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!
