Persians vs Athenians - posted by Dirk Heinsius, 18 December 2021

The Persians Have Arrived!

Last weekend the Persians took to the table for the first time against Josh's Athenians. Athenians are an interesting opponent for the Persians, in that being irregular you can't slow them down with archery, so they just keep coming, but on the plus side they are less likely to be able to react to flank manouvers.

The Persian commands were divided into three commands; a strong cavalry force, comprising the Persian, Bactrian, and Median cavalry, the Babylonian Chariots, and the Kaspian Horse Archers under Megabazos. The Immortals and the Guard Cavalry under Hydarnes, and the remainder of the foot, including the Sparabara, the Marines, the Auxilia, and assorted light troops including the picked Psidian hill fighters.

The Athenians comprised two large commands of Hoplites, and a command of Light troops, together with the Greek cavalry.

The Persian plan was to hold back the bulk of the foot back along a line of low hills and rocky ground, whilst massing the Immortals and the Cavalry on the right to try to turn the Athenian line. As it was this was perfect as the Athenians had concentrated their Cavalry and Light troops on their own right flank, so there was a great opportunity for the Persian cavalry to turn the flank if they were fast enough.

As the battle opened the Athenians were plagued with low pips, and whilst the Athenian cavalry tried vainly to get across the table to counter the Persian Cavalry threat, the hoplite line surged forward to try to close with the Persian foot. This left an opening for the Persian cavalry, and whilst the Immortals, and eventually the rest of the Persian foot, held the hoplites, the Cavalry and Chariots, managed to turn the Athenian flank, so the the hoplites facing the Immortals, found themselves pinned to the front, and with Persian cavalry in their rear.

The Persian foot, managed to hold the line against the other command of hoplites, despite taking casualties, even scoring a notable success in shooting down an Athenian general with a 6-1.

The Athenian Cavalry finally arrived, but too late. By this stage one command of hoplites was broken, the other was leaderless, and time was called. 23-2 to Persia, who had lost just over 10% of their forces.

To be fair Josh was plagued early on with very bad pip dice, so he couldn't get his cavalry across to cover the open flank, and couldn't hold the hoplites, who with low pips had to keep pressing forward, and didn't have the manoeuverability to capitalise on my own deployment errors.

Attached are a series of excellent photos by Josh showing the action. 

Lots more pics at https://www.facebook.com/groups/824840264342234/posts/1961643027328613/

The closing stages. The Hoplites on the left are broken, and the Persians are rapidly redeploying to fall on the flank of the remaining Hoplite command.

The "woeful" Athenian cavalry trying to get across the table.

A few brave Hoplites attempting to cover the flank

Psidian Psiloi taking on Hoplites in the rough

The Persian cavalry swinging around the open Athenian flank

• • John Edmundson

    Well, they'd been coming for quite some time so it's great to see that they've finally arrived. So the benevolent monarchy triumphed over the anarchists eh!

    

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    Vincent Cholewa

    Admin

    Group expert

    Many thanks for the report, Dirk , and it is great to see Josh’s pics. A good first outing for Dirkses, King of Kings and Lord of Totara Park and Surrounding Suburbs.

    

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  • Ben Vartok

    The Persians are celebrating! Great pictures.

    

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    Allen Yaxley

    Very nice looking game, well done the both of you . 

    

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