Sea Peoples in de Nile at Historicon

The game all set up and ready to go for 7 PM Thursday. 

Counterclockwise, John, ? Tom, Florence,  ? Brian,  for the Sea Peoples, and Ken, ? , Michael,  Tim for the forces of the Pharoah. 

The battle was fought on both sides of the Nile valley, with Libyan Allies (John) coming from the West and reinforcing the Sea Peoples right.

View form the Sea Peoples Right. 

Libyan skirmishers try to polish off an Egyptian chariot which has reached the shores of the Mediterranean!

Egyptians advancing in the Center. 

Action o the Sea Peoples’ Left. 

Peleset Javelinmen engage Egyptian and Nubian Bowmen!

The black “scarabs of death” mark hits (disorder). 

The Sea Peoples have charged across much of the table on their right center!

The ranks are thinning on both sides. 

Sea Peoples right center attacks; shortly afterwards the Sea Peoples ran out of Victory medals. Victory to Pharoah and Team Egypt!

Post Title

On to some actual Historicon coverage! 

I ran my Battle of Bosworth Field, May 4, 1471 game on Wednesday evening at 7 PM; player clockwise are James, Ted, Benjamin, Ben, and dad Geoff, and old freind  John Mumby from Colorado. James played the Stanleys on the Hill, Ted played Oxford, Benjamin played Chandee and the Tudor ambush forces, Ben played Norfolk, Geoff played Richard II, and John played the late arriving Northumberland.
Test of Resolve rules; May the Fourth be with you… or at least, the Stanleys!

The action was fast and furious, so I forgot to take very many pictures. Oxford and Norfolk exchanged bow and cannon fire for some time, which was surprisingly effective, before finally closing in melee, with Richard III’s command in close support. This lead to the Stanleys, who had been called top support both leaders, entering the fray on behalf of the Tudor’s. By this time, Oxford;s battle was destroyed, and Ted was reduced to playing as Henry Tudor and his small bodyguard. 

The Yorkists had little time to celebrate before Chandee’s attack upon the Yorkist right hit home. After some tense moments, this lead to the capture of Richard III. Abou the same time, Northumberland finally made his arrival in support of Richard III.  He clashed with the Stanleys, coming off pretty consistently worse, and decided that discretion was the better part of valor, leaving the field to Henry Tudor and his supporters. After the battle, Richard III was summarily executed by the Tudors. The Yorkist cause was lost!

While I had just starting to set up the game, Bob Varga and his freind asked if I would mind shifting to an adjacent empty table, as they wanted to set up their Thursday AM Game. Being a gentleman, I acceded, and they helped me move my things to the new table. Their game is above, so you can see why they wanted to set it up in advance. “The Anthill”. From the PEL: WWI – by late 1914 early 1915 has become a stalemate the trench fighting between them has evolved into acts of futility for yards of the “No Man’s Land” battlefield. The ANT HILL is my fictional account of such an encounter against a formidable German trench system.

Set up for Jim Purky’s 3 Punic Wars 54 mm games, one each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The first was Hannibal! with  (? his own)  Sand and Sandals rules. 

Some close ups of  the troops.

and more.

and a few more.

Pterosaurs?

Pterosaurs!

Airships!

Action of 5th November, 1813, off Toulon. 

Frattspiel Waterloo 210 being set up – 10mm figures, run twice a day for 5 hrs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Close up of Jim’s Roman town. 

A final return to the Punic Wars for Wednesday evening.

Back from Historicon!

 Had a great time as usual; ran 4 different games (one in near total darkness!), played in three, didn’t buy too much and nothing unplanned. Left Lancaster fairly early this AM (8:15) and was home by 1 PM.

Unloaded everything from the car tonight; it usually takes me few weeks to sort it all out and put everything back in order and in place!
Plenty more Historicon posts to come over the next few weeks…

Sea Peoples Invade Egypt!

 This is the test layout for my game to be run at Historicon later this week. 

Overview from the Egyptian side

Long view, Sea Peoples left, Egyptians to the right of the picture. Rules are To the Strongest!

