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.