Plataea, My Way

photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

Matt drew up the Battle of Plataea to fight out on his table recently.  We used a hex grid and my Basic Impetvs variant.  Having fought gridded battles in other periods, Matt was ready to take the fight to the Greco-Persian Wars.  Matt tells his side of the story at, Battle of Plataea, 479BC.  Time to tell the battle account from the Persian perspective.

The battle begins with both armies deployed across the 6' x 4' table.  Each army is arrayed into three distinct wings.  I would command the Persian Army.  For the Persians, Theban Hoplites are deployed on the right wing.  Persian Immortals and much of the cavalry are deployed on the left.  The Persian center is occupied by an assortment of light troops.  The battlefield is effectively split by the Asopus Ridge.  Reinforcing one wing from the other will be impossible.  

Initial deployments
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

On to battle!

Matt points out the pride of the Spartan Army.
Would they rise to the challenge?

Battle begins on the Persian left.
Having won the initiative, the Immortals advance.
The Spartans counter.

Seizing the initiative, the Spartans attack!
Persian arrows cause some discomfort before the clash.

You win some; you lose some

but the Persians are winning more!
Two Spartan Hoplites are destroyed
as Persians splinter the Spartan line.

The Spartan right is tattered. 

The Immortals drive on!

With the battle seemingly decided on the Persian left,
 focus shifts to the right.  The armies advance.

Now within striking distance, the Greeks win
initiative and charge into the Thebans.

The Thebans fold like a cheap tunic!
With destruction everywhere, the Thebans take to flight.

Carnage continues on the Persian right.

Back against the Spartans,
mopping-up actions continue.
the Immortals know not what is befalling their right.

In a last ditch effort, Pausanius drives
 Persian horse back across the river
but the Spartan wing is destroyed.

Thebans are driven back.

With Spartans nowhere, Persians head for the ridge.

In hot pursuit of the fleeing Thebans,
the Greeks give no quarter. 

Hardly a Theban remains...

With the battle hanging in balance,
one attack will destroy a Great Army.
The Theban cavalry attacks a Hoplite rear!

The Thebans are repulsed,
 and a Great Army is destroyed.

Matt and his Spartans are victorious but only by a hair.

With the Battle Clock down to one point apiece, one more loss or retreat would bring either victory or defeat.  Unfortunately for my Persians, it brought defeat but only by the narrowest of margins.

This refight of Plataea resulted in one of the most closely contested fights I have seen in ages.  Victorious on the left, the Persians sensed victory could be theirs on this day.  The Greeks had other ideas, though.  Thoroughly dismantling the Thebans on the Persian right, the destruction was complete.

Congratulations to Matt for a well-played hand and a superb game.

One day, I would enjoy a rematch.