SEA PEOPLES

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

1

General, attach, mounted, Heroic

3+

Replay 

5

2

1

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

4

5

1

1

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

4

5

1

1

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

4

5

1

1

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

4

5

1

1

Hvy Char, Lance, Raw extra bow

7+

3

11

2

1

Hero

Replay

1

1

Command Cost, Medals

37

8

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

2

General, attached

2+

Replay 

4

2

2

Peleset Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

2

Peleset Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

2

Peleset Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

2

Peleset LI archers

8+

3

4

1

2

Hero

Replay

1

3

Command Cost, Medals

30

9

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

3

General, attached

2+

Replay 

4

2

3

Peleset Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

3

Peleset Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

3

Peleset Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

3

Pelset LI Javelinemen

7+

2

4

1

3

Pelset LI Javelinemen

7+

2

4

1

3

Hero

Replay

1

3

Camp

1

3

3

Command Cost, Medals

35

13

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

4

General, attach, mounted, Heroic

3+

Replay 

5

2

4

Light Chariots, Javelin

7+

3

5

1

4

Light Chariots, Javelin

7+

3

5

1

4

Light Chariots, Javelin

7+

3

5

1

4

Light Chariots, Javelin

7+

3

5

1

4

Hvy Char, Lance, Raw  extra Bow

7+

3

11

2

4

Hvy Char, Lance, Raw extra Bow

7+

3

11

2

4

Hero

Replay

1

4

Command Cost, Medals

48

10

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

5

General, attached

2+

Replay 

4

2

5

Sardanna Warriors (deep) – Hero

7+

10

3

5

Sardanna Warriors (deep) – Hero

7+

10

3

5

Sherdan Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

5

LI Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

5

LI Javelin

7+

2

4

1

5

Hero

Replay

1

5

Camp

1

3

5

Command Cost, Medals

41

15

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

6

General, attached

3+

Replay 

4

2

6

Sardanna Warriors (deep) – Hero

7+

10

3

6

Sardanna Warriors (deep) – Hero

7+

10

3

6

Sherdan Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

6

LI Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

6

LI Javelin

7+

2

4

1

6

Hero

Replay

1

6

Command Cost, Medals

40

12

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

7

General, attached

3+

Replay 

4

2

7

Sardanna Warriors (deep) – Hero

7+

10

3

7

Sardanna Warriors (deep) – Hero

7+

10

3

7

Peleset Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

7

LI Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

7

LI Javelin

7+

2

4

1

7

Hero

Replay

1

7

Command Cost, Medals

40

12

CMD

Description- Libyan Allies

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

8

General, attached

3+

Replay 

4

2

8

Libyan Medium Javelinmen

7+

2

7

2

8

Libyan Medium  Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

8

LI Javelin, Raw

8+

1

3

1

8

LI Javelin, Raw

8+

1

3

1

8

Hero

Replay

1

8

Command Cost, Medals

29

8

Medals 87 / 3 = 29

Points 300

Reserve Ammo 33


Sea Peoples far right is composed of Libyan allies. 

Warriors and supports

More Warriors and supports

And still more, preparing to loot the Temple of Horus. Is that safe? 

The Sea Peoples have concentrated their Chariotry on the other side of de Nile. 

PeleseT Javelinmen and Bowmen. 

More Peleset foot. 

Peleset Chariotry. 

EGYPTIANS 

Division Amun

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

1A

Att General Chariot Heroic 

3+

Replay

5

2

1A

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

1A

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

1A

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

1A

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

1A

Command Cost, Medals

25

6

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

1B

Attached General

2+

4

2

1B

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

1B

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

1B

Numidian Med. Bowmen, Veteran

7+

7

9

2

1B

Med. Infantry Billmen (Mace/axe)

7+

7

2

1B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

1B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

1B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

1B

Hero

Replay

1

1B

Command Cost, Medals

47

13

Division Re

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

2A

Att General Chariot Heroic 

3+

Replay

5

2

2A

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

7+

5

6

1

2A

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

7+

5

6

1

2A

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

7+

5

6

1

2A

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

7+

5

6

1

2A

Command Cost, Medals

29

6

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

2B

Attached General, Division Re

2+

4

2

2B

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

2B

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

2B

Medium Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

2B

Medium Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

2B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

2B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

2B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

2B

Heroes x 2

replay

2

2B

Camp

1

3

2B

Command Cost, Medals

47

16

Division Set

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

3B

Att General Chariot, Heroic  

3+

Replay

5

2

3B

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

7+

5

6

1

3B

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

7+

5

6

1

3B

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

AN

5

6

1

3B

Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran

8+

5

6

1

3B

3B

Command Cost, Medals

29

6

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

3D

Attached General

2+

4

2

3D

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

3D

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

3D

Med. Infantry Billmen (Mace/Axe)

7+

7

2

3D

Medium Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

3D

Medium Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

3D

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

3D

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

3D

Hero x 2

Replay

2

3D

Camp

1

3

3D

Command Cost, Medals

50

17

Division Ptah

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

4C

Att General Chariot, Heroic  

3+

5

2

4C

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

4C

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

4C

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

4C

Light Chariots, Bow

8+

3

5

1

4C

Command Cost, Medals

25

6

CMD

Description

Save

Spec/Ammo

Pts

VMs

4B

Att General

3+

4

2

4B

Medium Infantry, Shieldwall

7+

7

2

4B

Med. Infantry Billemn (Mace/Axe)

7+

8

2

4B

Numidian Med. Bowmen, Veteran

7+

7

9

2

4B

Medium Bowmen

8+

6

7

2

4B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

4B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

4B

Light Infantry – Bow/Sling

8+

3

4

1

4B

Hero

Replay

1

4B

Command Cost, Medals

48

13

Points 300

Victory Medals  83 / 3 = 28

Reserve Ammo 34


Egyptian far left – Chariotry of Division Amun.

