Today, Tony brought down his Alexandrian Macedonians to fight a Persian army based on the force at Gaugamela.
We randomised who got which army, and I got to be Alexander, with Rhod playing Parmenio.
Lawrence (Bessus) and Tony (Darius III) took the Achaemenid Persians...they got to be the attackers too!
The armies at game start.
I, Alexander had 2 units of Hetairoi, (or Companion Cavalry) the Prodromoi, the Hypaspists...
... and two Taxeis of Pezhetairoi (foot companions- pikemen)
Rhod had 3 Taxeis of and two Taxeis of Pezhetairoi ...
...the Thessalian cavalry, the Agrianians , some Thracian Peltastoi and some slingers, pretending to be Cretan archers!
Opposit Rhod, Tony had Skirmishers Mardian Archers, Takabara and Kardakes.
In the centre, backed by 'Hordes' he had some Greek Hoplitai and some 'Apple Bearer' Persian guardsmen, supported by a scythed chariot.
Lawrence took some Paphlagonian and Skythian light cavalry, some Elephants, a unit of elite Persian cavalry with 3 other Persian and allied cavalry.
Lawrence started by flinging his light cavalry forward, threatening my flank.
The rest of the cavalry wing moved forward more slowly.
Tony advanced too, using his massed archer units to harass Rhod's wing.
Disaster! A shot from the Skythians killed my Hero Craterus!
I countered as my Hetairoi drove the Skythians off, while my Prodromoi moved out to face the Paphlagonians.
Rhod's lights were being driven back.
One off my Hetairoi units destroyed the Elite Persian cavalry and then attacked the Persian cavalry behind, severely damaging them too, sadly, the Persians threw well and my Companion unit broke, Alexander made his escape!!!
My wing was looking stressed, as more Persian units moved forward.
I advanced my Hypaspists with a unit of Pikemen (yeh I am giving up on the Greek titles now!) - to try and face the Elephants together.
Rhod was not losing any units, but was getting driven from the wood.
Unfortunately for my plan, the Elephant danced sideways and hit my Hypaspists only.
The Persians charged the Thracians and broke them.
The scythed chariot barreled into my Pikemen, causing damage.
My wing was being forced to one end of the table.
The Elephants drove back my Hypaspists, and Alexander was wounded!
Rhod advanced his Pezhetairoi, crashing into the Hoplites and Apple Bearers, while his Thessalians hit a Skirmisher unit.
(This was how the table looked at this point.)
The Thessalians crushed the skirmishers and the Agrianians hit the Mardians.
Alexander limped away again as the Elephants trampled my Hypaspists!
I managed to maximise the use of the 2 units left on my right, but couldn't prevent the Elephants swinging behind my Pezhetairoi.
The Thessalians were hanging on there!
With the Persian cavalry wing facing my cavalry, a gap appeared which allowed my Pezhetairoi to exploit.
The Agrianians beat the Mardians!
My Pezhetairoi charged the Hordes, as Alexander went for Darius!!!
The 'Cretans' routed a flanking skirmisher unit which had been threatening the Thessalian's flank.
The Thessalians threw VERY well!...
...Routing the last Persian light unit!
The Takebara and Kardakes moved forward to protect the Apple Bearers' flank.
My Prodromoi charged and routed the Paphlagonians.
The Takebara were charged by the Thessalians, but the Apple bearers were broken by the Phalanx.
They were followed by the Greek Hoplites!
On my wing the Prodromoi were charged by the last full strength Persian heavy cavalry unit. I had to turn a pike unit to face the Skythians, while my last Companions faced a weak Persian cavalry unit.
The Hordes, encouraged by Darius were still holding, so another damaged Pike unit joined Alexander's.
A Pike unit charged to help the Thessalians against the Takebara.
The first Horde unit, despite having fought out of its skin, finally succumbed to the Phalanx.
We then discovered, the game had ended, my Prodromoi were losing against the Persian cavalry, so it was as well!
The Elephants, having been wounded by the Hypaspists, was unable to catch my Phalanx.
The last Horde unit was at breaking point.
We totted up reputation and the Macedonians had +5, the Archaemenids -5!
A fun game, at least for me!!!
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