Unofficial ADLG Wiki | Classical Greek

Historical Overview Section

There were two defining wars of the Classical era. The Persian Wars (500–448 BC) where Ionian Greek cities revolted against the Persian Empire supported by mainland cities led by Athens. Notable battles of this war include Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea. In 458 BC, while the Persian Wars were still ongoing war broke out between the Athenians and Sparta (and both parties allies) turning in 431 BC into the Peloponnesian War. After decades of sieges and land and naval battles Sparta came out on top but discontent with Spartan hegemony let to war with Thebes who crushed Sparta at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC. In 346 BC however the rising power of Macedon quickly conquered the exhausted cites of Greece

Using the army in ADLG

Spartan Spearmen! Elite!!
You are picking your Thracians to be a pointy edge to enemy spears, and lots of LI to hold terrain
Medium Cavalry can sit behind a spear wall and fill in any gaps
The Spartans can be too expensive, and also too dangerous for the enemy to fight if you take too many of them. 6 may be the realistic limit or the opposition may just avoid them
Width, and attrition are key to winning with hoplites. You want as many hoplites as possible to be in combat for as long as possible, starting as soon as possible
A strategist will bump up initiative allowing you to get across the table and force the opposition to deal with your hoplites
Too many other toys can distract from the core principle of using 4-hit-point hoplites to grind down the enemy.

Useful Links

User-contributed links about this army:

Building a viable list for this army : A Madaxeman.com Podcast
Visit Marathon Tourist board images and videos from re-enactments at the battle site
Gorgon Studios guides to painting Skirmishers, Spartans and Helots
Greek Shield Designs Luke Ueda-Sarsons page of ideas for painting

Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus

Thessalians DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

Essex Miniatures - bit dull these days, but OK. Separate spears
Donnington
Xyston - pretty big chaps, Separate spears
AB from Fighting 15s also very large, but may just about mix with Xyston
Museum Miniatures Rather tall and lanky even next to Xyston, limited number of poses
Black Hat Miniatures (previously Gladiator Games)
Old Glory 15's, usual OG - pretty good, pretty cheap.
Magister Militum One piece castings - spear in hand
Minifigs
Irregular Miniatures
Lancashire Games
QRF Models Some skirmishers in the Hellenistic Greek range.
Tin Soldier Idiosyncratic cartoonish figures
Toolshed Miniatures - again a good match for Xyston. A great variety of clothing, helmet and armor styles among the hoplites, peltasts and light infantry.
Pass o' The North.
Viking Forge

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

Britcon 2022 (V4)
470BC Athenian
Competent Included
4 Hoplites Heavy spearmen armour ------
1 Cretan archer Light infantry bow Elite
1 Slingers Light infantry sling ------
1 Hoplites with General Heavy spearmen armour Elite
1 Horsemen Heavy cavalry ----
1 Paphlagonians Light cavalry javelin ----
==
Competent Included Unreliable
1 Hoplites with General Heavy spearmen armour Elite
4 Hoplites Heavy spearmen armour ------
1 Slingers Light infantry sling ------
1 Horsemen Heavy cavalry ------
1 Paphlagonians and Thracians Light cavalry javelin ----
1 Cretan archer Light infantry bow Elite
==
Spartian Ally: Ordinary Allied
5 Spartan Hoplites Heavy spearmen armour
1 Slingers Light infantry sling

60 Spartan (v4 list Devonian Classic)
Strategist
2 Peltasts Javelinmen ------
2 Replaced hoplites Medium spearmen Elite
2 Thracians Medium swordsmen 2HW ------
2 Spartan hoplites Heavy spearmen Elite
2 Archers Light infantry bow ----
1 Thracian Cavalry Light cavalry javelin ----
==
Competent
2 Spartan hoplites Heavy spearmen Elite
2 Archers Light infantry bow ------
3 Hoplites Heavy spearmen ------
==
Competent
2 Spartan hoplites Heavy spearmen Elite
2 Archers Light infantry bow ------
3 hoplites Heavy spearmen ------

"12 Hoplites" Podcast List #2
Brilliant
5 Hoplites
1 MCv Horseman
1 LH Javelin
1 Peltast Javelinman
1 Cretan LF Bow Elite
1 Psiloi LF Bow
==
Ordinary Included Unreliable
1 Elite Hoplite
3 Hoplites
2 LF Javelin
==
Strategist
1 MCv Horseman
1 LH Javelin
1 sacred Band Elite
3 Hoplites
2 Thracians
1 Javelinman
1 Cretan LF Bow Elite
1 LF Bow

"12 Hoplites" List #1
Strategist
2 Theban LH Javelin
5 Hoplites
1 LF Javelin
1 Sacred Band
1 Theban MCv
==
Ordinary Included Unreliable
3 Hoplites
2 LF Bow
2 Mediocre Hoplites
1 Elite Hoplite
==
Competent Included
2 Hoplites
2 Thracians
2 Hoplites Mediocre
1 Elite Hoplite
2 LF Bow
1 Peltast Javelinman

60 Spartan (Gollop - Britcon 2019)
Brilliant
4 Hopilites Heavy spearmen ------
2 Elite Hopilites Heavy spearmen Elite
2 Thracans Medium swordsmen 2HW ------
2 Peltests Light infantry sling ------
==
Brilliant
3 Hopilites Heavy spearmen ------
2 Elite Hopilite Heavy spearmen Elite
4 Gallic Merceneries Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
1 Peltest Light infantry sling ----
==
Ordinary
2 Horsemen Medium cavalry Mediocre
2 Light Horse Light cavalry javelin ------
2 Peltest Javelinmen ----

200 Points Spartan
Ordinary Included
2 Spartan Citizens Hoplites Heavy spearmen armor Elite 12 24
2 Hoplite Heavy spearmen armor Ordinary 10 20
2 Hoplite Heavy spearmen Ordinary 8 16
2 Skirmishers Light infantry bow Elite 5 10
==
Ordinary included
2 Spartan Citizens Hoplites Heavy spearmen armor Elite 12 24
2 Hoplites Heavy spearmen armor Ordinary 10 20
2 Hoplite Heavy spearmen Ordinary 8 16
2 Skirmishers Light infantry sling Ordinary 4 8
==
Thessalian Ally Competent Allied
2 Medium Cavalry Medium cavalry Ordinary 7 14
2 Thessalian Light Cavalry Light cavalry javelin Ordinary 6 12
3 Thessalian Hoplites Heavy spearmen Ordinary 8 24
2 Peltasts Javelinmen Ordinary 7 14
1 Peltasts Light infantry javelin Ordinary 4 4