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.