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.