I think part of the problem is the state of the enemy troops. In a "real" battle, we can imagine that they are tired, disorganized and somewhat out of control by the time they have broken your front line. Or possibly have become so in the subsequent pursuit. In FoG they are usually fresh and steady ...

This is probably too big to change, but I would like to see less difference between cavalry and light horse troop types. Unprotected cavalry and light horse are often used in the lists as interchangeable options (for example Skythians and Huns), but they play very differently and adhere to very diff...

I have superior roman legionaries defeat my pikes head-on rather regularly. On a broad front the romans clean-up. I think it's a combination of superior rerolls and the fact that if the romans roll bad and DISR, they are down 1 die and can usually hang on a few turns. If the pike roll bad and DISR t...

That's a good riddle. Clever eye to spot that one. The road goes through the village, be sensible people! Common sense must step in at some point, when the rules aren't completely clear. If I was a ref at a tournament and someone made a fuss .... I'd give them a "yellow card" after I'd stopped laugh...

I think some turning and walking away did happen. I seem to recall a passage in Xenophon's anabasis regarding the battle of Cunaxa. I won't quote, but as the Greeks approached the persian battle line the persian line infantry simply turned and walked away. The Greeks kept after them but never made c...

Like ShrubMik says, I assumed minor differences like this are dealt with by BG quality. The rather vague classification of quality "Superior" could refer to many things ... better morale, better training, better tactics, better formation, better equipment, better hairdos. That's what I do with my La...

Sounds like a good idea. Especially with skirmishers.
Might get awkward when changing formation, making charge moves, or feeding bases into melee.

How did the Thracians play out? What "period" did you use? I am tempted to try that army myself .. they are fun to paint.

Always measure everything! Shooting, charges, moves etc. Also good to know where rout moves will end up, and if your team will be close enough to see there friends fleeing in terror. In games where you are forbidden to measure, usually people come up with some sneaky way of doing it anyway. There ar...

I like to have two period-matched opposing armies ... great for when a friend comes over. Alexander vs Late Achaemenid Persian is an example. You can play either side, the armies are well balanced against each other, and generally the rules and lists are based on matching in-period armies for accura...

It's not a horrible list. It's missing some of the late hellenistic "glam" like superior pikemen and cataphracts, or elite agema, but don't play it like one of those lists. I've played this list a few times, its not too bad. I have the most trouble against romans usually. I think the strengths of th...

I find playing historical opponents is the most fun. In fact, I prefer to pick a date and stick to it. The results are more meaningful, and you can often use historical tactics. Alexander the Great vs Vlad Dracul does it really matter what the end result is? If you win or lose can you really claim a...

Early Achaemenid Persian All the history describes their armies as enormous million-man affairs (all lies of course). And really, not that bad an army if you fill it up with lots of cheap foot and ignore the fancy toys. You can actually darken the sky with arrows. The king of kings is great for a ce...

I have some interest in Thracians, and I thought it would be very reasonable to take some Greek Mercs ... Xenophon's Anabasis describes just that. Suethes (SP?) makes a move for kingship and hires Xenophon and his gang to do some of the dirty work. He knew his hill-tribe army lacked some solid muscl...

I don't know what "simple green" is, but I've been using automotive brake fluid. Any Brand will do.
Soak the plastic soldiers in it, scrub with brush.

Sounds the same as "simple green" to me, and maybe it's cheaper.

They vary from army to army.
You'd have to be more specific to get a better answer than this.
Most foot in that book are MF, with some LF and hardly any HF. I don't think there are many mixed groups.
Spaers and bows and swordmen everywhere, but not all armies have all.

I'll give you my opinions. I assume you are using the "Skythian or Saka" list from the "Immortal Fire" book. 550BC to 50AD I like this army, and I have faced variations of it a few times. I have a few Saka mercenaries for my Persians. Fun to paint. 1 -- the quality rating for your LH BGs (battle Gro...

I think this list looks like a lot of fun. I've half a mind to try something like that myself.
Need figures? Achaemenid Persians should do the job nicely.
15mm try Xyston miniatures
28mm try Wargames foundry or Vendel.

I'll be moving out there soon, Ottawa and valley area.
Is there any clubs or whatnots?

Sounds like a safe bet to me. From the FoG Pontic list you have troops listed as Thracians classed as Heavy Weapon, as well as the Bastarnae. Later Thracians are well documented (there is an osprey book), the Bastarnae I think are more germanic -- more like Dacians. There were also some "black sea" ...

I recommend the following: The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome, by Phil Barker a wargames research group publication Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars, by Duncan Head another wargames research group publication These two books are not illustrated in colour, but they are packed with info an...