"Unbalanced Armies" Topic

I know that most of us are sufficiently OCD that our table top armies are in perfect historical (or fantasy) balance, with exactly the right proportion of infantry/artillery/cavalry, etc. but I must confess that, at least as far as the SYW goes, I have some very unbalanced armies

While my Russians and Austrians seem about right (9 – 12 infantry battalions, 5 – 6 cavalry regiments, 4 -5 batteries) my French army has 16 infantry battalions, 6 batteries and exactly 2 cavalry regiments (2.5 if you include the one I am working on) – which given that the French has about 112 infantry regiments and about 60 cavalry regiments seems a little lite on the cavalry side

The same is true for my ACW armies and my ECW armies that are very cavalry light – just don't like painting horses

So – how do you do?

A – Everything in perfect balance
B – Mostly right
C – All over the place
D – Who cares? They're my minis!
E – No opinion

How about
F. I have all the units I need for an OHR or Charles Grant scenario? or
G. I have the forces I need for replicating the historical battles I want to fight?

Note G especially usually means you have more of the "exotic" forces relative to staples: the line infantry and the foot artillery come to every game, but not the militia or the Guards.

As for your cavalry problem, you are the only wargamer you have to please. But if it's starting to bother you, PM me, and I can outline some shortcuts on painting horses.

I usually pick a battle, paint the units that were there then pick another battle and add the units that were at that that weren't at the first.

In terms of balance, if the figures are metal it usually leaves me a little off balance when trying to carry the tub around that contains them.

If they are plastic it is not usually a problem.

Try a "everyone brings an unbalanced army" game. Historically I have read about battles with unbalanced forces that were interesting. They were usually advanced-guard or rear-guard actions where commanders did what they could with what they had.

"Perfect" balance? Impossible.

I do mostly B and then add on more of the unusual units. I don't use every unit in a game though.

Maybe that gets me towards C then? I'll let the experts decide.

C and D

B for me, I always base my 7YW armies on historical armies.

My armies are historical, but a game can but doesn't have to be.

I. "Perfect" balance for the scenario being played.

Of course, this may or may not reflect actual (what fought) or ideal (what was planned on paper/papyrus/mud tablets) OOB from historical or fictional units. Even where the scenario is to experience specific part of a historical event the number ratios of miniatures is driven by the force capability ratios from the rules rather than head counts.

I'm not a fan of obsessing over historical records of OOB. I've never seen a battle report that started with "Steve was sick today". But I'm guessing that throughout the history of human warfare, Steve has been sick a lot. Or, at least a lot more than has been reported. Even in the twentieth century conflicts in which I have fought, you would have to dig long and hard through mostly inaccessible records to know the go from here is a Spruance Destroyer's compliment, through here' is 7th Fleet's manning, past here is USS Fife's watch quarter and station bill, around here is who was onboard at XX hundred hours on YY day, on by here are the exclusions from the binnacle list (naval list of the current sick and injured), to here is who was on watch when this specific thing happened.

And my name isn't even Steve.

F – I only play scenarios. They scenario may be balanced or not but the idea of an "army" does not exist.

B, but also D. Some of my fantasy armies have no cavalry. I've begun to fill in that hole, but some I will not give cavalry to. That is their weakness. Their allies will need to fill in that hole for them.

In other cases, a lack of normal cavalry opens the door for me to creatively fill that void for them. For example, Goblins typically do not have any cavalry. I found some toy Fruit Bat models, which make excellent Giant Bat mounts for my Goblins. They are custom figures, which only I have in my armies. They're a hoot to design, configure, and deploy. The first battle I used them in, was quite entertaining to see a swarm of Bats over the tops of enemy Infantry. The Giant Bat Cavalry wasn't particularly effective in combat, but it was off the charts in "cool factor." Cheers!

I'm with Pictors. For example, when I started SYW, I built all of the units needed for Lobositz. Then after I finished that, I started collecting the additional figures needed for Kolin. Not sure what will be next.

Oh … I forgot to make a joke about all the armies I play having an unbalanced commander.

I usually build, or at least try to build, fairly balanced armies. Sometimes I use historical OOBs, French and Allied, sometimes I just build and paint units that I think are cool or I like the colors, Austrian and Prussian. But I really have no qualms between painting infantry or cavalry, I like painting both. My problem now is doing terrain, any help would be appreciated.

Do whatever floats yer boat!!

I think I'm on the heavy side on cavalry in some periods. I only have 1 prussian battalion but 5 squadrons.

My napoleonic French have 4 squadrons and 2 battalions.

My GNW Saxons have 2 battalions but a total of 9 squadrons, thats about 1000 foot too 1200-1400 horse.