Today we tried out a Hoplite v Hoplite battle (I have a fair number, and we didn't use all I have!)
We used my Spartan and Athenian lists for the Peloponnesian wars, which took place after the Greek and Persian wars. They occurred as Athens took advantage of the gratitude of Greece for Athens' part in the Persian wars, to form an economic and military empire. Sparta resented Athens taking the hegemony of Greece from the Spartans, and the perceived threat to Laconia from a powerful Athens.
So, on to the battle...
Lawrence and I got the Lacedemonian league, while Phil and Rhod got the Athenian Empire!
The battlefield from the Spartan side.
Lawrence had the Spartan leader, Archelaus, who commanded the Spartiates (Spartan Citizens), the Lacedemonian Cavalry, some Slingers and Helots with Javelins.
In the centre Perioikoi and the Argive Hoplites.
On my wing, the Corinthians, all Hoplites, and one unit of Javelinmen.
Facing Lawrence, the Athenians, Cavalry, both heavy and light, Peltastoi and slingers.
Their centre had massed ranks of Hoplites from Athens and her empire.
On their left, facing me, they had a unit of Athenian archers and another of Peltastoi.
We both did 'Omens' Phil got a 5 and gained 2 Reputation points! - I rolled a '1', we lost 2 Rep points, but my Champion, Leocrates gained a 'Today we fight to Win' trait.
As Attackers, Lawrence sent his Spartan Cavalry with some lights onto the hill on his left.
I extended my Hoplite line, trying to overlap the Athenians, and sent my Javelinmen forward to try and bait the enemy light troops out of the wood on their left!
True to form, Rhod had his archers in cover quickly, though his Peltasts were slower.
Phil sent his Cavalry far out on the wing, covering the move with his Peltasts.
My Javelinmen had come under shot from the Archers, and fell back.
My Hoplites stayed back while the centre and left advanced slowly.
I think both sides were waiting to see how the Cavalry and Light Infantry battle would pan out!
The Athenians brought their Hoplites into line while their skirmishers set about the Spartiates.
In the centre, the Athenian line stayed in formation.
My right wing Hoplites stayed out of range of those Archers.
Phil's Slingers got lucky, and survived the Spartan Slingers shooting, they returned shot and damaged the Spartan Slingers!
Lawrence sent a unit of Spartiates forward, they caught the overconfident Athenian Peltasts!
The second unit charged too, and quickly broke the light infantry.
The Spartiates repositioned to engage the Athenian Hoplites, using the Helots to guard their exposed flank.
Unfortunately, the Athenian Light Cavalry rode forward and damaged the left hand Spartan unit with a javelin volley!
Both Centres were closing.
As the Athenian left advanced, their Archers left their protective woods.
The Spartan Cavalry charged the Athenian cavalry, who had failed their second move into contact and fallen short! Unfortunately they were routed, but did manage to take 2 out of the 3 Stamina off the Athenians!, the Helots forced the Athenian Light Cavalry back from the Hoplites.
An interesting situation, to be sure!
Oddly, one of Lawrence's Helot units shot back at the victorious Athenian Heavy Cavalry, and wounded their leader, Aristides!
In the centre, I had a series of bad second move rolls, and only one of my Hoplite units got into combat!
On my wing, the Athenian Light Infantry advanced to harass my Hoplites, so I rushed my Javelinmen forward...
The Javelins damaged the Archer unit, and it retreated off table!
Lawrence had one of his Helot units formation change to engage the Athenian Cavalry, and their Javelins finished off the Athenian Cavalry!
In the centre, 2 units of Athenian Hoplites now fought my forward unit, my other Hoplites charged successfully though.
With the door back open, the Athenian Light Cavalry advanced to harass the Spartans...
...however at the back of the Athenian line a unit of Hoplites were driven off table by some Helots!!!
One of my Hoplite units was being driven back, so the unit I had nominally been supporting them with decided to gain another Rep point by charging the Peltasts who were engaged with my Javelinmen.
My previously winning Hoplites in the centre were beaten by fantastic dice and ran!
Things were a bit touch and go elsewhere, but Lawrences' Perioikoi managed to break another Athenian Hoplite unit!
Those Athenian Light Cavalry desperately charged the damaged Spartiate unit and broke it! 7 hits from 12 dice after support throws! They were destroyed too though...!
I destroyed the Peltasts, but was out of position now!
In the centre, a Corinthian Hoplite unit broke an enemy hoplite unit, together with the Hero commanding it!! I get good dice sometimes too!
I repositioned to engage the centre, but my last Hoplite there broke too!
The other that had been driven back 3 times had finally broken as well!
One of Lawrence's got separated too, and overwhelmed.
The Perioikoi were holding but pushed back as well.
Things were not looking too well for Sparta!
Phil was low on Rep too, and had left his C-in-C in combat with the Spartan one, who was rescued by Helots!
The Athenian Commander, Aristides, was killed!
However, this was the end of turn, our left was ok, but the last Spartiate unit was being pushed back!
Our centre was holding, but for how long?
Our right had won, but couldn't get round to fight the victorious Athenian Hoplites...
We totted up the Rep and Phil was at '0', the poor Spartans -4, a narrow victory!
It was fun to play, I do love a good Hoplite clash!
