Ironclad Arab(Conquest) 638-684 AD defeated Chris Townsend Welsh 600-1049 AD wirh Viking 790 allies, 64-43
The Arabs deployed half way up the massive hill which dominated the southern half of the map with a wood on the left and open ground on the right and further north lay the stream which bisected the map with open ground beyond it. Their medium troops were hidden in the wood and their cavalry lancers were also concealed, with the main force behind the hill edge. (see the screenshot below for the terrain features).
Both armies undertook a limited advance - the long line of the Welsh moving towards the stream whilst the Arabs did likewise from the south, moving up to the edge of the high ground and the wood, whilst keeping concealed their cavalry. Despite having many superior combat troops, their commander (yours truly) was overly concerned about the streams effect on combat which actually was only limited to being "not open" and nothing worse.
In the skirmisher action the Welsh gained an advantage and this combined with the threatening advance of the extended Welsh left flank prompted the Arabs to action - descending from the heights and cautiously moving out their cavalry. Their superior infantry finally making a decisive attack on the enemy centre, but this was matched by the Welsh success against the Arab mediums emerging from the woods and also by the seeming relentless advance of the Welsh left.
With the battle at a climax, the issue was whether the Arabs could exploit their victory in the centre before their wings collapsed and the latter seemed the more likely outcome. However the sheer fighting power of the Arab infantry combined with the temporary survival of their almost surrounded left flank and the resilience of their lancer cavalry in the face of enemy armoured lancers backed up by supporting spear infantry made the difference.Thanks to Chris for a good, close and exciting game.
- Arab v Welsh End Turn.png (1009.1 KiB) Viewed 791 times
