Yesterday afternoon myself and a few of the boys - Peter Power, Peter Hall and Leroy Simpson, bashed out a short four hour game of WAB (using the Successors supplement - not yet published). The two armies we fielded were on one side a Indo-Bactrian Army (under the commanded of King Leroy and his Strategos Peter Power) and on the other the mighty Seleucid Army (under the command of King Peter II and myself as his Hyparchos). Each side fielded an army of 4500pts, which basically enabled me to bring almost all my WAB armies onto the table. The Seleucid army consisted of 5 units of Phalanx, four elephants, three light infantry units, three cavalry units and numerous skirmishers. The Indo-Bactrian Army consisted of basically 3 units of Phalanx, 3 units of Indian allied troops, four elephants, one light infantry unit, three cavalry units and numerous skirmishers. The table lay out was fairly basic, with a 6x6ft playing area and a few hills and blocks of trees to break up the deployment and movement of troops. I would love to make some modular terrain but with moving around very couple of years it makes it rather hard.
Seleucid Politikoi Cavalry. These guys did OK but in the Successor supplement they can not form wedge. Only the Hetairoi can.
My robust staff slingers. We moved these guys straight into the woods on our right flank. With a range of thirty inches they gave us a small capacity to take on the allied Indian long bowmen.
Indo-Bactian battleline from their left flank.
Three of the Seleucid phalanx -We fielded one as Argyraspides, one as a mercenary phalanx and three as Settler phalanx.
The Indo-Bactian elephant corps.
The Seleucid Elephant corps.
Seleucid Aphrakoi cavalry make a rapid re-deployment in the face of the on coming Bactrian elephants.
The Seleucid Greek mercenaries armed in Macedonian fashion.
Indo-Bactrian allied Indian Longbow take up position on high ground.
Indo-Bactian Guard Thureophoroi
Our elephant corps turns its flank towards the Indian longbow on the hill - bad move...
Repeated hits and kills on the crews cause our elephant to panic and stampeded...into each other. Note for the day - keep away from longbow.
Finally after moving slowly across the battlefield our infantry meet. Here our Argyraspides phalanx charges a Bactrian phalanx.
From another angle
Nice optional rule is that skirmishers are hard for elephants to kill, needing a roll of six to hit as the bugger can weave and dodge around the big beasts. This also makes the elephant easier to kill. Best why to keep your elephants on the board is to either provide them with some elephant escorts or keep away from skirmishers.
All the Indo-Bactrian elephants were defeated by our Hypaspists (in skirmish formation)
Only a little bit of action on the right flank of our line. The Thracians (in the far ground) were totally smashed by the Greek Hoplites fighting for the Bactrians.
The final phase saw all our infantry units fixed in hand to hand combat.
For some reason I called for a challenge on the Indo-Bactrian King. I lost and my King was struck down where he stood. The Army had to test moral........ 50% failed......the game was over and the Bactrians stayed independent.
Brunswick Horse artillery and crew firing a British 6pdr (also from Elite Miniatures)
Line Battalion showing the Centre Companies, NCO and a Foot Officer.
