ADLG - Game Report 334

Arab Indians (135) vs Abbasid Arab (134)

For the final battle of the competition I was up against Kevin's Abbasid's. I won the initiative!!! I decided to attack in the plains, and we both went for minimal terrain to interfere with the battle. We deployed with the elephant on the left and cavalry fight with the foot in the centre. The goal being, as always to try and get the cavalry into the enemy backfield and on their flanks as quickly as possible.

Once again light cavalry moved to screen the advance of the heavy cavalry. In this case the spears were able to maintain close contact with the cavalry line to provide support and to protect their flank. The enemy for their part contrived to fluff their lines and roll some atrocious command dice for their right flank.

The cavalry, for once, were on form and broke the enemy right. On their left the enemy impact cavalry has been pinned by our spearmen; they have one option to stand, or to attack.

They attacked and although they were punished on first contact, they fought back well. However, for us another enemy heavy cavalry bow has proved stubborn and refused to fall on its sword when attacked in front, flank and rear! The elephant is proving it difficult to fin an opponent and is reduced to supporting its medium swordsmen.

The enemy impact heavy cavalry refused to yield or break off and were cut down by the spearmen, with support from our own cavalry. In the centre the elephant has pursued into the depth of the enemy's position looking for suitable opponents.

Outcome

I was fortunate to secure a win on this my last game suffering 13 of 25 hits in the process, leaving me four losses and one win for the two days.

Lessons Learnt

We were fortunate that the enemy command and control was lacking and that their right flank didn't' engage until the end.

ADLG - Game Report 333

Arab Indians (135) vs Arab Indians (135)

What would day two bring, could I turn my fortunes around? Perhaps this battle against Steve's Arab Indians might be the battle to do so. I was i9nvited to defend in the plains – again. We had an ideal defensive position with the hill giving us an admirable vantage point. Additionally with the cavalry on the right and left wing respectively would this decide the battle. The race to the bottom was in our hands.

The enemy spearmen were fixed in position as their forces wheeled out from their left. I decided that it would be sensible to bring the spears forward and allow the bows to shoot over them. The cavalry numbers were in my favour.

The light cavalry screened the heavy cavalry before we contacted the enemy heavy bow armed cavalry. Hence, we were able to avoid casualties. On the left of the cavalry line were less fortunate as the enemy bows wounded us as we made contact.

On our left we moved the impetuous medium swordsmen out to attempt to flank the enemy line, while the elephant closed in from the front supported by bow fire. The spears have been wounded by the charge of the enemy elephant and swords. While the cavalry battle is now a story of two halves. On the left of the cavalry an enemy unit of bowmen has destroyed one of the cavalry while the other is struggling against the enemy bow armed cavalry. The right of the line the fight is going better where we have penetrated the line ready to work down from the flank.

Despite the pressure on the enemy right from the front and flank their cavalry refuse to yield and indeed fight back reducing the heavy cavalry to 50% strength. The enemy elephant has successfully broken the end of the line of spearmen. Although the impetuous troops were unable to hit the enemy flank, they were able to severely wound their opponent supported by the light infantry.

And finally our cavalry managed to defeat the enemy and now must reorientate themselves to take on the remainder of the enemy cavalry; if there is time. However elsewhere the spearmen are not holding up their end of the battle and are now exposed to attacks from the enemy.

Outcome

An Arab Indian victory, but not mine, the enemy lost 19 of 23. We just couldn't quite bring our game face to the battle. This left me on four losses and the raise to the bottom was almost complete.

Lessons Learnt

The ambush was somewhat predictable given that we had the same armies! It might have been or more value to bring it out to fight sooner rather than later.

The tactic of screening the heavy cavalry from enemy bow fire as they advanced to contact was again a sound strategy that worked well.

ADLG - Game Report 332

Arab Indians (135) vs Hindu Indians (170)

For my final encounter against Mark's Hindu Indians I was invited to defend in the desert. MY plan was to use the elephant command to advance to build a strong flank against the impassable terrain in the right of the picture and then fight the battle in the centre. On deployment it became clear that once Mark had finished deploying two commands, I could expect a flank march to arrive at some stage. Therefore, dismounting my cavalry to face the elephants was no longer an option.

The first thing that happened was, of course, the roll for the "Flank March" which Mark duly rolled a six for it to arrive on the next game turn on our right. Hence the movement of the bowmen to that flank, next to move would be the heavy cavalry.

