Assyrian army

Assyrian army

Monday 16 September 2019

A Seleucid/Antigonidish dust up.

Just liked the idea of using elephants and chariots so threw together nominal Seleucidish and Antigonidish armies - didn't bother about 'accurate' armies or balanced sides. For the table I just cleared a 4' frontage. As usual, rules were generally modifies DBA, to a degree the added ranks were more for show - pikes got a +1 for extra ranks but that's it. I gave 4Kn an extra factor, the Syrian 1 shot wonders a -1 plus needing 4/5/6 to stand if charged. I also used my usual tree system to mark which move I was on. A lot of the figures I used were from my original 70s armies - just wanted to give them a game - though with quite a few more recent additions.
Obvious tactics as each right flank tries to advance and left flank holds backs - more obvious with Antigonids at the bottom.

Move 2 the Antigonid and Seleucid centres are close.

Still a way to go on the other flank.

Initial contact one of the Seleucid chariots died...

But it's move 3 when things happen...

With contact right across the front.

The left flank Seleucid peltasts and Syrian archers die.

Some bouncing of Seleucids in the centre.

While the Seleucid right takes out the Thracians and light javelins. Crucially, the elephant is just pushed back so the flank just holds.

As can be seen here, that elephant is doing it's job - it's an effective block to the Seleucid right, while on the Seleucid left the Antigonids now have a free passage.

And on move 4 the Seleucid phalanx and elephant are in serious trouble while the Antigonid cavalry are coming around the back of the Seleucid army.

Two lots of light infantry from my mid 70s army - and the Antigonid Cretan archers lose to the Seleucid light javelins - only bright spot on the Seleucid left.

At this point the Seleucid centre and left are gone though the Seleucid right is still intact. At this point, seems reasonable to end things as an Antigonid victory.

 









4 comments:

  1. Classic!

    Elephants, Scythed chariots, cataphracts, phalanxes...those Successor armies do seem to have a bit of almost everything one thinks of when it comes to Ancients. Probably why I never built one despite having all the elements.

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    1. I remember when I first did a Successor army - it was looked on as a 'gimmick' army.

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  2. If you're going to load a flank for a decisive action you have to win and win quick - the game really showed the 'how to' (Antigonids) and the 'how not to' (Seleucids). The frustration of one's decisive stroke stalling is one I'm all too familiar with.

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    1. The Antigonid ele did it's job - the thing about these games is that, even though they're solo, they take on a life of their own and I don't know how they're going to end up.

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