216 BC World Cup

[Janohito]

Div B

Janohito using Gallic forces defeated ZeCid playing as Pergamene troops. Final score 58-25.

The map had 2 hills and a valley between them with plenty of forests and rough patches on the hills. Gauls deployed with cavalry on both flanks while Pergamene preferred to concentrate their cavalry on the right flank. Their infantry line was anchored with superior warbands and medium spearmen holding in rough patches. Since Gauls had an advantage in infantry, they advanced while holding still on the right flank with their cavalry. While Pergamene infantry line started to fold under numerical advantage of Gallic warbands, their cavalry managed to drive away Gallic nobles and flank and crush several warbands. The hero of the battle was a single unit of superior warband that held for a few turns while flanked against 3 superior lancers, allowing noble cavalry to catch up and flank Xystophoroi instead.
In the end, Pergamene superior warbands were flanked and destroyed along with their supporting infantry and that was enough for Gauls to claim victory.

[Karvon]

Group A

Karvon - Parthian 250 BC- - 225 AD defeated anderarcos11 - Ptolemaic 217-167 BC 44-19 for 3 pts.

We were less than thrilled when we arrived at the battlefield. The Ptolemaics were encamped beside the sea which cut off a third of the field. Furthermore, a chain of three large field complexes spread across their side, one on each extreme flank and one squarely in the center, leaving two uncomfortable narrow alleys between them.

We deployed a mix division of horse archers on each wing supported by a division of our cataphracts. Our division of light foot we deployed on our far right to help clear the opposing field complex. We rather expected the Ptolemaics to deploy against the sea and extend to the central fields complex. Our plan was to demonstrate on our left to hold the main body of his army in place while our right encircled and focused fire to wear down and break his left flank in and around the central field complex. Once the right was engaged, we'd shift our left to support and exploit.

The Ptolemaics deployed about as expected with their infantry massed extending from the sea towards the center and their cavalry covering their left flank. A couple of elephants supported the line and a few lights screened the front of the infantry, so we began by following our basic plan. However, as there were just a few light horse opposing us on right, I decided to shift my light foot division to the far left to counter the enemy light foot My mixed horse archer division on the right swept up to and around the central field complex and began to harass his waiting cavalry, a mix of lancers, light spear and a camel. A bit of shooting disrupted several units and he charged along the line trying to run down or run off my horse archers. We, in turn, abandoned the left and marched our horse archers to come in on the flanks and rear of the advancing center and left. He then began to shift his infantry left to further support his horse more closely.

This initially, only opened his units up to more concentrated fire and we saw off several of these fairly quickly with some light horse sent after to pursue them to destruction. In particular, we focused fire on the elephants who surged into range and they didn't last too long and disrupting one or two other units at their demise. My cataphracts moved up and some finished off his disordered cavalry and the others deployed to pin his advancing pikes. Our horse archers continued swirling around his foot threatening flanks and diverting units in various directions, breaking down the integrity of his line.

Our light foot division, after aiding in seeing off the elephants in the center, continued their march to the far left where his remaining lights were screening some heavy artillery. With the support of a couple of horse archers, we broke these up and chased the survivors into the far corner and eventual destruction.

As a result of his charges, the action was now mostly beyond the field complexes where the ground was very open and as some of his infantry were isolated, we could focus fire on those and then close in and break them down with repeated flank attacks. We did have to sacrifice a few units, but we took out several of his pikes in this manner and that led to the break of the Ptolemiac army.

[angusosborne]

Nice battle reports.

[random27]

Group D

random27 (cathaginian) defeats mberisso (galatian) 63-46

the center of galatian army was full of superior warbands , and nothing in the carthaginian army was supposed to rivalize with them , but the two wings of carthaginian army , composed by elephants , cavalry and skirmishers destroyed the wings of galatian and come after to finish the batlle

Thanks for a good game

[tyronec]

tyronec Thracian (Triballi) defeats Bodhran Thracian (Getae) 60-49.
Total chaos which swung both ways, with a couple of turns left the Triballi managed a small lead.

[Janohito]

Div B

Janohito using Gallic forces drew against Markeslie's Spartan troops. Final score 58-42.

This was an epic battle, going down the wire with only spartan determination keeping them from defeat in the final turn.

Map was dominated by a huge hill with rough ground on the top and steep slopes - certainly not an ideal fighting ground for both Gallic superior warbands and Spartan pikeman. Unfortunately for Gauls, Spartans held an advantage in numbers of medium troops so it was decided to leave the hill to them, instead trying to utilize Gallic cavalry on the flanks.

