Part I This is a system I designed for generating random armics for my solo wargames. I have also used it for games I have run and played with other wargamers. It was originally intended for a campaign I was putting together. So far the campaign has been put on hold while I have been having fun with wargaming. ARMY CHARTS LINE TROOPS Spearmen For Pre-Hoplite Armies ROLL TYPE ADM EQUIPMENT 1 16 Noble Sprmn 212V Sh-C1, & Other Roll 2 16 Spearman 111X Sh, C1, 8 Lt. Cav., 101X , 8 Psiloi 000L 3 16 Sprmn 111X Sh-C1, & 2X Other Roll 4 16 Spearman 111X Sh, C1, 16 Sprmn, 010L Sh-C1 5,6 2x 16 Sprmn 010L Sh-C1, 8 Psiloi, 101X & Other Roll Regular Peltasts ROLL TYPE ADM EQUIPMENT 1 16 Reg Peltasts 112XR Sh-C1, 8 Lt Cav, 101X Mtd 2 16 Reg Peltasts 011LR Sh-C1, 8 Psiloi 000L, & Oth. Roll 3,4 16 Reg Pelt. 011LR Sh-C1 5,6 16 Reg Pelt. 112XR Sh-C1, 8 Psiloi 101X, * Psiloi 000L Peltasts ROLL TYPE ADM EQUIPMENT 1 12 Thorakites 121X La, Sh, * Lt Cav, 101X, 8 Psiloi 000L, Other Roll 2,3 2x 12 Peltasts 111X Sh, 8 Psiloi, 000L, Oth Roll 4,5 12 Peltasts 111X Sh, 8 Lt Cav, 101X Mtd, 8 Psiloi, 101X, Oth Roll 6 12 Thorakites 121X La, Sh, 12 Pelts, 111X, sh, Other Roll Other Roll I 1-3 12 Peltasts, 010L, Sh 4-6 8 Psiloi Other Roll II 1,2 2X, 12 Gymnet, 000L 3,4 12 Peltasts, 010L Sh 5,6 8 Psiloi, 101X Extra Troops Gauls ROLL TYPE ADM EQUIPMENT 1,2 12 Gaisatai 314EF Sh, 8 Psiloi, 101X 3,4 2X 12 Warriors 112XF Sh 5,6* 12 Md Cav 213VF Sh-Mtd, 8 Psiloi 10 1 X *6 May be changed to: 2X 8 Lt Chr, 211X LA-2X Jav-Lt, Chr-Mtd =4 stds Only Md Cav & Lt Chr may have armor class upgrades. Psiloi may have shields, bows and slings Cavalry ROLL TYPE ADM EQUIPMENT 1 12 Hv Cav 111X LA-Mtd, 8 Lt Cav, 101X Mtd, 8 Psiloi, 101X 2,3 2X Md Cav 101X Mtd 4,5 2X 8 Lt Cav 101X Mtd, & 2X 8 Psiloi, 101X 6 12 Hv Cav 111X LA-Mtd, 12 Md Cav, 101X Mtd Cavalry Option for Scythians,, Cimmerians and other Asiatic Horse nomads 2-5 3X 8 Lt Cav 101X Bow-Mtd, 8 Psiloi 000L Cavlary Options at no extra costs Exchange 12 Hv Cav 111X LA-Mtd, for 8 Hv Chr 311 X, LA-Hv Chr - Mtd-C1 = 2 Stds or 8 Elephants 311 X LA-E1 -Mtd-C1 =2 Stds Free Upgrades 1 Moral Class Upgrade for every 2 picks 1 Upgrade for every 2 Picks 1 Free Upgrade for all troops ofthe same type Roll For upgrades for all Psiloi Units For odd number of picks get 1 more upgrade Victory Points Line Troops, Reg Peltasts, Thorakites, Md & Hv Cavalry, Hv Chariots, Elephants - 2 Victory Points Lt Cavalry, Lt Chariots, Peltasts, Gymnet, Warriors = 1 Victory Point Psiloi = 0 VPs V & E Troops = I VP Army Break Points ROLL % Lost 3+ 25% The 25% break point is for armies known for their cowardice 4+ 40% IF Persians and other eastern armies 5+ 50% 6 60% Break 75% Line Troops +1 Armor Class up to HA Hoplites II or Spearmen to F Reg Peltasts Equip w/1sp or after 40OBC w/P Peltasts Equip Thracians w/rh & others w/Isp or after 400 BC w/p 1 armor class up to HA Upgrade to F Gymnet Equip w/2H weapons like Clubs 1sp etc. Upgrade to F Upgrade to peltasts by equipping with Sh. Gauls Warriors & Gaisatai can be upgraded to C1 Cavalry Upgrade cavalry & Chariots to R for armies using Hoplitc 1, R Peltasts or eastern empires. Upgrade cavalry and chariots to F Scy for chariots Upgrade Lt Cav to 2X Equip cavalry w/Sh Equip unshielded MD, Hv & 2X Lt Cav with lance +1 Armor class up to HA for all except Lt Cav Equip Eastern Empire & Asiatic Nomad Cav/Chariots with bows Upgrade Lt Cav to Md Cav Psiloi Equip Psiloi X w/Sh or Bow (players choice) Roll 3-6 Equip Psiloi L w/Bow Roll 1-3 Upgrade Psiloi w/Sh tto 2X or equip w/S1(Player's Choice) Roll 3-6 Upgrade 2X armed Psiloi to F Players do not have to rollfor upgrades they do not want Special Rules Unarmored hoplites suffer the same movement penalties as armored hoplites crossing obstacles or rough terrain. R Peltasts & Gyrnnet equipped w/1sp get no movement penalty for obstacles or rough terrain. In solo game Lt Cav & Psiloi flee if charged unless armed w/2X Coding 1st no.= Attack Class 2nd no.= Defense Class 3rd no= Moral Class L=Levy X=Experienced V=Veteran E=Elite R=Regular F=Fanatic LA=Light Armor HA=Heavy Armor Sh=Shields Lsp=Long Spear P=Pilum PK=Pike Rh=Rhomphaia (2 Handed) Lnc=Lance B=Bow S1=Sling 2X=Double Armed Mtd=Mounted Scy=Schythed C1=Close Order Chr=Chariots El=Elephants Random Army Generation System These charts are designed to reandomly generate an opponent either as a solo wargame opponent, non-player army in campaign , random force for convention games or for players unfamiliar with this system. The armies are based on 6 picks but suggestions are given for larger armies. The Hoplite II Chart was provided for those gamers who play early Greek Hoplites as irregular troops. (a theory to which I don't agree). The Hoplite II Chart could be used by armies trying to imitate Greeks but as of yet unable to do so correctly. Basic Army Creation 2 