A Sixpence of Siamese

A Headless Body Production

Venue: In an undisclosed basement, somewhere in New Jersey
Event: The Great Hefalump Head Butting Contest* Round 3
Players: Phil Gardocki running Siam
              Dan Bigalow running Triumvirate Roman
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

*The taking of the maximum number of elephants was required

The Siamese, commanded by Yul Brynner, the Competent and his sons, Nakarintradhiraj VIa and Nakarintradhiraj VIb, both Competent
3 Elephants, Elite
2 Guards, Medium Swordsmen, Impact, Elite
13 Warriors, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
7 Light Infantry, Bow
2 Light Infantry, Firearms, Elite
1 Medium Cavalry
Breakpoint of 28

The Romans are commanded by unknown commanders of unremembered qualities. Exact troop counts, except elephants, may be in error.
1 Elephant, Mediocre
10 Legionnaires, Heavy Sword, Impact, probably Armor, one was Mediocre
1 Medium or Light Medium foot
5 Light Infantry, various weapons
1 Medium or Heavy Cavalry
3 Light Cavalry
Breakpoint of 22

Tournament rules: All armies must have at least 1 elephant and must take the maximum number of elephants for that list. Including allies, if allies are taken. On rounds 2 and 3, any lists with a Brilliant or Strategist commander may reorganize their commands.

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Heus!" or " อุ๊ย!" or "𐤀𐤉𐤍!", this implies a disorder from missiles. Red XX's signify recently routed units. 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 Romans win the initiative and elect to attack in the plains.

A Caveat:

Something went wrong when transferring the pictures from the camera to the computer for processing.  Images were copied in the wrong order than they were taken.  For example on turn two, the real image is IMG_6936 (2).jpg as there was already an IMG_6936.jpg from turn 6!  About a dozen interleaved for just this battle report.  

I think I have it straightened out for this report, but we will see.

Deployment: 

Strong Roman legions in the center and a 4 cohort force on their left.  Their single mandatory elephant on the right.

The Siamese are organized in 3, almost identical commands.  5 MI sword, mostly impetuous, an elite elephant and 3 light foot.

The Roman light horse challenges the crossbowmen on the hill.

The center legions advance with a left oblique. 

The smaller body of legionnaires advance at the double.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(b) advances and slides right.  He sends an additional light foot to assist the unit on the hill.

Yul Brynner moves as far as he as able, linking up with his son,

Nakarintradhiraj VI(a)

I see an advantage brewing.  Nakarintradhiraj VI(b) can attack the smaller body of legionnaires with overlaps on both sides.  We will see if this situation continues.

Turn 2:

The Roman Equites took some missile fire last turn, and has pulled back to rally.

The center command of legionaries advance straight ahead.  I don't know his plan here, but I am sure he is not going to enter the field.

The smaller command splits in twain, exposing a unit of javelinman to face Nakarintradhiraj VI(a)'s elephant troop.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(b)

Nakarintradhiraj VI(b) and papa Brynner advance.  They are all in charge range of the legions.

So is Nakarintradhiraj VI(a)

Win or lose, this game is not going the distance.

Turn 3:

(spoilers)

This is what I meant by the image names and order were screwed up.  I think this is the bottom of the sixth. 

The Romans push their lights forward.

And link up their legions on the left.  So much for overwhelming their left command.

My foot is mostly impetuous.  I believe in playing your armies character, so they all charge!

Above you see 3 losses, and a tie against the legions, and a win against the Roman light foot against an elephant.

Yul Brynner's center command, to the left of the brass 2 UD stick, only defeated Roman light foot.  Losing 3 fights, one of those was a rout.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(a)'s command, right of the 2 UD stick, had better luck  Winning 3, including routing a cohort, while losing 2.

Turn 4:

To cover their flanks, the Romans commit their elephant.  It is head butting action at it's finest.

Their center command has opportunities.  A cohort pushes beyond Yul Brynner's line.  Their horse flanks pursuing Siamese warriors to destruction.  While Nakarintradhiraj VI(a) had the advantage on charge, it is now down to deeper units and Roman lorica segmentata armor against the unarmored Siamese warriors.

A branch of Nakarintradhiraj VI(b) tries to pin Roman equites against the marsh.  One is missed by millimeters.  The Roman elephant is broken and rampages to the left.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(a) brings up his horse to cover his elephants exposed flank.

Turn 5:

At the top of the 5th, the Siamese are half way demoralized with a score of 14 of 28.

The Romans are at 13 of 22.

One equites dives into the marsh.  The legions claim two more warrior units.

The Roman left also claims two more routs.

For my camp, a perfect size "Reclining Budda"

The first one I saw was in Thailand.  Until then I only knew of Budda's were fat men in lotus position.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(b)'s pursue the equites in the marsh.  His elephant he holds back to support his main body.  Which is in serious trouble.  The center command is down to just an elephant troop and a warrior unit.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(a)'s command is down to just the elephant, and the cavalry

The Siamese score is 24 of 28

The Romans are at 17 of 22.

Turn 6:

The Legions flank charge into the field.

Yul Brynners favorite elephant is routed.  So too is Nakarintradhiraj VI(a)'s.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(b) tries to reform his lines.

Nakarintradhiraj VI(a) only has lights and horse left.

Despite losing two elephants, the Siamese are still in the game with a score of 26

Turn 7:

The Romans try to put the pressure on, looking for the two last points.

They advance and charge, hoping to drive the elusive lights off the board.

The scrum on the left continues. Nakarintradhiraj VI(b) joins his elite guardsmen and supported by his elephants against a disordered cohort, but only scores one hit.  Off in the distance, Roman javelin-men cause a missile disorder on Siamese lights.  Raising the Siamese score to 27

And that was time called, with the Romans having a winning draw.

Turn 8:

No pictures after this.  The Romans only needed 1 point and not lose 4.  Easy enough to do.  On the Roman left, there are plenty of lights that would need to evade, probably off the board.  In the scrum on the Roman right, the Nakarintradhiraj VI(b)'s guards were flanked and in contact for a cheap, and certain point for the win.