ADLG - Game Report 300

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Ghaznavids (201)

So after reflection of several games with the Taifa Kingdom, I brought together a different design and one more broadly based on Kevin's suggestions.; after all he did with designing Robin's Komnenan Byzantine army so it was prudent for me to consider his suggestions. So with this new army I went into battle, again, against Kevin's Ghaznavids. In this game I decided to attack in the plains. The terrain all ended on our left, and the marsh was moved by Kevin from my left to the centre, and on deeper reflection after the battle we decided that this was a good move for me and not for him. I went with two equal Cavalry commands deployed on the left and right, with the bulk of my Foot in the centre. I decided to dismount one Knight to support the Foot.

With the Cavalry on the wings the goal was to try and pull the enemy apart, and from the outset that is what they were forced to do to respond to me. Our Foot advanced slowly with the African Spearmen and lights moving to secure the marsh.

On the right the enemy bow fire quickly subdued one of my light cavalry units. The centre and right are moving forward slowly, but the left, with the Knights leading, is taking the fight to the enemy.

The Knights managed to contact the enemy spears supporting their Elephants, but we have the Heavy cavalry in reserve, and one of these has manoeuvred onto the flank of the elephant. Indian Impetuous swordsmen have tried to force their wat into the marsh but have been soundly rebuffed by the spearmen. On the right the lone Light Cavalry unit has survived multiple rounds of bow fire and where necessary rallied off the hits they received.

The engagement is getting more intense. The Ghaznavid right is now under threat from the front and the flank where the Africa Spearmen have won their battle. One of the Knights has died but the General is fighting on laying waste all before him. In the centre the foot closed with the enemy line, and allowed them to charge in. The dismounted Knights have severely wounded their Elephant and in doing so killed the general mounted on his pachyderm charger! And still the Light Cavalry taunts the enemy another time!

On the left the Knight General supported by the Heavy Cavalry have destroyed an Elephant, but the African spearmen perished in their attack against the enemy cavalry. In the centre a cunning counter-stroke by the Taifa cavalry has caught the enemy in the flank and The General and his pachyderm are now deceased. The Light Cavalry have finally withdrawn, under pressure.

The belated enemy counter-attack against the African Spearman has been destroyed assailed in the rear and front. While the main enemy line has been broken with all three elephants now lying dead on the battlefield.

Outcome

A Taifa victory losing 21 cohesion hits in the process.

Lessons Learnt

The Army design seems to work, albeit that we came close to breaking ourselves.

On to Attack!

ADLG - Game Report 299

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Ghaznavids (201)

So, after junking the French and Arab-Indian, it was a return to the Taifa Kingdom. This time to take on Kevin's Ghaznavids. Spoiler Alert: When the list of Armies for the 15mm competition at Attack was issued we discovered that there would be 5 Ghaznavids brought out to play! So it is perhaps timely that I would have lots of practice games against them. In this game I was asked to defend, the Army deployed with the large cavalry wing on the left (with Heavy and Medium Cavalry hidden in ambush in the gully on the left), infantry centre and the light cavalry on the right.

I decided to dismount two of the Knights to support the infantry line. The Light Cavalry command was moved from the right to the left to support the remaining cavalry. The African medium spearmen had the task of trying to defend the right on their own.

As the two armies moved closer together I withdrew the Light Cavalry Command to preserve it; there was no pint in sacrificing it for no gain. Although one individual Light Cavalry unit has remained as a stay behind party to discomfort the enemy.

The Ghaznavid Bowmen supporting their cavalry on the enemy right were a continuing thorn in our side which constrained the ability of the Cavalry to envelope the enemy. Wherever the Cavalry went the bow men were sure to follow! In the centre we made contact. We have had a little success with our spears destroying one elephant but at the expense of losing two of our own from the elephant's supports.

In the centre the enemy have tidied up the remaining spears and are moving to occupy our camp. The Knights have been forced to support by engaging the remaining elephant. Meanwhile on the right a cunning ploy from the African Spearmen allowed them to engage the flank of the enemy cavalry and spears. The initial contact went well, but regrettably not decisively which has allowed the enemy to regroup and punish the spearmen.

Outcome

A victory for the Ghaznavids in which they lost 14 cohesion points.

Lessons Learnt

After the game we discussed the order of battle I had put together, and Kevin made some sensible suggestions for changes I should make. These amounted to reducing the size of the Cavalry command, and instead making two similar size commands to operate on each flank.

I took on board these suggestions and then refought the same battle solo with this revised order of battle. Suffice to say the result was similar result; but I don't think this invalidate Kevin's suggestions.

My conclusion was that the terrain certainly did not favour a defensive battle for my Army. Perhaps I should have more options to dismount more of my Cavalry and Knights if I am placed on the defensive?

