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.

ADLG - Game Report 272

Seleucid (42) vs Early Carthaginian (54)

Day Two in Alicante, a rainy day initially outside, but inside the conference venue for the event it was warm, dry and the tables were ready for battle. For my second game I was pitched into another Carthaginian (in this case the early variant) enemy commanded by Felix. He opted to defend in the mountains leaving me to determine how I was going to attack. On balance it was reasonable terrain to have with a wooded steep hill on Greek left and impassable terrain on the right. I deployed the Cavalry command on the right with the infantry left and centre.

As we advanced the Carthaginians started to redeploy their army, with the goal of them trying to find something soft and squidgy for their chariots to fight, other than charging down a pike shaft.

At least it didn't look like the Carthaginians would easily be able to slip around my flank. At this stage the Carthaginian's had almost completed their manoeuvring, all that was left was for their heavy spearmen to turn to face the pikes.

A pre-emptive charge by the Carthaginian chariots attempted to roll over the Greek cavalry, and although the Galatians have suffered the Cataphracts are more than holding their own. The Greek militia have been held back in reserve to recover and be ready to act as a speedbump for the enemy chariots in the event that they try to move to their right down the Greek line.

On the right the Greek light cavalry were engaged by the Chariots to buy more time for the Greek infantry to do their work. However, whilst there are Carthaginian infantry casualties the pikes and legionaries have also taken hits, and a unit of Thorakiti has been destroyed.

A Carthaginian Chariot was successfully destroyed, and the enemy centre has been broken. However, on the left wing the Greeks were unable to prevent the Carthaginian peltasts from moving around the flank of the legionaries.

Outcome

A very hard-fought battle that eventually went to the Carthaginian's who lost 20 of their 26.

Two games into the competition and I was one and one.

Lessons Learnt

I lacked the command points to move the Militia cavalry reserve forward to support the left flank. They should have been closer to the action.

ADLG - Game Report 271

Seleucid (42) vs Carthaginian (55)

It continues to amaze me how ADLG has captured the attention of so many wargamers worldwide. The number and frequency of events means that it is almost possible to go to an event every weekend, if you have the inclination! As I write this blog entry on January 19th 2026 there are four different events over the next 3 weekends. Moreover I am writing this event on a plane on the way home from an event in Alicante, where over 60 players registered for a weekend of ADLG gaming, at Akra Leuka VI; many thanks Javier for your organisation. I will end this series of 6 posts with some observations about multi-national ADLG gaming which make it even more worthwhile.

The first of my six battles was against Albert's Carthaginians. I am pleased to say that the Army of Seleceus made the journey to Alicante in more or less one piece with only a few bent spears. The journey home looks like it will be a little more challenging. Back to the battle where I was invited to attack in the plains, I decided that with the wide open flank and the likelihood of a cavalry heavy opponent it would be sensible to refuse the right flank, and placed my meagre cavalry of two Cataphracts and a Galatian medium cavalry unit on the left flank.

We advanced to contact. The Carthaginians started to reorientate their army by moving moe of their cavalry on their right and centre to take on the Cataphracts.

The Greek light cavalry managed to draw first blood by destroying one of the opposition light cavalry. On the right it would be up to the Militia and Thorakiti to hold off the Carthaginian elephants for as long as possible, buying time for the rest of the Army to defeat the enemy centre and right.

The Greek cavalry has partially deployed to face off against the enemy Cavalry that has moved to confront them. The Carthaginian heavy spears seem reluctant to move forward to engage the pikes; hardly surprising really. While on the right the enemy elephants are manoeuvring for an advantage.

The enemy make contact on the left, but we managed to stand and hold but with loss. The Greek cavalry has formed line and is now ready to engage. The two opposing lines of infantry are also closing into combat range. However, the right wing have worked two pikes around the flank of the elephants, where the Militia and one Thorakiti have stood and held back the pachyderms. Unfortunately, the other medium infantry died on contact.

The left flank guard has bought time for the remaining cavalry to engage and make a gap to exploit in the main Carthaginian line. On the right the flank attack of the pikes has destroyed an elephant and with luck will see to the demise of the enemy left.

The infantry combat has started and it will be a matter of push and shove with heavy spear against pike. On the right it was up to the light infantry to engage and destroy the remaining elephant in the flank (a six-one in one's favour can only help the cause!

The Greek infantry, with support from the Cataphracts, has defeated the enemy infantry. Similarly, the Greek right has now engaged the remaining Carthaginian troops on the left flank.

Outcome

A Greek victory by inflicting 27 cohesion hits on the Carthaginians and receiving 17 hits in return.

