DBMM V2

400AP, 1401AD, Ayuttahaya by Paul M

My list (all irregular) was:
Cmd A

1 El S CiC
2 El S
4 Bd F
10 Ax O
8 Ps O

Cmd B

1 El S S-G
2 El S
4 Bd F
6 Ax O
4 Ps O
3 Ps S

Cmd C

1 El S S-G
2 El S
4 Bd F
8 Ax O
6 Ps O
3 Ps S
2 Bts O

I choose to take the Elephants as (S) 'cos you can with some list options and
they are the key to the army so why not go with the best available, right? The
strength of the army is frontal assault - Elephants (the biggest, heaviest and
therefore scariest troop type) mixed with Bd(f) Ax(O) and Ps (S and O) for
screening can take on just about anything head on. As such, my deployments and
tactics were simple - deploy as far forward as possible and advance to contact
as fast as possible before getting out-manouvred, flank marched, etc.

The weaknesses of the army are: command and control - max. 3 pip dice, irregular
troops and generals; and, exposed flanks (no cav to speak of). I also went for
the Irr Bd(f) option and the impetous troops also made any pretence at manouvre
even more difficult.

To mitigate these weaknesses, I tried to use terrain (I had two river boats in
my list which also included a compulsory river) to hopefully close down at least
one flank. In addition to the river, I also tried to place scrubby flat and
scrubby hills if possible - elephants ignore scrub but enemy mounted (my most
dangerous potential opponents) don't. With low agression (1) I defended every
game so luckily had all my 'home' terrain options every game.

The only other option for flank protection is to advance in echelon which is OK
as long as at least one flank is protected. With two open flanks against
mounted or any regs the only other tactic possible is to use the Ax and/or Ps on
the flanks which is pretty crappy really.

The other consideration was whether to use the elephants as a block in each
command, side by side, or interleave them with the Bd and Ax. The risk with the
later is that they usually win combats and the support troops sometimes don't
which means they can advance and get isolated. As it happened, I used them both
ways depending on the main troop types of my opponent and if difficult terrain
was in the way. (and also just to experiment a bit)

400AP Britcon 2010 Winner by Richard Aynsley

The final composition was as follows (all Irregular, the Psiloi
> can support the Bd and the Ax):
>
> C-in-C as El(O), 2 El(O), 5 Bd(F), 4 Ps(O), 2 Bts(O) ? 18 ME
> Sub as El(O), 2 El(O), 4 Bd(F), 4 Ax(O), 5 Ps(O) ? 18 ME
> Sub as El(O), 2 El(O), 4 Bd(F), 4 Ax(O), 5 Ps(O) ? 18 ME
> Ally as El(O), 2 El(O), 4 Bd(F), 4 Ax(O), 5 Ps(O), 2 Bge(I) ? 18 ME
> Army Baggage ? 6 Bge(I), 1 Ax(O)
>
> I also took the scouting stratagem as after last year, I did not want any
> night attacks