My Hoplite Greek army, whether early or late, is simple in composition, but deadly in application!

The core of the army comprises two hoplite brigades, each of four bases. One is a typical city state hoplite brigade, the other is Spartan. Attached to each hoplite brigade is a brigade of four bases of light spearmen: there to soak up any missile casualties as the hoplites advance and to pester the enemy as charge range is approached. Supporting these four brigades is a brigade of odds and sods: a base of slingers, peltasts, cavalry and light archers.

If the enemy has lots of missile troops, then I deploy with a line of eight hoplite bases in front of a line of eight light bases. The hoplites have the shields and armour to soak up missile casualties at long range without significantly reducing their fighting abilities. As short range is reached, the lights scoot through the hoplite line and soak up the close range missile fire that would actually damage the hoplites and, if possible, do some damage to the enemy. Once within the charge range, the hoplites thunder through any remaining light bases and make contact with the enemy. The next phase, any surviving light bases pile in too, ideally from the flanks.

If the enemy has no significant missile troops, then the hoplites deploy in a line in the centre of the field, with the lights deployed on the flanks. As the hoplites close and pin the enemy line, the lights run round their flanks and attack from the side or behind.

I chose Tin Soldier figures for my hoplite army mainly because they were so different to my usual choice of Essex, but I soon grew to love the almost cubist quality of these figures. They are easy to paint (being almost 20mm and, quite frankly, square!) with lots of relief and wide surfaces to take good shading. The Spartan officers are Xyston (beautiful figures) as Tin Soldier are a bit weak on the  command figure front for the Spartans. The hoplites are probably my favourite figures, each painted in an individual colour scheme, but I keep a place in my heart for the "light javelinmen with moustaches" as well!

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