During maneuvering phase of battle, Spartan skirmishers proved to be not only superior in numbers, but also held an advantage in quality and managed to mostly rout Gallic opposition. Spartan heavy phalanxes were spotted on their left flank so Gallic forces redeployed to meet them on even ground. Due to unmaneuverable nature of warbands, a few of them got caught near the slopes on central hill, fighting bravely against thureophoroi. But already the first round of battle brought the death of overall Commander in chief of Gallic forces, disrupting Gallic lines.

Gallic cavalry operating on the Spartan right flank found 3 pikeman units hiding in the swamp as ambush force. Those units in the end played a negligible role in the battle since it took them most of the battle to get to the Gallic lines. At the time, Gallic center was under constant threat of collapse due to flanking, but thanks to the superior numbers, Gaulls managed to fill the gaps, flank advancing pikeman and in the end overwhelm Spartan main forces, but not without heavy casualties.

When all seemed lost for spartans with their lines collapsing, a single cavalry unit managed to save the day by charging into exposed flanks of several warbands one after another, helping to stall Gallic offense. Together with several routing units rallying, it proved to be enough for Spartans to hold onto nightfall.

Still the last few turns of battle proved to be suspenseful since Gallic warbands made one last charge against ambushing pikeman force who finally made to the battlefield. Gallic troops managed to kill the commander and rout one of the pikeman units with another being reduced to fragmented status, but it withstand the final attack and thus Spartans managed to leave the battlefield on the nightfall securing a draw.

[tyronec]

tyronec Thracian (Triballi) defeats angusosborne Syracusan 51-26.
Picked warbands rule OK !

[markleslie]

Div B

Janohito using Gallic forces drew against Markeslie's Spartan troops. Final score 58-42.

An addendum to convey the gravity of the Spartan position at nightfall.

Janohito nightfall 2.jpg (688.43 KiB) Viewed 1109 times

[markleslie]

Group B

markleslie Spartan 221-146 BC defeats ZeCid Pergamene 262-191 BC 60-34.

From the Spartan POV (any relation to actual events is entirely coincidental).

Given the deficiency of mounted in the Spartan army, and an attempt to wrong foot our opponent, we avoided the obvious choice of anchoring our flank on the sea and deployed to the extreme right. Skirmishers strung out along the front (perhaps too strung out), alternating Pikemen and Thureophoroi made up the front line with each flank having a sizable contingent of more Thureophoroi trailing, our lone average cavalry lurking in the rear.

The eastern Barbarians positioned themselves in a line running north of the BUA and rough in the centre up onto the smaller hill to the east. The Pergamene right
of five Xystophoroi butted up to their centre Thureophoroi behind the rough and Thureophoroi and warband extending up onto the hill with two artillery in support. Their left the two Noble Cavalry and three Light Javelin Horse and, of course, bloody Light Foot everywhere along the front.

The Spartans immediately advanced over the larger hill and down the other side, throwing our right wing Thureophoroi out towards the map edge to block mounted flankers. The left wing Thureophoroi slowly strung out as the front advanced to delay the inevitable Xystophoroi in the rear disease.

The superior warband with generals proved to be a major hurdle that seemed only surmountable when flanked and my line, particularly on the left being strung out further and further to prevent envelopment. The Pergamene mounted on both flanks did eventually get around or through my flanks but too late to threaten my rear and alter the outcome of the central meat grinder that was falling more and more into disjointed chaos..

The enemy lose heart.

ZeCid end game..jpg (978.01 KiB) Viewed 1108 times

[deeter]

Group D

Deeter (Carthaginian) defeats mberisso (Galatian) 62-39

The battlefield featured an impassible river on one flank with a rough patch nearby and little else. The impressive Galatian army deployed a mass of superior warbands with strong cavalry forces on each wing along with only two chariots. Carthage deployed its infantry in a line extending from the river inland and all its cavalry (heavy and light) on the open flank. A fierce cav charge took care of the Galatian right wing while its left began a series futile charges the infantry.

Seeing their cavalry in retreat, the Galatian infantry launched a furious charge no doubt hoping to break the enemy line before the enemy cav could intervene. Although partly successful, their bloody work was interrupted by the victorious Carthaginian cav.

