Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Another fantasy rule set without Pikes. Any reason they were not included in the Dragon Men list?

Any ideas on game mechanics for adding pike blocks to the game?

Adrian

Quote from: Gunhit on 05 March 2015, 11:16:16 PM
Another fantasy rule set without Pikes. Any reason they were not included in the Dragon Men list?

Any ideas on game mechanics for adding pike blocks to the game?

Adrian

Good, because no fantasy author I've ever read understood the difference between a javelin a spear and a pike. A pointy stick is a pointy stick. So stick with the source material. You want pikes, play historical :)

My Dragon Men at Arms will be pike blocks. It's the stats for the base that count in this game.

Quote from: Ithoriel on 05 March 2015, 11:19:50 PM
You want pikes, play historical :)

Indeed, you want a wargame, play historical.

Quote from: Leman on 05 March 2015, 11:26:38 PM
My Dragon Men at Arms will be pike blocks. It's the stats for the base that count in this game.

I'm not arguing against pike-armed fantasy figures, just separate rules for them.

FOG R; lots of complex rules for pikemen - yawn. :-q

FoG and FoG:R, lots of complex rules.  Yawn.   :-q

Hmmm... Men at arms, Resolute, Shieldwall, option of paying for Formed and Powerful for well-trained units?

Don't know how you point that up, though. Chieftain, any hints?

Don't need complex rules; just make a simple adjustment for your system which both players agree to.

Suggestion...

Just make pike blocks a little less maneuverable than say spears and a little better than spears against foot and horse.

Pikes are good for rolling over things on good ground. They also lock up a lot of manpower.

Moral wise I'd say they were good to excellent if attacked from the front but poor if attacked from the flank or rear.

Of course these are just rough ideas and I am prejudiced in favour of pikes and I've no idea how the Warband rules work.

What about their morale?

Entirely unofficial, but pikes would be covered by the (currently un-tested) 'phalanx' special ability.

PHALANX
Phalanx units are armed with pikes or similar long weapons, and fight in dense and deep formations.  Units with phalanx:

• Suffer -1d6 Motivation if they began the current turn in limiting terrain.
  
  Do not gain any bonuses for a direct charge if any part of that charge is in limiting terrain.
  
  Can make a single 180° turn for free (it does not cost 1BW) during any move in open terrain.
  
  Inflicts a -1d6 Melee penalty on each enemy unit that is locked in melee with the phalanx unit's front edge or corner.  A unit will only suffer this penalty once each turn, irrespective of how many phalanx units may affect it.
  
  Counts its melee ability as 0d6 Melee if fighting in melee to its own flank or rear.

Options would include an agressive phalanx with fierce, and a defensive phalanx resolute.

Is that "up to" 180 degree turn?

No.  It's an 'about face' free 180 degree turn, similar to the Formed special ability.

Quote from: Chieftain on 06 March 2015, 12:14:21 PM
No.  It's an 'about face' free 180 degree turn, similar to the Formed special ability.

I thank you :)

Thanks Chief  :D

That reply has a cockney ring to it.

You wouldn't need complex rules for them - just e.g Pikes get 1D6 extra melee and protection against cavalry charging them to their front
                                                                          - some kind of movement reduction
                                                                          - enemies charging pikes in flank or rear get 1D6 extra in melee and the pikes get 1D6 reduced morale or whatever