Infantry of Division Amun – shield wall, archers, and a few 2 handed Mace/Axemen. 

Infantry of Division Ra

Chariotry of Division Ra. 

Chariotry of Division Set.

Infantry of Division Set. 

Infantry of Division Ptah.

Chariotry of Division Ptah.

Blurry over view from the opposite direction. 

Close up of the Temple of Horus. I have to finish painting the statue (casting by Reaper Bones. The original plan was for the colored panel to be on the underside of the roof, which is historical but would be essentially invisible, so I went with the opposite, less accurate but much more striking. The support for the roof is modeled on the actual way the Egyptians built them. 

Forgot the water of the Mediterranean Sea and the boats of the Sea peoples, which will act as their camps! The troops and terrain are all packed, ready for my trip to Lancaster on Wednesday!

A Thrashing in Thrace: Galatians vs Macedonians, Part 2

The Macedonians start Turn 8 on their Left flank with a charge into the rear of the Galatian Horse; they score a hit but the Galatians shrug it off. 

They prove unwilling to attack again this turn. 

Switching to their right, the Companions refuse to budge,. even with the urging of General Periandros!

Thracians attack the Warband to their front; they hit but the Warband saves; their battle back results in an unsaved hit on the Thracians. One more, and it will be lost!

The disordered Blue phalanx attacks the opposing (also disordered) warband; it fails to hit, even with the sacrifice of it’s Hero; the Warband also misses on the Battle Back. 
Archers on the hill gather up arrows, but an attempt by the disordered Thracians to pull back fails. 

The final command is the Macedonian left center. Slingers shoot into the rear of the Woody Warband, scoring 2 hits; they can save only one. The Slingers gather more rocks. The Yellow phalanx pulls back. The White Phalanx attacks the Warband to its front, and hits; The Warband fails to save, and misses on its battle back. 
 Oops – forgot to check for the Galatian General… Drunemetron is hit and killed instantly! 2 Galatian Victory Medals are lost. 

The Slingers shoot the rear of the Woody Warband again, and score a second unsaved hit. “Whenny woody wonky!”

White Phalanx attacks again; they miss, as does the battle back by the Warband. 

Situation at the end of Macedonian Turn 8. 

Left flank Galatian cavalry fail to activate, leaving their rear areas vulnerable!

Bitorix leads his Warband in a charge into the flank of the Blue phalanx; they score a hit; General Autodikos is untouched, at least by the enemy, but the phalanx cannot save!

Smertomara has no smiles as a second flank charge has no effect upon the phalanx!

The warband with 2 hits pulls back, and then successfully rallies off a hit!

Smertomara attempts a 3rd flank charge, but even his Leadership cannot manage to pull it off against Autodikos and his boys. 

Porky says: Weakened woody Warband waffles it’s wally woll. 

Galatian cavalry tries to fight its way through the Companions; worried about their posteriors, the attempt fails. 

Overview, end of Turn 8. 

Thracian LC charges the rear of the Galatians, scoring 2 hits; only 1 is saved. 

Hippolochos and his Companions charge, and scatter the Galatian cavalry – 2 Victory Medals lost. 

White phalanx attacks but misses; they suffer an unsaved hit on the battle back. Slingers reload. Yellow phalanx rallies off a hit. 

Autodikos and his boys pull out of a right spot, whilst the Thracians and the hilltop Warband trade ineffective blows. Archers shoot at  the Galatian cavalry, but miss. 

The blue pike’s rally attempt gets one of their rocks off,  but their second attempt flops, even with Autodikos lending a helping hand. 

The phalanx tries a third attempt, but just can’t get a rock off again. 

Periandros and his Companions make for the Galatian baseline, but the horse are too tired to go more than one move. 

Table overview at the end of Macedonian Turn 9. 

Left center – both Warbands slide back onto the flanks of their respective phalanxes, but are unable to attack this turn. 

Left flank Galatian cavalry finally bestirs itself to counter the threat to it’s rear, but cannot do more. 

Slingers move up hoping to counter their opposite numbers. The wittle Warband that wouldn’t – didn’t. No longer having a 4th command, Galatian Turn 9 is over!

Eagle’s eye view of the filed at the start of Turn 10. 

Having vanquished their opposing cavalry, Hippolochos and his men maneuver to get back to the fight. 

