemy fires at the dismounted horses and holders, any stand of 3 taking a hit can result in a stampede, where they run 3d6 away, like a routed unit.

Unless you use detailed rules like ours, a mounted infantry unit is basically a game changer of TSATF, and cannot be beaten.

Plus, its fun and in the style and spirit of the period.

For me any hit on the horse puts it down. As with most TSATF games, more figures results in a slower game.

Where this system really makes a difference is when you have mounted officers. Gives them an extra chance and adds to the high adventure element of having a horse shot out from under you.

Yep, VCarter. In my home games, usually one vs one or 2 vs 2, we can use these mechanics.

Plus we are talking mostly mounted infantry. I dont use much heavy cav or lancers and such in my games. They dont need these specifics anyway.

Nor do my Mahdist cav units. They are bad guys, and a hit is a hit, and they are fin. :)