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.

ADLG - Game Report 327

Seleucid (42) vs Alexandrian Macedonian (39)

For my second game at the Wessex Wargamers I brought out the Seleucid's to face Kev S's macedoines. I was invited to attack in the plains. I deployed with a strong centre based on the pikes, with the elephant right and the cavalry to the left supported by the Thracians and lights.

I wanted to try and exploit both flanks before the pikes came into contact.

Both left and right flank both made good progress. Although the enemy cavalry on the left has moved to screen their left, which has meant that the numbers of heavy cavalry in contact will be equal; although the enemy are elite and only one of mine is.

Once again, my cavalry has been outfought by the enemy, while on the right the Seleucid elephant and supports have not been as successful as their Arab counterparts in the previous battle. The pike line is well placed to divide and conquer and to hopefully generate overlaps for when the enemy pikes move forward to attack.

And that is where the picture story ended as I forgot to pick up the phone again. What I did manage to do was to move the end pike unit in support of the cavalry while the remainder of the pikes and hoplites moved forward to force the enemy pikes into committing themselves to battle with me having supports and them not.

Outcome

Despite my cunning the Seleucid's perished, while the Alexandrian Macedoines only lost 8 of 22.

Lessons Learnt

The plan was sound, but two things went wrong. Firstly, the enemy outfought us (the enemy dice tower threw up lots of sixes to my ones and twos). Secondly, the lack of command dice for the Brilliant commander prevented the lights and mediums influencing the left flank battle.