Lessons Learnt

Avoid deploying Cataphracts in column as it takes forever for their ordinary general to deploy them.

ADLG - Game Report 270

Song Chinese (225) vs Classical Indians (79)

With two battles behind them it was time to review the order of battle of the Song Chinese, and not to forget to make sure it has all the troops it is supposed to have. So once again Kevin's Indians offered battle, not least because they wanted to try and get some payback for their last outing. I won the initiative and decided to attack in the plains. No more of those pesky mountains from which all the troops slide off. 

The Song Chinese advanced in line abreast; not the most tactically subtle manoeuvre. On the left the massed bowmen and mixed shooters were deployed to at least cause a speed bump and attrition on the elephants. In the centre the Chinese heavy lacked a meaningful enemy. While on the right the Cavalry were facing off against the Indian chariots.

I felt it prudent to withdraw the Chinese light troops. At the same time the crossbows held their ground while their supporting heavies manoeuvred against the elephants left flank. Mean while the chariots were closed down by the bow armed Cavalry with the impact cavalry held in reserve for a counterattack.

At least the manoeuvring of the Chinese heavies has encouraged the Indians to commit an elephant to the centre; only three elephants for the bowmen in the field to defeat. However, the contact on the centre has not been what we would have wished for. The cavalry have performed well against the chariots. The counterattack has gone in and been successful and the bow armed cavalry were able to regroup and support it.

The bowmen have not been the speed bump to the Indian elephants that I was looking for. However, the elephant that was distracted to deal with the Chinese centre has expired. On the right the Cavalry have secured the upper hand against the chariots.

In the field a sole crossbowman tries to hold the inevitability of the Indian advance. In the centre the Chinese troops are starting to mop up the enemy. While on the right the introduction of India reinforcements has slightly changed the balance of the combat.

Outcome

An Indian victory in which they only lost 12 of their 23 points.

Lessons Learnt

Another game where I was overly and incorrectly pre-occupied with the perceived benefits of the terrain on the left flank.

The collective wisdom is that the Indian heavy chariots are not as flexible and as useful as the heavy impact cavalry.

ADLG - Game Report 269

Low Countries (243) vs Medieval Scots (232)

For round 2 of a morning at Entoyment Harry brought along his hairy arsed Scots, while I brought along my Flems. Unusually, I won the initiative and decided to defend in the plains. The Knights were deployed on the left with the two pike commands centre and right. I decided to dismount the Knights to become foot knights; which on balance I think was the right decision for the wrong reason and in the wrong place.

I decided that the best option was to move to the left and therefore the order went out "The Army will turn to the left in threes, wait for it, LEFT TURN, by the right QUICK MARCH….."

Fortunately, the Scottish Knights became hesitant, however, I was not clever enough or aggressive enough to exploit it. However at this stage I was relatively comfortable, and the line had turned to the right to face off against the enemy.

I was reluctant to take the foot knights into the field to fight the bowmen, and decided to leave them as arrow-catchers – another of one of not the wisest moves I could have made looking at the factors after the battle. However, before they could play catch-me-an-arrow the Scottish bow fire started to attrit my own longbowmen.

The opposing lines slid ever closer to the engagement. 

On the right the grey blank area is where Harry had removed the two front ranks of pikes as their pikes were unfortunately levelled at the enemy. On the right the remaining mounted knight, and included competent general, was lured into being an arrow-catcher on the right flank.

Contact! The Scottish foot knights have destroyed a pike unit on contact. Meanwhile along the res of the line the mediocre pikes of each side start the push-and-shove game, and by the colour count isn't going the Flemish way!

On the left of the Flemish line we have achieved a breakthrough and trying to work along the enemy right flank. However, the centre and right of the Flemish line is slowly changing colour for the worse. And on the far right the included general is catching more arrows than he should and is looking a little sick.

And now it's even sicker as amber fades to red along the line. Of greater harm to the Flemish cause is the loss of the included general as a mounted heavy knight as he catches one too many arrows, and dies of his wounds.

Outcome

A Scottish victory losing 19 of 25, to the Flemish 23. On balance despite the ineptitude of the Flemish commander a close attritional game.

Lessons Learnt

A cursory examination of the terrain shows that the Flemish position is compromised by the two fields on its flank which offer cover for the Scottish medium and loose medium infantry, and which cannot be contested by the Flemish.

On closer examination the foot knights would have been at evens (zero factor vs zero factor) against the bowmen in the field, which given their heavy armour and two-handed cutting weapons is not that bad odds.

Alternatively reducing the Flemish frontage to restrict the flanking fire form the fields to the left and right might also have been a positive option.