L'Art de la Guerre

Wargaming rules Ancient and Medieval

Over the last couple of years L'Art de le Guerre (ADLG) has become a very popular ruleset at my local gaming group.   Sword and Spear is still popular for group games or players that only play a couple of times a year as the rules a simpler.  However those players who are more serious about their gaming seem to be playing ADLG.

The appeal of ADLG for me is that whilst the model count is higher than DBA it is much less than Sword and Spear.  ADLG uses two DBA bases for most infantry units, whilst skirmishers, cavalry, elephants and artillery use a single DBA base for each unit.  In contrast our group uses 4 DBA bases per unit for Sword and Spear.

The periods that most interest me are the Punic Wars and Alexander the Great and his successors.  I decided to start with a Later Carthaginian. army.  I went with Forged in Battle miniatures (their War and Empire range) as I had seen and liked their WW2 miniatures.

 

Punic Wars

53 - Republican Roman

275 - 103 BC.  Plain, Mountain.  Command +4

Troop Type Pts Units Figures Models
 Roman and Gallic horsemen *
  Medium cavalry
  Heavy cavalry
  Upgrade to elite (max 1)
7
9
+2		 0 - 3 9 WE-RP01 Roman Cavalry
 Hastati and Principes *
 Heavy swordsmen impact
 Add armour (all or none)
 Upgrade to elite (max 4)
9
+2
+2		 4 - 12 96 WE-RP04 Roman Hastati
WE-RP05 Roman Princepes
 Triarii
 Heavy spearmen armour elite		 12 1 - 3 24 WE-RP03 Roman Veles
 Velites
 Light infantry javelin
 Upgrade to elite (max 2)
4
+1		 2 - 6 12 WE-RP02 Roman Velites
 Fortified camp 6 1    
 Newly recruited legions
 Replace some Hastati and Principes
 Heavy swordsmen impact mediocre
 Add armour (all or none)
7
+2		 0 - 8 64 WE-RP04 Roman Hastati
WE-RP05 Roman Princepes
 Replace some Triarii
 Heavy spearmen armour
 Downgrade to mediocre		 10
-2		 0 - 2 16 WE-RP03 Roman Veles
 Replace some Velites
 Light infantry javelin		 4 0 - 4 8 WE-RP02 Roman Velites
 Auxiliary troops        
 Numidians or Illyrian horsemen
 Light cavalry javelin		 6 0 - 2 6 WE-NU01 Numidian Light Cavalry
WE-TH03 Illyrian Cavalry
 Italian allies : Extraordinarii
 Medium swordsmen elite
 Add armour (all or none)
9
+2		 0 - 2 12/16  
 Other Italian allies
 Medium swordsmen
 Downgrade to mediocre
7
-2		 0 - 4 24/32  
 Only from 202 BC
 Elephant mediocre		 10 0 - 1 1  
 Cretan archers
 Light infantry bow elite		 5 0 - 2 4  
 Syracusan slingers
 Light infantry sling		 4 4  
 Other auxiliaries
 Gallic warriors
 Medium swordsmen impetuous
 Heavy swordsmen impetuous
7
8		 0 - 2
12/16
16		 WE-GA05 Celtic Warriors
 Spanish Scutarii
 Medium swordsmen impetuous
7		 12/16 WE-SP04 Spanish Unarmoured Scutarii
 Greek or Illyrian thureophoroi
 Medium spearmen
7		 12/16 WE-TH08 Illyrian Foot
 Ligurians
 Javelinmen
 Medium swordsmen		 7
12
12/16		  

