Antigonids v Eumenids Tactica 2

[simonw]

Last night's Tactica 2 game pitted an Antigonid force versus a Eumenid opponent of around 320BCE. The Army Lists were as follows:

             Successor Lists ca. 320BCE                     
            Antigonids                     
Troop Type      FV   Sk. FV`   Quality`Weapons   Figs   Cost   
                        
Companions HC(I)    5-6         Elite   Lance      18   162   
Agema * HC(I)   5-6         Elite   Lance      18   162   
Asiatic Cavalry HC   4-6                           Vet.   Spr/Bow   12   84   
Thessalian LC               3-6   (5-6)               Vet.   Javelins   12   48   
Thessalian LC               3-6   (5-6)               Vet.   Javelins   12   48   
Tarantines       4-6   (5-6)      Vet.   Javelins   8   40   
Elephants (I)      5-6         Vet.   Itself      4   168   
                        
PH Foot Companions   5-6         Elite   Pike      32   256   
PH Line (Katoikoi)   5-6         Vet.   Pike      48   336   
PH Line (Katoikoi)   5-6         Vet.   Pike      48   336   
PH Line (Katoikoi)   5-6         Vet.   Pike      48   336   
Levy Asiatics      4-6         MG   Spr/Bow   48   240   
Levy Asiatics      4-6         MG   Spr/Bow   48   240   
LI Peltasts      3-6         Vet.   Javelins   18   72   
LI Peltasts      3-6         Vet.   Javelins   18   72
Skirmishers         (5-6)      Vet.   Javelins   16   32   
Skirmishers         (5-6)      Vet.   Javelins16   16   32   
Slingers and Archers      (4-6)      Vet.   Sling/Bow   16   48   
                     Total Points   2712   
                     Massed Figs     412   
                     Army Breakpoint 206   
               Eumenids                     
Troop Type      FV   Sk. FV`   Quality`Weapons   Figs   Cost            
                        
Guard  Cavalry(I)   5-6         Elite      Lance   18   162   
Satrapal Guards   5-6         Elite     Spr/Bow   18   144   
Indian Cavalry   4-6         Vet.     Spr      18   90   
Asiatic LC      3-6   (5-6)      Vet.     Javelins   16   64   
Asiatic LC      3-6   (5-6)      Vet.     Javelins   16   64   
Skyth LC      3-6   (5-6)      Vet.     Bow      16   80   
Elephants(I)      5-6         Vet.     Beast      6   252   
                        
PH Argyraspides   5-6         Elite   Pike      48   384   
PH Katoikoi      5-6         Vet.   Pike      48   336   
PH Katoikoi      5-6         Vet.   Pike      48   336   
PH Iranian Phalanx   4-6         Vet.   Pike      48   288   
FT Indians      5-6         MG   Spear/Bow   48   336   
LI  Takabara      3-6   (5-6)      Vet.   Javelins   18   72   
LI  Takabara      3-6   (5-6)      Vet.   Javelins   18   72   
Levy Skirmishers      (5-6)      MG   Bow      20   40   
                     Total Points   2720   
                     Massed Figs     414   
                     Army Breakpoint 207      
N.B. Levy Deny Depth Bonus but do NOT receive.                        
The Commanders were Gordomenes the Greek and Grahakestes for the Eumenids and Billtigonas Duopthalmus and Highleukos (Satrap of Babylon) for the Antigonids.

Terrain was pretty innocuous with a small, open Wood on the Eumenid extreme left and acouple of Low Hills in the Eumenid left centre and Antigonid right centre, respectively.

Billtigonas and Hughleukos retired to the kitchen to draft their plan of battle and Gordomenes and Grahakestes Deployed. The Antigonid plan was to attack with the Phalanx whilst using the Levy (archer) to rest on the Low Hill in their right centre to offer 'fire support'.  Additionally, they aimed to attack in both Flank Sectors using their Elite Lancers on the left behind Peltasts and Light Horse) and with their Elephants in two 2 Model Massed Units in their Right Flank Sector with Peltasts, Light Horse and their 18 Bow-armed Satrapal Heavy Cavalry (FV 4-6).

