"Command Figures Placement" Topic

Hi

If you have command figures in your ancient units (e.g. officer, standard bearer, musician), do you place them in the front rank of the unit or in a rank behind?

Just pondering for my Assyrians.

Cheers Paul

I put mine front and center because I like the look.

Those of mine are placed at the right bottom of front rank – they're all Ancient Greeks, so in this particular case I believe this makes sense.

I'm unsure what would I do if these were from other nations. I'm guessing now that if Celt or Germanic warbands, I'd place their commanders at the center of front rank. If Romans, I'd probably put them like as for Greeks. Just a latest hour thought.

If there is documentation of where they were in the formation (e.g., Romans, Macedonians, etc.) I try to follow that unless it looks awkward.

For others I do what makes the most sense, balanced with visual appeal.

Reading "The Invincible Beast" by Christopher Matthew, he gives good evidence that the officer in a phalanx was on the front right corner of the formation which actually makes sense.

In the centre front you can only see the front. On the front right you can see to,the front and see what the unit to the right is doing so you can conform with the unit to the right, that way the entire pike line takes it cue from the right making it simpler to command all the sub units in the pike block.

My Celts have the leader front and center. Who would follow them otherwise?

My Romans and barbarians have them front and centre – for my Greeks, second rank

Depending on how big the unit is, I sometimes put standards and/or musicians in the second rank, as I don't like the look of 50% of your 1st rank being command.

my typical units are 24 strong in 4 rows of 6, so it works well to have 2 officer types front row center, flanked on each side by 2 common troops. Same with 2nd rank

YMMV

I just put them in the middle, makes the most sense for Romans and Barbarians. For the Carthos and Macedonians their leaders are all riding horses anyway.

I too dislike a large proportion of a fighting line being Command… so on a 2 rank, 3 base unit, Command is in rear line.

If Command is important to rules, then a smaller, separate stand can be placed wherever you want it to go. If Frontage is all important, either ignore stand or put at back.

Now, purists will abhor idea… but for some periods, a separate Command stand can be swapped… so that troops can be used for different Regiments! lol.

Technically, Front right would probably be correct, I think.

I do it based on the rules I am playing. For Hail Caesar they go front and center.