55 - Carthaginian

275 - 146 BC.  Plain.  Command +5

Troop Type Pts Units Figures Models
 Punic, Gallic or Spanish cavalry *
  Medium cavalry
  Heavy cavalry (max 2)
  Upgrade to elite
7
9
+2		 0 - 6 18 WE-CA11 Carthaginian Heavy Cavalry with Unarmoured horse
WE-CA01 Noble Carthaginian Heavy Cavalry with Armoured Horse
 Numidians or Spanish *
 Light cavalry javelin
 Upgrade to elite (max 2)
6
+1		 2 - 6 12 WE-NU01 Numidian Light Cavalry
 African Spearmen
 Heavy spearmen		 8 2 - 6 48 WE-CA02 Carthaginian Unarmoured African Foot
 Militia
 Medium spearmen mediocre		 5 0 - 6 36/48 WE-CA06 Carthaginian Citizen Levy Foot
 Spanish Scutarii
 Medium swordsmen impetuous
 Medium swordsmen impact
7
8		 0 - 2 12/16 WE-SP04 Spanish Unarmoured Scutarii
 Gallic warriors
 Medium swordsmen impetuous
 Heavy swordsmen impetuous
7
8		 0 - 6 36/48 WE-GA05 Celtic Warriors
WE-GA10 Celtic and Gallic Warband-II
 Ligurians
 Javelinmen
 Medium swordsmen		 7 0 - 3
18
18/24		  
 Elephant mediocre 10 0 - 3 3 WE-CA05 Carthaginian Elephants
 Balearic slingers
 Light infantry sling elite		 5 0 - 4 8 WE-CA04 Carthaginian Balearic & Libyan Skirmishers
 Numidians, Libyans or Spanish
 Light infantry javelin
 Upgrade to elite
4
+1		 2 - 6 12 WE-CA04 Carthaginian Balearic & Libyan Skirmishers
 Heavy artillery 10 0-1 1  
 Fortified camp 6 0-1 1  
 From 235 to 201 BC
 Celtiberian scutarii
 Heavy swordsmen impetuous		 8 0 - 2 16 WE-SP08 Spanish/Celtiberian Scutarii
 Hannibal in Italy from 216 to 203 BC
 Limit of 1 elephant
 Replace all African spearmen
 Heavy spearmen armour elite		 12 2 - 4 32 WE-CA03 Carthaginian Armoured African Veterans
 Replace all Gallic warriors
 Medium swordsmen impact
 Heavy swordsmen impact
8
9		 All    
 Replace all Campanians and Italians
 Heavy swordsmen impact
 Add armour
9
+2		 0 - 2 16  

Macedonian

39 - Alexandrian Macedonian

355 - 330 BC.  Plain, Mountain.  Command +5

Troop Type Pts Units Figures Models
 Companions*
 Heavy cavalry impact elite		 12 2 - 4 12 WE-MA01 Macedonian Companion Cavalry
 Greek and Thessalian cavalry *
 Medium cavalry
 Heavy cavalry
7
9		 0 - 3 9 WE-TH01 Thracian Heavy Cavalry
 Prodromoi
 Light cavalry impact		 6 0 - 2 4 WE-MA02 Macedonian Prodromoi Cavalry
 Thracians and Paionians
 Light cavalry javelin		 6 0 - 2 4 WE-TH02 Thracian Light Cavalry
 Macedonian phalangites
 Pikemen		 11 2 - 8 96 WE-MA03 Phalangites, at the slope
WE-MA04 Phalangites, marching
 Replace some Macedonian phalangites
 Medium spearmen		 7 0 - 4 24/32  
 Hypapists *
 Pikemen elite
 Heavy spearmen elite
 Medium spearmen elite		 13
10
9		 1 - 2 24
16
12/16		 WE-MA05 Macedonian Hypaspists
 Greek hoplites
 Heavy spearmen		 8 0 - 4 32  
 Thracian peltasts
 Javelinmen
 Medium swordsmen
 Medium swordsmen 2HW		 7
7
8		 0 - 4 24/32 WE-TH05 Thracian Peltasts
 Greek peltasts
 Javelinmen		 7 0 - 2 6  
 Agrianian or Thracian javelinmen
 Light infantry javelin
 Upgrade to elite		  
4
+1		 2 - 4 8  
 Light infantry bow
 Upgrade to elite (max 2) if Cretan		  
4
+1		 0 - 4 8  
 Light infantry sling 4 8  
 Heavy artillery 10 0 - 1 1  
 Fortified camp 6 0 - 1 1  

 

