A Sassoon of Sassanids

A Headless Body Production

Venue: A Undisclosed Basement
Event: Live!
Players: Steve Turn running Sassanid Persian
               Phil running Maurikian Byzantine
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:
Maurikian Byzantine (list 126)
Commanders, Philippicus and Eiliphedas, both Brilliant and Anon the Unknowable, Ordinary and Unreliable
4 Boukellarioi, Heavy Cavalry, Impact and Bow, Elite
6 Kavallarioi, Heavy Cavalry, Impact and Bow
4 Cursores, Light Cavalry, Bow
3 Skutatoi, Heavy Swordsmen, Missile Support, Mediocre
3 Psiloi, Light Infantry, Bow
Breakpoint of 21

Sassanid Persian (list 109)
Commanded by the Khosrau I, Strategist, Peroz and Narseh, both Competent
6 Nobles, Heavy Cavalry, Bow, Elite
1 Asavaran, Heavy Cavalry Bow
4 Light Cavalry, Bow
2 Elephants
4 Sassanid Levy, Medium Spearmen, Mediocre
2 Light Infantry, Sling
2 Light Infantry, Bow
Breakpoint of 21

In Chaldean Numerology
    The numerical value of sassoon in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
In Pythagorean Numerology
    The numerical value of sassoon in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
I wonder if Vidal Sassoon realizes his name means Vidal the third?

Conventions:

When you see a word bubble "Ouch!", "آخ" in Persian, this implies a disorder from missiles.  Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is 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.

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

The Board:
Khosrau I  wins the initiative, by a lot, and elect to attack in the plains. Philippicus deploys in an area with only a few rough patches near a tended vineyard. 

Deployment:

Khosrau I takes the position of honor on the right.

These Sassanids newly painted and freshly flocked.  Steve did a great job.  Figures from Plastic Soldier Company's Mortem Et Gloriam collection.

The elephant eyes are full white, giving them that zombie feel.  I had a Pentel .01 pen and we fixed it.  Now they are staring intently at their stomping targets.

The Sassanid camp is defended by Cataphracts, Ambushes, and terrain.

The third command cannot be seen.

On the Byzantine right, a large pile of rocks is placed on the edge of a well tended field.

The Byzantine camp is forward deployed and enlarged.  An impassable object that Phillippicus anchors his flank on.

Elliphedas's horse are to Philippicus's right. 

Between them is Anon's command consisting of a single Skutatoi and a Psiloi.  A joint for the two large horse commands to hinge against.

The view of the gods.

Turn 1:

Khosrau I advances in a column.  Thinking of sweeping away the Byzantine lights, then flanking the Byzantine left.

Peroz advances with his elephantry

The camp defenders decide the best way to defend the camp is to attack!

The Byzantine lights score a missile hit, then retire. 

Philippicus bravely advances.  Arrows exchanged to no effect. 

My thought here is it's not all bad.  Even with a -1 for elephant terror, its still Armor vs Mediocre against the spearmen. 

If Philippicus can tie up the elephant command for a couple of turns, Eiliphedas can destroy the Cataphract and take the camp.

Eiliphedas orders his light horse to swing around another curious pile of stones and deal with the exposed Sassanid light foot.

Turn 2:

With a no sign of Narseh's command arriving, Khosrau I changes his plans and takes his veteran cavalry to support his elephantry, leaving his lights to cover the local Byzantines.

Peroz gives the order to charge. 

The Byzantine horse flees, leaving Anon's single Skutatoi to catch it all.  It's Mediocre Spear with support vs Mediocre Spear, Missile Support.  A real 50/50 dice off, and the Skut's win by 1.

Now facing light horse, the Sassanid light foot stays close to the gully.

The Cataphracts try to move to a position to keep Eiliphedas from flank charging the Elephant line.

With just two on two, the Byzantine Cursores push their luck.

While in the center, the Kavallarioi returns to shoot

Eiliphedas takes an aggressive stance! He has a flank charge on the elephant line, see previous picture.  And charges the Cataphracts, sends a Kavallarioi to towards the camp.

And orders his Cursores forward.

Turn 3: 

Another '1' for the flank march roll, Narseh's command is nowhere in sight.

 

 

On the right, a victory.

 

 

The Elephants charge again, this time they are met by the Byzantine cavalry.

 

And, there is a opportunity for a camp looting!  A slide to the right and charge!

 

The overconfident Byzantines placed too much reliance on the fortified camp.  The privy doors were left open, and the Sassanid Levy (Mediocre Medium Spear) let themselves in to do a proper cleaning!

 

 

  But luck is fickle today.  What was certain, proved not.

 

Overall, chaos rules

 

 

Even though outnumbered, Cataphract elan is superior to the Boukellarioi

What is that in the background?  Narseh hasn't even left the camp yet?

The tale at the tree of woe.  Sassanid loses are 4 of 21 (but currently 16), to the Byzantines 11 of 21

Psiloi decide to get into the fight.

If you are wondering why did I wait so long, it had to do with command points.  Philippicus was rolling consistently 1's and 2's this game.

But this turn, the caffeine from his morning tea has kicked in.  Skutatoi charge the camp raiding levy.  The Boukellarioi break off from the Elephantry, A Psiloi covers their retreat.  The remaining elephant is flanked by Anon's Skutatoi.

The Cataphracts pull a win, but are going to be flank charged.

Narseh calls a halt.  He found a bag of silver and is distributing it to his men.  Fair is fari.

Turn 4:

A successful rally by the Sassanid light horse, but otherwise, nothing new here.

A true rarity in this game.  An elephant charging a flank.

Followed by an Elephant Rampage.  A '2', so the elephants rout to their right, taking out Levy Spearmen.

Cataphract armor is proof against Byzantine lance.

At the tree of woe, the score is 9 of 16  to 13 of 21.

Mutual disorder on the Byzantine left.

Khosrau I cavalry is now in a position to interfere in the center.  Philippicus orders his tired Kavallarioi forward.  His reserve cavalry advances to clean up the remainder of the elephant line.

Arrows fly.

Eiliphedas leads from the front.  Its 3-1 Elite on Ordinary with Armor.  And again the Cataphract armor is proof against Byzantine sword and spear.

Turn 5:

Another '1' for the flank march roll. 

Khosrau's cavalry flank charge a Boukellarioi, who cannot evade and is destroyed.

The remainder of Khosrau's cavalry is content to shoot it out.  Elite on Ordinary, that is where their advantage is.

Off frame, the Sassanid camp falls.  The Sassanid light foot is also disordered by arrows.  Which is the 16th point towards demoralization.

Seeing the flames of the Sassanid camp, Philippicus orders a halt to see if the Sassanids retreat.

Khosrau I acknowledges his defeat, and orders a withdrawal.

Flank marches can be crushingly decisive, whether they come on or not.  In this case it was not to be for the Sassanid.  This gave the Byzantines the numerical advantages it needed to over come the elephant over cavalry edge, but in the end, the score was 16-16.  For having that kind of advantage and still have a virtual tie says a lot about the Sassanid army.