Newbie questions

[rage13]

A couple of, hopefully, quick questions -

1. As it is probably almost impossible to get to bang on 10,000 points - is there a generally accepted convention for working out army lists - such as can never exceed, or exceed by the cost of the cheapest base or 10% or what?

2. Preparing for my first game using Nikephorian Byzantines & not sure about the regraded skutatoi - can both ranks (spears / archers) have shieldwall? Can I make the rear rank comabat shy or do they both have to be the same?

Thanks in advance.

[nikgaukroger]

A couple of, hopefully, quick questions -

1. As it is probably almost impossible to get to bang on 10,000 points - is there a generally accepted convention for working out army lists - such as can never exceed, or exceed by the cost of the cheapest base or 10% or what?

The convention is that you don't exceed the points limit, if this means that you don't use some points that's the way it goes.

2. Preparing for my first game using Nikephorian Byzantines & not sure about the regraded skutatoi - can both ranks (spears / archers) have shieldwall? Can I make the rear rank comabat shy or do they both have to be the same?

These are answered by the general rules on creating an army at the start of each list book. The relevant bit is:

"Unless specified otherwise, all elements in a UG must be classified identically. Unless specified otherwise, if an optional characteristic is taken, it must be taken by all the elements in the UG for which that optional characteristic is available."

So if you take Shieldwall both ranks must have it (and you need to be in 2 ranks to gain the benefit anyway), likewise Combat Shy.

[lionheartrjc]

For competitions, you don't exceed the stated points value.

For friendly games and scenarios you can of course do whatever you agree with your opponent(s).

[Simon Meg-Meister]

Welcome aboard. 
Fine army.

S