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Post by twrnz on Dec 29, 2019 6:56:28 GMT
As readers know I enjoy the DBA rules and as such they are a staple of my normal week of gaming. For me the provide a great opportunity to move some miniatures around the table, indulge in my interest in Ancient and Medieval wargaming and equally importantly allow me to forget about some of the other challenges of my week. Of course some of the more recent engagements have been posted here previously. However, we have also been campaigning in South East Asia as the the Sultan of Malacca opened up a new campaign against Sumatra. While recording all these engagements is impossible a few photos and a more in depth description of a recent action along the steaming coastline of Sumatra can be found here. ancientwargaming.wordpress.com/2019/12/29/adventures-in-sumatra/
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Post by twrnz on Dec 28, 2019 22:00:14 GMT
Loving the Viking vs Welsh They are nicely painted armies and an interesting pair. The owner of these two armies achieved two victories one with the Welsh against me and one with the Vikings against another player.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 28, 2019 20:48:10 GMT
Last night four of us gathered for an evening of DBA using a 15mm historical matched pairs format. This format sees a round robin where each player brings a pair of armies that historically fought. Then after determining the player matchups a die rolled to determine which pair would be used. Then the player not providing the pair selecting which of the two armies he would use. The pairings, and the number of times the pair were used, were Aztecs vs Spanish & TIaxcalan Army (1); Malay vs Sumatran Army (2); Welsh vs Viking (2); Early Mycenaean vs Hittite Empire (1). Here are a couple of photos of some of the armies and battles. Above Vikings clash with the Welsh, which in this game victory went to the cunning Welsh. Below, Malay and Sumatrans clash with the Sumatran artillery firing at infantry having dispatched Malay pachyderms previously and the Malay commander himself having fled from the Sumatran commander. Finally, Early Mycenaean vs Hittite, prior to the clash of the two lines.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 23, 2019 20:13:37 GMT
I think you primarily fight historical matchups Keith, but I swear, yesterday I was thinking that it would be neat if your Japanese army could go up against a nice colourful mesoamerican army. Just saying Yes historical matchups, or near historical, are my preference it’s true. Our son is down for the holidays so it allows us to try different armies. He for example doesn’t have some of my East Asian armies nor I his New World armies. I found Cortez and his allies very difficult to use and Joel is used to using the Aztecs, an interesting challenge.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 23, 2019 8:10:04 GMT
Today Cortez has been campaigning in the New World. Bolstering his small contingent of Spanish troops with TIaxcalans “allies” Cortez set forth on his exploration & conquest of the Aztec homelands. Two great battles took place. The first battle exposed the Spanish to the swiftness of the Aztec advance, which was unprecedented. Vast numbers of skilled warriors swept down on the Spanish lines only to be thrown back by Spanish crossbow and artillery fire. The Spanish foot armed with swords unleashed a terrible retribution and drove back the Aztec left. Now with victory in his grasp Cortez ordered the second charge of his mounted reserve. Alas, the attack was held and Cortez was badly wounded and demoralised the Spanish abandoned the field. Some weeks passed before Cortez was able to take the field again. With his army reinforced by more allies the Spanish army moved once again against the Aztecs. However, a great Aztecs army soon blocked the advance. Expecting to face the Aztecs on an open plain Cortez found the main attack falling mostly on his left where his TIaxcalans allies were concentrated. The fighting here occurred mostly on steep rocky hills where the battle swung back and forth for some time. Eventually however Cortez’ TIaxcalans broke in rout leaving him no option to again retire. This New World was proving more difficult than expected...
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Post by twrnz on Dec 22, 2019 19:53:01 GMT
Another nice set of reports Keith, from the Mediterranean to the Land of the Rising Sun. Cheers, Thanks Greg. I’m not sure where our adventures will take us next.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 22, 2019 10:24:17 GMT
What colourful armies. I really like the paint work on the bows, kind of reminds me of coral or sea snakes. Thanks, they are rather colourful. I really need to finish basing some more 6Cv.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 22, 2019 7:56:40 GMT
Today we ventured to Japan and the Sengoku Jidai period where two warlords were locked in a short campaign. Oshika Norimitsu struck a fine figure at the head of his army surrounded by mounted samurai and supported by fast moving foot. However short of ashigaru he bolstered his army with mass call up of the town militias of the various towns and villages of his province. Ise Shinkurō in contrast preferred to fight on foot typically seated and surrounded by loyal bodyguards. Almost half his army comprised fast moving ashigaru armed with yari. In the first battle of the campaign season Oshika Norimitsu positioned his town militia on the left flank and advanced on the right intent on cutting destroying the enemy left. While he gained an early advantage a lack of reserves would cause his attacks to eventually stall. Then the cunning Ise Shinkurō would fall on his exposed flank with his reserves. Excepting defeat Oshika fell back and recruited further retainers. Less than a month later he moved out to face his enemy again. This time he outmanoeuvred Ise Shinkurō. As such he positioned his town militia on his open right along with his cavalry. As Ise pressed forward against the right Oshika repositioned his mounted from his right to his left by riding behind his lines and then around a steep rocky hill. The stratagem took Ise by complete surprise and he frantically ordered his right flank to reorganise. As his troops desperately reformed to face this new threat more of Oshika’s samurai, this time on foot, poured across on the rocky slopes. The resultant struggle was dramatic. However as counter charge followed charge eventually the ashigaru of Ise Shinkurō gained the advantage and a bloody slaughter Oshika’s veterans followed.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 21, 2019 20:14:01 GMT
Yesterday evening we visited the Punic Wars. The Carthaginians were yet again campaigning forcing the ever peaceful Rome, defender of the free world to dispatch her legions, along with a number of Italian allies (4Ax). The field of battle was generally open except for one rocky hill on the Roman right and a large open town on the Carthaginian right. The armies deployed opposite with the Carthaginians massing a great number of Gallic mercenaries and pachyderms in the centre, their right extended by Punic foot their left my mercenaries. A determined Punic attack on the Roman centre was narrowly held and some elephants slaughtered. Simultaneously hastati pressed forward against the Carthaginian right under the watchful eye of the Consul. The battle hung in the balance for some time but eventually the the Roman left overwhelmed the Punic right. Then Roman reserves now turned to the isolated Punic centre & outflanked it. The Punic army crumbled in disarray. A fine game indeed!
