ADLG - Game Report 276

Seleucid (42) vs Commagene (104)

For the final game I was facing Alex's Army of Commagene. This time I won the initiative and decided to defend in the plains. I chose the coastline to narrow the battlefield as I was concerned about the potential threat from Commagene light and medium cavalry. We deployed with the Cavalry Command in the centre ready to move in any direction that would seem to need it!

The enemy threatened both wings. On the Seleucid left the light cavalry and enemy cataphracts advanced to engage. While on our right the enemy elephant and sundry others were attempting to make an end-run through the plantation to my camp!

The Seleucid light cavalry was destroyed in the centre by the enemy, but they did buy time to allow the Argyraspide General to bring forward his pike unit and another to start driving forward to push back the enemy in the centre. On the right the elephant has been held by the Thorakiti. While on the left the infantry and cataphracts face off against the enemy cataphracts.

On the left I was surprised to see the Cataphracts withdraw, but at the same time the enemy reserves of bowmen and medium spearmen started to move forward to support them. On the right the remaining Pike phalanx and Thorakiti have managed to stabilise the situation.

In the centre the Argyraspide General has continued his pursuit of the enemy cavalry but they persistently refuse to vacate the field! On the right although the situation has stabilised the fight has not yet been won. Despite being assailed in the front and flank a unit of bowmen proves to be unreasonably resilient, and lucky at dice. On the left the Pikes are continuing to pursue the Cataphracts. While our own have moved forward with the aim of inflicting damage to the enemy reserves. The Galatians have pursued into the depth of the enemy position chasing a light cavalry unit that they caught in the rear as it was evading only for that unit to win to combat!

The Galatians were eventually destroyed when they should have been the ones doing the destroying! The enemy cataphracts have turned to fight, and now it is likely to be who comes out on top in the combats. The enemy have been defeated on the right, while the enemy light cavalry in the left rear of the battlefield is fighting of the attentions of legionaries and Thracians. In the centre the Militia and the Thracians are providing target practice for the Commagene bowmen.

The Commagene cataphracts are clearly well rested from their withdrawing and are now able to spring to life and engage and win. While the bowmen in the centre have run out of Seleucid targets to practice on.

Outcome

A hard fought game, where I lost several units due to carelessness, excellent shooting and over extending my lines. A win for Commagene on losing 16 of their 25.

The final result, and a lower finish in the final results table than I would have liked, was one win, one mutual and four losses. Overall, this was a very rewarding and enjoyable competition against some very pleasant and convivial opponents – thank you all. A competition which I would like to repeat next year.

Lessons Learnt

Another, perhaps, overly aggressive battle conducted by the Seleucids.

Lessons Learnt from the competition

If anyone who is considering participating in an ADLG event overseas is concerned that there may be language barriers, fear naught. In my experience the ADLG rules provide an excellent common language which is well understood by all players.

Playing in UK there seems to be a trend to equip one's army with the units that are most capable of surviving and defeating one's opponent. From my limited experience it seems that our continental colleagues often take a more imaginative approach to army design, where light troops have a clearly defined role for them.

They certainly use a lot of light troops to either move around their opponents flank and to extend the width one must defend. Alternatively, where they have more than the opponent they will use them aggressively to try and win the covering force battle by destroying ones own light troops. This of course gives them much more freedom and room for their own manoeuvring.

Based on this experience there is much more willingness to, if necessary, redeploy their army before making contact. Of course, when all you have are slow moving cataphracts and pikes there isn’t much you can do to stop them doing so.

Final lesson was stop trying to use magnetic bases on lead figures when travelling!

ADLG - Game Report 275

Seleucid (42) vs Alexander the Great (40)

For my penultimate game, the first on Sunday morning, I was up against Alexander the Great, aka Francesco. I was invited to defend in the plains, which was hardly surprising given that he had an initiative of plus six, and the terrain at the outset was quite conducive for that purpose. I deployed the Cavalry command on the right as they were more likely to have room for manoeuvre, should they need it from the there rather than from the left. I deployed the command with the Thorakiti on the left to allow them to deploy into the marsh if required. The major surprise was that Alexander's army was as at after 354BC with the Persian options.

Both Alexandrian cavalry wings were sent to the left of their line, which meant that the Seleucid cavalry was going to be outnumbered. Moreover with the extensive use of medium and light troops left on the Alexandrian right that flank was also looking fragile.

With a little degree of flexibility the central command has moved more to the right to support the Cavalry. Although it looks like I have boxed in my light cavalry and they may not have any way out other than to fight the enemy to their front.

Which the light cavalry duly do, albeit suffering the consequences of doing so. On the right I have made a similar error as a previous game where I had a coast; I am too close to the edge which means I have been unable to force the enemy to conform to me one-to-one. Instead, they will have the benefit of an overlap. In order to try to salvage something the Argyraspide General with his two other pike phalanxes advances to engage the enemy.

On the left the Thorakiti and lights in the marsh have hardly slowed the enemy down. While on the right the cavalry are now, as predicted, fighting at a severe disadvantage.

