Celts, Gaul and Albion part 1
Having shared my Legiones Antiquitata Roman army a few weeks ago I thought it was time to put up their essential and at times existential enemy The Celts. For the Romans the Celtic tribes to the north of the peninsula were the focus of their expansion to create a safe space after the sack of Rome in 390 BC long before the Carthaginians were seen as rivals. It is the Celts as seen by the Romans and Greeks that this army roughly represents rather than any earlier Halstatt or Atlantic Crescent Celts or later post Roman identity. However this being Legiones where reality and myth intermix freely we don't really need to worry too much! These Celts are Gallic, Galatians and Britons from the mythic isle of Albion.
In this part I will cover the more conventional units while part two will cover the unconventional, more mythical elements.
Army rule - The standard Celtic army rule gives all Celtic troop types the Impetuous attribute which gives them rerolls on misses on their first combat if it qualifies as a charge. If not, ie they are charged first or start/end in terrain they lose their impetuous status. This only affects troops with the Celtic label and neither heroes nor beasts.
Celtic Chieftain
At the head of all Celtic armies stands the chieftain either on foot or mounted on a chariot. The foot version has slightly better close combat stats whilst the chariot obviously has mobility and the ability to lead 2 other chariots into a charge or a hit and run maneuver. On foot he can also have a bodyguard unit that can take hits for him while adjacent - which it a;ways should be as he has the in-built follow me attribute to drag two units around with him!
Celtic Chief in Chariot
Most of the miniatures here are from the 3d breed range and where they are not I will mention the STL supplier
Bodyguard unit
I have modeled my bodyguard unit as a clearly obvious command team rather than as another warrior unit but any more heavily armoured warriors would do the trick. As stated above these can absorb half the damage meant for the Chief (or any hero on foot) as long as it remains alongside him.
Celtic Mythic Heroes
Celtic heroic figures are part of the whole Celtic (and Norse) mythos and the Celts can take up to 3 of these hard hitting heroes. They are almost as expensive as the Chief but are kitted out for dealing damage in close combat with Skilled and Cleave giving them 2 attacks per turn. They are vulnerable to missile fire and anything with critical heroes though and at 4 VP each they are a big loss on the balance sheet.
Hero miniatures by Titanforge - sold as barbarians but I thought they looked Celtic myth
Druid
Standard Legiones magician stats for the Druid, 5 spells and 5 casting dice this particular druid is by Archvillain miniatures from the Moondance collection.
Cauldron
Getafix's cauldron which like all totems in all armies has the double role of allowing adjacent magicians to reroll casting fails and to any units within 4 hexes and line of sight to reroll 1s and 2s. All armies in Legiones have a similar item for example the Romans have an Eagle, the Japanese a small shrine..
The Cauldron was a free STL off Cults.
Celtic Warriors
Standard warrior stats, they are best used as a Massed unit of 5 or 6 units with a veteran. This allows them to maximise their Support rerolls and the veteran can move them all on a 3+ card and have some throw their pointy sticks while others charge into close combat. Without the veteran they must all act identically and remain in base contact. Useful to hold a 5 point objective for a couple of turns.
Celtic Cavalry
Also pretty standard medium cavalry with Charge for an extra attack when they qualify as a charge and the Hack ability to take a free die attack at any enemy slower than themselves which moves away from an adjacent hex.
Celtic Chariots
Like the Celtic cavalry but better as they have both Charge if they want to close combat but also the ability to hit and run with missile fire suffering no disadvantage. With Skilled on missile they can be annoying in open ground but hopeless in any other terrain.
Scythed Chariot
Of dubious historical provenance with one mention by a later Roman historian nonetheless the opportunity is far too cool to pass by and as such a Celtic army in Legiones has access to a single Scythed Chariot. As you would expect it has charge for an extra attack on the actual charge plus impact to reduce enemy saves and unstoppable to allow a follow up attack. It also has self detruct to allow another disadvantaged attack at the very end of its activation but with the downside that it it removed from play with consequent loss of victory points.
Celtic Gaesati
The Romans reported that some Gauls called Gaesati fought naked at the front of the army hurling themselves at the enemy with casual disregard for their lives or fashion. Too good to miss Celtic armies can deploy just 3 units of these exhibitionists who are pretty deadly on the charge but will not last long.
Celtic hunters
While massed archery never seems to have been a part of Celtic armies some skirmishers with bow sling or javelin were used and I have a small number of the more skilled and cunning included as Hunters. These are the light infantry with skilled missile and critical beasts so ideal for taking out enemy beasts such as trolls, lions etc from the edge of cover into which they will Evade if attacked.
Celtic Javelinmen
Cheap skirmish infantry taken mainly for the Ambush attribute allowing them to hide in terrain beyond the deployment zone and be a bit of a nuisance/speed bump. The ability to pass through and be passed through by friendly troops can be annoying as they can screen better troops behind.
Part Two will see the rest of the army being mainly the mystical elements such as banshees, sprites, dryads, treemen and giants. There will be no leprechauns or Harps!!