My rules use 13 maneuver elements per side (because there a are 13 pairs of cards for each color in a deck). But I want the Texans and the Comanche to have different Orders of Battle, not just mirroring. So I asked Grok for suggestions:
My prompt:
For CAW, a normal Texan order of battle will be 13 elements comprised of one command (officer and standard and /or bugler); two scout elements, each one or two individuals; nine elements each of four troopers; and a mule train element of animals with wranglers. The Comanche OB will be the same thirteen maneuver elements, but I am wondering how best to distribute them. The Texan troopers will be in fours because one horse holder and three fighting dismounted. But that is not a factor for the Comanche and their elements can be larger or smaller. And no standards nor music (??) but maybe with distributed leadership there is more than one command element? but consisting of what, beyond a leader? Is there a small remuda comparable to the Texan mule train? horses loaded with extra arrows? Dedicated scouts, or just a scouting function for each maneuver element? Basically I am seeing the Texans as having a fairly set or standard OB which the Comanche are under no obligation to mirror. Please suggest the types of maneuver elements available to a Comanche raid leader, with composition and roles. I am envisioning Texans having a fairly predictable OB and the Comanche having a very wide range of possible OBs even when the total strength in miniatures is the same for each side.
GROK:
Comanche raid parties were highly fluid, leader-driven, and horse-centric rather than rigidly structured like Texan Ranger or militia forces. A war leader (paraibo or specialized war chief) typically held strong authority for the duration of a campaign—setting routes, assigning roles, choosing targets, directing attacks, and dividing plunder—but power rested on personal reputation, medicine/power (puha), success, and followers who joined voluntarily. Large or multi-band efforts could involve temporary councils or multiple experienced leaders, creating distributed leadership without European-style staff, standards, or musicians.
Scouts and sentinels were routinely assigned by the leader. Extra horses (a remuda) were essential: warriors commonly brought multiple mounts (often three or more on longer or larger raids) to rotate for speed and endurance. These were not primarily a supply "train" like the Texan mule element, though some pack horses could carry extra arrows, gear, or food, and captured livestock was herded as plunder. Larger parties sometimes included women for camp support or apprentice warriors learning the craft. There were no formal standards or bugles; signaling was by gesture, voice, or visual cues. Military societies (such as those later documented as Little Horses, Big Horses, Fox, or Raven groups) could provide cohesion, shared identity, and ready followers for a leader, but raids were not locked into fixed company-sized units.
This produces a wide range of possible OBs for the same total miniature strength, in contrast to the relatively predictable Texan layout of one command, two small scout elements, nine fixed fours (built around the horse-holder + three dismounted fighters concept), and one mule train.
Suggested Maneuver Element Types for a Comanche Raid Leader
These can be mixed and matched to fill ~13 elements while keeping total figures comparable. Sizes are flexible (unlike the Texan fours). All are primarily mounted; there is no functional equivalent of dedicated horse-holders because warriors stayed mounted or managed remounts differently.
• Primary Command / War Leader Element (1 element): Leader (often with distinctive paint, shield, or headdress) plus 1–2 close companions or a medicine figure. Role: overall direction, inspiration, and personal leadership in the fight. Optional secondary leader elements (1–2 more) for distributed command—experienced warriors who can act independently or take over if the main leader is engaged or lost. No standard or bugler; perhaps a small personal following or signaler by gesture/voice.
• Scout / Advance Elements (1–3 elements): 1–2 warriors each. Role: dedicated reconnaissance, trail-watching, flanking observation, or early warning. The leader assigns these specifically; alternatively, scouting can be treated as a function available to most elements rather than fixed specialist stands.
• Warrior Bands / Fighting Elements (the bulk, variable number and size): Groups of 2–6 (or occasionally larger) warriors. These can be kin-based, personal followers of a sub-leader, or loosely tied to a military society. Roles and compositions vary:
o Mixed or general warriors (bow + lance/shield, possibly some firearms).
o Archer-focused or rapid skirmishers for circling, harassment, and mobile archery.
o Close-combat or lancer groups for charges or coup-seeking.
o Younger/apprentice-heavy groups that are more aggressive or less experienced. Elements can be larger for concentrated punch or smaller for greater fluidity and multiple axes of attack. Because they fight mounted, there is no need for the Texan-style four-man horse-holder structure.
• Remuda / Spare Horse Element (0–1 or 2 elements): A small group of extra horses (modeled as horse figures) with 1–2 herders/wranglers. Role: remounts for speed and endurance, possibly carrying extra arrows or light gear.
This is the closest analogue to the Texan mule train, but lighter, more mobile, and oriented toward maintaining the party's operational tempo rather than heavy supply. Captured stock can also be represented this way if the scenario involves driving plunder. In many smaller or pure fighting parties this can be omitted or distributed (each warrior element simply has implicit spare mounts).
• Optional Supporting Elements (0–1): Camp or support party (women + apprentices) for larger historical-style raids that include a temporary base; or a small group focused on herding/stolen animals. These are less common in pure combat OBs but add flavor and objectives (protect the remuda or captives).
Practical OB Variety Examples (Same Total Strength)
A Comanche player can field something relatively compact (few larger bands + strong command + remuda), highly dispersed (many small 2–3 man elements + multiple leaders + heavy scouting), society-themed, or logistics-heavy (extra remuda emphasis). The Texan side stays more uniform and predictable in its element sizes and roles. This asymmetry matches the historical contrast between the more formalized Ranger/militia approach and the adaptable, reputation- and mobility-driven Comanche raiding style.
In short, the Comanche side gains the ability to tailor the same number of elements into very different tactical profiles—fluid small groups, concentrated charges, strong reconnaissance, or horse-management focused—while the Texans remain closer to their standard layout of command, scouts, fixed fours, and train.
takes another stab at building a more perfect flight stand.
