Dark Age Britain

Late Roman Britain 350AD - 450AD


0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Mounted; Light Armour

1 Comes, (LV4), Sword, Shield, @46pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Sword, Shield @46pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Sword, Shield @38pts
0 to 3, Bodyguards, (LV2), Sword, Shield @36pts each

Any figure may take a Short Spear at 1pt each

Due to his Roman military heritage, the Comes may be upgraded to Brilliant Officer for +5pts


0 to 1, Cataphracts; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Mounted, Heavy Armour, Horse Barding

1, Prefect, (LV2), Lance, Sword @38pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Lance, Sword @31pts
4 - 12 Troopers, Lance, Sword @26pts each


0 to 2, Equites Alares; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Mounted, Light Armour

1, Prefect, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @34pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @27pts
4 to 12, Troopers, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @22pts each

Any figure may take Javelins at 1pt each

0 to 1, Equites Dalmatae; AV 1/2/3; C=3; Mounted, Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Prefect, (LV2), Javelins, Sword, Shield @34pts
4 to 12, Troopers, Javelins, Sword, Shield @22pts each


0 to 2, Legions; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Light Armour

1, Centurion, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @29pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @22pts
6 to 20 Legionaries, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @17pts each

The Centurion may be upgraded to Stubborn at +20pts - but he can affect his own Unit only.

Any figure may take Javelins at 1pt each

0 to 3, Auxilia; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured, Terrain

1, Prefect, (LV2), Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @31pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @24pts
6 to 20, Auxiliaries, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @19pts each

Any figure may take Short Spear at 1pt each

0 to 1, Sagittarii; AV 1/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Prefect, (LV2), Bow, Sword @29pts
6 to 20, Archers, Bow, Sword @17pts each


I am looking at the period 350AD to 750AD - so basically the last years of centralised Roman Rule to just prior to the Viking arrival.

In the 4th Century Roman Britain was actually one of the most prosperous areas of the Empire - as can be seen from the large number of Late Roman Villas still in operation and being upgraded and extended.

Therefore all soldiers can be assumed to be reasonably well equipped with swords etc. from the various Fabricae that had been established.

This is designed to represent the Field Army, however there is no reason why it couldn't represent the various border forces - although in that case I would replace the Cataphracts with another unit of Equites Alares.

Although troops were taken to the continent by Magnus Maximus, Stilicho and Constantine in the years just preceding 410AD, there is no reason to presuppose that all the troops would have left (many had families in Britain after all), and in each case these Generals would have wanted to secure their base in Britain by leaving troops behind. Therefore such forces as were withdrawn could well have been volunteers from existing units or newly raised units, with the original units then recruiting back up to strength from the local population.

Romano-British 450AD - 550AD


0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Mounted, Light Armour, Household

1 Dux, (LV4), Short Spear, Sword, Shield, @54pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @54pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @46pts
0 to 3, Companions, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @44pts each

Any figure may take Javelins at 1pt each

The Dux may be upgraded to either Stubborn (+20pts) or Confident (+30pts) as per the rules


0 to 1, Civitate Equites; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Mounted, Light Armour

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @34pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @27pts
4 - 12 Cavalrymen, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @22pts each

Any figure may take Javelins at 1pt each


0 to 1, Tribal Cavalry; AV 1/2/3; C=3; Mounted, Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Chieftain, (LV2), Javelins, Sword, Shield @34pts
4 to 12, Tribesmen, Javelins, Shield @19pts each

The Chieftain (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
Any tribesmen may take a sword at 3pts or dagger at 1pt each


0 to 2, Civitate Milites; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @27pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Shield @17pts
6 to 20 Soldiers, Short Spear, Shield @12pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
The Standard Bearer and any Soldier may take a sword at 3pts or dagger at 1pt each
Any figure may take Javelins at 1pt each


0 to 3, Tribal Allies; AV 1/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured, Terrain

1, Chieftain, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @27pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Shield @17pts
6 to 20, Tribal Auxiliaries, Short Spear, Shield @12pts each

The Chieftain (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
The Standard Bearer and any Soldier may take a sword at 3pts or dagger at 1pt each
Any figure may take Javelins at 1pt each



0 to 1, Archers; AV 1/2/3; C=2; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Bow @17pts
6 to 20, Archers, Bow @12pts each

Any figure may take a dagger at 1pt

Saxon Raiders 350AD - 550AD


0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour, Household

1 War-Leader, (LV4), Short Spear, Sword, Shield, @49pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @49pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @41pts
0 to 3, Hearthguard, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @39pts each


The War-Leader be upgraded to either Stubborn (+20pts) or Confident (+30pts) as per the rules


0 to 3, Experienced Warriors; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @27pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @20pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Short Spear, Shield @12pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
Any Warrior may take a Sword at 3pts each or a Dagger at 1pt each


0 to 5, Tribesmen; AV 2/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @22pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @15pts
6 to 20, Tribesmen, Short Spear, Shield @7pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
Any Tribesman may take a Sword at 3pts or Dagger at 1pt each


0 to 1, Skirmishers; AV 1/2/3; C=2; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Javelins, Shield @19pts
6 to 20 Skirmishers, Javelins, Shield @14pts each

Any figure may take a Dagger at 1pt each

great job!