40 - Alexander the Great

330 - 320 BC.  Plain, Mountain,.  Command +6

Troop Type Pts Units Figures Models
 Companions*
 Heavy cavalry impact elite		 12 2 - 4 12 WE-MA01 Macedonian Companion Cavalry
 Sogdians, Scythians or Bactrians
 Light cavalry bow
 Upgrade to elite (max 1 Bactrian)
6
+1		 1 - 3 6  
 Hippakontistai
 Light cavalry javelin		 6 1 - 3 6  
 Macedonian phalangites
 Pikemen		 11 2 - 6 72 WE-MA03 Phalangites, at the slope
WE-MA04 Phalangites, marching
 Replace some Macedonian phalangites
 Medium spearmen		 7 0 - 4 24/32  
 Hypapists
 Pikemen elite
 Heavy spearmen elite
 Medium spearmen elite		 13
10
9		 1 - 2 24
16
12/16		 WE-MA05 Macedonian Hypaspists
 Greek hoplites
 Heavy spearmen		 8 0 - 2 16  
 Thracian peltasts
 Javelinmen
 Medium swordsmen
 Medium swordsmen 2HW		 7
7
8		 0 - 3 18/24 WE-TH05 Thracian Peltasts
 Greek peltasts
 Javelinmen		 7 0 - 2 6  
 Agrianian or Thracian javelinmen
 Light infantry javelin
 Upgrade to elite		  
4
+1		 2 - 4 8  
 Light infantry bow
 Upgrade to elite (max 2) if Cretan		  
4
+1		 0 - 4 8  
 Light infantry sling 4 8  
 Elephant 13 0 - 2 2 WE-MA07 Macedonian Elephants
 Heavy artillery 10 0 - 1 1  
 Fortified camp 6 0 - 1 1  
 Only after 324 BC
 Persian Companions
 Heavy cavalry impact
 Upgrade to elite
10
+2		 1 3  
 Replace all Hypaspists by Persian  guardsmen
 Bowmen pavise elite		 10 All 12  
 Persian archers
 Bowman
 Light infantry bow
7
4		 0 - 4 12
8		  

 

42 - Seleucid

320 - 64 BC.  Plain, Mountain, Desert.  Command +5

Troop Type Pts Units Figures Models
 Xystophoroi*
 Heavy cavalry impact
 Upgrade to elite (max 2)		 10
+2		 1 - 4 12  
 Scythians
 Light cavalry bow		 6 1 - 2 4  
 Bedouins
 Light camelry bow mediocre
 Medium camelry bow mediocre 		6
8		 0 - 2 4

6

  
 Scythed Chariot 3 0 - 2 2  
 Seleucid pikemen
 Pikemen		 11 2 - 6 72  
 Argyraspids *
 Pikemen elite		 13 1 - 2 24  
 Thracians
 Javelinmen
 Medium swordsmen
 Medium swordsmen 2HW		 7
7
8		 0 - 2 12/18  
 Asiatic archers
 Bowmen
 Downgrade to mediocre
7
-2		 0 - 2 6  
 Light infantry bow
 Light infantry sling		  4 1 - 4 8  
 Cretan archers
 Light infantry bow elite		  5 0 - 2 4  
 Cappadocians
 Light infantry javelin		 4 0 - 2 4  
 Levy 3 0 - 2 1  
 Heavy artillery 10 0 - 1 1  
 Fortified camp 6 0 - 1    
 Cretan archers
 Light infantry bow elite		  5 0 - 2 4  
 Before 280 BC
 Elephant 13 0 - 3 3  
 Asiatic horsemen
 Light cavalry javelin		 6 0 - 3 6  
 Peltasts
 Javelinmen		 7 0 - 2 6  
 After 280 BC
 Thureophorai or Thorakitai
 Medium spearmen
 Add armour
7
+2		 0 - 2 12/18  
 Until 205 BC
 Elephant		 13 0 - 2 2 WE-MS05 Later Seleucid Elephants
 After 245 BC
 Galatian horsemen
 Medium cavalry elite
 Heavy cavalry elite
9
11		 0 - 1 3  
 Galatian infantry
 Heavy swordsmen impetuous
 Upgrade to elite
8
+2		 0 - 2 16  
 After 205 BC
 Replace all Xystophoroi*
 Cataphract
 Upgrade to elite (max 2)		 11
+2		 All
(1 - 4)		   WE-MS01 Later Seleucid Cataphract Cavalry
 Until 167 BC
 Elephant elite 		16 0 - 2 2 WE-MS05 Later Seleucid Elephants

