Troop types for 'Byzantiad' campaign

In my last posting, I presented several army lists , but provided no information ('stats') then upon strength points or weapons or fighting capability. At that point I had not yet determined 'labels' identifying troop types. I'll do that in this posting, and then later present the Army Lists again with the appropriate 'stats'. The following 'stats' are designed specifically for use with the FP3x3PW rule set.

In the centre, Byzantine cataphracts making
life miserable for Bulgar spearmen

         

 Some further explanations are called for here.

Those types that have a shooting range listed may shoot at any target in the adjacent square (Range 1).  They may also shoot before close combat, whether contacting or making contact.  However they can shoot only once in their own turn, counting as 'shooting before contact' if they are then moved into close combat.

Some troops are permitted under this regime to shoot before close combat only, when contacted or making contact.  They may not shoot in any other circumstance (it's a shooting range thing).

'Shooting before contact' takes place only at the beginning - i.e at the moment of first contact - of a close combat that lasts over more than one turn.  If contact is broken off, then shooting before contact can apply to a subsequent close combat.

Byzantine skoutatoi: 'protected bowmen' 
as I have styled them, on account of the 
leading rank(s) of spears.

Note that opposing forces in adjacent squares are not necessarily in close combat.  Who initiates a close combat moves the combatant unit to overlap slightly the edge of the square containing the enemy.  Any supporting unit must be in front to rear (or possibly flank to flank)  contact with the attacking unit.  Supporting units do not add to shooting before contact.

I'm thinking of permitting light horse to retreat 2 spaces if forced to retreat.  However, it is an option that might not very often be realisable.

I have finally abandoned my suggested reduction of light troops to SP=1 as being unnecessary as well as impractical.

Abasgian 'charging cavalry'.

Commanders -

Owing to the way my armies have been assembled, I am considering attaching generals/ commanders/ rulers permanently to their units, rather than as separate stands.  This will have the following effect:

Such units add 1 to their standard SP.  This will make a Rus axemen command unit - the Druzhina - a formidable unit indeed at 4SP; unique in this campaign. 

The commander's unit will always have the extra +1 to close combat, and to shooting, if applicable.

If the commander's unit is supporting a close combat, rather than being directly engaged, the combatant unit will receive +1 bonuses for the supporting unit and the general, both.

If the commanded unit takes a hit that reduces its SP, the fate of the command is rolled for, a '6' indicating the loss of the commander, and hence an extra loss of SP.  It will also lose bonuses for the commander's presence.

For the rest, the rule set to be followed will be the FP3x3PW modification of the DPW rule set for 'Ancients' warfare.

To be continued -
- The modified army lists. units identified by 'type'
- The Byzantiad Begins
Spoiler alert:
      Barbarian raids in the north and southeast
      Provincial disaffection in much of the Empire's Mediterranean littoral

      One provincial commandant declares an independent despotate...