Having failed in my attempt to interest people in a points system for Lasalle, I thought I would turn it around by asking: what army lists would only a true patriot use in a competition game?
Some random examples:
Why would anyone take a Bavarian Infantry ally (3 Rel/Exp/SK1, 1 Rel/Exp/SK2, 3 heavy foot guns, bad general) for a French Conquest or Empire army? You can always take organic Veteran French Infantry (4 Rel/Exp/SK2, 4 heavy foot guns) instead. The Bavarian ally is worse in every way - worse infanty, less guns, worse general. (I am going to try some of the new 28mm el-cheapo Hat plastic miniatures - but this is not a great encouragement!)
Similarly, why take an Italian Infantry ally in Conquest (4 Rel/Ama/SK2, 4 med guns) instead of an French organic Veteran Infantry? 4 Amateurs have got to be worse than 4 experienced units.
Or an Italian Infantry ally in Empire (4 Rel/Exp/SK2, 4 med foot guns) instead of an French organic Veteran Infantry? All I get by taking Italians is lighter guns.
Or a Confederation of the Rhine Infantry ally in Liberation (2 Rel/Ama/SK1, 3 Shaky/Ama/SK1, 4 med foot guns, bad general) over organic French Conscript 1813 (5 Rel/Ama/SK1, 4 med foot guns, 4 heavy foot guns)? I get some worse infantry and fewer guns.
What is the advantage of an Italian Cavalry ally in Empire (2 Rel/Exp/Pur/+, 3 med horse guns) over an organic French light cavalry (2 Val/Exp/Pur, 2 Rel/Exp/Pur, 3 med horse guns)?
Who wants an Westphalian Light Cavalry ally (4 Rel/Ama/Pur, 3 med horse guns, bad general) instead of organic French light cavalry.
The Westphalian Cuirassiers are a bargain if organic, but I seem to recall (although can't find anywhere) that they have been turned into Allied Reserve only. As reserves, why take Westphalian Cuirassiers instead of French - you just add a duff general.
Why take Confederation Cavalry ally in Liberation (2 Shaky/Ama/Pur/+, 3 med horse guns) rather than Naples cavalry (2 Rel/Exp/Pur, 3 Shaky/Exp/Pur, 3 med horse guns)? In fact why take Confederation of the Rhine cavalry, ever.
These are all examples of straight choices - one options appears better than another (and are admittedly French allies, who almost always seem poor value). I think you would have to really like the uniforms to choose them.
There are lots that are not straight choices, so are more debateable. Again, some examples:
Why would I take an Empire/Liberation Russian Infantry division (6 Rel/Exp/Sk1, 1 Light, 1 Position battery[i/]) instead of a Russian Grenadier division ([i]6 Val/Exp/Sk1, 2 heavy batteries)? The only thing I get with the infantry is I can use organic Infantry, Jager or Opolcheniye support. Are any of those 3 compelling enough to not want to turn all my infantry Valiant and get all heavy guns? If you want infantry + cavalry army, the Grenadier option is better.
Similarly, the Liberation Prussian Infantry brigade is worse than the 100 Days Infantry Brigade - you would really have to like the reserve Elite Infantry option to go Liberation instead of 100 Days. If you want infantry + cavalry army, the 100 Days option is better.
My overall worst Core + Support combined arms lists to take to a competition:
Obviously French Guard Hundred Days. You don't get any pursuit cavalry, so it will be extremely hard to win unless the opponent plays nice and does not just hide 1 unit of pursuit cavalry. Even in Empire you probably need to take a cavalry ally. Guard with Confederation of the Rhine is particularly awful, but any of the Allied cavalry is pretty bad.
Of the non-Guard lists, Liberation French infantry + Confederation of the Rhine cavalry. 1 Rel/Exp/SK2, 6 Rel/Ama/SK1, 2 x 4 med foot guns, 2 x Shaky/Ama/Pur/+, 3 med horse guns. (Well actually, pretty much anything with Confed cavalry is going to be horrible).
A close run thing, is 100 Days British Infantry + Dutch Cavalry Ally. 6 x Rel/Exp/2, 3 med foot guns, 3 x Shaky/Ama/Pur/+, 3 med horse guns, bad Dutch subcommander. Does this have a equal chance against a standard 100 Days French Infantry + Light Cavalry army (6 x Rel/Exp/2, 4 med foot guns, 2 x Val/Exp/Pur, 2 x Rel/Exp/Pur, 3 med horse guns)?
My gut feeling is Russian Infantry + reserve Cossacks is probably dreadful, but I have not seen Cossacks in action yet.
Any other contenders for really bad (combined arms) lists?
Cam