bang for your buck

**Rilder** · 07-10-2009, 20:58

Originally Posted by Ignopotens

If you can get them (only available to Getai, Sweboz, and Saromatae), Dacian Komatai are cheaper and more effective than Greek skirmishers

Komatai are awesome light infantry no doubt, though I wouldn't group them with akontistai, since Komatai are really a form of line infrantry and Akontistai are skirmishers through and through.

Also basically any form of infantry with javelins has a good bang for the buck.

**Watchman** · 07-10-2009, 21:08

"Light infantry" usually covers everything from archers and slinger to open-order lightly equipped shock troops intented for combat in rough terrain, you know... Anyways, strictly speaking the Komatai are skirmishers, and "levy/militia" grade at that. Being ornery and warlike barbarians they just get enough special stat bonuses, and carry good enough war gear, to be actually effective close combatants if necessary.

Getic "line" infantry would actually be the Stratiotai and maybe Kostobokoi...

**Rilder** · 07-10-2009, 21:39

Originally Posted by Watchman

"Light infantry" usually covers everything from archers and slinger to open-order lightly equipped shock troops intented for combat in rough terrain, you know... Anyways, strictly speaking the Komatai are skirmishers, and "levy/militia" grade at that. Being ornery and warlike barbarians they just get enough special stat bonuses, and carry good enough war gear, to be actually effective close combatants if necessary.

Getic "line" infantry would actually be the Stratiotai and maybe Kostobokoi...

Originally Posted by Unit description

The Komatai, also called 'daoi' or 'wolves,' make up the bulk of the tribal forces of the Getai.

Makes them out to be the basic infantry forces of the Getai, I just assume they are the standard levy, and the majority of an army would probably be levy anyways.

I'm kinda bias though, an entire front line of Komatai has a tendency to destroy units before they even engage, its almost an exploit.

**Watchman** · 07-10-2009, 21:45

The bulk fighting forces of both the Dacians and Thracians was indeed the tribal levy, ie. freeman peasant-warriors. Much like the Germanics that way. But thanks to the local geography and other military circumstances their method of choice was skirmish-heavy light-infantry tactics, something which they were past masters in and which caused overly ambitious Greeks from the south no end of pain.

The point being, they are the backbone at least early on; but they're not a line infantry backbone, although scrappy enough that they work surprisingly well as such if necessary.

**m046720** · 07-10-2009, 22:00

I am using sweboz right now. I guess the levies are good, but i havent taken the region to get the komotoi yet. I guess it's on the to do list. my line infantry is germanic swordsman, but i feel they are too expensive for me. I like to keep upkeep costs down in my armies. i cant get the germanic heavy infantry yet because of the year, but i would only keep maybe two units of them per army anyway b/c of cost. thanks for the input, all.

i also use casse and hk a descent amount. the britons shortswordsmen are good for the price.

**tls5669** · 07-11-2009, 02:27

Lusotannan Light Infantry. 6 javelins and an ap

Another one and one of my favorite light units would be the Balearic Light Infantry. 6 javelins, decent armor, an ap sword and cheaper than the above.

The Thracian Peltast. Nuff said

Bosphoran heavy archers. Nice armor, and archer unit with a .225 sword as a secondary.

I like the Massilian Medium Hoplites also, they do a fine job in any Gaul army.

**Andy1984** · 07-11-2009, 02:59

Roman Accensi. They're dirt cheap (upkeep of 83), and can prove useful in quite a few occasions. I recently saved my garrisson at AkInk by sending these accensi to the back of a 8-exp german bodyguard who were massacring anything I placed in front of them. (Result: close victory, 83% of my soldiers died... Bloody Sweboz)