"Command Factors" Topic

I could not find an explaination of this in the book (6th edition) but infer that for each body of troops you deploy, that counts as 1 command factor? I see there is an army point cost for each unit and irregulars are more expensive than regulars to dissuade you from deploying lots of little units.

So, at the end of the army lists, it says something like "Up to 20 Regular command factors" so that means you pretty much can deploy a maximum of 20 bodies at the cost of course?

Thanks,

John

The command factors are based on whether a unit is regular or irregular. I don't have the rules in front of me but I recall it was something like 10 command points per regular unit and 25 for irregular unit. The exact numbers are found in the body of the text, not in the army lists.

The idea is to have more of the smaller, regular units (hence better command and control) and fewer, larger irregular units (less command and control).

Hi Big Red,

You mostly answered it. I gleaned the rational for the higher irregular costs. All of that makes sense. It is in the army lists I found online that has the line at the end of the list that has "Up to 20 Regular command factors" or whatever. Varies from list to list.

If it is truly maximum number of bodies in the army, this is a pretty big number for all armies. I would think that a cost of a body would be incentive enough to keep numbers down.

Here is a list from The History of Wargaming Project.
PDF link

John

From memory the number does indeed refer to the maximum number of units you can buy of that type so 20 regular command factors equals 20 regular units at 10 points a unit.

Command points are listed under troop values and explain why irregular cost more. Cost is in the points values below wagons and above generals.

If it is a detachment, regular is 5 and irregular 10 but otherwise as Big Red says…. Encourage BIG units of hairy men and little ones of trained troops….:) The limit on Command factors is also to prevent armies being stacked when they have a mixed list, also the reasoning behind minimum troop numbers if you "buy" X you must have "Y" of them.

Being a mathematician and analyst by training I looked at the regular/irregular unit size and costs. The break even points total for similar troops means that the effect the unit price only shows up if using small units and generally mostly for cheap units.

For example with C regular medium infantry with spear and shield at 4 points + 10 command and C irregular medium infantry with spear and shield at 3 points + 25 command, the units have the same cost when 15 figures are involved. So the regulars only have an advantage in points if both sides try to play with units under 15 figures, barring the differences in number of signals allowed and formations. Since 15 figs used to mean 300 men that is a pretty small unit for most ancient armies.

And remember you used to have to worry about "casualties per figure" in several contexts. I was always very wary of using small units of close order infantry.