This poll on the "super armies" is now closed . . .

[stockwellpete]

There has been some prior discussion of the repeated use of the so-called "super armies" in The Slitherine Trophy. Particularly with respect to the fact that if one of the top players has chosen one of them then they are virtually unbeatable for most players. To deal with this issue, there is already a poll running that is clearly in favour of players only being able to use the same army for one match in the tournament. This will largely solve the main problem, I feel, but it would still allow players to just use a different "super army" in the next round.

So to address this secondary issue, I am proposing the following rule change . . . I will provide a list of the "super armies" and players will only be able to use one army from this list during the course of the tournament. In this way, players will have to decide whether to hold their "super army" option back for the later stages of the tournament or use it when they are facing a tricky opponent early in the tournament. Players using a "super army" may pick whichever troop types they like for that match. This could add an extra dimension to the competition.

The list of "super armies" is as follows . . .

Arab Conquest, early
Arab Conquest
Arab Conquest, later
Attalid Pergamenes
Catalan Company, early
Catalan Company
Catalan Company, later
Christian Nubians, early
Christian Nubians
Christian Nubians, later
Dailami Buyids
Dailami Musfarids
Galatians (Macedonian Invasion)
Galatians (Seleucid War)
Galatians
Jewish Revolt (Josephus)
Jewish Revolt, later
Latin Greek Achaians
Macedonian Successor
Romans, Late Republican
Romans, Late Republican, Brutus and Cassius
Romans (Principate), early
Romans (Principate) 25BC-99AD
Romans (Principate)100-196AD
Romans (Principate) 197-217AD
Romans (Principate) 228-259AD
Romans (Principate) 260-284AD
Seleucids, later (post-166BC)
Spartans (Classical)
Spartans, later
Swiss (early)
Swiss
Swiss (Burgundian War)

If you think any other army should be added to this list, please post giving your reasons. This poll will close on Sunday August 17th.

[Londo]

Spartacus Slave Revolt (MF) ...

They'll just slaughter anybody, except Dailami, in close terrain, and still be very competitive against most armies in the open.

[stockwellpete]

Spartacus Slave Revolt (MF) ...

They'll just slaughter anybody, except Dailami, in close terrain, and still be very competitive against most armies in the open.

No, I can't agree here, Paul. They can only have 3x "superior" units.

[Okie]

I feel like the Swiss should be excluded from tournaments as the are just too UBERSTRONG! The only time I've ever lost with them was when the other player had ALL the terrain advantage. Okie
I know this is just my opinion.

[ulysisgrunt]

Okie is right!
I have played against his Swiss; he rolls over other armies like they're "speed bumps"!

Danny Weitz

[stockwellpete]

The Swiss will be staying in the tournament. The Romans can beat them in open terrain and many armies can better them in rough terrain.

[stockwellpete]

This poll is now closed. There is a strong support for introducing the "super army option" rule for the 2014 tournament.