Picks will be line troops. For city-states line troops will be Hoplites. Archaic states will have spearmen. Hills states have either reg. peltasts or peltasts. Barbarians have peltasts. Asiatic horse nomads will use the cavalry option for line troops. Gauls will use warriors from the Gaul Chart. Some city-states were famous for cavalry. These take #1 on the cavalry chart and roll for the second cavalry roll. They then roll for line troops. Archaic states, barbarians, asiatic horse and eastern empire also have cavalry #1. Most eastern empire troops convert Hv. Cavalry from # I into Hv. Chariots. Other city-states, hill states and Gauls have #1 from their line troop chart and random rolls for the remainder. Randomly generated hill states roll 1D6 with following results; 1,2-R. Peltasts, 3-6 Peltasts for line toops. The rest of the army roll as follows: 1,2=Hoplite or Spearmen 3,4=R. Peltasts or Peltasts 5=Mercenaries 6=Cavalry After 400 BC in Italy and the west or after 300BC in Greece and the East Gauls can be used. 1-4=Peltasts 5,6=Cavalry (Cavalry option is allowed in Greece and the east) If Gauls can be used they are used instead of barbarian peltasts. For larger armies up to 10 picks, half of the extra picks are line troops with the rest rolled randomly. 12 pick armies double the number of required picks. Sample Armies Greeks in the West: 700BC-200BC The Random Army Generation Charts were originally designed for this area. All except horse archers may be used. Gauls may be used after 400BC. Players decied if they wish to use the Hoplite II charts. Due to the widespread use of mercenaries all permitted troop types may be used in the same army unless otherwise indicated. Carthage Carthage was the arch-nemesis of the Greeks. Before 275 BC heavy reliance was placed on chariots. After 275BC elephants were used. Carthaginian army units must take cavalry # 1. Before 275BC the Hv. Cava. Units must be exchanged for Hv. Chariots. After 27513C, exchange for elephants. Players may pick one more items from permitted tables. The rest of the army follows normal procedures. This army shall be randomly generated as cavalry. Up to 560BC line troops could be spearmen. Afterward they are Hoplites. After 275BC Hoplites may convert to Phalangites. After 216BC one unit of Hoplites I may convert to legions. Rome & Latins Early period up to 600BC for Rome or 509BC for the Latins Up to the reign of Tarquins (600-509BC) Rome would be an archaic state or barbarian. Latins would remain so up to 509BC For the archaic state use spearmen and peltasts charts. For barbarians use Peltasts only. Monarchy & early Republic: 600-343BC By now Rome is a city-state. All other Latins became so after the fall of the Tarquins. Hoplite, R. Peltasts and Peltasts table may be used. After 405BC Hoplites may convert to Legions. Classic Republic: 343-200BC With the addition of Campania Rome began its march toward world domination. The Campanians provided Rome with a good source of cavalry. Romans may use Hoplite 1, R. Peltasts, Peltasts and cavalry charts. Randomly generated Roman armies get Hoplite I #1, a second roll on Hoplite I and a third roll on the cavalry table. The remainder is randomly generated. Etruscan and Greek Etruscans and Greeks are city-states. Any troop types may be used with restrictions. After 30OBC Hoplite I can convert to Legion or Phalangites. Phalangites may convert Hv. Cav to elephants. All except Campanian and Pyrric may roll once on the cavalry table. If randomly generated, Campania counts as a cav. army. Pyrric get cav. #6 pick instead of cav # I and has its Hv. Cav. Converted to elephants for that pick. Etruscans may convert Hv. Cav. To Hv. Chariots. Italian Tribes May use R. Peltasts. peltasts and cavalry tables. Prior to 500BC only Peltasts may be used. Afterward all allowable types may be used with the following exceptions: Only Oscan & Apulian may use R. Peltasts. Only Campani, an Oscan tribe and Apulian may roll more than once on the cavalry table. Gaul Everything is rolled on the Gaul table. Samnites The Samnites fought three major wars with Rome from 343-290BC. For the first war they are considered as an Oscan tribe. Afterward they allied with Etruscans, Gauls and other Italians tribes. As Oscan they have one roll on the cavalry table and the rest on the R. Peltasts chart. If allied they may use Hoplitel, R.Peltasts, Peltasts, Gauls and one roll on the cavalry table. At least two rolls should be made on the R. Peltasts table. R. Peltasts and Peltasts units may be equipped with Pilum. Hoplite I units may be converted to Legions as the Estruscans adopted the pilum around this era. Part I Back to Rebel Yell No. 19 Table of Contents Back to Rebel Yell List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by HMGS South This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com