As the pikes move to engage the Alexandrian pikes they do so with a vulnerable open left flank. In the centre the enemy cavalry have adroitly disengaged from the heavy infantry and have left their lights to pin the legionaries to prevent them turning on the flank of the line of cavalry. As for the Seleucid cavalry their pain is starting to increase.

Outcome

An Alexandrian victory in which I was only able to inflict 7 of 23 hits.

Five games into the competition and I was one win, one mutual and three losses.

Lessons Learnt

Another game where an overly aggressive approach has doomed the army to defeat. Pikes are not an offensive weapon.

And again in this battle a little oversight in deployment with the cavalry positioned them for failure.

ADLG - Game Report 274

Seleucid (42) vs Carthaginian (55)

For the final game of the day, I was once more fighting Carthaginians, this time owned by Hugo. I was invited to attack in the plains. I decided to form up between the hill with the plantation on the left and the plantation in the centre. The Greeks deployed with an infantry command on the left, one to the right and the Cavalry command in the centre. The plantation hill provided an excellent place for an enemy ambush, and given that they had only deployed two commands it was likely to contain the third command.

Which indeed it did, a command of eight units. To defend the hill I had deployed two Thorakiti and a bowman giving the enemy a more than two to one advantage; would my armour save me? The other surprise was the rapid advance of the enemy cavalry command which contracted and advanced for three moves directly to my rear. I had to react to this, and both Thracian units were detached with the militia cavalry for rear security duties. Additionally, the Greek militia spearmen were tasked with protecting against enemy that might debouch from the plantation hill.

The Thorakiti are acquitting themselves with honour, unlike the previous battles over the weekend. Meanwhile although we are closing to battle the enemy are already well positioned to attack the left flank of the pikes. The rear-area security patrols are now essential, but it seems likely that we will still lose the camp.

The lines of battle are now engaged, and already the Argyraspide General is seriously wounded and in mortal danger. The fight for the plantation hill continues and the Thorakiti have destroyed another two enemy units – their honour and prestige rises even further. In the rear, with the gear, the Thracians supported by the lights have already destroyed two enemy light cavalry, which will be fair exchange for the loss of the camp.

The Argyraspide General continues to survive, barely with all three of his pike phalanxes seriously damaged. However, the supporting attack to their right is going well with many enemy casualties. The enemy now owns the plantation hill, but it has not been won easily.

Final the Argyraspides succumb to their fate. At the same time the enemy line itself is now broken. Casualties on both sides are mounting terribly.

Outcome

A mutual destruction with the Carthaginians losing 25 and the Seleucids losing 23 (of which four are from the camp, and another five from the brilliant Argyraspide General). An excellent game, you have got to love a "Mutual" result.

Four games into the competition and I was one win, one mutual and two losses.

Lessons Learnt

A very cunning and valuable lesson was learnt on how easy it is to contract from line into column and what you can do with it.

Another battle where although I was attacking why did I advance beyond the terrain protecting my left flank? Just because you may be attack doesn't always mean you need to advance.

The units providing rear security eventually came out with a net positive result even though the camp was lost, by destroy or forcing to evade all but one enemy light cavalryman.

ADLG - Game Report 273

Seleucid (42) vs Seleucid (42)

It isn't what you need when the draw for the next round comes out and you discuss who your next opponent is, and all your local friends say "Oh, Rafa is a very good player – good luck!". Excellent motivational speech gentlemen. In this case I actually won the initiative, and decided that I should attack in the plains. The Initial plan, based on the terrain, was for the Army to wheel forwards to the left protecting its right flank as much as possible by the field on the right. In doing so to try and keep the elephants away from my cavalry.

This movement proceeded according to the plan – which is a first! Meanwhile the enemy elephants are on a route march to my right flank. In the centre right the enemy's cunning use of lights has lost me a light cavalryman.

Once again, the enemies use of lights behind my light cavalry's flank has prevented them evading. At the same time the enemy is now moving more of his troops to their left flank.

The cataphracts have been forced to engage and are suffering the consequences of their action. In the distance the sole surviving light infantry bowmen is being mercilessly hunted down. Meanwhile on the left of the main line poor command has prevented to Greek militia spearmen from moving up to support the pike phalanx.

The Cavalry command on the right has been destroyed, less a sole light cavalrymen who managed to evade. The goal now is to inflict as many casualties as we can before the enemy left wing re-engages along the flank of the line of battle.

The enemy left wing may not be needed as their main line is proving stubborn and inflicting as good as it receives.

Before the elephants can move into contact my line of battle has already lost more casualties than it can afford to do so. Out on the left the failures of command are preventing the Greek militia contributing to the defeat.

Outcome

The Seleucid's won, Rafa's and not mine, but I managed to inflict 15 on his 23.

Three games into the competition and I was one win and two losses.

Lessons Learnt

Perhaps a more cautious defensive approach may have helped?

Another battle where the loss of five sixths of my lights always put me on the back foot.

With at least three units uncommitted I was really fighting with only 20 units.