ADLG - Game Report 298

Arab Indian (135) vs Komnenan Byzantine (183)

Robin offered battle for the Arab Indian Army with a Komnenan Byzantine selection. His army was chosen by Kevin for him; and thank you Kevin for that! I was invited by the Byzantines to defend in the desert, a novel choice I thought. With the openness of the left flank the army deployed wit its massed ranks of Cavalry on the right to force the issue with the Elephants in the centre to provide shock against Byzantine Knights, while the foot protected the camp.

The desert sand dunes provided a suitable division in the terrain with neither army willing to enter it. The Elephant moved to the right to engage the Knights while its supporting foot moved to the left to support the Arab and Indian Foot. On the right the Arab Cavalry massed in support of the Elephant looking to exploit the Elephant's shock effect. Out on the right the Indian Cavalry and the Berbers moved to engage the enemy lighter cavalry.

The Arab Cavalry have successfully engaged a Byzantine Knight, but they need to destroy it to be able to exploit the advantage. Unfortunately the Heavy cavalry Bows have been ineffective against the Knights, while frther right the enemy light cavalry have secured an advantage on our right. On the left the Byzantine foot seem reluctant to force the issue.

The Elephant and Arab Cavalry have broken through but lack the command and control to exploit their advantage at the moment. Of greater concern is that the remainder of the Arab Cavalry have been blown away by the Byzantine Knights, to leave the Arab Bow armed heavy cavalry to hold the line! In spite of the advantages held by the Arab foot the Byzantine heavy spears are winning the fight. We will draw a veil over the fact that the Byzantines claimed their Varangian Guard had impact, and we failed to challenge the claim!!!

Across the battlefield the Byzantine forces have pummelled the Arab Indian force into a state of disarray, leaving the Indian Elephant and Arab Cavalry breakthrough force high and dry with no targets and no opportunity to rescue the situation.

Outcome

A Byzantine victory in which they only lost 6 cohesion points. All done and dusted and troops packed away in 90 minutes!

Lessons Learnt

If it sounds too good be true, it isn't true; if the army composition claimed by the enemy doesn't sound right challenge them.

The Arab-Indian Army has potential but it is probably over-faced by potentially Knight-equipped armies at Attack. Back to square one for Army selection.

I know that many people favour Bow-armed Heavy Cavalry, I don't; especially against Knights.

ADLG - Game Report 297

Arab Indian (135) vs Feudal Scots (184)

An army I had been considering for some time and which might be relevant to Attack were the Arab Indians. In theory it brought together the mobility of Arab abd Indian Cavalry with the shock value of an Elephant. A significant challenge for it would be to take on an infantry army and one led by Harry! I was attacking in the plains and massed my mobile troops on the left with the infantry in a holding position on the right.

At the outset we decided to switch flanks and so the grand procession commenced.

With the elephants swinging to their left heading to engage the Scottish Knights. The Arab and Indian cavalry manoeuvred for an opening, or at the very least to pin the enemy foot in place.

Premptively one of the Arab Cavalry charged and engaged the enemy and destroyed them. However in the centre the Scottish Nobles are playing coy and holding themselves in reserve, to allow their foot to win the battle for them.

The Elephant was destroyed by being attacked in the front and flank, while its attackers have now been similarly attacked in flank by our reserves. The foot on the left are now moving to engage and support the Indian swordsmen.

The Arab and Indian Cavalry have deigned to become involved in the battle but with little effect. In the centre the Scottish Knight caught in the flank has survived its assault on its flank by the Arab general and has the temerity to wound the general in turn!. After taking sometime to become involved the Arab and Indian foot have acquitted themselves well.

Outcome

Given the time and casualties and the lack of will the Arab-Indin forces conveded the battle to the infidels from the heather. I don't often concede but time and energy were at a premium on this day.

Lessons Learnt

Fatigue and unfamiliarity with the army compounded to bring to the battle a flawed plan and deployment!

The Army merits a further opportunity to redeem itself, before it too is constrained to the ash heap of potential armies for Attack.

ADLG - Game Report 296

Feudal French (182) vs Zapotec (285)

For the final game I decided to revert to the Feudal French to take on the might of the Zapotecs. Hopefully the full weight of the French Nobility would be able to tramp under foot the native Zapotecian medium swordsmen. I was invited to attack in the plains, where we deployed with the foot to the right and the mounted centre and left. The enemy were clearly intending to use the terrain as bastions, the question is could I prevail with the weight of the Knights in the gaps between the terrain?

And once again my camp is threatened by an enemy advance down my right flank and all I have to defend against it is some light troops. Could it be yet another gain where I fight with the loss of my camp hanging over me?

However at this stage I have managed to extricate the light troops and brought my own medium troops around to defend the flank, in this case strongly supported by crossbow fire which has been particularly effective.

