Classical Indian II/3 - Tactics

[Mike Porter]

Inspired by Maerk's post (we're building the same army), I tried searching for some good strategic/tactical advice here for II/3 and have come up empty thus far (just a little about tourney results, battle reports, etc).

Any advice on Indian combined arms, Classical Indians in particular?:)

[Pavane]

I'm going to be playing II/3 Classical Indians in our "Big Al & the Successors" tournament in Toronto on Saturday (assuming that an odd number of player show up). I've only played around with them solitaire so far, and I've a 50% success record against my Graeco-Bactrians. Obviously, I'm no expert. Here are some of the things I've learned so far:

- You want less terrain as your BGo troops (hereditary & mercenary archers) can't hold up against real BGo troops: Aux.
- Many Successor armies have Pk and PS backed Ax. These can work together to set up advantageous attacks on your El and whack them.
- I've been putting my El (Gen) in the main battleline, but given Ax/Ps El-killers I think that I will keep him in reserve. On the times I roll 5 ot 6 I will redeploy him.
- I tried 4 x 3Bw + 1 x 4Bd, but found the Bd was usually out of the batttle, so I am going to try 5 x 3Bw.
- Deployment has been simple (it usually is when you are playing solitaire): main line: 3Cv, HCh, El, El-G, HCh, 3Cv, with archers covering the flanks.
- Often you will be the defender with Ag. 0, so you have an opportunity to fix a couple of bad matchups and move foreward to contact as fast as possible.
- When the El get split up, you will need lots of PIPs.
- Enemy LH have to be very careful. Your El, HCh and 3Bw are a big threat to them.

[Mike Porter]

I'm going to be playing II/3 Classical Indians in our "Big Al & the Successors" tournament in Toronto on Saturday (assuming that an odd number of player show up). I've only played around with them solitaire so far, and I've a 50% success record against my Graeco-Bactrians. Obviously, I'm no expert. Here are some of the things I've learned so far:

- You want less terrain as your BGo troops (hereditary & mercenary archers) can't hold up against real BGo troops: Aux.
- Many Successor armies have Pk and PS backed Ax. These can work together to set up advantageous attacks on your El and whack them.
- I've been putting my El (Gen) in the main battleline, but given Ax/Ps El-killers I think that I will keep him in reserve. On the times I roll 5 ot 6 I will redeploy him.
- I tried 4 x 3Bw + 1 x 4Bd, but found the Bd was usually out of the batttle, so I am going to try 5 x 3Bw.
- Deployment has been simple (it usually is when you are playing solitaire): main line: 3Cv, HCh, El, El-G, HCh, 3Cv, with archers covering the flanks.
- Often you will be the defender with Ag. 0, so you have an opportunity to fix a couple of bad matchups and move foreward to contact as fast as possible.
- When the El get split up, you will need lots of PIPs.
- Enemy LH have to be very careful. Your El, HCh and 3Bw are a big threat to them.

Thanks Will, here's what I'm thinking.

For Terrain, Ag. 0 gives me a good chance of being the defender. I think my main feature will be Marsh. I'll put my obligatory small woods somewhere insignificant, then go all Marsh-two smallish pieces farther than 300 paces apart so the enemy Bg troops can't jump from piece to piece. Using the Marsh, I can shoot them (opponent's Bg troops) out of there if need be, and also use them as fire bases for my Bw where they will have the advantage of being safe from mounted, yet still retaining the ability to shoot.

I'm not too worried about Macedonian or Successor Bg troops, unless it's Gonatas, since most people seem to like the heavy Pk options, which cut in on the Ax distribution (usually 1) IIRC.

Unless facing an army w/lots of Bg troops, I'd be inclined to go the glorious route w/the general in the line. Otherwise, keep in reserve.

I think I like the Bd option. This at least gives me something that can fight a lone Ax in Bg if the need arises.

What I fear most with the army is pip management once the lines meet. Bw basically don't cost anything, but once recoils begin on the jumbos and the Hch's start winning fights and advancing, keeping the army cohesive will be an issue.

Any other thoughts?

[David Kuijt]

Don't be scared of having your ElGen in the front rank against anything but artillery.

Keep your elephants together.

Take the blade option. Use it against enemy artillery, and to give enemy pikes something that will use up their frontage without dying.

Remember that this is a mounted army with bow assist. When you win terrain, don't take any. Fighting in terrain is a pip-suck. You've got enough of those already -- you're riding one! The only exception is if you're facing Vikings or Sea Peoples -- otherwise, fight on the Gangetic Plain.

Concentrate on getting your mounted stuck in.

Move with wheels, not dancing. If you don't know how, learn. Or take another army. This army looks like a dancer's paradise, and if you try it, you'll get burned badly.

Against enemy pikes, put your bow up against them and win using your pips and mobility elsewhere.

Against enemy mounted, fight as a mounted army and win with your Elephants.

Against enemy heavy foot, fight by maneuver if you can, and like a sledgehammer if you must. Win with your HCh against Bd after pushing adjacent elements back with your El; win with your El against Spear but keep an element of Cv in reserve.

Against enemy light foot, run them over. Do not fear them with your El.

Against enemy warband, laugh yourself silly beforehand, then wipe their goo from between your Jumbo toes afterward.

But don't lose terrain -- if your enemy makes you fight like an infantry army, especially if you are on a 24" board, you're going to have pip problems.

[Mike Porter]

Brilliant as usual David, thanks!:)

[Roland Fricke]

Remember that Aux can be killed by Elephants. even with the Ps support. Get some overlaps on those pesky lights and its double time (and the Ps dies too then). Or keep some Knights handy nearby - if they kill the El then hit them with the Knight - trade one El for a Aux and a PS.

[Prich]

I usually deploy a marsh in the middle of each flank of the battlefield. It's a good place for Bw and lets the center clear for the El and HCh.

I normaly picked 5 Bw, but nowadays I'm fielding 4Bw+Bd. I feel more confortable knowing that a enemy heavy infantry will think twice before atacking my Bw batallion.
El always grouped for PIP savings, and Cv could make the same functions as LH (flying like a "moth" and hitting like "a wasp or something bigger than a bee")
And finally, enjoy the opponent`s face when he sees three El on the table. :-)