Campbell wanted to play the Spartans, so I decided to refight Mantinea (418BC) in 28mm, Hail Caesar plus some house rules (incl. Phalanges, Hoplitodromos and Osthismus). I played the Athenians under general Laches, while Campbell sought to revenge Brasidias as King Agis II. We fought live on "House Party".
The Spartans are a tough nut to crack in any scenario, but to keep up a complete army in one line and also in Phalanx wasn‘t something automatic even in those days, and might sometimes lead to open gaps, to opportunities to crack that Peleponnesian nut.
So I had the first turn and half of my army, the centre advanced - hmmm!
Then Campbell advanced with his army bang to the middle - in one line - in phalanx, just like a piece of cake. hrm, hrm!
Then I lost in two consecutive turns the command and my army did not move out of its disorganised battle formation and left the outmost right flank open - oh shit!
Campbell came, saw and rolled up my moras from one flank to the other. I could just stare and do nothing apart from rolling obviously shitty. I was completely and comprehensively beaten (lost two of my phalanges in turn 2, then 1 in turn 3 and then another in turn 4 and so forth ...)
The game was over before it began, my peltasts were ineffective and surprisingly talken out by spartan helots. And that before even half of the time (12 turns) were over. I managed to beat the Spartan allied horse unit! A spartan helot peltasts unit and finally one spartan allied hoplite mora - but only after 8 turns!
I was wiped. smashed. comprehensively beaten. It felt like playing chess vs a computer and you‘re out on turn 3. Congratulations Campbell, well earned victory! The tally was Athenians 3 vs Spartans 10!!!
But I enjoyed it nevertheless, I managed to beat the kings guard to force them to retreat ... for one turn...
True, if the Spartans move perfect in line and play very good, it is a hard nut to crack indeed ... and maybe you get cracked instead. ;)
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| The initial set up |
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| The Peloponnesian line |
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| The Delian line |
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| The King Agis and his elite mora |
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| The Athenian allies |
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| The Spartan army advance - voila! |
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| The Athenians well some do ... |
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| but the flank attack fails ... |
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| All in one line in phalanx apart from ... |
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| the outer right unit ... ouch! two moras lost! |
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| TheAthenian gap in turn 3 |
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| The Athenian centre hard pressed |
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| The flank attack ... didn't happen |
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| about to loose another mora |
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| The spartans attack |
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| ... lots of Spartans and allies but few Athenians |
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| Turn 3 just two out of 5 moras left |
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| The rest of the Athenian army |
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| The Spartans encircle slowly |
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| Oh and that is my right flank - 1 unit of peltasts |
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| The Spartan attack and the 4th mora gets beaten |
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| Now the Athenian General Laches decides for a last stand |
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| Wave after wave crashed against the Athenian elites |
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| Just two peltast/ cavalry supports to one mora |
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| The battlefield looks very lonely |
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| Again the Spartans are exhausted and getting repulsed |
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| But the Athenians can‘t go one for ever |
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| So the last Spartan attack on turn 9 ... did the trick |
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| The general flees with a unit of peltasts ... his army ... |
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| The Table of losses: left the Spartans, right the Athenians |
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| Athenian stats |
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| Spartan stats |
GLad to see this kind of gorgeous battle...A beautiful massacre!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil! It was my time apparently to be massacred. :)
DeleteHa! Ha! Ha! I see that the good old curse is still working! :D When the lockdown is over, I suggest a trip to the Acropolis in Athens and do some sacrifice for the good Gods of Dice :) The lovely looking game, by the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bart! If you sponsor it, no problem. :)
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