Despite the threat of the flank march, I was not entirely despondent. My elephant was about to attack the enemy cavalry, my cavalry had moved to secure the flank, and the remainder of the troops were well placed to hold the line.

That is I wasn't despondent until the troops were in contact and they were consistently outfought (a euphemism I use to explain my poor combat dice rolls), except for the Elephant, by the Hindu Indians. Additionally, even though my heavy cavalry outnumbered the Hindu cavalry I couldn't bring my strength in numbers to bear sufficiently to make a difference.

The cavalry battle on the right became, what aviators would call, a fur ball. With each side looking for opportunities to out-manoeuvre the opponent. The elephant command has again been destroyed as its flank protection was crushed. While in the centre the Hindu Elephants have had success.

And these same elephants and their supporting infantry have even more success as they look to penetrate and flank our infantry line. On the right the fur ball continues to cause casualties to both sides.

Outcome

A Hindu Indian victory in which they only suffered 12 of 25 losses. This meant I was three losses for the day for my efforts.

Lessons Learnt

The successful flank march significantly impacted the result of this battle. On balance I was probably lucky to score 12 cohesion hits on the Hindus as a result.

ADLG - Game Report 331

Arab Indians (135) vs Viking and Leidang (155)

It would be uphill after the first game to top the rankings at this tournament; joke! My next game was another game against Cameron and his Leidang option. In the margins we had been discussing our opponents for the next round. We agreed that it would be no problem with my horse against the Viking swords, of course we didn't factor in that Cameron might have chosen the Leidang option with spears; bad Cameron. I was invited to defend in the plains. I had deployed with the Cavalry on the left next to the elephants and the infantry on the right.

I held the Cavalry wing back hoping to determine where I might be best able to employ them. I was looking for an open flank or for a hole in the line or for the Elephant to make a hole. I initially decided to refuse the right, with The Leidang advancing on their left.

As the Leidang advanced their centre and right presented a formidable spear and shield wall. However, I noted the gap that opened between the enemies left and centre. I advanced the bowmen into the gap and directed the cavalry in that direction.

We tried to pin the enemy left with the spearmen on our right only for them to outfight us in contact. Although the left end of our spears supported by the bowmen has increased the width of the gap. The issue would be could the Cavalry pass through this gap and into the enemy rear quickly enough to affect the outcome. In the centre the enemy destroyed the elephant but in rampage it inflicted a wound on the enemy unit to its front; regrettably (for us) the included commander did not die with them.

The Arab spearmen are grimly holding on while the cavalry passes though the gap. With the demise of the elephant and its supports it is up to the bowmen to hold open the gap.

The Cavalry has finally entered the fray on the right, but has yet to make an impact on the left.

The impact of the cavalry joining the battle is telling, and the Leidang line starts to crumble away, but their overall numbers were not diminished significantly.

Outcome

A Leidang victory in which they lost 20 of their 24 cohesion points. We were now two losses from two battles.

Lessons Learnt

The deployment plan was sound, but I should have considered moving the Cavalry sooner into the centre.

ADLG - Game Report 330

Arab Indians (135) vs Abbasid Arab (134)

186 miles from Bournemouth to Kegworth for the Old Codgers event. As intended by the location it does bring together a much wider field of opponents from around the country and from north of the border. My first opponent was Marco with his Abbassids, I was invited to defend in the plains with the coastline on our left. I decided on a plan which was effectively to hold on the left and refuse the right, but in the event was neither one thing nor another!

The enemy refused combat on the left and withdrew in the face of the bowmen controlling the field. Therefore, I decided to advance the infantry line to support the centre and right.

The Abbasid mixed shooters are starting to have an impact causing a number of hits on the cavalry right wing. However, on the left the bowmen are in a position, once they both get within range, to provide some fire support.

The elephants scatter the enemy cavalry like confetti. On the right things are staring to look bleak with the cavalry suffering in combat despite their impact ability. Meanwhile the infantry are too slow to provide support.

The Abbasid are picking their targets carefully, as the battle becomes more disjointed they are only engaging where they have an advantage; and why wouldn't they! Meanwhile in the centre the foot is being bested by a single cavalry unit!

The Arab Indian cavalry has been destroyed, picked off and part by superior cavalry and aggressive Abid mixed spearmen and bowmen. On the plus side of the equation, we managed to destroy the enemy cavalry attacking the foot which will now release them to advance in support.