 

Alexander's Enemies

68 - Later Achaemenid Persian

420 - 329 BC.  Plain, Mountain.  Command +4

 

DBA 3 listing Models required  
 1 x General in 2-horse chariot (LCh) or
      General on horseback (Cv or 3Kn)		  2 horse 2 crew chariot
 3 cavalry figures		  
 2 x Persian, Median or Bactrian cavalry (Cv)  6 cavalry figures  
 2 x light horse (LH)  4 mounted figures  
 2 x armoured horse cavalry (3Kn) or
      mercenary hoplites (Sp) or
      Kardakes (4Ax)		  6 cavalry figures
 8 figures
 8 figures - Achaemenid Persian Kardaka Infantry		  8 x IRR-RC098
 1 x scythed chariot (SCh) or
      mercenary hoplites (Sp)		  scythed chariot 
 4 figures		  
 1 x archers or slinger (Ps)  2 figures  
 2 x kardakes (4Ax) or
      takabura (3Ax) or
      mercenary hoplites (Sp) or
      Saka horse archers (LH)		  8 figures - Achaemenid Persian Kardaka Infantry
 6 figures
 8 figures - Greek Hoplite Infantry
 4 mounted figures		  8 x IRR-RC098

 8 x IRR-RC031 
 1 x subject conscript masses (7Hd or Ps)  2 or 7 figures  

A total of 51 foot, 23 cavalry, a two horse chariot and a scythed chariot.

 

78 - Classical Indian

Classical Indian Army 500BC  - 178AD (listing II/3a).  The army is appropriate historically for battles against Alexandrian Imperial Army (listing II/15)

DBA 3 listing Models required  
 1 x General (El)  Elephant  
 2 x Elephants (El)  2 Elephants  
 2 x 2-horse 2-crew chariot (LCh) or
      4-horse 3 or 6 crew chariot (HCh)		  2 chariots  
 2 x cavalry  6 cavalry figures  
 3 x archers (3Lb)  9 figures  
 1 x javelin (4Ax)  4 figures  
 1 x leview (7Hd) or wild tribe archers (Ps)  2 or 7 figures  

A total of 22 foot, 6 cavalry, 2 chariots and 3 elephants.

 

Unit Summary

 Troops Cat Pr Co  Basic factors and modifiers
 Medium cavalry / camelry
 Light chariots		 Cv 0 3  +1 vs. Mounted, LI, LMI, MI, Levies
 +1 vs. HI if attacking flank or rear.
 Add +1 in first phase vs. MI except if cavalry already has impact
 Heavy Cavalry Cv 1 3  Same as medium cavalry + armour
 Cataphracts Kn 2 3  +2 vs LMI and LH
 +1 vs all except WWg
 Impact vs foot, heavy armour
 Light Cavalry / Camelry LH 1 2  +1 vs. LI if LI is in open terrain
 Elephants El 0 3  +2 vs. Mounted and +1 vs. Foot
 Impact except vs LI, LH and Javelinmen
 Heavy spearmen HI 1 4  +2 vs LMI in open or vs LH
 otherwise +1 vs all
 Impact vs Mounted except El
 Medium spearmen MI 1 3  +1 vs all except Kn
 Impact vs Mounted except El
 Pikemen HI 1 4  +2 vs all
 Impact vs Mounted except El
 Heavy swordsmen HI 1 4  +2 vs LMI in open or vs LH
 otherwise +1 vs all
 Medium swordsmen MI 1 3  +1 vs all except Kn
 Javelinmen LMI 1 3  +1 vs LI, LH, El and SCh. Javelin
 Light infantry LI 1 2  Destroyed in open by LMI, MI, HI, Cv, Kn.
 Otherwise 0 vs all enemies

Melee modifiers for terrain

 Troops Open Rough Difficult
 Light Cavalry 5 4 2
 Medium and Heavy Cavalry 4 3 1
 Light Chariots, Scythed Chariots 4 2 -
 Elephants 3 3 1
 Knights 3 2 1
 Heavy Chariots, Cataphracts 3 1 -
 Light Infantry 3 3 3
 Medium Infantry 3 3 2
 Heavy Infantry 2 2 1
 War Wagon, mobile Artillery 2 1 -