An Early Outing with the Later Achaemenids

A Headless Body Production
Venue: On Military Matters Book Store, Hopewell, NJ
Event: Classic Era Theme, 6 horse maximum, Round 1
Players: Phil Gardocki running Republican Roman
               Vince Respond running Later Achaemenid Persian
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 25mm, 200 points per side.

Dennis runs a military bookstore in Hopewell NJ.  And has an excellent mail service for providing little known tomes since before the internet.  Email him at onmilitarymatters@verizon.net and you'll get a weekly mailing for what's new, what's hot, or what is such a good story it simply must be told!

Vince runs Winged Hussar Publishing, known for printing historical books, game rules and historical fiction like a series of books on the Great Martian War.

 

Podcasts I listen to.  Great for those long drives to the next game:

The Ancients.  Over 500 1 hour podcasts about this ancient culture or that.
Our Fake History.  Over 200 1-3 part podcasts about specific events in history.
True Spies.  Over 200 1-3 part podcasts about spies you may of heard of, or not.
Fall of Civilizations.  About 20 3+ hour podcasts about the rise and fall of our favorite armies.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History.  About 20 3-4 hour podcasts.  Very in depth.  For example, the Pacific War covered in 5, 3+ hour podcasts.  

I didn't link the podcasts as everyone has different methods for acquiring them.  That and my podcast service is phone based, while my blog postings are computer based, so it would be a pain in the asinus.

 

The Forces:

The Romans are commanded by Marius, the Second Founder of Rome, a Strategist.  His son, Marius, the Brilliant, and their cousin, Not-Marius, who is Ordinary.
8 Legionaries, Heavy Sword, Armor, Impact, some Elite
4 Velites, Light Infantry, Javelin, Elite
2 Italians, Javelinmen
4 Equites, Medium Cavalry
2 Numedians, Light Cavalry, Javelin
2 Extraordinarii, Medium Swordsmen, Armor, Elite
Breakpoint of 22

The Persian Empire lasted for hundreds of years and had many battles.  This one went unrecorded with unknown commanders.  We'll call them Ach, the Brilliant, Men, the Brilliant, and Id, the Ordinary.
An Elephant
A Guardsmen, 1/2 Heavy Spear, 1/2 Bow, Elite
1 Guard Heavy Cavalry, Impact, Elite
2 Medians, Medium Cavalry, Bow
5 Greek Mercenaries, Heavy Spearmen
5 Takabara, Medium Swordsmen
2 Hill Tribes, Javelinmen
2 Thracians, Medium Swordsmen, 2HW
5 Thracian Skirmishers, Light Infantry, Bow
2 Bactrians, Light Cavalry, Bow, Elite
Breakpoint of 26

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Ouch!" or "Heus!" or "𐎧𐎤𐎫𐎫𐎮!", 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 adult table of "On Military Matters."  Where all the cool people played.

 

:) Apparently I have a,  "reputation", and was sent to the kiddie table in the back room. :)

 

The Board:

The Romans win the initiative and elect to defend in the plains. 

Deployment: 

The view from on high. 

I placed the plantations and the field near the defenders edge.  Vince place the fields on the far left and right, as well as the hill.

After all the forces are deployed.

It was suggested to do command by command deployment pictures, and maybe some commentary on why this command now.  I did not take the pictures initially for that effect, but did after the commands were placed.  But here goes.

 

First command was a large corps commanded by the Roman Strategist Marius, also known as the "Third Founder of Rome."  I wanted my opponents full attention on that side of the board as they placed. 

The Persians placed a their mercenary hoplite contingent.  5 spearmen and a mixed sword/bow against the Roman 4 impact/armor and supporting medium foot.  A good matchup so far.

In a jerk move, the second Roman command is just two troops.  One medium and one light.  An included ordinary general brings the cost of the whole command down to just 10 points.

"Not-Marius's" job is simply to distract as many units in the center as possible, and NOT DIE!  The tournament rules are 6 horse maximum, so this is going to be an infantry fight.  It was expected this command could tie up 4-6 foot units.

At 11 units, the second Achaemenid command placed is large.  Well nuts.

Because the third Roman command is also large with 10 units.  The legions have a quality edge, but they are just 4 of the 10 units  

The last Achaemenid command is unseen. 

Turn 1:

The Greek command advances.

The Achaemenid center springs out from ambush behind the hill.  It's all horse troops.  So much for my plan with Not-Marius's micro command.

OK, there were problems with the ambush.  Between too many troops and not enough hiding space on the hill.  Vince is relatively inexperienced at this game and after a lengthy explanation as to the how an ambush on the hill works, we let it go as he intended.  

 

Ach's command surges forward.

 

A second ambush is revealed.  Elite Velites emerge from the field throwing javelins.  Roman Equites advance into the rough field in an effort to turn the Greek flank.  The Legions advance in conjunction with their Italian allies.

 

 

Not-Marius orders his Numedian lights back. 

 

 

Marius-the-son orders his troops in ambush to head for the center.  His Equites advance to tie up as many of the Achaemenid troops as possible.

