A Gabble of Graecos

A Headless Body Production

Venue: An undisclosed basement
Event: Replacement for Lititz-con
Players: Phil running Graeco-Indian, List 46
               Jim Bisignani Republican Roman
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The second round of How-Did-I-Get-Myself-Into-This-Con.
Lists limited to #38 to 53. 

The Forces:
The Graeco-Indians are led by Laksha, the Brilliant, his brother Daksha, also Brilliant, and their younger brother, Daksha, who is still learning this commander thing.
3 Elephants, Elite
1 Indian Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, Mediocre
1 Paropamisadae......, Light Cavalry Javelin
4 Pikemen
2 Cretans, Light Infantry, Bow, Elite
2 Colonists, Light Infantry, Javelin
7 Indian Mixed Swordsmen, 1/2 Bow
Breakpoint of 21

Upon reviewing my list for this write up, there were two mistakes.  First there was Laksha as Included (-3 points), but also counted the Pike as Elite ( +12 points).  So I was playing at a 9 point deficit.  

The Romans... 
12 Cohorts of Legionaries, all armored
2 Some sort of swordsmen
2 Roman Cavalry
1 Cataphract
several light foot
Breakpoint of around 22

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "आउच!" or "Fornicatio!" or "Πορνεία!",  this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

The Board:

Near the river the Roman commander deploys his horse, supported by his Italian allies

From center to his left, a vast legion of legionnaires.  

His elephants freshly watered, Laksha deploys along the river.

His brother Daksha takes the center near some rough ground.

His other brother Daksha takes the field.

Turn 1:

You do not get a favorable setup like this very often.  Cavalry before elephants, and some of that horse cannot evade.

But the center is not so favorable.  Pike v armored impact is an ok match, but there are 12 cohorts against 5 pike and elephant.

Daksha orders his light horse forward to slow down the legions advance.

While other brother Daksha sends his paltry horse command forward on the same mission.

The Roman horse command steps forward just a bit.  The legionary cohorts advance full.  Setting a trap for Laksha's line of battle.

The remaining legions only advance a bit.

Turn 2:

Laksha accepts the trap.  Canting one group of warriors to cover his flank.

The Pike and elephant command also advances with a slide.  

The disordered Proo..., Parapo...  Greeks! retire at speed.

 The Indian horse head for the flank of the legionary line.

On the adjacent table, pike advance up a hill in the center as their cataphracts and mediums approach the legionary lines.

The Roman horse command advances a bit.  The Legions passed the elephant flank.  But it is still covered by a group of swordsmen

The remaining legions, unimpeded by the Proo..., Parapo...  Greeks, advance at a trice.

The Triarii cohort moves to intercept the Indian horse.

Turn 3:

First charge, and the elephants roll a strike against the cataphracts.

Help is sliding over to keep the Romans from totally turning the elephant's flank.

A fair number of the legionnaires are facing rough going or empty air.

While their supporting swordsmen are faltering, a cohort of Roman horse penetrate the Indian lines.

Legions charge down the lines.  A fortunate die roll allows one Indian warrior to resist the legionary advance.

And more luck favoring the Greek pike and elephant line.

A face off in the field.  

Armored Legions are - 1 in the field, but are still armored, and keep their impact.  Meanwhile the Indians are mediocre.  

Turn 4:

On the other table, some interesting action.

Laksha's command is victorious, but in disarray.  

Daksha's elephants have stomped through the legionary line.

Some maneuvering for a better shot.

Blood flows into the River Styx.  At the base of the Tree of Woe, the count of the dead.  The Romans have lost 18 points of 22 needed to be demoralized.

The Greaco-Indians are at 8 of 21

On the adjacent board, both sides have turned the flanks of their opponents.  A true horse race!

The Roman commander takes advantage of Laksha's disarray to push the flank.

Their famed legionary discipline surrounds both of Daksha's flanks.

And they fearlessly advance into the field.

Turn 5:

The Roman count holds steady at 18

The Indian count climbs to 12

Laksha's elephants go for targets of opportunity.  

His last warrior is ordered to hold off the cohort in their rear.

Daksha's elephants turn inside the legionary line.

Daksha is just ordinary, and he decides to hold his ground and spend 2 CP's to command his Medium horse, way.... offf.... in the distance out of the zoc of the Triarii.

The Romans are approaching their break point.

To the Indians 14 of 21

Laksha's elephants rout another pair of units.

Daksha's pike are flanked and have taken heavy casualties.

Another Indian warrior unit is routed.

Turn 6:

Running on hubris, the last two elephants are turned to face the next legionary cohort.

Daksha's remaining pike hold their ground.  The right most pike disorder their cohort for the last point and the win.

Daksha's mission is largely complete, at least in his own mind.  He gracefully retreats, leaving the cohorts behind.

Ascending from the basement, a picture of the game being played in more comfortable surroundings.

What went wrong?

Even with the coastal, the board was too open for the Graeco-Indians.  The deployment of the center command was next to the field on the right, when it should have been closer to the elephant command.  There were going to be gaps in the lines anyway.  But the two more powerful commands should be operated together, and not trying to prop up the weaker command.  The military term is "reinforcing failure."

