ADLG - Game Report 309

Viking (155) vs Rus (165)

Having spent the summer painting the Vikings (hopefully for future profit when I sell them) I decided I needed to take them out for a spin. Additionally, it would be interesting as they were a valid selection for Kegworth. With that in mind I took them down to Entoyment for our regular Thursday get together, courtesy of the Veteran's discount. First up was a valid match-up against Harry's (work-in-progress) Rus army. I was asked to attack in the plains. The Viking heavy foot were centre and left, while the medium foot took on the mission of pressurising the flank and if possible, take the hill.

No surprise that there were an awful lot of enemy hidden behind the ambush markers; that would not be an easy nut for the medium foot to attack, but as an economy of effort diversionary attack it might be feasible. In the centre the two lines moved to the inevitable clash of arms.

We started to take casualties on the right from the enemy light troops and bows; do we stand, do we withdraw or do we attack? The next turn the heavy troops should meet in combat.

Honours were broadly even on contact on the left and centre. We did achieve a breakthrough, but could we exploit this. Against the hill we have failed along the line, what is worse is that the failure of the attack has allowed the Rus to sweep in on the flank of the centre right.

The Vikings have been clearly exposed as wanting in their attack on the hill. Moreover the centre despite the success in creating a hole to exploit is looking very fragile with the enemy bearing down on them from the hill. The left despite the casualties is holding its own.

The Viking centre and right is hoping and praying to Odin that the left prevails and will rescue them before they succumb to the Rus.

Outcome

A close fought battle that eventually went to the Rus who lost 22 of their 24. On reflection if a couple of the combats on the left had gone the way they should have it would have been a mutual destruction.

Lessons Learnt

A valid army for Kegworth, although it is uncertain how it would perform against a cavalry army.

Attacking the hill was a gamble too far.

ADLG - Game Report 308

Seleucid (42) vs Alexandrian Macedonian (39)

Not one to let an opportunity for a game to go missing I accepted Robin's invitation for a game. I was already planning Armies for Kegworth and Warfare, but I was mindful that Brixham this year would be a classical theme, and I hadn't exactly covered myself in glory the last couple of time I took a classical army out for a spin. With Robin's preference for classical it was therefore opportune for me to bring out the Seleucids for a further game. I was invited to defend in the plains. I deployed the elephant on the coast, with the main Pike command in the centre and the CinC's mixed command with the Companions on the right.

As we advanced the enemy moved their own pikes to confront mine, which as a consequence opened an inviting gap between their centre and right. Although I was stronger in Horse by five to two, I was outnumbered four to two in Thracians; was this gap a cunning ploy, or a risk the enemy commander thought he had to take?

Whatever! The light cavalry evaded while the Companions charged into contact to widen the gap. Out on the left the enemy are fighting shy of confronting the elephants. Meanwhile the muscle troops are moving to confront each other.

The gap was been widened at the expense of an enemy cavalry unit. This has allowed the winning unit to engage in a flank attack against the enemy main line; the left of which has decided to attack my pikes.

On the right the Thracians are trading bodies for time and space, however, the predictable rolling up of the line of the enemy pikes from the flank has already seen the demise of two pike units. Further along the remaining pikes are shoving and pushing for all their worth. In the distance you can see the enemy casualties crossing the River Hades to the underworld.

The battle for the centre has ended and the victorious Seleucid Pikes are now reorientating to the threat of the enemy Thracians, who have won their battle. On the left the Elephant is devoid of enemies to fight.

The battle between the Pikes rumbles on, with one of the supporting Seleucid Hoplites being destroyed which will eventually threaten the line of Pikes. On the right the CinC with a companion unit has destroyed the last of the enemy cavalry on that flank as the enemy Thracians reorientate themselves to attack the centre.

Outcome

A Seleucid victory (unusually) suffering 22 of 24 cohesion hits in the process

Lessons Learnt

An excellent example of what happens if one leaves a flank open.

Once the Pikes have won their battle there is little utility in them once they have no opponents to fight.