Post by martin on Apr 26, 2024 8:32:28 GMT
Seven games of DBA in 15mm yesterday, on a ‘weak elements’ theme - minimum six light horse and/or psiloi in each army, vs host player Richard.
1. 2. and 3. - First three were a ‘civil war’ campaign in 2000BC Syria, using a ‘Ladder Campaign’ based on Cromwell’s suggestions on this forum. Armies only differed in the chosen general element: Richard used swordsmen (3Bd) while my general rode a light chariot (LCh), and both forces included swarms of light infantry militia with javelins, bows and slings. The skirmisher foot clashes were extremely unpredictable, but went R’s way, while his swordsmen general and retinue proved decisive. He won the campaign 5-2, 5-0 and a far closer 4-3, while being repulsed from my home city walls. We’re now paying tribute, in the form of cake and biscuits. [Army lists were from I/9, Early Syrian].
4. My Thracians defended I/48 against R.’s Ostrogoths II/67b. Skirmish foot from both sides faced off against each other on my left, while my light horse and mountaineer foot attempted to stop the wild Gothic cavalry charge in the centre. A couple of Goth cavalry were skirmished to death by the Thracian horse, but the weight of the attack proved unstoppable. Goths win, 4-2.
5. I now led practically naked early Libyans (I/7b) into the frozen wastes of Lithuania…most unwise. Libyan skirmishers were fighting well against Lithuanian archers in woodland on my right, grinding them down, and the game reached 3-3. Then Lithuanian light cavalry broke through in the centre, and the Libyans were routed (a nasty 6-3! But closer than the numbers suggest).
6. My Nubians I/3 countered an invading Aramaean force (I/18b) with a Phoenician ally. Some lucky Nubian archery eliminated a few enemy elements, but the enemy heavy charioteer general began to carve into warbands in the Nubian lines. Fortunately a strike by my skirmish foot nobbled a couple of extra opponents before the chariots could complete their rampage. Nubian win 5-4.
7. Last game was an Ostrogoth civil war…near the coast Gothic heavy cavalry clashed in a to and fro battle, while the opposing skirmishers stared menacingly at each other inland. A tight fight suddenly saw my bunch crumble as the opposing skirmishers closed and were victorious. Richard’s Goths win, 6-3.
A tiring but fun day of games. The low combat factors of light troops certainly add to the unpredictability when the lines meet and the dice take over. 😁
1. 2. and 3. - First three were a ‘civil war’ campaign in 2000BC Syria, using a ‘Ladder Campaign’ based on Cromwell’s suggestions on this forum. Armies only differed in the chosen general element: Richard used swordsmen (3Bd) while my general rode a light chariot (LCh), and both forces included swarms of light infantry militia with javelins, bows and slings. The skirmisher foot clashes were extremely unpredictable, but went R’s way, while his swordsmen general and retinue proved decisive. He won the campaign 5-2, 5-0 and a far closer 4-3, while being repulsed from my home city walls. We’re now paying tribute, in the form of cake and biscuits. [Army lists were from I/9, Early Syrian].
4. My Thracians defended I/48 against R.’s Ostrogoths II/67b. Skirmish foot from both sides faced off against each other on my left, while my light horse and mountaineer foot attempted to stop the wild Gothic cavalry charge in the centre. A couple of Goth cavalry were skirmished to death by the Thracian horse, but the weight of the attack proved unstoppable. Goths win, 4-2.
5. I now led practically naked early Libyans (I/7b) into the frozen wastes of Lithuania…most unwise. Libyan skirmishers were fighting well against Lithuanian archers in woodland on my right, grinding them down, and the game reached 3-3. Then Lithuanian light cavalry broke through in the centre, and the Libyans were routed (a nasty 6-3! But closer than the numbers suggest).
6. My Nubians I/3 countered an invading Aramaean force (I/18b) with a Phoenician ally. Some lucky Nubian archery eliminated a few enemy elements, but the enemy heavy charioteer general began to carve into warbands in the Nubian lines. Fortunately a strike by my skirmish foot nobbled a couple of extra opponents before the chariots could complete their rampage. Nubian win 5-4.
7. Last game was an Ostrogoth civil war…near the coast Gothic heavy cavalry clashed in a to and fro battle, while the opposing skirmishers stared menacingly at each other inland. A tight fight suddenly saw my bunch crumble as the opposing skirmishers closed and were victorious. Richard’s Goths win, 6-3.
A tiring but fun day of games. The low combat factors of light troops certainly add to the unpredictability when the lines meet and the dice take over. 😁