The attempt to use the medium horse to get around the flanks of the Roman line was a mistake.  It's commander was only ordinary, so that horse was out of command reach requiring 2 CP's to do anything.  So the Triarii assigned to cover it managed to run it down.  Only a good roll for CP's allowed the horse to "exit a ZOC", vice being "run off the board."  All in all, once the Triarii was turned or even separated from the main body, the horse should have been recalled.  

It's mission is to run interference and get away.   Anything else is a waste of CP's.  

 

 

 

 

 

A Selachii of Seleucids

A Headless Body Production
Venue: An undisclosed basement
Event: Replacement for Lititz-con
Players: Phil running Graeco-Indian, List 46
               Tom Zimmerman running Seleucid
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

Lists limited to #38 to 53. 

The Forces:
The Graeco-Indians are led by Laksha, the Brilliant, his brother Daksha, also Brilliant, and their younger brother, Daksha, who is still learning this commander thing.
3 Elephants, Elite
1 Indian Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, Mediocre
1 Paropamisadae......, Light Cavalry Javelin
4 Pikemen
2 Cretans, Light Infantry, Bow, Elite
2 Colonists, Light Infantry, Javelin
7 Indian Mixed Swordsmen, 1/2 Bow
Breakpoint of 21

Upon reviewing my list for this write up, there were two mistakes.  First there was Laksha as Included (-3 points), but also counted the Pike as Elite ( +12 points).  So I was playing at a 9 point deficit.  

The Seleucids
Commanders of uncertain qualities.
2 Elephants
3 Cataphracts
2 Light Horse Bow
6 Pike, 2 Elite
4 Medium foot
3 Light Infantry, Bow
1 Levy
Breakpoint of 23

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "आउच!" or "Ωχ!",  this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

The Board:

The deployment view from above.  Probably not very helpful.  

A more standard presentation.  On the Seleucid right, a triad of Cataphracts.

In the center, the traditional block with 6 taxis of pike.

Elephants to their left.  Supported by swordsmen.

Across the field from the Cataphracts, Daksha is looking at a very bad day.

Lakasha is facing the pike block.  He is outnumbered by one, and his only Elite is the elephant.  Where as the Seleucids have two elite pike.

Daksha is looking at a great matchup.  He has a quality and quantity advantage over his opposition.

Immediately I realized I had already made my first mistake.  In the terrain adjustment phase, on my right, I adjusted the field directly to where it is now, to the front of the Seleucid elephants.  The theory was to give me a corridor to push my elephants across to attack.  My second adjustment was against the fielded hill, which failed.

My elephant command didn't really need a corridor.  Where as my weak left command needed that fielded hill, and was never going to get to it.   

Turn 1:

But they will try to get to the hill anyway.

 

The Pike block steps forward

Along with the elephant command.

The Greco-Indian commands have advanced in a step pattern.  So maybe give pause to the Seleucid cataphract command having the pike block threatening it's flank, and the Seleucid pike block threatened by the elephant command.

The Seleucid cataphracts will have none of it.  They smell blood in the water.

The Cataphract confidence is not unfounded.  The odds of the cataphracts defeating a Mediocre Medium Sword is 96%.

The Seleucid pike advance a half a step.  They can afford to wait for the Cataphracts to do their job before engaging.

While the Seleucid elephants just hold tight.

 Turn 2:

Daksha orders his disorder cavalry back for rallying.  Laksha's lights advance to run interference.

His elephant supported pike block stamps forward.

Daksha's archers will make his opposing elephant block uncomfortable.

The Cataphracts bear down on Daksha's block.  Their arrows fly and against probably, disorders two troops of Cataphracts.

Which being disordered reduces the odds of the Cataphracts defeating the Medium Sword, Mediocre to just 93%!

Seleucid pike advance, and pull out one of their reserve units.

Advancing with them is the Seleucid elephant command.

I'm guessing he didn't want to be subjected to many volleys of arrows.

Turn 3:

The irrational exuberance of the archers has been dispelled.  

Laksha's pike approach to charge reach

One Seleucid skirmisher unit dissolves under the Indian arrow storm.

Daksha's foot are trodden by iron shod hooves.

Off in the corner, the Greco colonist horse are trapped and destroyed.

The Seleucid pike are not waiting and charge.  Their disordered Taxis falters, but three others begin to push through.

Their elephant command also charges to mixed results.

At the bottom of the 3rd the Greco-Indians are at 11 of 21, while the Seleucid are at 9 of 23.

Turn 4:

Facing bad odds, Daksha makes a bad decision and orders his horse into the fray.

Laksha's pike actually push through the Seleucid pike block.  But the rest of his command is on shaky ground.

A Seleucid elephant rampages through the Greco-Intian lines.

Taking the score for the Greco-Indians are at 16 of 21, while the Seleucid are at 13 of 23.

Daksha is captured!

Laksha's pike have their flank turned.

A Indian warrior routes, and the Seleucids commit their last elephant for 1 point and the win.  Defeating the Graeco-Indians to a 21-15.

A look down the line at the adjacent table. 

What went wrong?

As mentioned before, in the terrain adjustment phase.   I should have tried the fielded hill first.  

Then even if failed, I advanced the Medium Sword for some early shooting, which led to the Cataphracts closing a turn earlier than necessary.  Then committing the medium horse to fighting light horse, and losing, which led to a commander captured. I could have avoided that two points 

Another turn would have had my pike block flanking one of his for a possible rout of a taxis.  A few of his other units were near exhaustion.

None of that would have gotten a win, just a better score in defeat.