Questions on Troops and Rules

[Fearghus]

Hello,

Planning on having first Chainmail game this coming weekend. It will be with very small forces, and I am planning to use the Appendix A combat table unless someone recommends Appendix B man-to-man (A seemed simpler on first pass).

I have invested in the Reaper Bones and put together a small undead force. I have a mummy wizard; mummy captain (hero or super hero); three mummy with helm, gorget, shield and sword; some mummies in rags; 3 half-naked zombies; and 3 skeletons with longbows.

Advice on the following, or in general, is appreciated:

1. The undead do not check morale, get routed, etc. They fight fearlessly. Is this over-powered? Maybe only the lesser troops fight in this manner until the (super)hero and/or wizard are destroyed? 

2. For the unit of 6 mummies in rags, I plan to use them as LF/HF since they aren't armed or armored. If up against a HH, they get 1 die per 4 men. If it is 6LF v 1HH, are the extra men not counted? If the HH reduces them to less than 4, do they still get 1 die to attack or considered rendered useless?

3. For the mummies in helm, gorget, shield and sword: is that typically considered LF or could it bump to HF? In general, what about making them AF to defend since they are undead? Maybe to OP since mixed with the morale considerations. Also considering just making them heroes for a skirmish or two and treat the captain as a super hero.

4. The zombies I had planned as LF/LF, no charge, always lose initiative.

5. Skeletons with longbows as LF/LF, but again considering upping def up to HF. Otherwise just treating as regular men with bows.

6. The captain wields two weapons (taboo, I know), so I considered making him AF/HF. He only wears a helm, but I still sort of like giving the undead a bump in defense.

7. For the lich/wizard I think the normal wizard rules handle everything fine.

8. All of the undead have ability B, see in darkness as if normal light.

My buddy just got a little bronze dragon mini, so I think he'd like to use that (treat as a blue). I'll supplement him with a few adventurers and pike-men, or just let him have several little heroes and lesser casters.

F.

[Deleted]

Aren't zombies and ghouls in CHAINMAIL's fantasy supplement? I'd base your undead off them.

[Fearghus]

Thank you. I reread the section on wights and found the zombies therein.

I'll try the standard mummies as LH/HH as the wights and the armed/armored unit as MH/HH. They'll move as goblins, see in darkness, not need to test morale. I have no ideas for mummy rot, so I'll just ignore that for now.

Skeletons will move as goblins and fight as LF/LF.

[Fearghus]

2. For the unit of 6 mummies in rags, I plan to use them as LF/HF since they aren't armed or armored. If up against a HH, they get 1 die per 4 men. If it is 6LF v 1HH, are the extra men not counted? If the HH reduces them to less than 4, do they still get 1 die to attack or considered rendered useless?

I am still fuzzy regarding how this works. Assume the following 5pt skirmish.

Force A: 5LF; 100 troops; 5 models.
Force B: 1HH; 20 troops; 1 model.

Assume A has lost 2 models on the first go round, but has made their morale checks and are still in the fight. They aren't at half strength, so they stay (they check at 25% loss, and are removed at 50%). LF vs HH: 1 die per 4 men, 6 kills. In this situation they have 3, not 4. Does A still get a minimum 1 die, or are they rendered ineffective, or is this a situation where we are supposed to use MtM and take it as 3 on 1 (or 3 on 2 since the horse is now attacking)?

[Deleted]

I'd just give the LF one die and call it good. 1-4 figures get 1 die, 5-8 figures get 2 dice, etc.

But HH vs LF is 4 dice per man, 5-6 kills so it's going to be a short fight.

But my advice would be to use larger units. CHAINMAIL 1:20 really doesn't work well for battles this small for the reasons you're seeing. Try 45 or 50 points per side.

[Fearghus]

Thank you, much.

Most of my groups battles are fantasy with a small amount of normal soldiers, but I'll make it a point to have larger groups of regulars when they are used.

[Deleted]

Maybe try 10 Heavy Foot and 5 Heavy Horse against an equal point value of undead and Orcs, just to get a feel for how the rules actually work. Nothing teaches like actual experience.