Deeter

[deeter]

Group D

Deeter (Carthaginian) defeats mberisso (Galatian) 62-39

The battlefield featured an impassible river on one flank with a rough patch nearby and little else. The impressive Galatian army deployed a mass of superior warbands with strong cavalry forces on each wing along with only two chariots. Carthage deployed its infantry in a line extending from the river inland and all its cavalry (heavy and light) on the open flank. A fierce cav charge took care of the Galatian right wing while its left began a series futile charges the infantry.

Seeing their cavalry in retreat, the Galatian infantry launched a furious charge no doubt hoping to break the enemy line before the enemy cav could intervene. Although partly successful, their bloody work was interrupted by the victorious Carthaginian cav.

Deeter

[Questar17]

Group B

Questar17 Seleucid 300-206 BC beats ZeCid Pergamene 262-191 BC 43:16

thank you for the good game

[anderarcos11]

I have lost all the battles I have played but I only see 1 report.

[markleslie]

If you want to play that game, information is power.

Of course if your like me I blame my tools, perhaps another army choice would have served you better.

[Dreddradish]

Group A

Dreddradish (Greek) defeats Aanderacros11 (Ptolemaic) 40 - 7

With both sides taking up positions on opposite hills a wide flanking move by the Greeks drew out some of the Ptolemaic phalanxes where they were surrounded and defeated.

[Holien]

Group C

Holien Roman 219-200 BC Defeated Bodhran Thracian (Getae) 62% to 41%

The Terrain favoured the Roman forces with a good hill / plateau on which to deploy. The Thracian force deployed many skirmishers to attempt to force the Romans off the hill and the first stage of the battle saw the Romans advance and deal with the skirmish threat. Both sides kept forces hidden and ultimately the Roman numbers over came the Thracians hidden in the trees, but at a great cost. Well done to Bodhran who made the best use of the poor terrain for his side.

[Holien]

Group C

Holien Roman 219-200 BC Defeated Angusosbourne Syracusan 280-211 BC 60% to 37%

The battle of two hills, the Romans had the more favourable terrain with a good hill plateau to take before the Syracusan could advance there. The initial skirmish favoured the Roman forces but this advantage was short lived as the Syracusan forces advanced and secured their left flank on a good hill. The battle was ultimately won when that hill was overcome and the left flank collapsed and fled. It was looking like beyond all odds the Romans would gain a 25% advantage but a last minute rally just knocked it below the threshold. A good game for both sides with opportunities for both generals to shine and fail in equal measure.

All games now complete and congratulations to Tyronec who is through to the next round and no doubt the final. Thanks to Angus for running the tourney and I wish I had paid better attention to the points scoring rules as I should have changed my play style a bit, especially against Tyronec.

[tyronec]

tyronec Thracian (Triballi) defeats Holien Roman 58-13.
The battle was fought over a river which gave the Thracians something of an advantage.

[Questar17]

Group B

Questar17 Seleucid 300-206 BC beats markleslie Spartan 221-146 BC 57:30

The battle was tough and entertaining enough, veteran pikes vs spartan pikes duel.

The map was very rough with hills on the left flank and in center with a valley on right flank. having few mid infantry and few skirmishers i decided to leave them to protect a hill in the center and a path from left flank, while all main troops (phalanx, lancers) were deployed in the valley on the right flank. markleslie started to attack the center by skirmishers and medium infantry + moving a lot of troops on left flank.
When my main troops walked around the central hill from the right towards opponents pikes on left side after the hill. So here started a clash of phalanx while my troops on the hill headed by veteran pike was making resistance vs lots of medium infantry. Because of quality superiority + lancers i broke almost all opponents phalanx while my unique init veteran pike with general being severally disorganized mantained a hill in the center.

Very good game

Thx

[angusosborne]

Group C

Holien Roman 219-200 BC Defeated Angusosbourne Syracusan 280-211 BC 60% to 37%

All games now complete and congratulations to Tyronec who is through to the next round and no doubt the final. Thanks to Angus for running the tourney and I wish I had paid better attention to the points scoring rules as I should have changed my play style a bit, especially against Tyronec.

We have our first two qualifiers for the quarter-finals (Questar17 and tyronec) and our first group winner - congratulations tyronec!

The second qualifier for Group C is still wide open. I think that if I win (under this tournament rules) I go through. If Bodhran wins, or draws inflicting more than 45 points of losses they qualify, but otherwise Holien will qualify.

In Group B the Group winner will depend on the result of the battle between Janohito and Questar17. Questar17 only needs to draw to win the group, and Janohito only needs to inflict 17% points in any result to qualify, and will win the group with a win. Otherwise markleslie qualifies. Sadly ZeCid is eliminated and will play in the consolation quarter-final.