By contrast, the Eumenids adopted a more defensive plan looking to Hold their Right Wing with their 6 Elephants Deployed in 2 Massed Units of 3 to the right and rear of their Phalanx and so to guard against any Antigonid outflanking manoeuvres from the Antigonid left. The actual Eumenid Right Wing comprised their 2 units of 18 Takabara (Massed Light Infantry FV 3-6)  supported by a couple of units of Light Horse and their unit of 18 Bactrian Heavy Cavalry with Bows (FV 4-6, veterans). It was apparent from the initial Deployment that the Eumenid Right Wing was somewhat overmatched by the Antigonid forces opposite which included 2 units of 18 Elite Lancers with Impetus. Therefore, the Eumenid Elephants would be critical in trying to hold these Lancers.

On their left, the 48 Indian Foot (Militia Grade Foot Bowmen, FV 4-6) provided an anchor using the Low Hill  near to the small Wood with the 18 Indian Cavalry (FV 4-6, Veteran) minding the gap. A unit of 12 Light Cavalry were positioned far out on the left to block any Antigonid moves through the Wood and the 18 Elite Agema Heavy Cavalry Lancers (FV 5-6 with Impetus) and the 18 Indian Cavalry (FV 4-6 Veterans) were held in Reserve. By comparison with the situation in their Right Flank Sector, the Eumenid Commanders considered that the 96 Antigonid Levy on the Low Hill in the Antigonid Right Centre provided a weak point which could be defeated by their Phalanx, the 'attacking uphill' decrement and archery casualties notwithstanding.

And so the game began and a hard-fought exercise it was indeed!

In short, The Eumenid Elephants were successful in holding up the Antigonid Left Wing attack such that it couldn't outflank the Eumenid Phalanx. This was extremely important because the performance of the Argyraspides was abysmal!

On the Antgonid right, their 2 Elephant Units were very effective and surged forward  to engage the Eumenid's Cavalry reserve in Melee. Additionally, te Antigonid Light Horse advanced through the small patch of Open Woodland and defeated the opposing Eumenid Light Horse to eventually position themselves in an outflanking position of the Eumenid Agema which struggled badly to cope with the Antigonid Elephants.

Despite being pretty continuously out-rolled in Melee by Billtigonus Duopthalmus, the Eumenid Phalanx supported by the Indian Foot eventually managed to Break the Antigonid Levy and tis success was the core of the Eumenids being closer to achieving the Antigonid Army Breakpoint (falling only 8 figures short) than the Antigonids (36 figures short) when nightfall ended the battle.

Additionally, the Antigonids 8 figure strong unit of Tarentines (Light Cavalry, FV 4-6 Veterans) were actually past their Unit Breakpoint but had won a 'roll off' to end a Melee with a larger (12 figure strong) but lower FV 3-6, Eumenid Light Horse unit after which they had also wisely 'chosen' (i.e. Failed their Pursuit Control Test) to surge towards the Eumenid baseline; well out of any further trouble.

 At the end, although it appeared that   were in actually in a better tactical position with a couple of the Eumenid Phalanx Battalions 'teetering' perilously close to their Unit Breakpoints,  the Antigonids had been pretty fortunate to get there. I won't even mention Grahakestes'  truly abysmal Melee Dice rolling against the Antigonid Elephants (Oops! I just did), Billtigonus Monopthalmus survived 2 Melee attempts to kill him and also survived a unit Break.

I think that Gordomenes and Grahakestes better sacrifice to Tyche over the weekend before next Monday's rematch!  Billtigonus and Huhgleukos performed well and had a solid plan but their Left Wing attack with the Companions and Agema was foiled by the superior numbers of Eumenid Elephants on that flank which prevented any exploitation of their initial successes.

Good tough battle. A draw in the end but a very, very, close-run thing.

Acknowledgements:

Gordomenes (Gordon Crawford)
Grahakestes (Graham Bryson)
Billtigonus Duopthalmus (Bill Robertson)
Hughleukos Satrap of Babylon (Hugh Cameron)

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[CarlL]

Lovely massed battle! Photos inspiring.

Looks like your attempt to present the two army lists in 'table' format was de-railed by the hosting software?

Look forward to hearing (and seeing) the re-fight.

CarlL

[Imperial Dave]

You always put on a great spread Simon 

[simonw]

Thanks chaps.