Cracking game....

Timurids:

Brilliant R Cv(S) General

8 R Cv(S)

2 Exp

R Cv(S) Sub

7 R Cv(O)

6 I LH(S)

2 R Cv(S)

R Cv(S) Sub

5 R Cv(O)

2 El(O)

1 I Cv(S) (can't play without Persians ;-)

1 I Cv(O)

6 R Bge(F)

All mounted, Stratagems: Feigned Flight and Unusual Troops

The table was virtually bare other than two small gentle hills that

played no real part in the game.

I deployed second and largely matched Dave, who deployed (from my left

to right) - a block of 6 IrrCv(S) supported by Indian and Afghan Bw(I) &

(O) facing my 3rd Command, a monster CnC command of 4 El(S) + R Cv(S) +

1 Cv(S) with a front rank of Bd(F) supported by Bw(I) interspersed

between the El. This was facing my (nervous) CnC. His final command was

a couple of LH(O), a LH(F) and several (6?) Cv S. This faced off my

command2, which I had extended into the lights deployment area.  I was

confident that my cunning plan, (overwhelm his left, then swing into the

CnC) would be successful). Dave later admitted to me, he had thought I

would do this, but couldn't think of an adequate response..

Things went largely as planned on my right, Dave's first pips did him no

favours, 1,6,1 so he started to try to wheel the Elephant monstrosity

towards my left, as he assumed (correctly) that my CnC command wouldn't

be keen to charge him. Unfortunately, the huge amount of Pips to do this

meant he couldnt retain command of the Bd(F) at the end of the line, and

they started to hare off to my Cv & Elephant command..

By contrast my first pips were excellent, (I had allocated Left, Middle,

Right High and CnC Low PIPs, and with my magic camels and regular

command structure was fairly confident PIPS wouldn't be an issue,

especially as I could declare a Brilliant Stroke if things got

desparate).

As per plan my right advanced supported by the expendables, and very

quickly got stuck into his cavalry, my LH were critical here, as I was

able to outflank him and roll up the line. The expendables struck,

killed a LH(O) and a Bd and then vapourised, (pretty much as expected,

but they had soaked some of his rare and valuable PIPS).

In the centre, Dave's continuing low pips meant he had to prioritise,

and so a couple of his Bd(F) again were left to charge into my Cv(S)

centre, isolated and overlapped, I expected them to cause me no trouble

(ha!). On my left I eventually mopped up the charging Bd F and moved my

elephants to threaten the flank of his advancing Cv(S).

At this stage I thought I was pretty much home, as his central command

was fragemented, I had reasonable matchups (though outnumbered) on my

left, and his left was broken.

Things then had a bit of a swing, while I disposed of one of the

charging Bd(F) in the centre, the other just kept winning combats (at

2(F) - 4(S).. doh!).  three Cv(S) I had sent to swing around the end of

his wheeling centre misjudged distances and Dave suddenly had half

decent PIPS, two becoming toe-jam for an elephant supported by archers

and the LMI CnC. The third backpedalled rapidly.

On my left, one elephant was shot down, the other, supported by the

persians hit his Cv(S) and this shoving match continued until I had a

brain explosion and tried to use my general to flank his Bow line, only

to myself be caught by his general.. one dead general and a broken

command. No need for panic, as the Persians and Elephant kept his Cv(S)

tied up for the rest of the game in a constant shoving match.

In the centre, things had come to a climax, I was busily manouvering my

right wing round to roll up his centre, while his two remaining

elephants singly charged my Cv(S)  - I wasn't too worried but that

blasted single Bd(F) that survived had broken up my line, and I couldn't

get into position to flank the nellies.

At this stage I should have sat back and just waited for my right to

pick up the one or two ME I needed from his centre for a win. My right

had lost a few Cv(O) but was largely intact, my centre had lost 4 ME

from 23, so was safe enough, and the left was irrelevant.

Of course, I then decided to do the heroic thing, and wheeled my CnC and

a support into the flank of one jumbo, declaring a brilliant stroke.

The inevitable failure to win (at 4(S) - 4(S)) left my generals flank

exposed, and when his CnC charged in, at 4(S) - 3(S), of course I

succumbed. An excellent example of snatching defeat from the jaws of

victory.

Why i did it?  who knows..   :-)

Both Dave and I have discussed DBMM on many occasions. I guess in a way

our club hasn't really tested to destruction, other than at Cancon, as

the players are pretty laid back and prefer to play scenarios and

historical match-ups, at which DBMM excels. I think the response is 'it

looks reasonable' - there were no interactions that seemd implausible

(except the heroic Bd(F) of course!).