by Paul Georgian
The various abbreviations used in articles about the WRG 7th Edition Ancient Rules can be somewhat perplexing to the uninitiated. For that reason, here are some simple definitions to the more common abbreviations: REG and IRR refer to troop training which is REGULAR and IRREGULAR, respectively. Regulars are troops that are organized by civilized states into permanent units or long standing mercenary companies. They are usually drilled, paid, and sometimes uniformed, such as Roman Legionaries or Italian Condottiere. Irregulars are the various tribal, feudal or levy type soldiers, such as Germanic tribesman, Norman knights or Hunnish light cavalry. Morale Classes are defined by A, B, C, D, andE added to REG or IRR such as IRR A or REG C. Basically, As are the best, beingeithertop guard or fanatic morale depending on whether they are REG or IRR, Bs are crack troops or nobles, Cs are average troops, Ds are green or unenthusiastic troops and Es are trash or forced levies. Es must be IRR; all the rest can be REG or IRR. Troop Type AbbreviationsSHK - Super Heavy Knight - Basically late Medieval European shock cavalry fully armored in steel plate with armor for the horse as well. EHK - Extra Heavy Knight - The same as SHK, except they are armored in chain mail not plate with textile armor for their horses. HK - Heavy Knights - The same as EHK, except their horses are unarmored. SHC -Super Heavy Cavalry - Non-knightly fully armored shock cavalry in chain mail, lamellar, or partial plate with fully armored horses. Troops like Parthian Cataphracts. EHC - Extra Heavy Cavalry - Shock cavalry with less complete armor than SHCs for both the horse and rider. Troops such as Persian nobles. HC - Heavy Cavalry - Usually shock cavalry with the riders havingonly partial metal armorand the horses having little or no armor. Troops like Alexander the Great's Companions. MC - Medium Cavalry - Shock or skirmishing cavalry with only non-metallic or no armor on unarmored horses. Troops such as Early Assyrian or Indian Cavalry. LC - Light Cavalry - Skirmishing cavalry armored like medium or occasionally, heavy cavalry except that they operate in a very open formation. Troop such as Parthian Horse Archers, Numidian Light Horse or Byzantine Outflankers. SHCm - Super Heavy Camelry, E HCm - Extra Heavy Camelry, HCm - Heavy Camelry, MCm - Medium Camelry, and LCm - Light Camelry - The same as the equivalent cavalry types riding camels instead of horses. SHI - Super Heavy Infantry - Dismounted SHKs. EHI - Extra Heavy Infantry - Very heavily armored close order infantry with partial plate or full mail or lamellar metal protection. Troops such as the best equipped Varangian Guards or dismounted EHK, HK, SHC or SHCm. HI - Heavy Infantry - Men with metal or horn armor for at least the upper body, who fight as shock or static missile troops in a close formation. Troops such as Greek Hoplites, Roman Legionaries or Assyrian Archers. LHI - Light Heavy Infantry - Essentiallythe same as HI except theyform in looser formation and can adopt a skirmishing as well as shock role. Troop such as Early Roman Auxiliaries or Viking Huscarles. MI - Medium Infantry -Close formation shock or static missile troops with light non-metallic or no armor. Troop such as Sassanid levies, Late Roman Legionaries or Egyptian Archers. LMI - Light Medium Infantry - Essentiallythe same as MI excepttheyform in looserformation and can adopt a skirmishing as well as a shock role. Troops such as Greek Peltasts and Late Roman Auxiliaries. LI - Light Infantry - The various unarmored skirmishing type infantry armed with a missile weapon they operate in very open formation. Troops such as Greek Psiloi or Roman Velites. HCh - Heavy Chariotry - Chariots with more than two crew orwheels or with scythed blades. Usually drawn byfour horses oronagers though they could have as few as two. They were mainly used as shock platforms and the men and horses were usually armored. Vehicles such as Assyrian 4-horse chariots with three crew. LCh - Light Chariotry - Mainly skirmishing chariots with no more than two crew or wheels. Vehicles such as New Kingdom Egyptian chariots. EL- Elephants -Shock orterror weapon. Dependingon the type or location theycan havejust a mahout or several armed crew members who can fight with various weapons. They can be equipped with a howdah. ART - Artillery - Any long range, crew served missile weapons such as ballista, trebuchet or early cannons. TR - Transport - Various carts, wagons or pack animals used to carry supplies or munitions. The weapon categories used, are abbreviated as follows:Missile Weapons
Incendiary Weapons
Melee Weapons P - Pikes - Spears 15-24 feet long, used two handed.
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