This army represent the Viking during the period of the Viking/Danish raids on, and invasion of, England. Roughly from the reign of Egbert (~800AD) to Ethelred (1016AD).
| Era: Triumph of Cavalry | Viking 800-1016 | CR: H: 4 L: 2 | BP: 2 | Init: 5 | ||||
| Core | ||||||||
| Number | Type | Description | Key | FV | PROT | Weapon | Cost | |
| 2 | FT | King's Huscarls | Y | 7[1]2 | +2 | Various/Javelin* | ||
| 3 | FT | Jarl's Hindmen | Y | 6[1]2 | +2 | Various/Javelin* | ||
| Bonus: | ||||||||
| 2 | FT | King's Huscarls | Y | 7[1]2 | +2 | Various/Javelin* | 13 | |
| 4 | FT | Jarl's Hindmen | Y | 6[1]2 | +2 | Various/Javelin* | 11 | |
| 3 | FT | Lesser Hindmen | Y | 5[1]1 | +1 | Various/Javelin* | 9 | |
| 4 | FT | Bondi | Y | 4[1]1 | +1 | Various/Javelin* | 6 | |
| 2 | WB | Berserks | Y | 4[1]2 | +1 | Various | 6 | |
| 3 | SI | 2[1]1 | +2 | Bows | 2 | |||
Terrain:
Core: 1 SH
Bonus: (3 Max) 3 GR, 1 SH, 2 W
Notes:
Javelin* - Both Saxons and Vikings are described as opening the battle with a hail of missiles in an attempt to disrupt the enemy shieldwall before contact. Although bows and slings may be present I have simulated this as javelins as it seems likely that this was a short range exchange. Also each unit should be allowed only one 'shot' and this would be lost (even if unused) once the unit had engaged in melee.
The names chosen for the various types are rather arbitary and would have been mixed together in the shieldwall, the better troops being at the front. This cannot be effectively simulated in Armati, the alternative of making all units only slightly different to each other didn't seem to 'fit' with the way other army lists were done.
I feel that there is scope for greater use of Veteran classification to distinguish between units and armies of differing quality and would suggest that the limit of 1 per army could be modified and the limit set by scenario description. I would suggest that only Core units can be Veteran and that the cost be 2pts per unit if more than one Veteran unit is used.
We do not know the composition of any army for this period but there is some evidence that both utilised separate wings and a reserve at times (hence leaving them with 4 Heavy divisions - I had considered reducing this to 3 or even 2) and the 2 Light divisions allow for skirmishers in advance of the shieldwall or to the flanks.
Both Skirmishers and Berserks are optional, there seems to be no certainty that either were used in all battles and so an army consisting entirely of HI is possible for both sides. For the Saxons the Great Fyrd is also available but need not be chosen.
Tony Hughes
List Author: GildasFacit