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Post by twrnz on Dec 6, 2019 23:17:45 GMT
Really good write up Keith! I especially liked the part with Romans going up against Ptolemaic Egypt. As for the scrolls going missing for the Hittite - Egyptian battle, does that mean no pics were taken? There were a couple of photos of the Egyptians vs Hittites. However I only linked in a small selection which are based on my posts on Twitter - which only allow four pictures per tweet. The real reason was I was more focused on fighting Gauls than watching what was going on next to me.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 6, 2019 20:39:56 GMT
Friday the Lincoln Gentleman Pensioners gathered for an evening of DBA. Unfortunately a few regulars were unavailable so just four gamers gathered for what was still an excellent evening of gaming. With time for thee rounds the evening opened with a dramatic battle between the Hittites who were invading and the New Kingdom Egyptians. The scrolls that outlined this battle are lost to history. All our historians know is descriptions of fast moving chariots and brief suggestions of some Hittite chariots being broken up by Egyptian infantry on one occasion. Nearby the Gauls, now utilising warriors in open formations (3Wb) clashed with Polybian Romans as the Romans moved to expand their influence. The Romans alas suffered a terrible defeat against the Gauls, though Roman mounted cutting their way through several overly exuberant groups of warriors. In the next round the Gauls moved west clashing with the Celtiberians. Little is known of this struggle, fought at the extremities of the civilised world. Rome meanwhile moved east and legions were dispatched to Egypt to ensure Ptolemaic Egypt complied with her obligations of shipping grain to Rome. The Egyptians offered battle along the banks of the Nile and here a dramatic struggle took place. The Ptolemaic phalanx was however less flexible than the Roman legions and eventually succumbed to the hastati who drove back supporting troops and fell upon its flank. In the final round the Ptolemaic host set forth to face the Kappadokians. Alas the details of the struggle are lost to history. The fragments suggest that the Kappadokians broke up somewhat the Ptolemaic army and then launched a dramatic attack against the Ptolemaic right wing. Fortunately we have more detail of the other battle fought between the French Ordonnance and the English under Edward IV. The battle found both armies advancing rapidly with the French massing their mounted on their right flank. Edward struggled to reposition his reserves to counter this threat. Fortunately elsewhere English resolve was unparalleled and while the French success against the English was significant elsewhere French casualties were equally heavy. However, the wounding of Edward and his subsequent escape was too great and the English army was forced to retire.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 4, 2019 23:47:22 GMT
Keith, Any documentation of how the Scots recall the events? I doubt the Scots version will be recording except in a ballad. It will probably focus on sheep stolen, goats liberated and of course ale consumed. There will be without doubt mention of treasure from churches, occasional valour and women carried off across the border but most of the detail will be lost.
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Post by twrnz on Dec 4, 2019 9:26:21 GMT
This evening two battles in northern England as Scots Isles & Highlands contingents raided south in 1428 in a two pronged invasion in search of cattle and treasure. The Earl of Salisbury as Warden of the Western March gathered an army and marched to intercept the Scots. The first engagement occurred in early May when Salisbury selected an open plain to offer battle. As expected the Scots moved quickly to the attack. The Scots attack however were halted by a combination of English artillery, billmen & archers. Then with the wings of the Scots thrown back English archers and billmen attacked the exposed Scots centre from both left and right. The ensuing slaughter was devastating and few Scots survived the battle. Those that did abandoned their plunder as they fled north. Salisbury now moved to counter the second invasion by a series of forced marches. Again he selected an open plain but the Scots came on with even more determination. The English, clearly tired from the forced marches, now struggled to deploy. As the Scots advanced again the English gunnes tore apart the Scots but they continued relentlessly forward. Then when the Scots infantry closed to hand to hand combat the gunners and archers, exhausted, were cutdown. Of course Salisbury tried to save the situation, but all was lost. As the English lines broke in rout the Earl retired, determined to save the core of his army.
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Post by twrnz on Nov 20, 2019 19:43:05 GMT
It certainly encourages me to get my armies on the table. That’s excellent. I am always nervous that these posts are perceived as “noise” and are of little interest. It is comments like these that make me think that they do indeed serve a purpose.
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Post by twrnz on Nov 20, 2019 2:36:39 GMT
A mini-report is a good description. Time is often limited but hopefully a brief summary of a game can be of interest. It is always good to get the miniatures out. Perhaps these posts encourage others to play a game.
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