Lydians vs Assyrians - posted by Mark Raeburn, 18 July 2022

I played a very interesting game against John a couple of days back. It was our third foray into Book 1, with John again fielding his mighty Assyrians (with Scythian allies) against my Lydians (with Geometric Greek allies). As if often the case things went unexpectedly from the get go, with the Lydians having the temerity to invade the Assyrian homeland. The terrain was a little unusual, with a river flowing across the centre of the battlefield bisecting the table down the long axis. This linear feature would play a key role in the battle as it unfolded. The Assyrian king knew that, as invaders, the Lydians were guaranteed a victory if he sat behind the river and did nothing. And what Assyrian king worth his salt would even contemplate that? As a result he advanced his own command with all his chariots Kn( S), mounted infantry, Cv (S) and assorted foot across the river to engage the Lydian and Greek foot who had lined up opposite. The Scythian allies who were in ambush in an orchard behind the advancing Assyrians also came across the river to support the advance. The key to the Assyrian battle plan was a powerful flank march on the Assyrian left that was to link up with the other two commands on the Lydians’ side of the river and smash the foe. Problem was they didn’t come on as anticipated til GT 6. In the interim the battle was decided as the Lydians, largely Ax(O) came forward with the Greeks, mostly Ax(S). The Lydian reserve appeared in an early GT and these Kn(F) joined the fray, as well as a small Lydian mounted command, again mostly Kn(F), in ambush in a wood behind the Lydian infantry. The Lydian reserve command shattered the Scythians and then all four Lydian and allied commands ganged up on the Assyrian king’s troops in the centre. The powerful Assyrian flank march arrived too late to intervene and when the Assyrian king fell valiantly in combat his command shattered and the Lydians held the field of battle. Another enjoyable contest from a rule set that always produces games that are intriguing and varied. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/824840264342234/posts/2116825635143684/

The Lydians with Greek allies in the foreground await the Assyrian advance.

The King's command prepares to cross the river.

Assyrian Cv(S) in the foreground.

The King leads his chariots Kn(S).

The Lydian reserve arrives. (Hellenistic Greek cavalry operating as Lydian Kn(F).

Across the river!

The Scythian allied command moves up to support the King's advance.

The Assyrian flank march comes on......finally.

The Lydian reserve advance to shatter the Scythians opposite.

The King's command is enveloped.

The King's command is enveloped.

The triumphant Lydians see the Assyrians shatter.

Vincent Cholewa

Admin

Group expert

Many thanks for the report, Mark. Accounts of games are always interesting, I enjoy reading them 

In this case, mixing cultural references, Euclid would have been proud of the Greeks angles of attack and the Assyrian might have wept by this river of Babylon. (I'll go away now! )

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