Slingers move onto the flank of the weakened warband, but the  left Center can do no more this turn. 

Center right, Autodikos and his boys rotate to their right, and are no longer exposed. Thracians attack the Warband; they hit but the Warband saves; Warband hits but the Thracians save. Kind of like a dosie -do at a square dance!  Archers shoot at the Galatian Cavalry in the woods, and miss again.  

Companions move further into the Galatian rear, but seems uninspired at General Periandros’ attempts to hurry them along!

Overview, end of Macedonian Turn 10. 

Galatian Left Center – the targeted yellow phalanx lets looses a big sigh as the Warband pulls an Ace and fails to strike their flank, also thus ending the turn for that important command!

Galatian cavalry actually manages to catch up to the Companions, and charge them from the rear, scoring a hit upon them!

Right Center: Veteran Warband (red bead) rallies off a hit. 

What more can one expect from the woosies in the woods, who fail to activate yet again!

End of Turn 10 – My what a big hole you have in your Center, Macedonian men!

Yellow phalanx withdraws successfully again. Slingers attack the Warband in the flank; they score z hit , but the Warband finally does something right, and saves! White phalanx attacks and misses. as does the Warband, even with their Hero assisting. 

Slingers attack again but have no effect on the wobbly warband. The yellow phalanx cannot gain the flank of their enemy, even with Leocharis roaring  with encouragement. 

Left flank cavalry move back into relevance.

Finally showing some hustle in their bustle, Periandros and his Companions loot the Galatian camp – 3 Galatian Victory Medals are surrendered!

Thracians attack and hit, but the Warband saves, missing on the battle back. Archers shoot and miss. Seems like deja vu all over again!

Autodikos and his boys pull back again, but they cannot get another rock off. 

Positions at the end of Macedonian turn 11. 

Sensing that they have been pressing their luck with 2 hits, the hilltop Warband pulls back, hoping to rally later. Their brother unit makes 2 rally attempts, succeeding on the second – they are back to full fighting form! 

Another successful Galatian rally!

Moves by the Galatian left flank cavalry under Bitorix.

Right Center, another badly wounded Warband withdraws; it companion unit fails to advance. This leaves the woody wonders wery wulnernable. 

Situation, end of Turn 11. 

Companions charge the enemy LI Javelinmen, who fail to evade. 

The Companions miss on their attack, resulting in the Javelinmen moving rearward anyway. Thereupon they are charged in the flank by the Thracian LC. 

Once, twice, three times – and finally the Javelinmen are ridden down! 1 Victory medal lost. Companions wheel to threaten the the rear of the woodlings, but can go no further this turn. 

Slingers try the flank attack again… and fail to hit again! White phalanx rallies off a hit. Yellow phalanx faces left to put a stop to more flank attacks. 

Companions are camping out, and do mange to face the approaching Galatian horse, but fail to rally. 

Thracians rally, but the archers cannot find any more arrows. 

Battlefield at the end of Macedonian Turn 12. 

The witless wonders in the woods finally get themselves turned around, the warband on the hill faces to counter the threat to its flank, and the veteran Warband advances.

Left flank Galatian cavalry charges archers on the hill (with some help by General Bitorix); they fail to evade, but save the hit that the cavalry scored upon them. 

Out of command try a difficult maneuver, but fail. 

It takes a couple of rounds of combat, but Smertomara and his warband mange to land a hit on the blue Phalanx. 

With a General replay, they manage a 3rd round, but this time it is the Warband that takes the hit! 

Warband makes a difficult diagonal attack upon the Thracian infantry, and both wind up suffering a hit. 

Another warband rallies off a hit. 

Veteran Warband moves up, then charges the yellow phalanx in the flank. After many cards are played, the phalanx suffers one unsaved hit. 

Situation at the end of Turn 12. 

Ganging up on the woodland weaklings isn’t enough to finish them off!

Another attack by the Companions also misses the mark. The Thracian light cavalry chuck javelins, reload, wash and repeat, etc., but have no effect on the opposing warband, either!

White phalanx move up onto the flank of the warband, and the slingers fail to impact the wobbly warband yet again!

Nothing last forever, and the Slingers *finally* wash away the warband. This costs 3 Galatian Victory medals… but they have only 2 remaining. 

Victory to the Macedonians! The battlefield at the  end of the game. 

Macedon still had 4 Victory Medals left. 

Macedonian losses were fairly heavy… 10 Victory Medals.

By contrast, half of the 14 VM lost by the Galatians were from the loss of Generals and camps. Thus they suffered lighter actual troop casualties, but the disorganization and demoralization caused by the loss of leadership and supplies proved decisive. The Galatian threat to Thrace is ended… at least for now!