Return to Hellas

 Today I got my Pyrrhic and Hoplite Greek armies out to play Midgard - last time Pyrrhus was out was when we did our version of Asculum, his first battle in Italy, we now moved to his last campaign in Greece. Although he didn't fight a major battle in the open against the Hellenes, when has that ever stopped us wargamers?

I played Pyrrhus with Phil running my left wing...and the Elephants he loves! - we were defending so the Greeks deployed second, placing their forces against my wing alone. Very clever. Lawrence makes a sneaky Greek!!! Rhod took the Greek right.

The Pyrrhic army in the distance.

The Greeks threw all their cavalry and half their light infantry far out on the left

I used my 2 unit free move to send my Archers and Tarentine cavalry to face them.

The Greek left advanced with Peltastoi supported by the Cavalry, their Archers secured the wood.

I charged them with my Tarentines, and routed them! Unfortunately their Archers damaged my victorious horse soon after.

Phil, on my left, started the long trip to join the battle.

My Phalanx had to engage the Hoplites as well as they could, before they got outflanked.

Phil was being held up by more Peltastoi.

One of Phil's Phalanx Speira engaged some Greek slingers... and lost! (probably shot back by short range shooting?)

In the centre, one of my Macedonian Speira was pushing a Hoplite unit back, but in doing so his flanks were vulnerable.

The flanking Speira were all driven back!!!

My Allied cavalry got caught by some Hoplites and routed, Even my Agema was repulsed by the Greek Heavy cavalry! - I had to fling my Archers, who had been damaged by the Greek archers, into the Greeks flank.

The Greek cavalry finally broke! My Tarentines had beaten the Greek light Cavalry, and even though damaged, they now attacked the Greek Archers in flank!

Unfortunately my Phalangitae's retreat allowed more Hoplites onto the Agema's flank.

At least Phil's Phalanx destroyed those cursed slingers...finally!

As expected, my Agema was routed, and Pyrrhus had to make a quick escape!

My Tarentines, tired after their previous battles, failed to beat the Greek Archers.

My own Archers failed to move in their Cavalry's support.

My advanced Phalanx Speira was signally failing to rout the stubborn Greek Hoplites, and was getting surrounded.

Finally, the Hoplites broke and ran, Phil's Phalangitae were pushing forward, would they get to me in time?

The battle between the Greek Archers and my Tarentines ended with both sides being broken!

Unfortunately, another one of my Phalanx Speira broke as 2 Hoplite units attacked.

Phil was pushing back a Hoplite unit, but the Greeks managed to catch my victorious Speira in a vice.

The poor Phalangitae broke to their right.

So my others (no surprise) decided to follow suit!

Pyrrhus joined the Thessalian Cavalry and charged one of the pursuing Hoplite units.

The battle was bloody!

One of Phil's Phalanx Spirae was broken as the Greek commander led his Hoplites in a desperate charge!

The other Phalanx Speira destroyed the exultant Hoplites and killed the commander, Aristides!

At this point we totted up Reputation, and amazingly Pyrrhus's forces had won, but only just! I had been at 0 Rep till Phil and Pyrrhus charging had saved the army in the previous turn. The final totals were Pyrrhics at 0, Hellenes at -7, a Pyrrhic victory if ever there was one! 

On to Troy!

 Today we had another game using my Greek and Trojan armies, using Midgard.

Unusually, I got to be an Achaean (Greek) with Lawrence, while Phil and Tony got the Trojans.

The layout at game start, Trojans to the right, as can be seen both left flanks had 2 Archer units, but My right and Tony's left only had one Chariot unit, the other wings facing each other had 2. (Not sure that makes a lot of sense!!!- sorry!)

I had Agamemnon and Odysseus

Lawrence had Achilles and Diomedes.

On my wing, I sent my archers left to avoid the superior Trojan archer units.

Lawrence on the left sent his Archers to outflank Phil's Trojan right.

Unfortunately, Paris (Tony) got in range and shot my Archers, damaging them! - they fell back through the Spearmen behind.

I responded by pushing my damaged Archers forward, supported by my Chariots.

Lawrence had captured the wood, and Phil sent his own Archers to engage them, unsupported.

Both centres stayed apart, awaiting the results on their flanks!!!

My Chariots charged one of the Archer units, but only got 2 hits out of 11 dice! - this meant Tony's Chariots got in. The end result was I destroyed the Archers, but lost my Chariots!!!

Lawrence's Archers shot the Trojan ones down, and proceeded to outflank the Trojan Chariots.

Phil faced off the Achaean Archers with his Chariots, and brought some Lycians up in support.

The Achaean centre began to advance (Yes, I forgot to move the 2 at the bottom of picture!!!)

Tony sent the Trojan Chariots and Archers against my Spearmen, who had moved to counter them.

I survived, and managed to get Agamemnon to charge the Trojan Archers.

Agamemnon swept the Trojan Bowmen away easily!

Odysseus, now only fighting the Chariots, destroyed them easily too.

The Achaean centre continued their advance, slowly.

Lawrence had charged the Lycians with a Chariot unit...

...This didn't go so well!

Lawrence lost an Archer unit when it was charged by the Trojan Chariots.

The other Trojan Chariot unit destroyed Lawrence's.

Lawrence had sent his other Chariots with Achilles to flank attack the Lycians, who broke!

Diomedes then attacked some Thracians supporting the Trojan infantry, who had now been engaged by the Achaean line.

Achilles led his Chariots into the rear of the victorious Trojan ones, and they were supported by the remaining Greek archers.

Lawrence wiped the Trojan Chariots out!

The Trojan Aeneas was not likely to found Rome after all!

Diomedes' charge destroyed another Spear unit, but only just survived itself!

Odysseus was driving a Trojan Spear unit back to Troy!

Paris managed to rout my flankmost Spear unit though, in return.

An overview of the main battle at this time. Agamemnon was pushing through the centre.

The last Trojan Chariots were trying to come to Sarpedon's rescue!

The Achaean centre was now winning!

My right had been eliminated.

However, we totaled up the Reputation and the Achaeans were at +5, while the poor Trojans were at -2! ... after a bad start against Tony, my dice had improved, while Phil's went downhill! 

Incidentally, it was another day of players rolling against injuries to their Heroes! In the end, even the mighty Achilles had needed Patroclus' help to bind his wounds!!!