Took the Hittites to Rays excellent Guildford one day gathering on
July 19th– army has not changed much since its Challenge 2007 days
(list over on http://dbmm.org.uk/forums/index.php?topic=82.0 )
although the Hd are slowly being replaced by Ps as I learn how to
use them in DBMM– Thought I would go for a couple of Reg Bd(F) for a
change – work with an ambush stratagem
Game 1 against Bob Kendalls Gauls
I invaded and the battle started at dawn. Ended up deploying
first. Nothing worth ambushing from – in fact it looked
suspiciously like the Gauls had an ambush (very convenient gully) –
Traditional Hittite deployment – Heavy chariotry on the left,
infantry in the centre with the mixed command on the right.
Opposite the chariots a mob of cavalry (yum yum) with a mass of
warband behind and on the left of them a suspicious looking gully–
warband in the centre (not so good) for my infantry and mixed cav
and warband on my right.
The Anatolian on the left leaped forward and shot all the way up to
the gully – poked his head in and promptly got 6-1d by the warband.
The chariots had moved forward to engage the cavalry – wary of what
was in the gully. Slow move forward by the infantry – they were to
support the chariots success – intended a running scrap on the right.
Poor pips from Bobs Gauls (this command suffered all game from a
series of 1s) saw one group surge forward from the gully and the
other through their cav line to present a broken line to the Hittite
chariotry who duly charged. The Hittites slowly ground down the
warband – finally killing the necessary 16 or so to dishearten and
finally break the command. Hittite casualties were somewhat light.
Nothing much happened in the centre the Hittite v chariots toying
with the cav whilst sniping off warband in preparation for the main
body breaking the Gallic right and turning on the centre. The
infantry hovered just out of distance – not wanting to get too
involved yet. The benefit of having some Ps support out front. On
my right after a poor early showing – we basically played tag and
run using the light infantry (make good use of the repulse rule when
you can).
Time was called 15-10 to the Hittites – a good enjoyable game played
in good spirit. First time I had met Bob look forward to playing
him again in the future. Muwatallis managed 1 brilliant stroke
which was a poor PiP dice double.
A quick walk up the road past the picturesque church to the pub and
light lunch washed down by a pint of draft Cobra- not used to
drinking at lunchtime.
Game 2 and Tim Child and his Mycenaean Greeks Tim' s report is at
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/DBMMlist/message/72040
Tim seems to have a penchant for romantic armies whose generals
begin with the letter A.
He trumped my Stargate baggage with a rather well endowed 25mm Helen
figure.
Anyway a poor deployment by me (I blame the Cobra) saw the strike
chariots deploy on the right for a change – which given the
proximity of a difficult hill and the number for potential Ps in
Tim's army was somewhat foolish.
The infantry were in the centre ready to roll forward into Tim's
renowned 4 deep Sp (I). Whilst the Cav chariots took the left for
once with the Bd(F) in ambush in difficult going on the left and
Psiloi behind on a hill.
The game evolved into in essence 3 sub games. An intricate fight on
the right around the difficult hill with success ebbing and flowing
between my chariots and Tim's Psiloi.
A classic head butt in the centre after the skirmishers had clashed
and been withdrawn/spent. The Hittite Pk/Wb combo slowly grinding
down the Sp(I).
And a battle round the skirmisher battle round the vineyard to turn
the flank where the Cv were slugging it out. Agamemnon and the
Hittite sub both being exposed at times as elements jockeyed for
positional advantage.
With casualties slowly mounting and players exhausted we got near to
the end of the game -hrs were certainly up – I didn't feel that
either would get a result and knowing Ray wanted to pack quickly
said to Tim to pack it up. Tim insisted in playing the last bound
out – shortly after that Ray called last bound leaving me just to
finish my bound – I piled in doubled one PIP dice and began the last
round of combat – needing several elements to get a result. The
Gasgans had contacted a chariot in the centre right and a Hittite
spear had lapped around it. We won that combat killing the chariot –
its command had taken a few of casualties up to then (the Wb (O)) so
I was not overly excited. Tim then pointed out that this was
Achilles – the sub and the 4ME broke that command. This along with
the other casualties inflicted that turn created the 2 ME domino
which broke Tim's army – suddenly the game was a 23-2 win for the
Hittites. This placed me second (edging out Ian on the count back
as I had killed a general)
I dread the think how many combats we fought – had to pause for a
cup of tea at the end of each pair of bounds. Exhausting but
exciting stuff.
I must admit to being impressed by Tim's army – it looked good, it
had romance and was quite a tough cookie - Sp(I) are not the turkey
many have made it out to be - go deep and its like a big sponge
(with occasional teeth).. Its weakness lay in not having an
effective punch – all very well to absorb but somewhere you need to
do some hard killing.
Two elements deserve special mention in dispatches – one of Tim's Ps
(I) who took out 2 chariots and on of my Hittite scouts LH(I) who
held up Tim's Cav column for several bounds finally killing the lead
element –
A great day and 2 very good exciting games played in a convivial
style. Only disappointment was Ray not letting me double a 6 as a
brilliant stroke to summon a starfighter through the Stargate –
spoilsport.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.