Will hopefully add some more soon!

The following list represents the Saxons from their establishment in Britain until the pressures of the Vikings forced a significant change in their military styles.  Personally I have my doubts as to how many of the "Saxons" were actually "Saxons". Just as the Roman invasion led to most of the country being "Roman" with only a veneer of Roman soldiers and administrators - I suspect many of the indigenous people just carried on under new overlords. I like to think that many of the "Saxon" archeological finds are simply because being "Saxon" was the cool new thing on the block, and "Rome" was now unfashionable - especially since the Western Empire fell in 476AD.

I have made the change to Long Spears as indicative of a more "defensive" mindset given that they would be defending their territory from the likes of the Welsh, Irish & Picts rather than being Raiders themselves.

Saxon Settlers 550AD – 800AD

0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour, Household

1 War-Leader, (LV4), Long Spear, Sword, Shield, @51pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Long Spear, Sword, Shield @51pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Long Spear, Sword, Shield @43pts
0 to 3, Hearthguard, (LV2), Long Spear, Sword, Shield @41pts each

The War-Leader be upgraded to either Stubborn (+20pts) or Confident (+30pts) as per the rules

0 to 1, Hearthguard; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour

1, Leader, (LV2), Long Spear, Sword, Shield @34pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Long Spear, Sword, Shield @27pts
4 - 12 Warriors, Long Spear, Sword, Shield @22pts each

0 to 3, Experienced Warriors; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured

1, Leader, (LV2), Long Spear, Sword, Shield @29pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Long Spear, Sword, Shield @22pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Long Spear, Shield @14pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
Any Warrior may take a Sword at 3pts each or a Dagger at 1pt each

0 to 5, Levies; AV 2/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured

1, Leader, (LV2), Long Spear, Sword, Shield @24pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Long Spear, Sword, Shield @17pts
6 to 20, Tribesmen, Long Spear, Shield @9pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts
Any Levy may take a Sword at 3pts or Dagger at 1pt each

0 to 2, Skirmishers; AV 1/2/3; C=2; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Javelins, Shield @17pts
6 to 20 Skirmishers, Javelins, Shield @12pts each

Any figure may take a Dagger at 1pt each

This represents the "post Romano-British phase" where the Saxons had secured most of the "flatter" areas. It has some units which should be really effective in their natural hilly/woody environment, but if you want a really "big" army - you're going to have to bulk it out with Levies (as indeed would most armies of the time).

Welsh 550AD – 800AD

0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour, Mounted, Household

1 Prince, (LV4), Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield, @55pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @55pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @47pts
0 to 3, Hearthguard, (LV2), Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @45pts each

The Prince be upgraded to either Stubborn (+20pts) or Confident (+30pts) as per the rules

0 to 1, Cavalry; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured, Mounted

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @33pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @26pts
4 - 12 Warriors, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @21pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts

0 to 2, Warriors; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured, Terrain

1, Leader, (LV2), Long Spear, Javelins, Dagger, Shield @29pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Long Spear, Javelins, Dagger, Shield @24pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Long Spear, Javelins, Dagger, Shield @19pts each

The Leader (only) may take Light Armour at 2pts

0 to 4, Levies; AV 2/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Shield @17pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Shield @12pts
6 to 20, Levies, Short Spear, Shield @7pts each

Any Figure may take a Dagger at 1pt each

0 to 2, Skirmishers; AV 1/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Bow, Dagger @20pts
6 to 20 Skirmishers, Bow, Dagger @15pts each

Thanks for this Vorlon1025. I'd made a couple of my own tentative lists for this era, but these are great!

The Picts - I have included some "Atecotti" - if only for something a bit different from all those clumps of spearmen!

Picts 350AD – 800AD

0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour, Mounted, Household

1 Chieftain, (LV4), Short Spear, Sword, Shield, @54pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @54pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Short Spear, Sword, Shield @46pts
0 to 3, Nobles, (LV2), Short Spear, Sword, Shield @44pts each

The Chieftain can be upgraded to either Stubborn (+20pts) or Confident (+30pts) as per the rules

0 to 1, Cavalry; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured, Mounted

1, Leader, (LV2), Javelins, Dirk, Shield @28pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Javelins, Dirk, Shield @23pts
4 - 12 Warriors, Javelins, Dirk, Shield @18pts each

Any figure may be upgraded to Scouts at 2pts each.

