Delium BC 424 : Part IV (The Mounting Crisis)

With the untimely death of their fellow Psilio, the remaining Athenian light infantry on the Athenian left sought the protection of the heavy Athenian hoplite infantry (see below):  

The situation was still fluid on the Athenian right wing. True, the outnumbered Athenian Psilio were now retiring, but the cavalry dance was still in play and the Athenian C-in-C was still looking for an opportunity to exploit the multi-move potential of his light horse (see below): 

The Theban general however cannily kept the Athenian light horse locked down with an enemy unit of cavalry within its "Zone of Control" ZOC (see below):

Precipitously the Athenian left wing commander (not the overall Athenian C-in-C) unilaterally thinks the time has come to try and force the outcome with hoplites in the middle of the battlefield as he has a small tactical 'evener' with the supporting Psilio now overlapping the Theban right on the hill. If he could turn the Theban flank then hill or no hill victory was still a possibility (see below):

The Athenian C-in-C is torn as there is still no clear winner on his right hand side flank. The Theban light infantry are advancing, hell bent of killing their Athenian counterparts but the Athenian cavalry could still "win the day" (see below)

He does not advance his hoplites, perhaps this "none move" could serve as an effective ruse to bring the Thebans off that "hill"?

Meanwhile the moment of truth has come for the Athenian cavalry (see below). In addition the Theban light Psilio seem much more interested in pillaging oot from the Athenian baggage train than assisting their static hoplites.

The Athenians gave a pause for some serious thought: 

• Athenian left wing: 2 Stands lost (with a third in deadly peril), 50% to demoralisation
• Athenian right wing: 1 Stand lost, 25% to the demoralisation total

Athenian army breakpoint is currently 25% (3 out of the 12 required) and against the above tally their have been no Theban casualties inflicted.

The Athenian right wing is in crisis. When outnumbered (as per the above cavalry) and with only one "recoil space" between you and your own baseline this is generally not a good position to be in. That stand can only be thought of as already lost, but "what" can you do in the time available before that happens?

Next: The Athenian response

Delium BC 424 : Part III (Fateful Combat)

The Thebans aggressively came forward on the Athenian left (see below):  

And the Athenian right (see below):

A series of shattering defeats shocked the Athenian C-in-C as first the Athenian Psilio on the right hand side died (see below): 

Followed by the Athenian left wing cavalry being mercilessly pushed back (see below):

And a stand of Athenian left wing Psillio also dying (see below):

Three combats, two defeats and a recoil. The only sensible move left for the Athenian is to "back off" on the Athenian left wing and 'fight to win' elsewhere (see below).

What is there an Athenian Plan B?

Delium BC 424 : Part II (Clash of Arms)

On the left cavalry wing the Athenian 'feels lucky' and 'wants to get on with it' (must be Alcibiades leading from the front) and charge to contact, all they need now is 'good dice' (see below): 

However all that happens is a stand off as the horses are "locked in melee" (see below):

In the subsequent round the Thebans score a telling blow on the Athenian Light Horse (alas for Alcibiades a promising career cut short, but perhaps in the long run it would have been all the better for Athens). First blood to Thebes (see below):

The light s are also now within 'insult throwing and rude gesticulations' range but not combat (see below):

Over on the Athenian right flank the lights close to combat as the cavalry "dance" (see below):

The lights on the left flank 'bounce' in and out of a bloodless first round of combat (see below):

The posturing has stopped, the Athenians have been unsuccessful in the initial cavalry skirmish but there are three other light/wing battles still to resolve.

What will the Athenians do next? Continue at the edges or try and force the issue in the middle?

Delium BC 424 : Part I (Opening Moves as the Wings Jockey for Position)

The Generals sat comfortably (Thebans to the top, Athenians bottom, see below) with ale, coffee, water, biscuits, crisps and cakes to hand (who said wargamers aren't as dedicated as Olympic athletes? See below).

The historic scenario options (Theban 'deep phalanx' and 'Athenian characters' [aka Socrates and Alcibiades]) had not been chosen, so the Thebans were left sitting in a strong defensive position on a hill, lined toe-to-toe with the Athenians below them. Historically the Athenians initially "saw a chance" with the slight overlap in the main hoplite battle lines. In this replay however the Thebans had no reason (as yet) to leave their defensive position of strength, so the Athenians strategy revolved around getting the Thebans out of their comfort zone and off the hill. The Athenians boldly decided to take the initiative and "attack on the wings" hoping for 'good luck' with the dice along the way.  

