hey McFungos :)

The difference with the Band is it's formation and it's leader. Mat would like to increase the number of missile troops, but he hasn't been able to yet. Remember he's been gone for a good bit of the time. So right now the Band is kinda in between traditional troop makeup and Hawkwing troop makeup.

Right now the band is about one half mounted and one half foot. Of the foot it is about one archer or crossbowman per four pike or billmen. (Source: The Guide) This is only marginally different from Randland armies. The big difference is that the Band is essentially a mercenary troop, yet has a structure of command found only in the elite of the national armies or the Whitecloaks. The effectiveness of the Band is directly tied to Mat. Mat is now a military genius and so the Band keeps winning. Until he has the time to continue reforming them however... they aren't much different from any other elite force. Mat's commanders are all capable but none of them quite understand how to emulate his tactics, left to himself Talmanes will go charging off... Daerid might be able to use Mat's tactics, once explained, but unfortunately he's a commoner and the men won't follow him without a noble's word to back him up.

As everyone agrees, The Legion is a completely different troop type however.