Sp vs Hd

[John Meunier]

My inclination when an army has a wad of one troop type and the option to swap out a couple more of the same troop type for something else to take the swap. I like having options.

But I'm stuck in deciding whether - for instance - it is advantageous in the Mid-Anglo Saxon list to swap to of the 4 Sp for Hd element. Two more 4 Sp does not really get you anything new, but I can't think of any ways in which the Hd are more useful or functional than those same Sp.

[Chris Brantley]

Two more 4 Sp does not really get you anything new, but I can't think of any ways in which the Hd are more useful or functional than those same Sp.

They fight worse than spear against both foot and mounted, they have the same movement rate, they are both penalized for bad going, and they're both quick-killed by warband, knights and scythed chariots. Spear can get rear support for a second rank against Knights and other Spear, or from Psiloi support against mounted. For some reason, Horde stand up better to Light Horse than Spear (which are QK by LH) but get shot to pieces by Bow (i.e. Bow QKs Horde). The only advantage that Horde has is that it doesn't recoil, it either stands or dies. Of course, that becomes a disadvantage if your adjacent elements recoil, leaving your Horde's flanks overlapped.

In sum, when you tally the pros and cons, there is no obvious reason to prefer Horde over Spear unless you are going for glory.

[Chris Brantley]

My inclination when an army has a wad of one troop type and the option to swap out a couple more of the same troop type for something else to take the swap. I like having options.

Me too, especially if those optional elements give me a quick-kill potential, rear support options, more mobility, and/or a bad going capability.

[David Kuijt]

Two more 4 Sp does not really get you anything new, but I can't think of any ways in which the Hd are more useful or functional than those same Sp.

Horde hold flanks better than spear does against anything but Knights or Warband.

[Tony Aguilar]

Two more 4 Sp does not really get you anything new, but I can't think of any ways in which the Hd are more useful or functional than those same Sp.

Hd are better at eating up excess pips than Sp, that way you don't have to "burn" as many. ;)

[John Meunier]

In sum, when you tally the pros and cons, there is no obvious reason to prefer Horde over Spear unless you are going for glory.

This is how my thinking worked, but my thinking is famous for its flaws. So, I wanted to check with others.

[The Last Conformist]

Hd are impetuous, which can be good or bad depending on cirumstances.

[Dunctator]

And Hordes are impetuous!

Historically nice if (as at Hastings) your opponent breaks off (etc) and you have to follow up...

As Chris says: "going for glory"!

Dunc