Early Achaemind Persians vs Post-Mongol Japanese - posted by Dirk Heinsius, 8 May 2022

Darius Remains Undefeated.

At the Warlords this weekend, Darius invaded Japan, and faced Barry's Post Mongol Samurai.

Not a great match up for the Persians, and I was expecting to face lots of Irr Bd(O), Bw(S) and supported Cavalry.

The the terrain fell rather badly for the Persians, with the right flank dominated by a difficult hill, and the left dominated by a large wood, with a reasonably open centre, and just a bit of rocky ground to break up the field.

This left the Persians with no open ground on the flanks to exploit their Cavalry superiority.

Darius deployed deep, with the centre occupied by primarily Skirmishers and the Levy Hordes, whilst the Cavalry were on the left near the wood, and the Sparabara on the road marching to the right wing, to hold off any mounted.

The Immortals were held in reserve, behind the Cavalry to plug any gaps or to redeploy to the centre if required.

Not the best of plans, but the idea was to force to Japanese to come forward, whilst probing for gaps with the Skirmishers, hoping that the irregular command structure of the Japanese, would open up gaps, between the commands that the Persians could exploit.

As the battle began, the Milyan Javelinmen moved into the wood on the left and the Bactrian Auxilia managed to occupy the hill on the right, both moves of course threatened the Japanese advance.

The rest of the Persian army stood fast whilst the Samurai advanced.

In the centre the Nobushi archers, tried to clear away the hordes and the Kaspian Skirmishers, who proved surprisingly resolute, and withstood several bounds of bow fire before the horde were overcome and destroyed, meanwhile the Samurai warriors continued their relentless advance.

The Persian Archery finally opened up, with minimal effect, except for the Chaladeans (Reg Bw(I)), who were facing the Ashigaru. It appears that that their God, Marduk, was with them, and they could throw nothing except 5s and 6s, whilst the Ashigaru (Irr Pk(F)), seemed to only throw 1s and 2s. This meant that in fairly short order three ranks of Ashigaru Pikemen were destroyed, leaving their cavalry general exposed to the Chaladeans, who of course rose to the task, and promptly brought the general down with 6-1 split.

This left holes in the Japanese line where the Ashigaru had been, and a large command, now disheartened and with no general, and so the Japanese advance halted, and the Persian Cavalry were able to counter attack, with the Japanese unable to respond.

(irregular clumsy foot, disheartened, with no general, 3 pips to do anything)

After a couple more bounds we called the game, as Barry was unable to do anything, the command without the general was now shattered, and in the last bound the Persian cavalry, had finally managed to inflict some severe damage on the Samurai cavalry.

To be fair it was sheer luck that secured the victory. If the Chaladeans had not been so effective especially in killing the general, the Samurai blades would have eventually got into the Persian heavy foot, and probably gone through them like a hot knife through butter.

I'm definitely painting up some sort of battle honour for the Chaladeans, possibly some sort of Japanese standard.

Many thanks to Barry for a great game, and again my apologies for the super hot dice

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/824840264342234/posts/2062899050536343/

Persian deployment

Nobushi Archers advancing in the centre

Persian Cavalry, facing the Sohei Monks. Ashigaru Pikemen on the right, and the Milyan Javelinmen in the wood on the left.

From the Persian right. Sparabara formed up, whilst the Bactrians move onto the hill, and columns of Samurai approach looking for a target.

The view from the Persian centre.

Another shot of the Persian right.

The Persian left, with the "Mighty" Chaladeans, having peppered the advancing blade, about to move left to take on the advancing Ashigaru

The Persian Levy horde, and what was facing them.

Vincent Cholewa

Admin

Group expert

Many thanks for the report, Dirk. The Mitanni I am painting include Reg Bw(I), I am looking forward to the devastation they will inflict!

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• 10h

• Dirk Heinsius

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  Vincent Cholewa they only work if make the appropriate offerings to the Gods the night before

  

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  • 10h
  • Barry Norris

    Dirk Heinsius The appropriate offerings are apparently the heads of ashigaru.

    

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    • 10h
• Barry Norris

  I have a spare Japanese standard. I will bring it to the Hutt meeting.

  

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  • 8h
  • Dirk Heinsius

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    Barry Norris most kind of you

    

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