 

 

Time for a quick bio-break.  Another field along the way.

 

 Turn 2:

 

The Greeks Phalanx continues to advance. 

The Persian bow armed cavalry advance and loose arrows.

Ach's Takabara troops and their elephant advance.  The Hill Tribes advance only to the edge of the plantation.  They seem intimidated by the Equites.

Marius's plan of waiting till his Equites has turned the Greek flank is a bust.  The flood of Persian horse in the center will do unto him before his horse can do unto them.

 

So he orders a rush into the Greek phalanx and let the chips fall where they may.

And luck proved a bit fickle.  The Romans and Achaemenids each win one impact, and ties for the other 3 fights.  

Disordered Italian Javelinmen are all that are holding the Roman flank.

Marius-the-son, turns to face the advancing Persians.  But his legions are out of alignment, and some are still in the rough. 

But should the Persians charge, they will have to contend with Equites on their flanks.

Turn 3:

Persian horse chases off Not-Marius's bodyguard.

The Persian Takabara charge.  This time the luck ran entirely in Romes favor, winning all 4 contacts.

 

But I did forget that with the hill tribes was a pair of Javelinmen, who tossed their javelins to good effect.

Marius's Equites turn the flank of the Greek line.  One Hoplite unit is routed.

 

On the far right, the Italian Extraordinarii live up to their name.  Surrounded, they are holding their ground with no cohesion loss.

 

 

With the Roman camp exposed, Not-Marius takes a position to charge the flanks of any tempted looters.  He orders his Numidians further afield to rally off their disorder.

 

Roman Legions have routed a Takabara.  But the Equites flee the field.

 Turn 4:

 

Having only light foot left in reserve, Men's options are limited.

 

Id however has nothing but options.  His horse chase off Italian Javelinmen,  Approach to charge reach of the Roman camp, and flank Marius-the-Son's line of Legionaries. 

 

Ach's frontal charge is in tatters.  But the Persians have turned the flank of Marius-the-Sons line both on the left and right.

Amazingly, the Roman score is only 5 of 22, while the Persians are at 16 of 26.

 

 

Marius's Equites charge the Greek Phalanx.  Which holds them off without disorder.  This battle is confusing to the reader, so a delineation line has been put in.

 

 But another Hoplite unit is routed.

 

 

Not Marius confronts a Persian horse.  Who promptly shoots arrows in his general direction.

 

Italian Javelinmen charge the elephant.  But they are not familiar with the great beasts and despite the advantages, lose the initial combat.

 

On the far right, another ambush has been revealed.  More Velites emerge from the field and score with their javelins.

 

Turn 5:

 

The Greek Hoplite line continues to deteriorate.

 

The Persian cavalry turn the legions flank.

 

 Id's cavalry continue to loose arrows upon Not-Marius's bodyguard.

 

The Hill tribes charge into combat.  Destroying the Italian Javelinmen, and nearly destroying the Extraordinarii,

 

Marius's Extraordinarii have done all they could and are destroyed.  But so to the last of the Greek Hoplites.

 

The Numedians, not rested, harass one of the Persian horse troops

 

Id's bodyguard calls for more arrows.  Not-Marius offers to sell them to him, the price of 2 sestertius a bunch is considered fair. 

 

A legionary cohort  conforms on a Takabara.  The Extraordinarii turns on the hill tribesmen. 

 

The Persian score is 21 of 26

 

The Romans are at 12 of 22.

 

Turn 6:

Persian Guards (half sword/bow, elite) engage Marius's right flank legionary cohort.

 

Persian horse run down the Italian Javelinmen.

An exchange of words is had between Id and Not-Marius.  In this case the words are proving just as effective as Persian arrows.

Marius-the-Son's command loses two more cohorts. 

 

Roman Velites earn their pay as they disperse the hill tribesmen warriors.

 

Placing the Romans at 16 of 22...

 

 

To the Persians score of 22 of 26

 

The Romans need 4 to win.  Numedians catch a unit of lights in an evade and destroy them.  A cohort of legionnaires also disperse Thracian Skirmishers.  The horns ring out down the Persian lines to retreat.

 

 

Upon hearing the horns, Not-Marius girds his loins and orders a charge!  But Id knows a poser when he sees one and stands his ground, rebuffing the attack before ordering an organized retreat.

 

Marius-the-Son breathes a sigh of relief.  Another round or two and his command would have been destroyed.

 

What went wrong?  

The main thing was both the Persians and the Romans had the same strategy.  Strong wings, and week centers.  But the Persian center was a lot stronger than the Roman, while their wings a bit weaker.

Their horse in the center was mostly bow armed, but they managed to shoot/rundown/flank and destroy 3 units.  If the Greek Hoplites had held a bit more, their opposing legions would have been flanked.

The Extraordinarii and the Italian Javelinmen were destroyed in both commands.  Is this a flaw in the army design, or are they asked to do too much?  That would be a flaw in strategy. Or is it they were over matched as most of their opponents were also medium sword, and so they were just out-numbered badly?

Or you could look at it as they did their job, and allowed the legions to do theirs.