>>> This page shows the image from the vase showing the Persian spara fort at the battle of Cape Mycale, with a rather flimsy stick holding up the pavisse like spara.
OK, thanks. I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to be seeing in the image you pulled out; is that a short stick in the Perisn'a hand? It's no clearer in Sekunds, 19, which also shows a better version of the Baseggio cup drawing; I'm not convinced that's not a spear propping up the spara.
But I'll leave that part alone, and leave it to others to flog the equine deceased:
http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29542
>>> Herodotus states that after the barricade was knocked down the Persians fought hard but were at a disadvantage "for they lacked shields ", so I take this as a blunt truth that the Persians often had no shields past the spara 'crust'.
And there are those who interpret the struggle at the spara wall to indicate something more. But I think if you look carefully at Mycale, there's something more going on.
>>> I'd make a spara wall something cavalry don't want to deal with, maybe a -1 to hit like phalanx or shieldwall for cavalry and chariots. Troops behind the wall should gain the save of a large shield. In hand to hand, that large shield save should be dropped after round one. No defended obstacles, no messy rank bonus fussing... no muss. Cavalry will avoid because of the ranks- like they always do, infantry can deal with the wall.
Sounds good.
>>> Cost wise I would say it's a push, if a quarter of the models have paid for large shields/pavisses/spara then the whole unit gets the benefit to the front if stationary.
Yep.
>>> The other issue is set-up of Spara- I'd say it isn't movement to set it up- otherwise that cripples the Persian army a bit.. or at least allow it set up at the start.
I'd agree with the former: it's either held up by the bearer, resting on the ground; or he's taken a few seconds to stick his... stick up as a prop.
>>> But I don't know what the official solution will be, I just hope that the defended obstacle interpretation goes away.
Yep.
Thanks. You're capable of more clarity than I am today.
Allen
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