Celtic "Picked Men"

[IanN]

Has noticed aa option in a number of the Celtic/Germanic lists for TUGs of "Picked Men". These are all Superior, and are limited to one TUG  (6 bases) per command. Question is ... who were they ? Have found no reference to any such troops, the only 'quality' guys been named as Soldurii (Gallic), Chatti (early German) or Princes, Nobles etc in later Germanic lists. This "feels" like a way of trying to improve the warband based armies (yes please), but without any real justification.  Maybe a better way of achieving such would be to enable the front rank bases of such warbands to be upgraded to Melee Expert. This would provide some resilience (briefly) whilst still keeping the appropriate status and proportion of quality troops.  It's odd when Ancient Brits (and others) can provide 24 Superior warband whilst those nations with named quality troops are restricted to substantially less.  If "picked men" are to be retained in future lists (boo hiss) then restrict them to commands of Ally or Army commanders only.   Similarly, the Soldurii in the Lowand Gallic should have same restiction, but with an increased maximum of 12 to simulate the tribes during the Telamon campaign.   

[lionheartrjc]

The TuGs of Superior warriors in many tribal armies are really there to add interest to the tribal armies.  The fact there is no reference to such troops in the Ancient sources is unsurprising, the classical writers weren't interested in the barbarians.  Elite units get mentioned in "civilised" armies, but few details of barbarian armies appear.

I don't agree that upgrading front rank bases with ME is a better approach, if anything it might weaken barbarian armies (as the front rank gets killed quickly). 

We are planning a change to Gallic Soldurii, similar to what you are suggesting.

Richard