ADLG - Game Report 334

Arab Indians (135) vs Abbasid Arab (134)

For the final battle of the competition I was up against Kevin's Abbasid's. I won the initiative!!! I decided to attack in the plains, and we both went for minimal terrain to interfere with the battle. We deployed with the elephant on the left and cavalry fight with the foot in the centre. The goal being, as always to try and get the cavalry into the enemy backfield and on their flanks as quickly as possible.

Once again light cavalry moved to screen the advance of the heavy cavalry. In this case the spears were able to maintain close contact with the cavalry line to provide support and to protect their flank. The enemy for their part contrived to fluff their lines and roll some atrocious command dice for their right flank.

The cavalry, for once, were on form and broke the enemy right. On their left the enemy impact cavalry has been pinned by our spearmen; they have one option to stand, or to attack.

They attacked and although they were punished on first contact, they fought back well. However, for us another enemy heavy cavalry bow has proved stubborn and refused to fall on its sword when attacked in front, flank and rear! The elephant is proving it difficult to fin an opponent and is reduced to supporting its medium swordsmen.

The enemy impact heavy cavalry refused to yield or break off and were cut down by the spearmen, with support from our own cavalry. In the centre the elephant has pursued into the depth of the enemy's position looking for suitable opponents.

Outcome

I was fortunate to secure a win on this my last game suffering 13 of 25 hits in the process, leaving me four losses and one win for the two days.

Lessons Learnt

We were fortunate that the enemy command and control was lacking and that their right flank didn't' engage until the end.

ADLG - Game Report 333

Arab Indians (135) vs Arab Indians (135)

What would day two bring, could I turn my fortunes around? Perhaps this battle against Steve's Arab Indians might be the battle to do so. I was i9nvited to defend in the plains – again. We had an ideal defensive position with the hill giving us an admirable vantage point. Additionally with the cavalry on the right and left wing respectively would this decide the battle. The race to the bottom was in our hands.

The enemy spearmen were fixed in position as their forces wheeled out from their left. I decided that it would be sensible to bring the spears forward and allow the bows to shoot over them. The cavalry numbers were in my favour.

The light cavalry screened the heavy cavalry before we contacted the enemy heavy bow armed cavalry. Hence, we were able to avoid casualties. On the left of the cavalry line were less fortunate as the enemy bows wounded us as we made contact.

On our left we moved the impetuous medium swordsmen out to attempt to flank the enemy line, while the elephant closed in from the front supported by bow fire. The spears have been wounded by the charge of the enemy elephant and swords. While the cavalry battle is now a story of two halves. On the left of the cavalry an enemy unit of bowmen has destroyed one of the cavalry while the other is struggling against the enemy bow armed cavalry. The right of the line the fight is going better where we have penetrated the line ready to work down from the flank.

Despite the pressure on the enemy right from the front and flank their cavalry refuse to yield and indeed fight back reducing the heavy cavalry to 50% strength. The enemy elephant has successfully broken the end of the line of spearmen. Although the impetuous troops were unable to hit the enemy flank, they were able to severely wound their opponent supported by the light infantry.

And finally our cavalry managed to defeat the enemy and now must reorientate themselves to take on the remainder of the enemy cavalry; if there is time. However elsewhere the spearmen are not holding up their end of the battle and are now exposed to attacks from the enemy.

Outcome

An Arab Indian victory, but not mine, the enemy lost 19 of 23. We just couldn't quite bring our game face to the battle. This left me on four losses and the raise to the bottom was almost complete.

Lessons Learnt

The ambush was somewhat predictable given that we had the same armies! It might have been or more value to bring it out to fight sooner rather than later.

The tactic of screening the heavy cavalry from enemy bow fire as they advanced to contact was again a sound strategy that worked well.

ADLG - Game Report 332

Arab Indians (135) vs Hindu Indians (170)

For my final encounter against Mark's Hindu Indians I was invited to defend in the desert. MY plan was to use the elephant command to advance to build a strong flank against the impassable terrain in the right of the picture and then fight the battle in the centre. On deployment it became clear that once Mark had finished deploying two commands, I could expect a flank march to arrive at some stage. Therefore, dismounting my cavalry to face the elephants was no longer an option.

The first thing that happened was, of course, the roll for the "Flank March" which Mark duly rolled a six for it to arrive on the next game turn on our right. Hence the movement of the bowmen to that flank, next to move would be the heavy cavalry.

Despite the threat of the flank march, I was not entirely despondent. My elephant was about to attack the enemy cavalry, my cavalry had moved to secure the flank, and the remainder of the troops were well placed to hold the line.

That is I wasn't despondent until the troops were in contact and they were consistently outfought (a euphemism I use to explain my poor combat dice rolls), except for the Elephant, by the Hindu Indians. Additionally, even though my heavy cavalry outnumbered the Hindu cavalry I couldn't bring my strength in numbers to bear sufficiently to make a difference.

The cavalry battle on the right became, what aviators would call, a fur ball. With each side looking for opportunities to out-manoeuvre the opponent. The elephant command has again been destroyed as its flank protection was crushed. While in the centre the Hindu Elephants have had success.

And these same elephants and their supporting infantry have even more success as they look to penetrate and flank our infantry line. On the right the fur ball continues to cause casualties to both sides.

Outcome

A Hindu Indian victory in which they only suffered 12 of 25 losses. This meant I was three losses for the day for my efforts.

Lessons Learnt

The successful flank march significantly impacted the result of this battle. On balance I was probably lucky to score 12 cohesion hits on the Hindus as a result.

ADLG - Game Report 331

Arab Indians (135) vs Viking and Leidang (155)

It would be uphill after the first game to top the rankings at this tournament; joke! My next game was another game against Cameron and his Leidang option. In the margins we had been discussing our opponents for the next round. We agreed that it would be no problem with my horse against the Viking swords, of course we didn't factor in that Cameron might have chosen the Leidang option with spears; bad Cameron. I was invited to defend in the plains. I had deployed with the Cavalry on the left next to the elephants and the infantry on the right.

I held the Cavalry wing back hoping to determine where I might be best able to employ them. I was looking for an open flank or for a hole in the line or for the Elephant to make a hole. I initially decided to refuse the right, with The Leidang advancing on their left.

As the Leidang advanced their centre and right presented a formidable spear and shield wall. However, I noted the gap that opened between the enemies left and centre. I advanced the bowmen into the gap and directed the cavalry in that direction.

We tried to pin the enemy left with the spearmen on our right only for them to outfight us in contact. Although the left end of our spears supported by the bowmen has increased the width of the gap. The issue would be could the Cavalry pass through this gap and into the enemy rear quickly enough to affect the outcome. In the centre the enemy destroyed the elephant but in rampage it inflicted a wound on the enemy unit to its front; regrettably (for us) the included commander did not die with them.

The Arab spearmen are grimly holding on while the cavalry passes though the gap. With the demise of the elephant and its supports it is up to the bowmen to hold open the gap.

The Cavalry has finally entered the fray on the right, but has yet to make an impact on the left.

The impact of the cavalry joining the battle is telling, and the Leidang line starts to crumble away, but their overall numbers were not diminished significantly.

Outcome

A Leidang victory in which they lost 20 of their 24 cohesion points. We were now two losses from two battles.

Lessons Learnt

The deployment plan was sound, but I should have considered moving the Cavalry sooner into the centre.