Thanks for the feedback. Here's what I'm proposing (I'll trial it in my King Magnus Campaign):
A new category called Light spear = Sp(L)
It is basically Spear with two differences: -1 vs. foot and no BGo penalty. As far as what is written in the rules, the following additions are needed:
- Apart from the two following exceptions, all references to Spear includes Light Spear (Light Spear moves as Spear, gets rear support as Spear and has the same Combat Outcomes as Spear.
- Combat Factors: as Pikes (Knights, Pikes, Light Spear or War Wagons).
- Tactical Factors: -2: If any but Auxilia, Light Spear, Bow, Warband or Psiloi and in close combat in, … bad going …
The effects of this are that Sp(L) can make use of BGo, making them able to face cavalry in both GGo and BGo. The downgrading against foot has a number of repercussions: they can no longer face Sp in the open on equal terms, but they can meet them at superior odds in BGo; they meet Bd in BGo at equal odds, but they would be fairly nervous against Wb. Otherwise Bw and Ps are more of a threat (and I think that's quite reasonable with Bw).