Phartian suggestion

[jchaos79]

I am thinking in building up a parthian army. For Carrahe battle (53 BC to face caesaerian roman army)

I would like to use some of the pendraken figures that I already have. So I show you what I think and if you could give me some feed back:

"parthian mood" : beard, conical hat, wand in forhead, trousers, jacket with belt, no shield (I was not be able to see archaeological sources about partian holding any shield). I have see some enthusiastic-amateur pictures in the net which gives them half moon shield (you now like thracian or persian shields in the greek age).  Could be right to use round shield if it is needed??

So here it goes:

parthian militia -->  AS4 anglosaxon great fyrd http://sg.tacticalwargames.net/forum/index.php?topic=4301.0  ; ok I can model with putty some conical felter hats (or a sort of). Maybe I could grind the buckle of the shield (the central metalic piece) to not be soo dark age look.

parthian archers --> AS6 light archers  http://sg.tacticalwargames.net/forum/index.php?topic=4299.0 

Horse archers --> AB7 horse archer http://sg.tacticalwargames.net/forum/index.php?topic=4360.0  ; OK I guess I can hide the turban with paint and convert it in a wand in the forehead and wild black hair.

Cataphract --> AP6 persian sassanid cataphract

camels --> SC8 Sudan /Egypt 1882-1885 Mahdist camelry  --> Do you feel it closer than right?

Parthian skirmishers--> AP3 sassanid persian javalinmen or AP4 sassnid persian slinger.

Any feedback will be appreciated!




parthian archer -->

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Is AB7 a mistype for AP7?

If not , then look at the Sassanian Horse archer, alo some of the Turkish rennaisance figures might well fit.

IanS

[nikharwood]

Is AB7 a mistype for AP7?

I quite like the mistype in the Subject heading 

[jchaos79]

Is AB7 a mistype for AP7?

If not , then look at the Sassanian Horse archer, alo some of the Turkish rennaisance figures might well fit.

IanS

Nop mistype. I have AP7 for sassanid and I considered, but not feel too good for carrahe parthians.

I was refering arab AB7. They have a more horse archer attitud, with trousers, beards, jackets and... turbans. Well I will try to disimulate the turbans.

[Phobos]

I´m doing Parthians also for DBMM, using Clibanariis and Catafracts of LAte Roman Range (Kontos wielded at two hands, important for me) really sweet miniatures, and Late Romans Horse Archers with some green stuff for irano/skythian caps. Also, I order some horse archers and parthian command to Steve Barber.
About the Infantry... in DBMM city militias and garrisons only appears when defending a Built Up Area, so I don´t need them yet.

[jchaos79]

That is very intersting for me while I have some clibanariis from Late Roma Range. I did not know that parthina use kontos. So that will expand my army unpainted a little bit.

In warmaster militia infantry and archers are possible to siege games or to give a little infantry, but they are as 5% of the army I guess, very cheap and unreliable, so I am not worried about that.

My idea is building an army to match with roman caeserian time army (republican beyond the Marian reform). I have no experience gaiming with horsemen or no infantry army tactics. So I see it difficult to imagine how it will work. I.

Could you give me your experience gaiming with this army?

How does rulesets (DMM in example) handle the in-famous "parthian shoot" ?

Has anybody knows where could be in the net a historical parthin battle explained? maybe Carrhae?

and finally which are the armies that can historical confront the parthians?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Parthian shot is one of the most contensious issues in the whole of wargames.
It killed WHaB for many players when 'Nomad horde' armies came to the fore.
It doesn't happen in DBMM, as Light horse don't shoot, and only flee certain elements.

What you need is a 'feigned flight' ablility, where your units, when charged can shoot and then retire, but should need to take some kind of skill test to avoid getting caught; or they need a half moove/fire/second half of move ability. The WHaB problem was the Light horse had (effectively) a double move and shot move, meaning they could never be caught...

Historic armies that had to deal with Partians were:
Romans (Marian & Early Imperial),
Sassanid Persians (effectively a civil war as the Parthian dynasty was overthrown in internal revolt)
Bactrain Greek,
Later Selucid Empire (The Parthians were originally an independence movement from Greek rule)
Armeanians,
Pre-Islamic Arabian,
Skythians (or other Nomad hordes) and other Western Indian States.
Honestly, one of the best places to look for historical opponents is the old DBA v1 rules, which gave you a list of historical opponents. Unfortunately mine are lost in the attic!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire
http://www.livius.org/pan-paz/parthia/parthia02.html
Hope that helps
Mad Lemmey

[Phobos]

True, in DBMM, parthian horse archers works as Light Horse Fast, it means that against infantry, in their own turn they add +1 to their rolls (and pikes, spears, and so on can´t use rank bonus agains LH) It´s a simple and quick rule that works well.

Yes, they use the kontos, taking it from their nomadic neighbors sarmatians and similars.

Being an all-horsemen army, I bet for wiping a flank with your superior movement and maneuver skills and let the other with some distraction units.
DBMM Parthian army uses a minimun of 12 bases of LH and 12 of Knights (X), plus generals, and a lot of nomad allies.