Second run out Early Visigoths vs Malay

[grahambriggs]

A battle which tests out the resilience of large BGs and the changes to elephants.

The Goths were 3x12 average and 8 superior HF protected warband, 2x4 protected superior lancers. The Carpi added a BG of MF average warband, one of superior MF falxmen and one of LH. Also there were 4BGs of average LF. The Malays had 4 blocks of unprotected MF warband in 12s and 10s, 4 BGs of elephants, A rear support of unprotected bow MF, and a Chinese ally with 2 BGs of drilled cavalry.

Deployment was slightly offset. Centre was 2x12 HF warband three deep facing 2 BGs elephants (one in column) and 2x12 deep MF Warband.

The goth left was skirmishers plus the noble cavalry held back behind the centre. Opposite the Malays had a BG each of warband, elephants and cavalry.

The goth right was 2BGs of HF plus the 2 BGs MF of the carpi. The malays faced this with a single MF unit as a forlorn hoe. The kept the bowment as rear support to these to make them last longer and the better chinese cavalry in reserve.

There was a bit of 'wheel the army' going on to protect the weak flanks, but nothing outrageous. the battle was essentially a race as to who could capitalise on their flank andvantage plus what would happen in the centre.

In the centre, each Goth Wb got to fight elephants and MF Wb. The elephants 3 dice tipped the impacts, disrupting one of the Goth units. In melee the Goths are - vs elephants but + vs unprotected Malay foot. Generally, it was a draw for the Goths, elephants won a bit and Malay foot lost a bit. However, the Malay foot generals (TC and IC) kept them in the game since they rarely took the -1 for 1HP2B. the elephants were generally fine. Eventually one of the Malay foot broke and the other was disrupted and then the flanks resolved.

On the Goth right flank the malay folorn hope died but the Chinese cavalry flanked and broke one of the Goths following the pursuit. The Goth/Carpi eventually mobbed the cavalry and stormed the camp while rthe Malay archers moved away.

On the Goth left, the skirmishers were less effective than in V1. The Malays were heading to flank the centre so the noble Goth cavalry pitched in. The Malay foot shrugged of the charge and the elephants then got into a cavalry unit, stompe it and pursued into the camp. Meanwhile the brave Malay warband hit the flank of the goth centre and that took out both Goth units there.

We called it there: the Goths losing 10/13 and the Malays 8/11. Observations:

- skirmishers not very effective
- big units with IC and rear support are hard to break even if they are MF unprotected sword.
- undrilled turning with a general makes them more useful when the play breaks up.
- elephants are good at impact and the disruption that causes stops them exploding in melee a bit
- these armies might not be world beaters but they are now viable whereas in v1 they were an accident waiting to happen.

[Vespasian28]

Encouraging signs there for my Classical Indians, although they can't field BG's greater than 8.
I think you are right that a greater range of armies will get better in V2, not invincible but at least worth getting out of the box to put up a fight(dice permitting).

[timmy1]

Probably slightly less need for the CIs to be in 10s or 12s as the Bow have Swords

[Vespasian28]

True enough but the CI's need to contend with my die rolls so the -1 per 1HP2B is a godsend for my armies that can field 8+BG

[Scrumpy]

Interesting, always liked the elephants, but found they were too brittle, sounds like they could be fun in v2.