Irregular Troops

A long time ago in the distant past (well, the late 1980’s actually) the old 7th Edition WRG Rules
made a distinction between regular and irregular troops. But this distinction disappeared in
DBA 1.0, 2.0 and 2.2, so 3/4 figure foot were treated as being the same as each other.
However, DBA 3.0 re-introduced the distinction with the concept of ‘Fast’ and ‘Solid’ foot
(although why Phil Barker didn’t use proper established military terms such as ‘loose order’
and ‘close order’ is anybody’s guess. Skirmishers are always in ‘open order’).

So why not re-introduce the distinction between irregular and regular troops to DBA 3.0 as well,
if this can be done in a simple manner that won’t slow down play?

Regular Troops = these are the standard existing DBA troops, who use a six-sided die roll.
Irregular Troops = use a modified six-sided die roll...-1 if you roll a ‘1’, and +1 if you roll a ‘6’.

So irregular troops are not inferior to regulars, they are just a little bit more unpredictable.
Unforeseen random events, such as the wounding of a popular officer or warrior, may
cause them to fight half-heartedly, or it may cause them to fight fanatically as they try
to protect the body of their fallen comrade...and this could change from minute to minute.
Regulars on the other hand are more dependable, and not so erratic.

Generals: these are also classed as either irregular or regular, and use the same modified die
mentioned above when they roll for PIP’s or when rolling for aggression.
(Note that Plough becoming Rough Going and discovering River conditions will be as it is now...
...a roll of ‘1’ is still a roll of ‘1’ and a roll of ‘6’ is still a roll of ‘6’, before modification)

Which Troops Are Irregular?
I’ll leave it up to players themselves to decide who is regular and who is irregular,
but here are some guidelines:-

Regulars: 4Pk (exception: Swiss 4Pk are irregular, to represent their ferocity?)
                4Bw (exception: Indian 4Lb and Persian 8Bw are irregular, unless Immortals?)
                4Ax (Greek Thureophoroi & Thorakitai, Imperial Roman Auxilia, and trained barbarians)
                Art (these need considerable training to be able to use their machines effectively)

Irregulars: all Warbands, all Hordes, all 3Ax, all 3Bw, all Chariots, and all Elephants (for obvious reasons)
                  Most Ps (exceptions: Paionians, Agrianians, Aitolians, Balearic & Rhodian Slingers, Cretan Archers,
                  and Polybian Roman Velites, but not Camillan Leves, are regular Ps)
                  Most LH (exceptions: Tarentine shielded LH and Imperial Roman Illyrain LH are regulars)
                  WWg (exception: Hussite War Wagons are regulars?)

Hoplites: as these were city militia, I’d make them irregulars (exceptions: Theban 8Sp, Mercenary Hoplites,
               and Sacred Bands are regulars. And ½ rounded down of the Sp in a so called ‘Spartan Army’ can
               be full Spartiate regular Spearmen while the others are irregular Spearmen from subject cities)

The rest depend on the General: an irregular general will usually have all irregular troops under his command,
while a regular general will have mostly regular troops with some hired irregulars. But it is entirely possible to have
a regular general on an irregular element, say an Elephant...he rolls for PIP’s as a regular but fights as an irregular.

Examples:-
HYW French have an irregular general, so irregular troops except for regular Genoese Crossbowmen.
HYW English have a regular general, so regular 4Bd and regular 4Lb, the rest (including 3Kn) being irregular.
Alexander the Great and all his Successors are regular Generals, so they have regular Companion 3Kn.
Darius of Persia is an irregular General, so has irregular 3Kn but regular Mercenary Hoplite Spearmen.
And so on...

It may seem trivial, but it’s simple and does add a little more historical authenticity to otherwise bland armies...