VD value, a couple of questions

A couple os questions about VD:

- Which is the VD of a large unit? For example, a Pezetairoi large unit with 3 "ranks" (FP pezetairoi VD=2)

- When do you count VD losses for a large unit? Do you count VD loss evary time you wipe off a "rank", or maybe when the whole large unit is destroyed?

Thanks a lot

VD per rank so a large unit of 3 ranks as you describe would be 6 VD. As each stand is removed the VD is lost.

As an aside, it took me many years of playing Impetus to realize that it is mostly a game of VD. Point costs and VBU, even impetus garnered my initial attention but the real number is VD. The Swiss have a couple of powerful lists with devastating pike that move very fast and have forward deployment. But the army is brittle because it is small and most importantly, the pike stands are 3 VD each making command rout fairly easy to get to.

Yep,
What he said.

Both times

Absolutely agree as well VD is what it's all about.
Chipping away at 1 VD units often won't be enough to break a command either .... you have to get stuck into the higher VD units to make a real difference. The sooner the better

And don't forget the value of the baggage, with the required 60:40 split in comps the 3VD for baggage will usually be enough to combine with breaking the smaller command to get your enemy to rout in entirety.

My Turkomen tend to high VD values and are brittle if they get slowed down in melee. So, I try not to get involved (difficult on a 6x4 comp table) and rely on shooting.

VD is everything in the task of staying alive.

I think VD value is the weakest point of Carthago armies: a good "combined arms" force, but highly costed. Yo cannot afford to lose yours lybians, or the numidian CL, so you have to rely on elephants and FL VD troops to take down enemy's troops.

Carthage seems to me be one of the best VD armies going. The large number of hard hitting Gaul warbands with only a VD of 1 (even for the upgrades.) At 350 points probably an average army but at 600 points or 800 points devastating.