"Plastic Macedonian Phalangites from Warlord Games" Topic

Very nice. I probably have at least 80-100 of the foundry ones unpainted lying around but I am sure I will buy some of these too.

How were the "sarissas" (not sure what the plural is) transported between battles? Surey each man didn't have to carry them, did they? I'm assuming they were tossed on a cart or loaded onto mules or some other beast of burden. Thanks!

It is commonly believed they were made in two parts connected by a sleeve, and broke down into two parts for carrying.

Pat

Phalangites (Or ECW pike for that matter) strike me as a nice idea but how do you store those figures with the long pikes?

Better late than never (well I hope so as I still haven't seen them)

Perhaps us pre-order mugs will get a nice "apology" in addition to our phalangites. I am sure most of us could use a Strategos or two…

Thanks for the response. I found this interesting site on the web. From my local university, too!

link

Nice pictures.

…how do you store those figures with the long pikes?

Tall box?

Sadly Chez Cooper is short on storage space…

I'll store them for you Steve.

Warlord has bern truly prodigous lately!

Ping Pong, thank you for sharing the photos. Interesting perspective. Very nice "black lining" technique on the linen armour : )

Arrived today and look pretty good. Another order will follow if Warlord can ensure thy have them in stock for prompt mailing.

Nice figs, but the heads and spikes on those pikes look way out of scale to me.

Doug

Now this one I liked

Is it possible for any photos of the sprues? I would like to understand what options in armour variants are possible. Thanks

I thought someone might raise the Immortal question! Great pic btw and ref the question re carrying, its not just a question for The Ancient era and one I was thinking about today after playing ECW last night – wagons might seem to work but unless they were right in the middle of the unit the risk would be, what would troops have to defend themselves with if surprised on the march by enemy cavalry etc? Still unless you could break it down (not sure ECW pikes did) then it must have been fun avoiding poking someone if you had to put it down to answer a call of nature – plus you'd have to mark it to know which one was yours if they were all stored togther etc

actually the pic makes the point too that though initially the hoplite is at a disadvantage, one he is 'inside' the pike length he is much better off than the phalangite who is very vulnerable unless he drops his pike (of course I know that will operate in massed formations but my understanding in the ECW was that in that era very few people relatively were actually stabbed on the pointy bit, hence why you ended up with the rugby scrum type pike push and people dropping them and using swords and hangers

I believe each man carried his own pike in both Classical times and in the ECW. There is considerable mention in journals and letters gathered from the period of the ECW of officers constantly having to keep the men from cutting their pikes down in order to lighten their load. So that alone would argue that at least in the ECW the individual soldier, i.e., pikeman carried his own weapon. As with all things the professional found ways to deal with the matter.

"Here Argos hold my pike while I drain the bladder. Umm…let me clarify friend. Hold my sarissa while I…oh bother! Never mind!"

My first thought, after hearing about the bronze sleeve, was that the two ends could be lashed together side by side and then tossed into a cart.

My first thought, after hearing about the bronze sleeve, was that the two ends could be lashed together side by side and then tossed into a cart.

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well there must have been a purpose to having the sleeve as otherwise the Sarrisa would be a single piece like an ECW etc pike – though again depends on the type of warfare as to whether troops would be able to re-assemble it in the event of a surprise attack – maybe less common in that period that maybe in the ECW when troops did mainly carry them all the time

Plastic Pikemen are of course wasted unless we get plastic Persian cavalry and infantry to fight against them, otherwise the cost of fielding metal Persians makes it tough.

Take note Warlord – plastic Persians required ASAP!

Jaz
wargamingblogs.com – start your gaming story today

>Plastic Pikemen are of course wasted unless we get plastic Persian

No use mentioning the WF plastic persians, I assume?

Sorry…. pikes were carried. One of Philip and Alexander's strengths was the abolishment of baggage carts. The pike sleeve is not a foregone conclusion either. We only have one and that was in a King's tomb.
Depictions of pike sleeves are a bit adventurous. There is no feasible evidence that having a sleeve makes a pike practical. In fact we have written source that describes an action where one side schemed to pull the pikes out of the enemy hands, since the battle was in a confined space. The other issue that folks forget is that in those days they did not have nails or wood screws….or cotter pins.
There is another famous anecdote,related by Arrian, where a naked Greek clubman defeats an armored pikeman in a one on one fight. The clubman breaks the pike with his club near the point. Now if the pike had a sleeve it would break at its weak link…because the sleeve would always be the weak spot. Even the re enactor photo above id unconvincincing that a sleeve makes the pike practical at all.
Jj