As the French Knights advance the moment will soon arrive when they have to be committed or commit themselves through their own impetuosity. On the right the foot are fighting their own battle where they are suffering the atlatls of outrageous fortune.

The French Knights continued to close to battle range and, on the right, pushed through the gap. The foot had now advanced to support them, though too late to make much difference. Besides, there is only so much one can expect from heavy spearmen in the fields!

As the sun sets in the west, the Knights on the right of the line have shown what they can do against medium swordsmen, while on the left in the gap one can see what happens when they do not immediately prevail and get jumped on from the flank!

Outcome

A Zapotec win in which they only lost 11 of their 30 available cohesion points.

Lessons Learnt

A relatively unequal match given the terrain. In a competition game I would have been somewhat rash to attack and would have been better playing for a draw (but of course that is not my style either).

Perhaps it is now time to consign this army list to the ash heap of history for Attack?

ADLG - Game Report 295

Kingdom of Sicily (188) vs Seljuk Turks (203)

For my second game I decided to spin the wheel and try the Sicilians I had brought along. Kev for his part was experimenting with Seljuks. On that basis we were both exploring relatively new ground. My army had one large command of medium impact knights and medium impetuous knights supported by Saracen Heavy Cavalry, there was a small infantry command and a light cavalry command.

I decided to attack in the plains, and set up with the foot on the right holding the difficult ground, with the cavalry command in the centre. I decided to send the Light Cavalry command left flanking, and with any luck they might be able to seize the Seljuk camp.

We started with a right wheel to pin the enemy on that side of the battlefield. However, already my plan is unravelling as the enemy light cavalry have potentially exposed my right flank and opened up an avenue to take my camp. Now why did I place my camp there?

With my camp likely to fall the best I could hope for is to win the battle quickly, and in doing so hope my flank march arrives to secure the enemy camp.

On the right the battle has become piecemeal with the Seljuk Light Cavalry running amok while their heavy cavalry pin the remaining infantry. Poor command and control has started to prevent an adequate response; that is my story and I am sticking to it!

And finally the flank march arrives but some cunning Seljuk manoeuvring has allowed him to bring some medium swordsmen up to defend his camp and his flank. In the depth of the enemy left flank the Sicilian Medium Knights have themselves run amok. Although they have damaged the enemy cavalry, they have not eliminated them as a threat and they greater manoeuvrability has allowed them to move around the flank of the Knights and destroy them. In the centre the other Knights have engaged the enemy foot and seem at this stage to have the advantage.

However, despite the Seljuk's camp almost being taken they managed to rally around their elephant and destroy the Sicilian Knights from the rear!

Outcome

A Seljuk victory only losing 13 of 21 cohesion points.

Lessons Learnt

Why did I place the camp in such an exposed position; if I was going to wheel to the right and flank from the left the camp should have been on the left and not the right!

A more balanced army would see the cavalry and Knights in two equal commands. (spoiler alert – which is what will eventually happen with the Taifa Kingdom army list for Attack)

ADLG - Game Report 294

Feudal French (182) vs Ghaznavids (201)

With time on our hands the usual suspects gathered at Entoyment for another round of ADLG games with the purported intention of trialling armies for Attack 2026. While we waited for Paul and Kev to arrive Harry and I started the experiment with my Feudal French against his Ghaznavids. I had already beat this army previously with my Taifa Kingdom. However I wanted to experiment more with these Frenchies as I am sure there must be a viable army in there somewhere.

I won the initiative and decided to attack in the plains. I deployed the smaller infantry command on the left against the coastline protecting the camp (not the best place to set up camp in hindsight.) with two Knightly commands in the centre and right.

We advanced in good order, but as usual we came under heavy bow fire from foot and mounted bowmen. For their part the enemy have adopted a defensive posture to exploit their bow armed troops.

We had no option than to take the fight to the enemy, or rather they brought the fight to us so we couldn't avoid it! Although we have strength of numbers on the left with the combined foot and knights, the enemy bow fire is punishing us and degrading the Knights before they can come into contact.

The Knights, impetuously charge and pursue into the depth of the enemy, in doing so they present flanks for the enemy to attack or to outnumber them with their supports.

Once the dust settles from the ensuing fights there are a significantly fewer Knights for the generals to command.

And at the close it is up to the infantry to try and at least attempt, but fail, to damage the enemy.

Outcome

A Ghaznavid victory in which we only inflicted 11 losses on them.

On the plus side Harry didn't spike himself too often on his minaret!

Lessons Learnt

And that seems to be another French Feudal army design consigned to the ash heap of history.

On balance the year 1106 doesn't seem to be very good for any Western European Feudal army as they do not have the better troops that might be available later in the feudal period.