Thursday 2 August 2018

Basic Impetus 2 - BIMP3 Greeks vs Macedonians





As promised a 'Chaeronea' style re-fight.  The Macedonians face off against the Athenians, Pike vs Hoplite.  On paper Hoplite elements have a slight VBU advantage over Pike elements.  The table was set up to represent a valley, flat area flanked either side by higher ground only accessible by skirmishes, light infantry & light cavalry.

Spav took the Athenians & laid out straight battle line across the table.  My first mistake, as instead of creating Large Pike Units, I tried to match the Athenians, hindsight is wonderful..  Anyway the Macedonians had the edge in Cavalry I placed the Heavies & Medium Cavalry on my left flank.  The Macedonian Light Cavalry & some Skirmishers on the right.


The view across the field from the Macedonian side.

The Athenian right flank....

...& the left.

The powerful Macedonian left.

Macedonian right flank.

Plus the Macedonian 'Light' option on the far right.

We're off! The Athenians charge full steam ahead, however Spav staggers his right flank,
mindful of the Macedonian Cavalry.

I'm happy on the match up this side of the table.
Beat those Light troops & swing around...

Nice overview.

Again, another game were I over estimate the power of javelin armed light troops.
The Macedonian Peltasts were very poor.

Heavy armed Infantry smash into each other...

MA-CE-DON!!!

The opening clashes are mixed bags... This Athenian element is reduced to one VBU. 

Slight advantage to Athens...

The Athenian Hoplite Steamroller...


The Macedonian Allied Hoplites performed well..

BACK! Macedonian Peltasts retreat...



The Skirmishers then evade...
Peg it Lads!!!!

First Blood to Athens!

The Macedonian Allied Hoplites force the Athenians back. 

Three units onto two units...

Spav retreats the battered Athenian Hoplites,
denying me the victory points... 

It's a 'wavy' battle line....


This clash took ages...zzzzzz

MMmm.. I curse my initial line up as the Macedonian Medium Cavalry hit first...


MA-CE-DON!!!!!

zzzzzzzzz......

The Athenian Cavalry force back the Macedonians....

Decisions... Decisions...Movement... Movement...
I know what I want to happen!! 

The other flank is chaotic as well.


Spav goes for glory & in go his Cavalry!

About face...!!!
An Athenian Hoplite unit is sent to bolster the right flank.

The future is bleak for the Macedonian Lights, pinned between Hoplites & the end of the table....

BOOOM!!! The Macedonian Cavalry wins through..

However the Athenian Heavies keep pace.

Overview of the centre...

Movement... Movement... Movement...
Swing the Macedonians around & batter the Athenian centre....

Huzzah!!! Finally...

It's a standoff in the centre.  No sixes there...

Just finish them off...!!!

Hurrah!


Initiative won.. Onto the other unit...

The Athenian Reinforcements clash into the Macedonian Allied Hoplites....

It's a legal combat.

The full strength Athenian Hoplite unit finally destroys the Macedonian Phalanx.
The game is still too close to call.

Oh dear... It's not looking good here.  Four hits to Woo!!

Cohesion Test... A one & a pass.  In your face Spav, BoB On!

Finally, the Macedonian heavies get into a position to attack!

Overview...  Typical of a Basic Impetus game....


A splendid sight,  the Macedonians swing round into the Athenian centre...

In go the Heavies..!

Poor combat results, the Athenians are sent into retreat.
We weren't sure of this one, so we retreated the Hoplites in the face of the enemy.
Allowing the Macedonians to pursue...

If I could get this attack right, the game would be over...


The Heavies go in again....

Meanwhile the Heavy Infantry clash again...


The poor Athenian Hoplites are now surrounded.

VICTORY!!!!
MA-CE-DON!!!!!!

The final battlefield...  That was brutal..
Strangely, not an enjoyable game.  However it did answer a lot of questions with Basic Impetus.  My initial set-up was poor, I played straight into Spav's hands.  Phalanx units NEED to be placed into Large Units, it's as simple as that.   I misplaced my Cavalry, especially the Heavies.  You need a straight line between you & our enemy units.  Manouvre was  a big problem in this game, it took a long time to re-position the units.  We both agreed that we are 'used' to DBx mechanics, which are easier on movement.   

Posts are going to be a bit sparse, it's summer & we are both off on different paths at the moment.  Painting armies is also a 'no go' at the moment.  This horrible hot UK weather is killing me,  I'm an odd bod,  I enjoy cold rainy weather...

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