This list covers the period from Decabalus organization of the Dacian Kingdom to its final conquest by Rome. Assisted by their difficult mountain and forest terrain of Translyvania, the Dacians proved a very difficult nut to crack, several of the campaigns waged by the Romans against them ended in a stand-off or Dacian victories. Dacia was a wealthy and more civilized kingdom that fought in the Celtic style. The nasty "halberd" specified for Bastarnae and some Dacians is the Falx, probably best identified with their Thracian ancestor’s Rhomphaia. Bastarnae differ from their Dacian neighbors in wearing skull caps and baggy trousers. Appian called them "the bravest nation of all".. The normal historical Dacian tactic of canalizing an enemy attack with difficult terrain, absorbing its initial shock with massed infantry, then hitting it in the flank with impetuous falx charges is hard to improve on. In theory, Sarmatian allies wouLDcompensate for the lack of Dacian cavalry, but in practice, infantry ambushes from nearby cover seem a more reliable method of countering enemy cavalry. The Bastarnae are a package deal requiring infantry to be purchased along with cavalry. (pg 9, Army Lists, Phil Barker)
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| Characters | The army must have a Lord. Up to 33% in characters. |
| Cavalry | Fifteen percent (15%) of points may be spent on Cavalry. |
| Warriors | At least 33% of the point value of the Army. |
| Allies | A third of the Army may be in Allies (Sarmatian). |
The minimum size for a regiment is five models.. One model in each unit may be upgraded to LEADER (+5 points), STANDARD BEARER (+5 points), and MUSICIAN (+5 points). Bastarnae must have a cavalry in order to have a warrior unit fielded.
SPECIAL RULESWARBANDS: See WAB rulebook.
ALLIES: It is not unknown to have a Sarmatian force standing by as apparently disinterested observers while their hapless allies crumple or win by their own efforts. The first time an allied unit wishes to move, charge or shoot a D6 must be rolled.
Die Roll Action
1 The unit must remain stationary and my not shoot, but may defend itself if attacked in close combat and choose charge reactions.
2-6 The unit acts as normal.
Once a unit moves or shoots successfully the test need not taken again, i.e. a cav unit moves on turn one and rolls a 1, it will need to test the next time it moves or shoots. If it passed, then no test is needed again.
FALX: A battle-scythe with a recurved blade that act as a "halberd". See bonus for Halberd in WAB which gives a +1 to strength. The main enemy of Dacia was Rome. Legions wore a special "Limb Armor" to counter the Falx. This is the Heavy Armor option in the Roman list. The shield was not used with the falx. Parvan references the Bastarnae with a larger and heavier "yataghans" (falx), you may try a 2 handed weapon with a +2 to strength and last strike. This list gives the Bastarnae falx a parry for a +1 to save.
TERRAIN: The dacian commander may roll two free terrain rolls after normal terrain placement due to the heavy terrain in Dacia. These free rolls may be automatically taken as "Hill or Wood".
HIDDEN AMBUSH FORCE: see the WAB rules or the Byzantine Army list.
LIGHT INFANTRY: Light Infantry in close formation can move through difficult terrain without difficulty, are based on 25x25s and have a +2 rank bonus. Normal rules for very difficult terrain and obstacles apply and they may skirmish as normal (per Jervis Johnson, WI, Oct 94, p.46).
STUBBORN : The Bastarnae are a Northern neighbor of Dacia and of a German stock. The standard German stats reflect them. See Stubborn in the WAB rules.
CHARACTERS
DACIAN LORD of WAR...................................................................140 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Lord | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
Equipment: Sword
Options: May have javelin (+2 points), light armor (+3 points), shield (+2 points), falx (+2 points), throwing spear (+2 points), horse (free).
Special: General, Warbands
0-1 BATTLE STANDARD..................................................................50 points
The famous Draco Standard or Vexillum Banner.
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| StandardBearer | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
Equipment: Sword
Options: May have javelin (+2 points), light armor (+3 points), shield (+2 points), horse (free), falx (+2 points).
Special: Army Standard, Warbands
0-? PRINCE ......................................................................................70 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Prince | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
Equipment: Sword
Options: May have javelin (+2 points), light armor (+3 points), shield (+2 points), throwing spear (+2 points), falx (+2 points). horse (free)
Special: Warbands
1+ WARRIORS..........................................................................5 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Warriors | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Armed with shield s and a mixture of weapons including sword, javelin, ax, and spear
Options: May replace mixed weapons and shield with the falx (+1 points).
Special: Warbands, Light troops
There must be a mixed weapon warband for every falx.
0-1* BASTARNAE WARRIORS...............................................8 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Bastarnae | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Armed with falx
Options: none
Special: Stubborn, Warbands, Light troops , May purchase a Prince that is allowed to be Stubborn at (+3 points), A larger Bastarnae falx gives a +1 save due parry ability. * Must also have a unit of Bastarnae Cavalry.
SKIRMISHERS.............................................................................3 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Skirmishers | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Armed with mixture of weapons including sword, javelin, ax, and spear.
Options: Buckler (+1 points)
Special: Warbands, Light troops that must stay in skirmish.
ARCHERS........................................................................................6 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Warriors | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Armed with sword and composite bow.
Options: none
Special: Warbands, Light troops.
0-4 LIGHT BOLT THROWER................................................................20 + 8 points per crew
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Crew | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Scorpio | - | - | - | - | 6 | 2 | - | - | - |
Crew: Each machine has a two or three man crew.
Equipment: The crew are armed with swords.
Options: None
Special rules: Bolt thrower range = 36". Strength = 4/-1 per rank, no save, D3 wounds per hit.
1 DACIAN LIGHT CAVALRY................................................12 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| LightCavalry | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Armed with buckler and a mixture of weapons including sword, javelin, ax, and spear.
Options: May have shield s at (+1 points)
Special: Warbands, Light troops, no rank bonus
0-1* BASTARNAE LIGHT CAVALRY..........................................14 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| LightCavalry | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Armed with buckler and a mixture of weapons including sword, javelin, ax, and spear
Options: May have shield s at (+1 points), light armor (+1 points)
Special: Warbands, Light troops, stubborn , no rank bonus. * Must have a unit of Bastarnae Warriors in army.
SPECIAL CHARACTER
KING DECABALUS...............................................................................................150 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Decabalus | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
Equipment: Armed with a sword and mounted
Options: May have javelin (+2 points), light armor (+3 points), shield (+2 points), falx (+2 points, but no shield ).
Special: General, Warbands, Decabalus is a cunning general and his skills are an inspiration to all. He was heavily reliant on the fighting withdrawal. Dacian units within his leadership radius are allowed to disengage as if they were drilled troops. Units are turned 180 degrees and moved up double their movement during the compulsory movement phase. May replace the Lord Character as General.
ALLIES
SARMATIAN CATAFRACTS CAVALRY...........................28 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| Cataphract | 7/6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
Equipment: Armed with sword and kontos, light armor and barded horse, short bow
Options: May have heavy armor (+2 points)
Special: Cataphracts Cavalry
SARMATIAN HEAVY CAVALRY......................................18 points
| Profile | M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD |
| HeavyCavalry | 8/7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Armed with sword and throwing spear, shield and light armor, short bow
Options: May have heavy armor (+1 points), may replace throwing spear and shield with kontos.
Special: Rank bonus of +1