People have often asked me why I run such garbage armies, and the truth of the matter is that I don't quite know why? Maybe it's my inherent desire to put the underdog over the top, or maybe I'm just afraid that if and when I loose with a good army it will prove that my ability to general in, wall, not so great. Still, I do enjoy watching my boards of incompetents rushing bravely out to do battle with the big bad legions of well trained perfection an the other side of the table. So now I am writing an article an why just maybe you too may wish to practice up on doing battle with an army that has almost no redeeming fighting ability. There art three reasons that come to mind that can make certain types of games more enjoyable and challenging. So here goes.

First one of the problem that a now player has in learning a now system is the initial handicap encountered even in the so called "fair" game based on equal points, when facing an experienced player. Tied into this is the second problem encountered by the experienced player, who has a hard time being challenged in these types of games in regards to his generalship and improving his skills. The third concept involves fighting battles that have a more historical feel to them.

So what I propose, that might solve the first two problems is to have the experienced player take his army with as few upgrades in morale and equipment as possible. This will of course result in the veteran player's army having less staying power than normal, but it also has a couple of other helpful side effects. Among these are the advantages gained by the new player in his knowing that his army will be more forgiving of mistakes than his opponents, so he can afford to experiment and take a few chances. This may also it is hoped, help the newcomer worry less about the sometimes daunting systems of weapons, armour factors, shooting and melee modifiers, and other game mechanics, thus enabling him to concentrate on maneuvering and basic battle tactics. He can also be assured that in most one to one battles he will have at least a slight advantage.

This may just prompt the new player to become more aggressive. I have seen too many games played where the new guy sits on an initial position and gives the initiative over to his opponent, then he dies a miserable and horrible death, but that is a different story. It is my contention that one can learn quicker as to what works and what doesn't work while on the attack, and it not true, at least it's more fun.

On the other hand the experienced player gains some additional challenges besides his teaching duties. for instance he may find that three units of heavy cavalry ace at times a better way to go than running his usual two units of EHK. In a similar fashion the now low budget army he is now running may just contain some troop types he is not used to running such as single armed peltasts, or two horse heavy chariots instead of his normally used four horse monsters.

This should not only add a now challenge but should improve the players ability to use his normally employed troops at a later date, much like Ty Cobb who used to wear lead weights around his ankles in the off season, only to make him faster when the season opened. The ancients player that has been around a while also usually has a few units painted up that rarely get pushed around on the table top because the army ran out of points, before he ran out of army. Well, this system allows for less expensive troops and there

f ore, more troops, so he may just find out that his heavy of medium infantry unit that has never made the cut in past armies has that mysterious "Luck" factor attached to it. The definition of this factor being that the dice never roll down in melee, and it passes waiver tests without batting an eye.

I personally have a unit like this in my Pyrrhic Greek army, namely my Oscan hoplites. Even though I probably now have Jinxed them, well they were a good example. The most important effect of having the veteran player running a low budget army is that it will force him to live on the edge, knowing that even though things may be looking good on the third turn, it not careful, by the and of the fourth he may be watching his army heading for Rados at a full run.

What you should end up with then by having players of different levels of expertise play with different levels of troop quality, is the classic contest of quantity verses quality. The balance lies in the fact the the quality is being commanded by the player with less experience.

Now of course there is nothing stopping two experienced players agreeing to run non-tournament type armies with an eye towards a battle that feels more historical. Many historically important battles were fought by armies consisting of very average morale, little training, and inadequate equipment, and often this situation existed on both sides of the field. The difference would lie in the leader which best used what he had. if you take a specific ancient battle and lay out the order of battle you will often find that most of the troops present were indeed not elites.

As an example the Ptolemaic army at Raphia was quite average in most respects, and the margin of victory actually came from what we would rate as "Regular D" pikeman. This my friends is the third reason for playing armies with limited upgrades, in that I firmly believe that it is usually the more historically accurate version.

What follows then are two lists that represent what I feel are typical armies from the Second Punic War. These are for 1300 point games even though we usually play larger games that ban that here in Cleveland, but if you wish to increase points in the Carthaginian list, just add more Gauls and or Italian allies, the Romans can just add a unit of Principes, and a couple of Velites to the Allied legion, and then some Italian allied infantry. I have lovingly renamed these armies so that you can play "Garbaginians" verses the "Scumillan Romans". In a game of veteran players they can be very evenly pitted against one another. In a game of a veteran verses a novice, the veteran can choose one, while the novice chooses his own army, or uses the Romans who even without upgrades are a bit less of a challenge. The Carthaginians have the advantage of more cavalry, lights, and commanders, and are better suited for rough terrain. The Romans have more flexible and better toot troops, who are better suited to open terrain. The Year is 217 BC and you command, so why ask why? Just do it!

GARBAGINIANS
From Carthaginian list #31

C-in-C and Bodyguard of 2 "Regular A" HC JLS, Sh. 124 pts.
2 X 16 Libyan spearmen "Regular C" MI LTS, Sh.148 pts.
1 X 12 Libyan javolinmen "Irregular C" UI JLS, Sh. 61 pts.
2 X 24 Spanish Scutarii "Irregular D" LMI HTH, Sh. 146 pts.
1 X 24 Spanish Caetrati "Irregular D" LI'JLS, Sh. 73 pts.
1 X 18 Gallic infantry "Irregular C" LKI JLS, Sh. 79 pts.
1 X 12 Balearic slingers "Irregular C" Ll 5, Sh. 61 pts.

Sub-General and Bodyguard of 2 "Regular A" HC JLS, Sh. 74 pts.
1 X 12 Spanish cavalry "Irregular C" MC JLS, Sh. 97 pts.
1 X 12 Spanish cavalry "Irregular C" LC JLS, Sh. 97 pts.
1 X 6 Gallic cavalry "Irregular B" MC JLS, 8h. 67 pts.
1 X 12 Campanian cavalry "Regular 3" MC JLS.94 pts.

Numidian Allied-General and Bodyguard of 3 "Irregular B" LC JLS, Sh. 96 pts.
1 X 18 Numidian cavalry "Irregular C" LC JLS, Sh. 133 pts.
1 X 2 African glephants with "Irregular C" crew of driver with JLS. 95 pts.
1 X 10 Num14ian javelinmen "Irregular C" LI JLS, Sh. 55 pts.

Total 1500 pts.

SCUMILLAN ROMAN
From Camillan. Roman list #46

C-in-C and Bodyguard of 2 "Regular A" HC JLS, Sh. 124 pts.

ROMAN LEGION
1 X 6 Roman cavalry "Regular B" HC JLS, Sh.76 pts.
2 X 8 Velites "Irregular C" LI LTS, JL5.114 pts.
3 X 8 Hastati "Regular C" HI HTW, Sh. 174 pts.
3 X 8 Principes "Regular C" BI HTW, Sh.174 pts.
2 X 8 Triarii "Regular B" 91 LTS, Sh. 132 pts.

ALLIED LEGION
Sub-General and Bodyguard of 2 "Regular A" KC JLS, Sh. 72 pts.
1 X 12 Italian allied cavalary "Regular C" MC JLS, Sh. 106 pts.
1 X 6 Velites "Irregular C" Ll LTS, JLS. 49 pts.
1 X 8 Velites "Irregular C" LI LTS, JL3. 57 pts.
3 X 8 Hastati "Regular C" HI HTH, Sh. 174 pts.
2 X 8 Principes "Regular C" HI HTW, Sh. 116 pts.
2 X 8 Triarii "Regular B" KI WS, Sh. 132 pts.

Total 1500 pts.