ALTON DBA, 27th April 2024

My games of DBA on a ‘light troops’ theme at Alton:- 

I took an Early Muslim North Africa and Sicily army (EMNAS, III/33) comprising a cavalry general and one more cavalry element, three Berber light horse, three Berber light javelinmen, three slave troops as Auxilia (3Ax), and one Arab archers (3Bw).

My reasoning was that 1) it had three each of the compulsory Ps and LH troop types, and was thus capable in different terrain. 2) The cavalry are good for killing Ps in the open. 3) the 3Ax are fast, and capable of nobbling Ps AND LH, too. 4) the 3Bw was a good anti-LH unit, and capable in BG/RG.  5) They’re ‘littoral’, which is my favourite topography…love them landings 🙂😯. …and 6) I’d never taken them to a tournament before (IIRC).
A flexible and fast mix of troops, and also not an army of super-troops…though not been road-tested before the event.

1. Using EMNAS vs Connor’s Kipchak III/80. Defending on the African coast, my auxilia and bows landed near Connor’s massed horsemen and threatened, the archers causing some equine-flavoured damage. The Kipchak cavalry and light-horse closed, and the EMNAS main line joined the fight. A swirling melee ensued, and when the dust settled the North Africans had proven victorious, with a 4-1 win.

2. Defending North Africa again, but using Numidians with an Early Imperial Roman ally against Ivan, who commanded the EMNAS. Ivan’s skirmish foot threatened my weaker left while I drove forward with mounted troops and legionaries on the right, hoping to win there first. An unfortunate failure in my centre opened up a hole, and Ivan’s troops closed to secure a win. A 1-4 loss in my case.

3. Defending in command of the EMNAS again, I faced Lindon’s scary Parthians, with a fair few heavily armoured cataphracts in their centre. My foot and his faced off in a large mud-walled village on my right, while on the coast Lindon’s horse archers closed and attacked. After a long tussle the North Africans claimed the win, routing a fair number of Parthian light horse in the process, before any cataphracts could join in. (A lucky 4-0 win).

4. Now using Komnenan Byzantines, I faced Pete’s EMNAS, in Greece. This was another ‘right hook’ battle, in which my mounted were extremely lucky to nab the win just before Pete nobbled my weak left flank with his slave troops and Berbers. (4-2 win, but supremely close, and a true nail-biter).

5. Defending in command of my EMNAS again, I was invaded by John’s Golden Horde swarm. John did me the supreme favour of throwing FIVE 1’s in a row, and was thus unable to stop my landing auxiliaries from racing through a coastal hamlet to roll up the Horde’s right flank. 4-0 win …thank-you, dice gods.

6. Finally, Marc took my EMNAS to face the Seljuks of Rum he’d handed me. A large band of his auxiliaries disembarked on a flat beach near the Seljuk right flank, and moved to attack the cavalry flank guard. They were soon joined by Berber javelinmen, debouching from a nearby village to assist. The Seljuk cavalry held out, allowing their commander to manoeuvre across to help, and the flank attackers were repulsed, for a 4-0 win to the Seljuks.

So, Lady Luck very much on my side for this tournament. Apologies to my opponents for my unbelievable good fortune, but it was fun from the seat I was sitting in…🙃

Alton is my favourite format for events. 3 games with and 3 games against your army means people bring unusual choices for fun varied games. I haven't written the final game scores down so take them with a pinch of salt.

This time half your army had to be half skirmisher or light horse. I had dug around in my lead pile and found enough Steppe horsemen to make a Cuman/Kipchak army. Cv Gen, 2 Cv, 7LH, 2Ps. With 75% either Light horse or Skirmisher it wasn't going smash all before it, but as you didn't use your army half the time I decided that other people were unlikely to bring the best and brightest. I managed to leave it until the last minute to get it all painted, but it was better than leaving it unpainted for another few years!

Game 1 played against Martin Smith, running the event, he was using EMNAS (Early Muslims in North Africa and Sicily) A great big Hamlet near the middle of the board limited my largely mounted armies movement and meant that half the board was relegated to some skirmishers hurling insults from a distance. Martin landed one archer element as part of a forward party and though they didn't do much damage they dictated that I had to get stuck straight in. Martin was able to tip a few combats his way and when the smoke cleared I had lost 4-1

Game 2 against Mark Skelton. I had chatted to Mark a couple of times, so good to be able to take the field this time. This time I commanded Vlad and the Wallachians (complete with impaled victims in camp!) I felt relatively confident to begin with. I had a couple of bow with which to chase his light horse away and dense terrain to launch ambushes from. Unfortunately Mark used my Cumans well, managed to neutralise my archers with his skirmishers and when Vlad died early game (I am sure it was treacherous boyars) the deal was largely sealed. I can't remember if it was 3g-0 or 3g-1 but it was pretty decisive!

Game 3 against Kev Casey. I got to play against Kev in Coventry at my last event and he was using a variation of his Hyksos with their cool printed camp. A small city fortified the centre of the board and we both danced around each other for the early turns trying to set up advantageous combats without exposing ourselves. I folded first, deciding that if my cavalry could break his heavy infantry I would be able to mop up the soft skirmisher centre and win the game. Things did not go well, however, and his heavy infantry started to drive me back. When Kev pressed forward I was able to catch the flanks on one side of the board, but not enough. 4-2 loss

Game 4 I played Pete Ellis, swapping armies I got his Alans. A much heavier army with knights and heavy infantry, I decided I needed to punch hard and fast in the middle before his (my?) light horse were able to sweep around me. The game was over shortly as a combination of my good and Peter's bad rolls just meant that the initial charge of my knights swept all before it. Either a 4-1 or 4-0 win, but I couldn't help but feel bad for Peter!

Game 5 was my last game with my Kipchaks. I played against Stephen Finn and his Armenians. The terrain was the steep wooded hills of Armenia, severely hampering the mobility of my mounted army, so I gambled heavily and sent all my light horses charging down a road on the far flank of the board. Fortunately, I rolled well and my army shook itself out into fighting formation before Stephen was able to take advantage. Stephen had managed to brace his flank in time however and what should have followed was a close run cavalry brawl. The dice decided to keep on form however and Stephen's army melted away in short order. 4-1 win to me.

Game 6 I played a new-comer to DBA events, Mark Fulkes, and I was using his Early Arabs with Sassanid allies. This was a tough fight for Mark, my single bow meant that he couldn't afford to hold back too much, but he never rolled well enough to set up any fights to his favour. Just when I thought I had the game in my hands, however, my dice decided I had been too lucky and now I needed to pay the price. Mark pounced on the opportunity well and should have won the game, but unfortunately time for the event had run out. 3-0 losing draw

A great dayout with some fun games. Not exactly my best performance placing 15/20 but looking forward to more in the future. 

I did! I decided I needed some bad going troops. I don't regret it either!