Viability of Later Ottomans as a Tournament Army

sphallen · Post by **sphallen** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:30 pm

I just finished test playing a list against the Poles. I don't have time to play a lot so looking for input on this list. I'd like to build it, but don't want to spend a bunch of money on an army that may be a dog in tournaments.

It seems that they are not going to have a good answer against high quality mounted. I was lucky enough to get 2 enclosed fields on my side, but the hussars and everything else pretty much shrugged off my shooting with their GC. I took the Wallachians and a group of gendarmes to help out and they did well on their own, but thats only 1 group.

I'd like input on what the more experienced players think.

Thanks,
Steve

KiwiWarlord · Post by **KiwiWarlord** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:33 pm

Yes to some hints/tips on Ottomans.
I have an Ottoman army but have not been able to make use of it as yet due to time constraints.
The Janissaries look ordinary ( was expecting Impact Foot) but have 'Swordsmen', is this good?
The Cavalry can evade a charge so looks like the ancients 'shoot & Scoot' tactics come into play.
What role do Light Horse Lancers have?
Massed artillery look useful.

Some AAR would be useful.
Thanks

deadtorius · Post by **deadtorius** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:23 am

Light horse lancers would come in handy vs other light horse, skirmishing foot, artillery and dragoons, you would get a +POA on impact.
Not likely to do much to pike and shot units unless it was into a flank and you had something else charging into the targets front to keep them occupied.

rbodleyscott · Post by **rbodleyscott** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 9:36 am

Essentially, you need to design your plan around massed artillery - preferably behind field defenses.

My army design has 14 FF divided into two sections. The 6 bases of artillery are deployed last and the above gives some choice of where exactly to place them. At least 4 of the bases are heavy artillery. They are rear supported by Azabs and Tufecki.

Hopefully they will be some terrain about, so that the Janissaries can be placed therein.

The heavy artillery ensures that the enemy is on the back foot and is more or less forced to attack.

The Turkish cavalry then works around either or both flanks of the fortification depending on what the enemy has to face them.

I do not think that the Ottomans will work well as an attacking army.