Phil on Ancients: A Tulipomania of Tulunids

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Lancaster County Convention Center.
Event: Historicon 2024
Theme: Africa, Round 3
Players: Phil Gardocki running Tuareg, list 210
Marc Crotteau running Tulunid Egyptian, list 137
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.

The Forces:

The Tuaregs are a borrowed army and are led by Ibid, the Competent, Ad Hominem, the Competent and Ad Nauseam, the Ordinary.
14 Warriors on camels, Impetuous, 7 are Elite
6 Warriors sans camels, Impetuous
4 Scouts, Light Camel, Impact
2 Scouts, sans camels, javelin
Breakpoint...26

The Tulunids were led by unnamed commanders with uncertain qualities, but probably were excellent in every way. Bear in mind this list is best guess from the pictures.
Objects in the frame may be closer than they appear.
7 Turkish Ghulams, Heavy Cavalry, Bow, some Elite
6 Bedouins and Berbers, Light Cavalry, Impact or Javelins
?? Sudanese, Medium Spear, Bow
?? Sudanese, Heavy Spear, Support
Breakpoint...21

At the time I was playing I did not realize it. But the Tulunid army here is almost identical to the Fatamid army in round 2...

The ~~Fatamids~~ Tulunids win the initiative and elect to defend in the plains.

I think the hill was field covered, but I am not sure.

Their center is a good force of mixed spear and bow armed foot, supported by Ghulams

Their left with a nearly identical command

Ad Nasiums foot are ready to take the high ground.

While Ibid assesses his chances against the ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid foot

Ad Hominium also is paired up against a foot command.

Turn 1:

Ad Nausium advances. The hill will be his.

In a surprise move, Ibid and Ad Hominium manage to stay in sync.

Tuareg scouts reveal an empty ambush. In an adjacent field are equally armed ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid Light Horse.

Both Scouts and Light Cavalry are Impact, which doesn't count in the field.

The ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid right command stands pat.

Their center and left commands adjust to the right.

Ghulam horse are ordered into the fields

Turn 2:

Ad Nausium splits his force.

Ibid and Ad Hominum advance

Ibid orders his scouts to charge. This is an attempt to shut down their bowfire. One scout is routed, but the other survives,

Ad Hominum moves into the field, slowing his advance.

The ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid right approaches. They didn't have enough movement for their scouts to clear around the hill and be at risk of being charged off of the board.

Another scout is routed, but they accomplished their mission.

Ghulam horse advance. The ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid scouts retire.

Turn 3:

Ad Nausium sends a warrior to attack the scouts. However fortune favored the lights.

Ibid orders a massive charge. But the ~~Fatamid~~s Tulunids stand resolute.

Ad Hominium has better luck. Trading a Warrior for a ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid foot.

A warrior is routed. Ghulam bows take aim.

Ibid's front line is badly damage, but he has reserves ready to attack.

Ad Hominum routs another ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid foot. Ghulams approach to ZOC the Tuareg camels behind the lines.

The score is horrible.

The Tuaregs are at 17 of 26 to the ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid 5 of 22.

Turn 4:

Ad Nausium rallies two of his warriors.

The way is clear for Ibids second attack. He also has routed a foot warrior and penetrated the line.

Ad Hominium sends in his second wave, which collapses on impact. His camels attack the Ghulam horse, which sand. Winning one and losing one.

On the far right, a bit of a dressage move. With no ZOC in the field, the Tuareg scouts are able to maneuver around to the flank of the ~~Fatamid~~ Tulunid scouts.