Hi again!
Today, Tony wanted to try out his Skythian army against something, and the only army I had which fought them weas my Alexandrian Macedonian army. We sort of did a refight. The Battle of Jaxartes was fought in 329 BC, and Alexander forced his way across the river covered by artillery. He then seems to have fought on the far side (rather like Medway, we did the other week).
Tony used his own Skythians, and got Rhod as his co-commander, I got Lawrence to run my Macedonians with me. We got to be attackers.
The layout at game start, Skythians to the left. (The chaps with pointy sticks to the right!)
Facing Lawrence (Parmenio), lots of light Horse Archers and the few Light Archers on foot.
In the centre, also under Rhod, some Heavy Cavalry.
Tony on their left had another unit of Heavy cavalry and more light Horse Archers.
I had Alexander, 2 units of Hetairoi (Companions), a unit of Prodromoi. some peltasts. I also used Craterus - a Level 1 Champion, with the Hypaspists and 2 Taxeis of Phalangitae.
Lawrence had Meleager with 3 more Phalanx Taxeis.
Lawrence also had Parmenio with the Agrainians and Cretans, as well as the Thessalian cavalry.
I began by sending my cavalry and peltasts to extend to the edge of the table.
The Phalanx advanced slowly, keeping formation.
Parmenio advanced, with his Light Infantry taking control of the wood.
Facing me, Tony sent his heavy and light Horse Archers out wide, as I had done.
Rhod had sent their centre to reinforce Tony...
... leaving a light screening force of Light Cavalry and Infantry to keep Parmenio amused.
The Skythians advanced to short range so I charged (Alexander joined the Prodromoi) we did very badly, the Prodromoi won but we were half strength!, my Hetairoi and Peltasts only damaged a Light Cavalry unit!
In the centre my other unit of Hetairoi broke when they were countercharged by 2 Heavy Cavalry units. You may note, Skythian archery had already damaged my Hypaspists and a Taxis of the Phalanx!
My 2 Phalanx Taxeis moved to tie down as many units of Skythians as they could!
Parmenio had mixed fortunes, his Light Infantry had surrounded the Skythian Light Infantry and shot it down, but Parmenio only drew with the Light Cavalry unit there!
Back on my wing, my remaining Hetairoi and the Peltasts destroyed their opposing light Horse Archers.
Parmenio finally destroyed the Light Cavalry facing the Thessalians.
Alexander had finally beaten the Light Cavalry unit and was now charged by a heavy Skythian cavalry unit, but the Prodromoi evaded to the flank of a reserve Skythian light Horse Archer unit!
I had followed up my Hetairoi onto the flank of the Skythian Heavy Cavalry who had killed their friends! The Peltasts threatened the Heavy Skythian cavalry who had failed to catch my Prodromoi!
The Skythians tried to damage the Phalanx with arrows.
Parmenio only had one Light Cavalry unit to sort out.
The rest of the wing had formed a reserve, facing Alexander.
My Peltastoi charged the flank of the Skythian Heavies!, my Hetairoi hit the flank of one Heavy Cavalry unit, while the Hypaspists hit their front.
Alexander had to throw 2 Mighty Deeds in to get the tired Prodromoi to charge the flank of the reserve Light Cavalry, they could not evade as they would have had to go to their rear, off the table!
The Thessalians and a Phalanx Taxis made short work of the Light Cavalry, who failed to evade!
In the centre 2 Phalanx Taxeis destroyed another.
The Hypaspists and Hetairoi destroyed their Skythian opponents easily.
The Peltastoi and Prodromoi killed their enemy light Horse Archers units too!
However, the other two Heavy Cavalry units had rolled well and broke one of my Taxeis!
In the centre, Lawrence had broken another Light Cavalry unit with his Phalanx, mine had destroyed a unit, but the Hero had stayed in combat, and was 'rescued' by a reserve Light Cavalry unit!
My Hypaspists killed a Skythian Hero!
At the end of turn 4, I had just about stabilised my front...
Lawrence had destroyed all his opponents...
We totaled up the Rep...
Alexander had +11, the poor Skythians -5.
I felt rather badly for the poor Skythians, it felt like a battle the Macedonians had to lose, in order for the Skythians to win, full marks to Rhod and Tony for making a hard fight of it!
