ADLG - Game Report 214

Umayyad Arab (131) vs Arab Conquest(131)

For the final Roll Call Battle it was a déjà vu encounter against Paul’s Arab Conquest army. In this battle I was defending in the Plains. I decided to deploy in classical fashion with the infantry centre and the cavalry on the wings. The left-wing command deployed its medium troops forward in ambush – one of the poorer decisions made over the weekend.

The first unfortunate event was the failure of the right wing to advance quickly enough – a roll of one for a competent commander will do that to you. The left-wing cavalry have moved forward of the infantry while the infantry for their part move left to protect the left.

The ambush failed totally and didn’t even slow the Arab Conquest troops down at all. It would now be up to the infantry line to try and hold the flank on its own. The left-wing cavalry have engaged, and we can see the consequences of the failure to move the right-wing cavalry as they now cannot provide any support.

The infantry is waiting patiently for their turn to fight. While the right wing cavalry has arrived and is now ready to be committed, at the same time the Arab Conquest left wing has decided to come to the battle as well. In the centre the CinC has broken off with a unit while the remaining cavalry in contact fights to the end.

The infantry is holding its own, but with losses and the threat of other troops soon to appear on their left flank. On the right the main clash is yet to be decided.

The gaps are starting to appear in both lines as the combats start to become effective, but not quickly enough for the Umayyad Arabs.

Outcome

A win for the Arab Conquest by inflicting 24 and only receiving 13 in return. The fall to the bottom was completed with this rout.

Lessons Learnt

The ambush failure was due to firstly being fixated with trying to use the terrain and trying to be too clever.

Secondly, it also failed because having faced this army only days before I knew what Arab Conquest Troops would be advancing through the difficult terrain.

I also knew Paul’s general tactics, and if I wanted to do a left wheel to pin them against the coast I should have placed the best general on the flank!

Finally, the camp was much too close to the enemy threat area.

ADLG - Game Report 213

Umayyad Arab (131) vs Mongol Empire (218)

First up on Sunday as a battle against Nigel’s Mongol Horde. It would be interesting to see how his army performed, because all through the previous day he had been bemoaning that fact that none of his horse archers could hit a damn thing!! I was gifted the privilege of attacking in the Steppes. I therefore decided that the first imperative was to have a secure flank and therefore deployed with the infantry on the right, but no sooner than I had achieved this than I was confronted with a potential flank march from the Mongols.

We advanced out to meet the Mongols, and to hell with the flanks they can take care of themselves!

Well rather than allowing the camp to fall by default. The medium troops were sent to confront the marauding Mongols from the flank. It would have been better if I could have at least had enough command points to move the Javelin men as well, or at least placed them closer to the camp. The Mongols managed to source some new arrows and had started to make them count.

The Arab camp falls to the Mongols as the Arab Javelinmen look on from their hill. On the right the Infantry are trying to drive the Mongols away, while the cavalry continues their advance to do likewise. All the time the hits from bow fire are starting to mount.

The medium troops left behind to deal with the Mongol flank march are struggling to finish them off. Whilst the rest of the Mongols prove equally resilient and effective with their bow fire.

Outcome

A win for the Mongols by only suffering 6 and inflicting 24 on the Arabs. The march to the bottom continues.

Lessons Learnt

If there is a likelihood of a flank march deploy the camp in the centre.

Or at least place its protection closer to it to defend it before reserves can arrive.

ADLG - Game Report 212

Umayyad Arab (131) vs Aramaean (74)

For the final game of Day One of Roll Call I was presented with an array of camels from Mark’s Aramaean’s, in which I was invited to attack in the plains. I duly set up with an infantry centre with cavalry wings and for the second game in a row the cavalry command with the medium infantry supports was on the right.

Of course, as has become my norm, in the advance the cavalry led the way. However, I was a little discomfited by having to face both Cataphracts on the enemy right and Camelphracts on the enemy left. All of which were supported by a number of bowmen.

I decided to take the chance and attempted to ride down and through the bowmen and then use the cavalry’s superior mobility to attach the ‘phracts from the rear. Only to be confounded by a number of bowmen who were keen to prove that they were as strong as normal troops!

The infantry were then brought forward to do what the cavalry couldn’t. In fact they managed to defeat and destroy on of the Camelphracts. On the left the included Arab Cavalry general went on a solo crusade to destroy a lone Cataphract but instead the enemy held. On the next turn the Aramaean command was sufficient to see him to turn a cataphract around and take the general in the rear and destroy him.

The final act was the attempt to destroy as many Aramaean’s as possible before we lost the battle. And here again the gods of dice conspired against the Arab forces as they had in part done throughout the game!

Outcome

An Aramaean victory by inflicting 24 and only suffering 13 out of 26.

Lessons Learnt

The loss of the included General was a mistake and miscalculation.

The infantry, despite their mediocrity, acquitted themselves well.

ADLG - Game Report 211

Umayyad Arab (131) vs Ghaznavid (193)

On to the second game against Simon’s Ghaznavid’s and their huge camp! Simon won the initiative and decided to attack me in the mountains. My deployment was as before but with the cavalry wings reversed. However, I had the benefit of being able to place my medium troops in ambush in my gully on the right.

Once again, I refused the centre with the intention, again, of envelopment around the flanks. Especially with the benefit of the forward deployed medium troops in Ambush. On the left I certainly had the benefits of numbers.

Enemy bow fire is starting to inflict pain on the left-wing cavalry; but we are around the enemy flank. While on the right the medium troops are already around the enemy flank. They important question is whether the Arab command and control would allow them to exploit this position.

Suffice to say to say not entirely. Moreover, the better Ghaznavid command dice allowed them to respond to the threat I presented better than I was able to exploit it. In the centre the infantry command is biding its time playing with the elephants.

The infantry command has fallen against the elephants not before one of them was destroyed by the infantry spears, but in doing so the elephant went rampaging over one of the Arab infantry unit’s destroying it! On the right the Arab’s have secured a minor victory and if time and losses permitted would have been decisive.

Outcome

A close fought victory for the Ghaznavid forces by destroying the Arab army and by suffering 17 out of 22 losses. Slightly better combat results may have resulted in a mutual destruction.

Lessons Learnt

The plan almost worked, but “almost” isn’t quite good enough!