The might of the Persian empire took the field last night against the Macedonians. Just a small game with ten units of cavalry and six of infantry against Mark with his four cavalry, six phalanxes and six other infantry.
The Persian army deployed with the infantry sitting on top of a small knoll. medium cavalry to the right and the heavy to the left (this was to be a mistake because the noble heavy cavalry deemed it an insult not to be given the place of honour on the right and didn't move all night).
The medium cavalry were, in contrast, eager for the fight and sped of in search of the enemy. They quickly closed with the Greek and Thessalians facing them.
The Macedonians waited for the Persian right flank to be drawn so far forward before they began their attack. You can just make out Alexander moving his elite corps forward in the background to this photograph.
The end of the Greek cavalry. Having routed one Persian unit the Greeks fell victim to their own success as the reserve Persians joined the fray and overwhelmed them.
The Persian foot have moved on to the forward slope of their position as Alexander advances. The Persian nobility continue to refuse to advance.
With the Greek cavalry vanquished the Persian medium cavalry ready themselves for an attack on the Peltasts protecting the Macedonian left flank. It was the presence of the massed Persian horse here that seemed to prevent the Macedonian centre from advancing.
Alexander and his Companions ready to charge the Persian nobles.
In the centre the Macedonian foot and Hypaspists made short work of the Persian infantry. Despite being forced to give ground the Macedonians broke half of the Persians very quickly.
Alexander broke the Persian nobles easily. Two rounds of melee and the Persians were off. despite losing his Podromoroi Alexander was more than a match for the greater numbers of Persians.
The Peltasts put up a valiant fight but were ultimately routed from the field.
The battle ended with the Macedonian center untouched and Alexander running rampant on the Persian left. the Persians were able to hold the Macedonians but not to defeat them.
Another good game using the HC rules. We forgot too many elements of the rules that may have given a different result (disorders caused by ranged attacks for example). Equally we were not happy with some of the rules (Alexander has six attacks but his chance of being killed as a result of using all six attacks is 50% which seems a little harsh). Also we believe that the support rules need to be understood clearly, since with our reading of them the supports have to be aligned with the combatants - a formation that would appear to preclude the use of an echelon formation for the phalanx.
Still an enjoyable night and we have made the decision to make sure the Ancient period is resurrected within the club in 2013.
4 comments:
Clearly, the rules were written by a Greek fan!
Great action Paul.
Great looking game. Support can be on the the flanks or rear or all three and can be crucial in tipping the balance in a melee. Units in a wedge formation can't be supported.
Nice report, some close-ups would be cool as well to show off the awesome models.
Thanks guys.
Cyrus, I think the thing about supports is that the diagrams in the rules show them aligned and in base touch. Echelon is obviously different to that - perhaps it's our interpretation and perhaps we need to create some "house" amendments.
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