Chariots Rampant? Nemesis

According to Drews, a noted Scholar of the Bronze Age, chariots finally met their match with the Sea Peoples. Swift moving, well protected, warriors armed with sword and javelin mobbed the chariots.  Immobilizing them by spearing the horses and then cutting down the crew. Think Sherden, shield, armour, helmet, sword and javelin.  Lots of Sherden.

Of course the chariots could just ride off to safety. If they did, the Sea People were still there, advancing towards the nearest city. Sacking cities was the quick road to wealth and renown. They knew how to do it too.  

Why didn’t the Chariot Warriors just shoot them down?  I’m sure they did. But, there were lots of Sea People and they didn’t fear chariots.  Nor did they stand still relying on their armour.  Instead they attacked.  Seeking to get within javelin range.  A dramatic table top challenge then. 

Below, the Sherden.  Out of Sardinia they say. A lovely place to visit.

Can Lion Rampant v2 cope with this?  I think it might well. This will involve a bit of slight of hand. Here is my LRv2 profile for the Sea People Warriors.  The troop type is “Warriors” with added javelins.  Hopefully not too much violence to Dan's concept.

Models per unit	12	points	7
Attack	5+	Attack Value	3+
Move	6+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	6+	Shoot Value	5+ Range 6”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	3	Special Rules	Javelins, Flexible, Wild Charge, Counter Charge versus infantry, Fast.

 

Expensive fellows but they stormed a world. If fielding them I could move to a 30 point "Warband" for both sides. I might also give their Chariot opponents an additional 2 points for each Chariot Unit. To compensate for their Fearsome factor not working on the Sea People.  It could buy them an extra unit.

For the sake of variety I have opted to make the Peleset Veteran Heavy infantry.  This is bit more than a whim.  

The Peleset seem to have been city people and part of the chariot culture.  They gave their name to Palestine. Here are the stat's.

Models per unit	12	points	7
Attack	6+	Attack Value	4+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	6+	Shoot Value	5+ Range 6”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	6”
Armour	3	Special Rules	Javelins, Veteran

Next we have the Teresh. 

Lots of theories about where they came from.  The one that currently holds my attention is that they were Cretans. I have been there too and loved it. Same stat's as the Sherden.

Models per unit	12	points	7
Attack	5+	Attack Value	3+
Move	6+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	6+	Shoot Value	5+ Range 6”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	3	Special Rules	Javelins, Flexible, Wild Charge, Counter Charge versus infantry, Fast.

 

On this page you see various ethnicities of the Sea People Alliance. Mostly the figures are from Gladiator with a few Chariot Miniatures and Essex.  

As you might guess I'm very interested in trying out my Sea Peoples, replete with Drews's ideas on their tactics, against a Chariot Army. 

One more thing looms large.  Will we be able to replicate Chariot Warfare with LRv2?  That is where we are going next.  It is game time.

I'm going to use 3 units of Sea People and a veteran unit of Libyan Archers.

Chariots Rampant? The Mycenaeans

Homer seems differentiate between the bulk of the Achaeans and the forces commanded by Nestor of Pylos.  Nestor was very much of the old Palace Culture military system. 

The other Achaeans were not.  We need two “Warband” Profiles.  

Should you search the martial images surviving from that distant age you will find a striking one.  It is full of vibrant action. Perhaps it exemplifies the transition we are looking at. In it a helmeted man, near naked, and armed only with a dagger leaps past his opponents spear. He grips the top of his foes shield. He vaults up and cuts his adversary’s throat.  The stricken spear man is a product of the Palace System his killer represents the new wave.

Nestor’s forces consisted of chariots, spearmen and archers.  I’d like to add some Nubian Mercenaries as depicted on a palace frescoe.  Currently I have none. Gladiator have some nice ones, we will see.

Mycenaean Chariot stat's below.  You will see there is no shooting ability. Instead the Mycenaean Leader gains the "Aggressive" Leader Skill.  Meaning that on every turn one of his Warbands units or his own unit can attack without testing.

 

Models per unit	2	points	6
Attack	7+	Attack Value	6
Move	5	Defence Value	5+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	12
Armour	4	Special Rules	Fearsome, Skirmish, Evade

Nestor and his immediate chariot companions are supported by 3 units Light Foot armed with spears and big shields.

One unit is drawn from the immediate soldiers of the palace.  These warriors are veteran fighters.

Models per unit	12	points	5
Attack	6+	Attack Value	5+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Wall of Spears,

The other Light Foot have less experience. The unit is accompanied by A Sacred Person which will help. Cost 1 point. 

Mick Yarrow Miniatures have a pack of 6 Minoan Priestesses and Donnington do a Priestess and Druids, Outpost used to do a multi purpose Merlin and a Saxon Shaman.  Worth checking out if you fancy that sort of thing. I have ordered the Mick Yarrow Priestesses.

Models per unit	12	points	4
Attack	6+	Attack Value	5+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Wall of Spears, Sacred Person

 

The final unit is of archers again drawn from the palace.

 

Models per unit	12	points	6
Attack	7+	Attack Value	6
Move	6+	Defence Value	5+
Shoot	6+	Shoot Value	4+ Range 18”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Veteran

 

To the new method of war now.  No chariots this time. They may have taxied the elite to battle but that’s it. Instead we have 2 units of Elite Foot in full Dendra armour. Truly formidable. As you see I have another 3 to paint. They also cost half of the available War Band points. I could get by with just one unit and I might.

Models per unit	6	points	6
Attack	5+	Attack Value	5+
Move	5+	Defence Value	4+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	3+	Maximum Move	6”
Armour	4	Special Rules	Flexible

Should I only use one Dendra armour unit I could field a unit of Bloodthirsty Mirmidyons like this.

Models per unit	12	points	7
Attack	5+	Attack Value	3+
Move	6+	Defence Value	6+
Shoot	6+	Shoot Value	5+ Range 6”
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Bloodthirsty, Flexible, Wild Charge, Counter Charge, Fast.

 

They are supported by 2 units of Warriors. Note the utility of the big violin shaped shields while running. The runners arms and elbows are accommodated.

Models per unit	12	points	4
Attack	5+	Attack Value	3+
Move	6+	Defence Value	6+
Shoot	-	Shoot Value	-
Courage	4+	Maximum Move	8”
Armour	2	Special Rules	Flexible, Wild Charge, Counter Charge, Fast.

 

For the last couple of points we get a unit of Skirmishers.

Models per unit	6	Points	2
Attack		Attack Value
Move		Defence Value
Shoot		Shoot Value
Courage		Maximum

All of the above are from Museum Miniatures. Museum now have a new range for this period. I'd say they will work with all of my Chariot wars figures.  I shouldn't buy any more for this project but I might.