DBA Version 3: Athenian versus Early Achaemenid Persian (Part 2 of 2)

After another round of infantry combat the centre looks a mess. A unit of Persian 8Bw Archers finds itself overlapped and fighting a hoplite line [1 to 5 in the Greek favour] and finds itself forced to make a fateful roll (see below, the meance is in the methodical approach of the hoplite battle line with mutually supporting stands):

As per many a historical result the Persian dies (see below, Greeks 1 - Persians 1, with the Greeks in an overall far stronger position trying to overwhelm the Persian 4Sp):

However - as it seems to be the way with all versions of DBA - you can never guarantee the win where you think you should be able to expect it (see below, the Persian 4Sp at a reduced attack value of 2, repulse the massed hoplite phalanx of supported 4Sp of attack value 5 - a sorely "missed opportunity"):

Meanwhile the Athenian 3Bw (I know they are based as 4Bw but don't tell the OrBat Police) spot a target of opportunity (see below, even better because they are hitting the Persian Bow on their rear they don't get to shoot back so the Athenians can ignore any adverse results):

This results in a spectacular success (from an unexpected Athenian source). This flank now looks ripe for Athenian exploitation (see below, Persians 1 - Athenians 3, the writing seems to be very much on the wall for this one):

The Persian archers have a very unsatisfactory time against the hoplites - that could have been because I forgot to award them a +1 tactical modifier for their double base (see below, a lot of arrows in hoplite shields perhaps but nothing much in a tactical [useful?] sense):

The Persians only real hope comes from a cavalry attack led by their General. The Persian Light Horse have already "closed the door" on the Athenian cavalry, so the Persians have a chance to turn the tables on the Athenians. As Sun Tzu puts it, "to get the best out of your troops put them on 'perilous ground' so that they have to fight for their lives" (see below, "good dice" [for the Athenians] and "poor dice " [for the Persians] or it is "death" for the Athenian cavalry):

It seems that the "gods" have favoured them "this day" and it is (unexpectedly) the Persians who recoil (see below, it is the Persian who is shaking his head in disbelief this turn (see below, the Persian cavalry chooses to recoil 40mm, simply because he can):

It is now the Athenians turn. The hoplites come forward on mass "to crunch" and "crunch" they did  (see below, hoplites love fighting poorly armed "Hoards" and "Archers" - doubles always seem to come along like clockwork):

Big gaps start appearing in the Persian line and the Athenian hoplites have the inclination as well as movement to "close the door" on the Persian troublesome 4Sp (see below, the Persian battle line has fragmented in many small unconnected fighting bodies of men, fighting desperately for their lives the Persian 4Sp seem a "lost" cause):

The Persian 4Sp are killed which seals the battle as far as DBA is concerned. Looking at the right hand side of the Persian line "escape" is only thing on the minds of the Persian infantry. How is another matter (see below, an imposing line of hoplite spears face them):

After a brief heroic counterattack the Persians collapse in a heap (see below, their surviving horse may get away but the bulk of their infantry would be doomed - so not silver lining for the Persians here! Greeks 4 and Persians 1 therefore Greek decisive win):

A "good" battle to get a feel of the rules. As it was a gentle play test of a "stand-up" fight without searching out tactical tweaks the result was as expected .. that's not to say all Greek versus Persians should be a forgone conclusion as the Greeks had a deep hatred of the Persian horse. It was well respected for and good reason. It is a long time since I have had these ancients 'out of the box' and I was pleased to see how well my paint job had stood the test of time.