Wednesday 26 January 2022

Millenial Persians (Achaeminds) vs Boomer Persians (Medes) - posted by Dirk Heinsius, 23 January 2022

Darius Remains Undefeated.
At the Hutt Club this weekend, Darius commanding the new culturally Diverse Achaemenid Persians (aka Millenials), took on Paul Graham's old school Medes (aka Boomers).
The Persians had their usual composition, comprising a Cavalry strike force, an small Immortal command, and the bulk of the army under Darius in a big command including Assyrians, Sparabara, Lydian Hoplites, Psidians, Mysians, Egyptians, and the Levy hordes.
The Medes, had three commands, a cavalry strike force (more elements but lower ME than their Persian counterpart), a command of mixed Median Spearmen and Archers, and a command of Auxilia and Psiloi. All three Persian commands contained a reasonable reserve of Cavalry.
I know that Paul likes having a Scythian Ally, but seeing the size of the Median forces I discounted this. (This could have been a grave oversight, but as it was the flank marching Scythian Ally, failed to turn up after 8 bounds).
The deployment fell so that the two cavalry strike commands were facing each other, this was clearly where the bilk of the action would take place.
Both commands advanced, and early on a duel occurred between the Kaspian horse archers on both sides, with honours being about even. Paul had 8 Kaspians to my 6 but the Persian cavalry were able to provide support which covered the mismatch in numbers.
The Median cavalry didn't close, being kept away by the Chaladean Archers, and of course as I later realised they were also awaiting the arrival of the Scythian flank march.
After a vicious little Skirmish between the Kaspians on both sides, and the Chaladeans getting into range, the Median cavalry force was disheartened and then broken, whilst the Persian force remained intact. The Babylonian Kn chariots held in reserve providing ME support really helped here.
Along the rest of the field, at the left flank there was some desultory skirmishing between the Persian Psiloi and the Median Auxilia, which had very little effect upon either side. In the centre the Immortals advanced to cover the open flank of the Persian Cavalry, and some of the Medes responded in turn, but again very little damage was done.
The battle came to a very sudden end on the 8th bound, with the Median Cavalry command breaking, and the (as I found out very large - 17 Element) Scythian Ally Failing to arrive, the Medes went over 50% losses, so in the end 25-0 to Persia.
The game would have gone very differently if the Sycythians had turned up at the right time. My combat dice weren't great, however my PIP dice were consistently excellent throughout, whilst Paul had the opposite, good combat dice, but appalling PIPs.

Many thanks Paul for a really enjoyable game. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/824840264342234/posts/1986631591496423/

A selection of photos, many more are on the Facebook post

Chaladean Archers, Babylonian Chariots, and the Immortals

Paul comtemplating his deployment

The Median centre and right flank

The Mede Spearmen

The Persian Cavalry advancing



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