Mark recently got me into playing HOTT, wow, what a blast I really enjoy creating an army from the ground up- you can add whatever you like as long as it fits under the 24AP allowance, and it has theme. This gave me a perfect excuse to paint up my 1/72 Zvezda Persians. This was great, what an awesome set of models. All those pinheads on TMP who knock 1/72 can boil their arses, these models are beautiful.
The army consists of one element of riders- Scythian or other types of cavalry, used to support my heavy hitting Hero on the army right flanks since they move 500 paces and can keep up.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHMppF72FZkyBs_o5WaAIHmXseEpJ1V1kToB4EYt8HRI0Ora7Q3nl7YlBRr0VRpyRVmtBEsG4sSrLXwZk3LcHoh7xnjvOUXXLKABjit1di6PmyeT5jeK17upO3a2lQt6qJfG5nmBg3KQ/s320/HOTT+010.JPG)
I paired a Hero in chariot on the right flank. This is the quick strike force, in the first 3 games this pair of elements threatened a stronghold and rolled up the flank of a line of Elven blades. The chariot model is very nice:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdZd2RsQojVUQOWDLC91cV7Pc_GrJu2-H71JihsInPKz9gv5ypOsNGDupClZnluatBFGdaWg3FdZII1R0dJVhTAjgGWTfgkKx7NHOvIoby9TJYlV90H9S_s3GvnZOr9H-XK5546VltGA/s320/HOTT+008.JPG)
In the center, I used one war elephant (behemoth) which gives the line punch:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_xw9Lx3mXqFQADbAyvJBsKZ5ljOP-b56PfsyYYfAq6JAUl_HKY7-qkFKKstGmLXF7efvsKe96zfE_02gdiN-khsxqxmZwP04V6YqJp50kCIKFotdG4Wim8bVdMGaEFw-DQmPNMGePLU/s320/HOTT+007.JPG)
The jumbo is flanked by 2 heavy cavalry (knights) who match the pace and also pursue, so are good elements to support a behemoth. Just don't get stuck behind the elephant.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuiUaLA_K0VgeB1TXuAnji4cbKWY4wnXXYxa6BcWIVf667gaCxbio6WzQ1yK6LyYg6MGYuiptgbAtQIMrJ-HyCEoSgnsCZXRuB-9Y_ZGg_O3olRq-Sk94zCHpwPhMQeJnctfFLDTzaEo/s320/HOTT+006.JPG)
My general is a Spear element with a second spear in rear support, this makes him +6 versus anything and the rear support element can strip off or turn to face a cheeky aerial in the rear. I like this combo for 4 AP, and the models are superb:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_-v1G8ttctisuxg4NFDca85W25xYIcb-pmboMrMM_vJPwQIjmPOCgGY7It6DXrrFPbqTzc9PZSjV230myoVu1WZk0UfyHHGaB92A9uKTcJbDsaSkEVfVTpgXKpbdMb6ctW6FqagPRi8/s320/HOTT+005.JPG)
And finally, as a Persian you must be able to blacken the sky with arrows. I use 3 Shooters for my left (refused) flank, but these are very important elements in HOTT since they are very effective against aerials and lurkers, especially when they are in forest.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBMYpR8LgT68f_cTSIpoxisvq15XldzgmfGYbdSfR798uzfxTkBOZDaO9UfOG3rlM8m7QfgPUd5i6DphySyKsSE0SPJU5xMIesTzGb1LwLP_plkmlKP7JcAXtjvzKlDY1edWVJKwo-sQ/s320/HOTT+004.JPG)
Today, we beat 2 undead armies and an elven force. We were VERY lucky not to lose to the elves, I rolled high on three critical shots that each could have won the game for Mark.
I suppose that confirms the result of the poll. Doesn't matter what you do if you can roll 6s.