0 to 1, Atecotti; AV1/2/3; C=5; Unarmoured, Ferocious, Warband, Mercenary

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Dagger, Shield @35pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Dagger, Shield @30pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Short Spear, Dagger, Shield @25pts each

0 to 5, Warriors; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured, Warband

1, Leader, (LV2), Long Spear, Dirk, Shield @27pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Long Spear, Dirk, Shield @22pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Long Spear, Dirk, Shield @17pts each

0 to 2, Skirmishers; AV 1/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Javelins, Shield @19pts
6 to 20, Skirmishers, Javelins, Shield @14pts each

Any Figure may take a Dirk at 1pt each

0 to 2, Archers; AV 1/2/3; C=2; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Bow @17pts
6 to 20 Skirmishers, Bow @12pts each

Any Figure may take a Dirk at 1pt each

NB: A “Dirk” is a Dagger

Aurelius wrote:Thanks for this Vorlon1025. I'd made a couple of my own tentative lists for this era, but these are great!

My pleasure - I'd check the points values very carefully though - every time I look I discover another typo!!

Irish 350AD – 800AD

0 to 1, Command Group; AV 1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour, Chariots, Household

1 Chieftain, (LV4), Javelins, Sword, Shield, @59pts
1 Standard Bearer, (LV2), Army Banner, Javelins, Sword, Shield @59pts
0 to 1, Musician, (LV2), Trumpet, Javelins, Sword, Shield @51pts
0 to 3, Nobles, (LV2), Javelins, Sword, Shield @49pts each

The Chieftain can be upgraded to either Stubborn (+20pts) or Confident (+30pts) as per the rules

Chariots

These are just some provisional rules, which allow the Irish their classic weapon, without being overly complex (I hope!).

Light Armour – applies even if the figure is modelled without armour – as it represents the defensive benefit of the vehicle itself.  

The chariot is counted as two horses, side-by-side so occupies double the frontage of a single rider (and therefore costs +10pts). Typically it will also be double the depth of a single mounted base – therefore it will take up quite a bit of real estate.

The chariot is assumed to carry plenty of spare javelins, so any Chariot can make 2 shots per turn for the whole battle.

The chariot is a light vehicle (given that it has to be shipped to Britannia by Currach for any raids) – therefore if you run it into a ditch, wall, hedge, tree or enemy unit it is assumed destroyed. Roll a D6 – on a 1, 2 or 3 the owner survives to fight on foot, on a 4, 5 or 6 the owner is impaled on an axle.

Don’t bother rolling for the driver – the perk with being a chariot driver is you get a better view at the front* – the drawback is that you’re nearer to the crash than everybody else…

*If you like looking at horse’s bottoms that is.........


0 to 1, Franks; AV1/2/3; C=5; Light Armour, Ferocious, Warband, Mercenary

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @42pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @35pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Short Spear, Javelins, Sword, Shield @30pts each

Probably a bit hypothetical – but they add a bit of variety – I’ve not gone for a Heavy Spear option at the moment until I’ve worked out some rules - in the interim you can replace Short Spear & Javelins with a Hand Axe at +1pt (all or none).


0 to 2, Upper Class Warriors; AV 1/2/3; C=4; Unarmoured, Warband

1, Leader, (LV2), Short Spear, Dagger, Shield @25pts
1, Standard Bearer, Unit Banner, Short Spear, Dagger, Shield @20pts
6 - 20 Warriors, Short Spear, Dagger, Shield @15pts each

0 to 4, Lower Class Warriors; AV 2/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured, Warband

1, Leader, (LV1), Javelins, Shield @14pts
6 to 20, Warriors, Javelins, Shield @9pts each

Any Figure may take a Dagger at 1pt each

0 to 2, Skirmishers; AV 1/2/3; C=2; Unarmoured, Skirmishers

1, Leader, (LV1), Javelins @15pts
6 to 20 Skirmishers, Javelins @10pts each

Any Figure may take a Dagger at 1pt each

War Dogs 350AD – 800AD

An apparent favourite, even though I think they probably have less evidence for them than the Roswell Landings – but hey ho!

Available to Saxon Raiders, Picts, Irish – can only be taken in place of an ordinary skirmish unit.

0 to 1, AV 1/2/3; C=3; Unarmoured, Skirmishers, Ferocious

3 to 12 Skirmishers, Sword @17pts

For every three figures taken, up to two of them may each be replaced by a model of a warhound – this must occupy the same bases size as the other skirmisher figures, and counts as exactly the same.

Dogs being quicker than humans however they can make two attacks per turn.

Dogs being smarter than humans however they run off if all the humans in the unit are killed.