The Athenian light Psilio on the left flank quickly crowded into the defensively good (at least for their troop type) 'rough' terrain, far away from the sound of advancing horses hooves (see below):

The Athenian right flank assumes a symmetric strategy as the Athenian cavalry keep pace with their light infantry (see below):  

The Thebans are keen to enter the game, as they perceive they have a slight tactical advantage in the fact they have two cavalry stands to their opponents one cavalry and one light horse stand. The Theban light troops are primarily interested in defending the ends of their hoplite battle line (see below):

The symmetry is again very noticeable (see below):

Although in a surprise move the Athenians on the right flank pull back, or are they seeking to exploit teh faster speed of the Athenian "light horse". With a good dose of pips it could in theory race past the slower Theban cavalry (see below):

The opening moves end with a tense sense of of expectation.

Next: First Clash of Arms

Return to Delium 424 BC : New Terrain

As a bit of a break from the WWII 'battalion attack' project I decided to take a fresh view of my recent BBDBA battle of Delium 424 BC in the Peloponnesian War. My last attempt was fun but suffered from a 'magnetic draw to the middle', as opposed to three separate [wing:middle:wing] engagements. I decided it would be fun making a bit of 'bespoke terrain' from the scraps and bits and bits and pieces lying around after the 'battalion attack' board making frenzy.

See below for the "Hill of Delium" and the flanking areas of 'rough' (I chose not to try and include the rivers diorama style as I wanted to keep the terrain simple for the novice players I intended to play it with) that separated the flanks from the hill:  

I mocked up what the overall battlefields should look like (see below):

As a start-up condition (non-standard BBDBA) deployment I was thinking of forcing the lights and cavalry of either side to deploy as a contiguous group to the left and right of the areas of rough group (see the next two photographs below):  

Note: The green cloth was just a "handy" mock-up prop that was not quite big enough but sufficed. 

If the historical Theban Phalanx option was chosen then the Athenians would have a gap to exploit on their right flank.

I was quite pleased with the 'look' of the terrain and the approximation to the challenges of Delium, but what would the players make of it?

Battalion Attack: Fire and Movement - Board Part VI (Terrain Generation)

One of the interesting aspects of "Fire and Movement" is the random terrain generation, with each hexagon having a one in six chance of being occupied with a terrain piece (see below):

• Green equals Woods
• Orange equals Ridges/Low Hills
• Black equals Farm 

Like all generated schemes, it seems to inevitably produce a much 'stranger' set-up (but who is to say that is not more realistic) than the 'aesthetic' wargamers-eye terrain placement.

The defender then chooses which baseline to defend and in this case the German player chooses the bottom. Why? Two thirds of the defensible terrain is there (as the defender can deploy up to and including half way in) and it also denies the attacker the luxury of the two orange ridge lines/low hills being used as a fire base for HMG overhead fire.

Scenario:
The above set-up seems to suggest the British are attempting an outflanking manoeuvre to the (their) left of a more heavily wooded sector. The open farmland poses its own problems.

Next: Tarting up the terrain

Battalion Attack: Fire and Movement - Board Part V

The mysterious "glue gun" revealed (not as you may have thought, a reference to a non-lethal urban crowd control mechanism but a method of sticking cardboard together) and waiting for its first hexagon. Seeing as the tip of the "glue gun" can reach a temperature of 200 degrees centigrade it should be handled with fair bit of care (see below):

The "glue gun" ammo, two "glue sticks" (see below):

The finale, hexagons laid out ready to be finally glued in place, the first row done (see below):

Trial layout, taking the attacking "British Infantry Battalion" + "HMG Support" out of the box and putting it against the defending "Two German Infantry Companies" (see below):

The British infantry stands on the black (off table) would be deemed "in reserve" allowed to come on from any British baseline "hex". Missing are company designations and markers to denote "fresh" and "spent" status. Also missing id terrain other than the default "open" fields

Next: Random Terrain Generation