Meshwesh Update

[David Kuijt]

Significant Update to Meshwesh
Meshwesh (the online Triumph army list data repository) has just been updated. There are a number of minor changes, fixing small errors and so on. There is also a significant modification that WGC would like to bring to everyone’s attention.

Up until now, there have been two types of open-order shooting troops: Archers, who are very effective and 4 pts each, and Bow Levy, who are much less effective and 2 pts each.

That is still true … and false! Now there is a new “type” that is worth consideration. Some armies with poorer Archers (or better Bow Levy) are allowed Bow Levy that can use the Shower Shooting battle card. The Shower Shooting battle card is a 1pt per stand card that gives that stand the ability to fire in ranged combat, although not as effectively as Archers. To be clear, this is not actually a new type, it is a combination of an existing type (Bow Levy) and an existing battle card (Shower Shooting). But putting those two things together creates something that plays as a 3-pt shooting stand – it acts as if it was a new type.

A Bow Levy stand with Shower Shooting (if you choose to take it for your army, Battle Cards are always optional) gives you a 3-pt stand (2 pts for the Bow Levy, +1 pt for the Shower Shooting battle card) that makes it an intermediate ability stand between normal Bow Levy and normal Archers.

Which Army Lists Include Bow Levy with Shooting
Not all Bow Levy army lists have this ability. Bow Levy in the army lists were given this option in the following cases:

1) Armies with stands that could be either Archers or Bow Levy.

Armies that had a troop line where the troop type could be Archers or Bow Levy were allowed the option to give an additional “type” between the two extremes (Bow Levy with Shower Shooting).

For example, the Eastern allies that fought in the armies of Brutus and Cassius against Octavian and Marc Antony.

2) Armies with two different versions of Bow Levy.

Armies with two different types of Bow Levy, with one more effective and well trained than the other, got the new optional battle card for the better type.

For example, Morean Byzantine garrison bow levy were better equipped and trained than the irregular Greek peasant bowmen. City militia of the Italian Communes and Feudal and Medieval German armies were given the Shower Shooting option, but Heerban (peasant levies) were not.

3) Improving historical interactions for armies with massed Bow Levy

Armies with massed Bow Levy received this option when it improved historical results against one or more of their traditional enemies.

Some examples are the Commagenes, Palmyrans, several sub-Saharan African armies, armies of Granada, and several New World armies like the Tlaxcalans. Not all massed Bow Levy armies got this addition – the Elamites and Neo-Babylonians are effective enough against Chariot armies (their traditional enemies) already, and adding this option to their Bow Levy tilts the balance too far in the other direction.

4) Improving historical interactions for armies with smaller numbers of Bow Levy

Armies with fewer Bow Levy (not mass quantities) received this option if the change improved interactions with historical enemies.

For example, Scots bowmen were never as good as the English and Welsh (who are rated as Archers), but at the battle of Bannockburn (1314) they performed well enough to be better than non-shooting Bow Levy, so the Scots Common bowmen are given the option of that battle card.

Representing Bow Levy with Shooting
One critical aspect of using Battle Cards is for players on both sides be able to clearly differentiate stands that have the battle card from stands that do not. Especially when some Bow Levy in an army have Shower Shooting and others don’t. One way to mark such stands is to base up stands of Bow Levy with the Shower Shooting battle card so they are four figures per stand (still on a standard Bow Levy base). This creates an effective visual distinction between Archers, Bow Levy with Shower Shooting, and normal Bow Levy.

On 40mm bases (15mm figure scale) this basing would be 4 figures on a 30mm base. Basing for Archers and normal Bow Levy is unchanged from that listed in the Triumph! rules.

We are confident that this addition to the Meshwesh army lists will add a fascinating new dimension to some army lists.

[RogerCooper]

Is a rename in order? Rather than "Bow Levy with Shower Shooting" have 3 levels

Inferior Archer (former Bow Levy)
Archer (Bow Levy with Shower Shooting)
Superior Archer (for Archer)

[David Kuijt]

Is a rename in order? Rather than "Bow Levy with Shower Shooting" have 3 levels

Inferior Archer (former Bow Levy)
Archer (Bow Levy with Shower Shooting)
Superior Archer (for Archer)

Interesting.

We'll talk about it in 3-4 years, I guess. Until then, I'd point out that "bow levy with shower shooting" is a precise description of what's going on.

Also, might be better to brainstorm a new name for the middle rank (bow levy with shower shooting).

[RogerCooper]

Maybe ordinary archer.

[David Kuijt]

Maybe ordinary archer.

Mediocres?