My so called or flexible "Light Division" of mercenary Successors contingent - 2 units of Hellenistic Thracians with 2 units of Cretan Archers and 1 Greek Slingers. I use these units for Impetvs and Command Colors Ancients & for DBA DBMM
Below tables, is how I see these specific units translated between playing ancient wargaming rules sets... :o)
Unit Role & Conversion Table
| Unit | Impetvs | Commands & Colors: Ancients | DBA / DBMM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thracians | FL (Light Infantry) or W (Warband) | Auxiliary (A) or Warrior (W) | 4Ax (Auxilia) or 3Ax |
| Cretan Archers | S (Skirmishers) or T (Archers) | Bowmen (B) | Ps (Psiloi) or Bw (Bow) |
| Greek Slingers | S (Skirmishers) | Slingers (S) | Ps (Psiloi) |
Impetvs
Thracians are often classified as FL (Light Infantry) because of their mobility in difficult terrain.
- Thracians: Can be fielded as "Thracian Peltasts." They usually have a high "V" (Movement) value but low "D" (Discipline).
- Cretans/Slingers: These are almost always S (Skirmishers). In Basic Impetvs, they act as screens to soften the enemy before your Thracians charge.
- Tactical Tip: Use the Cretans' range to force the enemy to close in, then counter-charge with Thracians who gain bonuses in "broken" terrain.
Commands & Colors: Ancients (CCA)
Successor scenarios in CCA frequently feature these units as high-utility light troops.
- Thracians: Best represented as Auxilia (Green circle) for their ability to move and still battle effectively, or Warriors if you want to emphasize their fierce charge with the rhomphaia.
- Cretan Archers: These are Bowmen (B). They typically have a range of 3 hexes and are vital for checking enemy Light Cavalry.
- Greek Slingers: Standard Slingers (S). While they lack the range of the Cretans, they are efficient "hit-and-run" units.
DBA & DBMM
In the DBA 3.0 "Successor" lists (like II/16 or II/18), these units fill the mandatory light infantry slots.
- Thracians: Classified as 4Ax (Auxilia). They are "fast" foot that ignore movement penalties in bad going (woods/hills)
- Cretans & Slingers: Both are classed as Ps (Psiloi). In DBA, Psiloi are essential for supporting your Phalanx or seizing difficult terrain.
- DBMM Specifics: In DBMM, Thracians might be Irr Ax (S) (Superior Auxilia) to reflect their deadly weaponry, while Cretans are often Irr Ps (O) (Ordinary Psiloi) or Bw (O) if grouped
My miniatures are mounted on 40mm x 20mm stands. This is the standard for DBA and DBMM. For Impetvs, you can simply place two or three of these stands on a larger movement tray (120mm frontage for 28mm or 80mm for 15mm) to match that wargaming rules "Large Unit block" appearance.......... :o)
