"Light lances in To the Strongest!" Topic

Here's another rule I am strongly considering for inclusion within the supplement- I'd welcome comments.

"Some cavalry used spears that were lighter than the lance in TtS! but more substantial than light throwing javelins. The Normans, for example, used spears that could be thrown or wielded over-arm in melee, or, later, couched under the rider's arm.

When specifically mentioned in an army list, units designated as having light lances can either use their ammunition markers either as javelins, in the normal manner, or when charging they may be used to give a bonus hit in melee, similar to a lance. Unlike a lance, however, the bonus card for a light lance is an 8+, as opposed to the 6+ of the lance. After use as a lance, one ammo marker is removed."

Hi Simon,
This sounds interesting but a bit fiddly. In the heat of battle, I'm afraid the rule might be overlooked. However, the only way to see if it works is playtesting. Do you have a list of troops that can use this rule besides the Normans? I'm hoping to be proved wrong ;)
John

Well the tricky bit will be which troops to apply it to. I'm pretty clear that most lighter horse generally wouldn't get it- so not Numidians- but perhaps some of the light horse that are currently armed with lances.

it could potentially suit quite a lot of the more aggressive cavalry types – some of the Arab/Syrians, Dark Age horse who weren't armed with lance, Carolingians, perhaps even Roman Auxiliary horse.

I don't think it's fiddly, but then I have been kicking the concept around in my head for several months, so I am pretty used to it. ;-)

Yes I agree cavalry, spears would be a positive addition. Javelins are a missile weapon and taking the example of goth heavy cavalry, spears fit the description better than javelins. They were intending to close in on the enemy not skirmish. I would rather something along the lines of the pilum rule to apply, where spears could be thrown as the cavalry close in.

I'm with Emperorbaz on this. I find it fidly to have to keep track of javelin ammo counters for cavalry units (not Lt cav) who are using javelins as a missile attack just before closing in close combat. I'd rather that all javelin/lt lance/spear cavalry be given a one-time rule like pilum.

Would giving a bonus to spear/javelin/lt lance cavalry effectively make all cavalry "special", except those with heavy lance, which are "extra special"?Overall this would make cavalry combat more decisive, which I think is a good thing, but for me something does not quite gel with the idea of giving a special bonus of some sort to what would be most of the cavalry of the ancient world. If you want to differentiate cavalry an option is to base the bonus around "shock" or impact (I know it smacks of an old rule set …) so bog standard spear and jav armed cav don't get anything, while maybe the goths would get a bit extra bonus in first round (I don't like that they are currently classed as jav cavalry), but not as much as a medieval knight. The difference is based not on "weapon" but performance or tactical role.

Re Barry above- I think that is exactly what I am planning. It doesn't really matter whether the light spear is thrown as the units closes, or retained to jab in melee, it would confer a one-off bonus that could, in the case of most units, be used twice.

"Would giving a bonus to spear/javelin/lt lance cavalry effectively make all cavalry "special", except those with heavy lance, which are "extra special"?" I suppose it would make most cavalry special, although some cavalry would be more special than others. ;-)

In an ideal world I'd like a system where most non bow-armed light cavalry have javelins, many formed cavalry have light spears that could be used either in ranged fire or melee and most of the remaining formed cavalry have lance.

I would also like to have lances used more than once- I feel that lancers should have more than one charge in them and might be used a second time, flipping the chit after the first use and hitting on an 8+ in a second charge.