Had a game this afternoon – Fatimid Egyptians against Konstantian Byzantine.

The FE attacked in winter in warm which moved our dawn start (6 a.m.) to

sunrise.

Terrain was limited to a number of rough hills on the FE left flank with

wide open unhindered open ground everywhere else.

The KB deployed his Cv (S) CinC’s command comprising 6 double based Bw (X)

plus 2 LH (S) in the centre of the plain with two mirror image commands on

each flank comprising 9 Cv (O), 2 Cv (S) and a sub Cv (S) in 2 lines. His

fortified regular baggage pip dump sat immediately behind the Bw (X). The

baggage got the low dice, the CinC the next lowest while the flanks got the

average of the high dice.

I deployed my Cv (O) CinC’s command in the centre/left of the battlefield

lining up my Bd (I) against his Bx (X) and my Cv (S) against his Cv (O) with

2 LH (O) out on the flank. My Ax (S), Bd (X) command sat on my right flank

ready to head for the rough hills and push forward to try to flank the

Byzantines while my third command comprising Cv (O) flank marched on my left

flank. My irreg baggage sat on a low hill behind the Bd (I). I gave my CinC

the high dice and averaged the lowest for the flank commands while the

baggage rolled for itself being irreg.

The Byzantine moved forward slowly during the initial bounds maintaining his

lines despite quite high pips partly because he was waiting to see which

flank my marchers would arrive on and partly to let me come out of the rough

on my right flank. I moved forward with my Bd, Cav and LH trying to get to

grips with what I perceived as favourable opponents (Bd vs Bw, Cav (S) vs

Cav (O)) and potentially an overlap/flank advantage with my LH. Pips did not

favour my advance and the Ax slugged it slowly through the rough while my

CinC crept up on the Byzantines. Still the Byzantine line held its position.

On turn 3 the Bw started to shoot the Bd (I) – result after 2 rounds of

shooting was 1 dead Bd plus a very staggered line of blade now in 4 groups.

I felt confident that my flank march would arrive in turn 5 with the benefit

of the +1 to the dice and was still keen to take on the Cav (O) with my Cav

(S) Mamluks – so in they went on turn 4 while the blade tried to reform

their lines and the Ax in the rough finally turned to face the flank of the

Byzatine line – was looking good I thought with a favourable Cav match up

for my Mamluks, a flank march due any time and the Ax in the rough and on

the flank of the Byzantine line. Only the Bd were struggling in the centre

trying to reform (should have put them 3 deep!!)

But the best laid plans – with a flank contact and (S) vs (O) my Mamluks

crashed into the Byzantine Cav, first combat on the flanked element yielded

a destroyed Byzantine Cav – all good – next 3 combats yielded 3 destroyed

Mamluks as the attack faultered badly – damn those dice – the overconfident

Mamluks had left their élan in camp and now had a big hole in their centre

(should have had some trailing elements to fill the gaps!!).

The Byzatines now had 2 turns before my flank command finally arrived – they

used it to good effect rolling up the holed Mamluck line all the time

pinning the FE CinC in combat to limit his ability to command. The Ax and Bd

(X) moved out of the rough and took on the Byzantine flank slowly pushing

them back and eventually breaking them due to numerical advantage – blade

are good against infantry and mounted - but it was to late – the FE CinC

eventually succumbed and a couple of bounds later a Byzantine attack on a

brave baggage element which survived 2 bounds of combat broke the army.

A good game with plans, actions and reactions and the fickle finger of fate

all combining to determine the outcome. I felt I was in a good position

early as the Byzantine allowed me the initiative but then the fateful charge

by the Mamluks turned the tide as they crashed to destruction.

My opponent is unfortunately one of those players deterred by the perceived

problems in interpretations, combat factors, quick kills and points but this

match up had few such issues and a most enjoyable game was had (except for

those horrible dice for the Mamluks – curses!!!!)