Outcome

An Abbasid victory in which they lost 13 of their 21. Spoiler alert Marco would go on to win the competition, so on balance I can be content with the 13 points I took off him.

Lessons Learnt

A poor deployment, which allowed me to be out-generalled by Marco.

In retrospect the Abbasid deployment was rather telegraphed by the deployment of their camp, which I should have taken as a factor in my plan.

Also, a very important lesson is to turn the page over when you are reading the Army Lists to see if there are other troops available; I completely missed the additionally troops over the page for the Abbasids when I was doing my pre-tournament army research.

ADLG - Game Report 329

Bulgar (160) vs Thematic Byzantines (126)

The Bulgars might have been an interesting but limited option for Kegworth. Nonetheless they are fun to command and therefore were a natural opponent for Kev S's Thematic Byzantines. I was invited to defend in the plains. We deployed with the advantage of the hill with a cavalry wing to its right. The remaining cavalry were in ambush on the left.

The Bulgar's remained static in their defensive position, apart from redeploying a unit of bowmen from the left of the infantry line in the plantation to the right. However, the ambush was sprung and with some adroit command imitative deployed itself arrayed against the enemy's right flank.

The major issue for the Bulgar's is the weight of cavalry numbers they face on their right; they are outnumbered two to one. Therefore, the foot has been rushed forward of its defensive feature to try and pin the right of the cavalry line. The left wing is moving much more slowly than we would have wished, but it is proving a significant distraction for the Byzantines.

The right wing continues to be out-numbered and this is compounded by losing a unit immediately on contact. In the centre the fight is even, but with the Byzantine cataphracts now in danger front the front and flank. One the left the Bulgar cavalry has split with the light cavalry moving to ransack the enemy camp while the remainder of the heavy cavalry bear down on the enemy flank.

The Bulgar right continues to defy expectations and the centre has destroyed a Cataphract and enemy spearmen. While the Light Cavalry move to the enemy camp. All we need to do is survive the next round of combat and the battlefield is ours.

Outcome

A Byzantine victory in which they suffered 19 of 22, and in which we failed to seize their camp, and in which we lost seven cohesion hits in the last round of Byzantine combat.

Lessons learnt

We need to nobble Kev S's dice tower.

The Ambush was sprung and then advanced forward, where it would have been better and quicker to immediately move to the right.

ADLG - Game Report 328

Seleucid (42) vs Syracusan (50)

Another weekday meeting at Entoyment for more ADLG; this is becoming a pleasantly regularised occurrence. My first game was to bring out the might of Seleucus against the Jon's denizens of Syracuse. I won the initiative and decided to attack in the plains. We deployed with foot and pikes centre, Companions on the left and the Elephant on the right. Hidden in the gully were the lights and Thracians.

The Brilliant left-wing commander was late having his breakfast forgot that we were attacking and his advance was delayed while the remainder of the army advanced leading on the right.

The left finally decided to join the battle and aligned themselves with the rest of the army. Clearly the aim would be to move the Thracians through the filed on the left to lead a flank attack along the Syracusan right flank – if possible.

In the centre the enemy were not slow to engage the pike command and to receive their just deserts for their boldness. However, the hoplites have suffered and if they fail then there is a danger of our right being flanked. On the left the Thracians are behind the Syracusan left flank, but they need to deal with the enemy lights and to support the Companions before they can exploit their advantage.

The battle between the pikes and the Syracusans in the centre continues in the same manner with both sides suffering hits. However, the Hoplites managed to recover slightly and in doing so inflicted comparable wounds on their opponents. On the right the elephant is causing discomfort on the enemy horse although its supports seem somewhat weaker On the left the Thracians and Companions have destroyed a unit and are now moving on to the second target; with this gone the way will be open to attack and seize the enemy camp and attack the enemy right flank.

The Seleucid losses are mounting; three units of pike and one of hoplites, along with a unit of Thracians has been destroyed. On the positive side of the equation the enemy camp is in sight of the Thracians, and another Thracian unit is supporting the attack on the enemy right flank.

The Seleucid right has been destroyed and the General has been captured in the process. In the centre the pikes are consolidating in all-round defence. While the Companions ransack the enemy camp.

Outcome

A victory for Seleucus suffering 22 out of 24 cohesion hits, but benefited from securing the enemy camp.

Lessons Learnt

A reminder that pikes are not wonder weapons and can be destroyed.