Range of javelins relative to bows.

Hi

Still new to the rules and by the way enjoying them very much.

However there is one issue that I am having trouble getting my head around and that is the maximum range of javelins, (i.e. 15U), relative to most bows, (i.e. 30U). I can't help feeling that this is overly generous to javelin armed troops and would have thought that around one quarter to one third of the range of bows would be more realistic (even just point blank range at 5U). I realise of course that other factors come into play such as effectiveness, even then it still does not feel right to me. Even slings have the same maximum range as javelins and I was under the impression that slings would outrange javelins.

I'd be very grateful for any thoughts on this and some explanation to help my angst!

Cheers (puzzled) Paul

Yes this has been raised before. I think the answer was that we should not take the ranges as literal, it is just a game mechanism to allow a javelinman a shot before he gets ridden down in a charge. I think of the unit base as being the "average" position of the unit during the turn, individuals running forward and then returning to the crowd.

Impetus gets around some of the problems of my turn / your turn incremental move systems by being a little more abstract than other rule sets. Hope you enjoy the game.

I agree with what Aurelius has said, especially about the unit base representing the average position of the unit. So FL javelinmen are running up and back in big clumps of men and harassing the enemy as it approaches.

Yep I agree with what Aurelius and Gaius have already said.
I think Impetus handles javelins and light open order troops exceptionally well ...one of the standouts. Keep at it is my advice

As well as the "first move is a free move" rule javelins should also have a "a full move is required to throw javelins beyond point blank" rule ie to get full javelin range you need to commit to a full momentum building move.