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Wednesday, December 21, 2022

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.    

34 comments:

  1. The tightness of the game tells its own tale, perfect for both players to get maximum enjoyment.

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    1. It was a close contest with tense moments throughout. Great fun!

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  2. A splendid game there, you have to love games that balance on a knife edge until................................

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    1. ...the knife slips and my right arm is severed!

      This was a great game, no doubt.

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  3. The Spartans were not up to the standards of The 300, obviously! They are going to be in trouble with their mothers, if they dare to return home at all! Your Thebans were obviously lacking motivation though....

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    1. My Thebans were definitely not up to the task at hand. The Greeks cut through them like a hot knife through butter.

      The Spartans have no fear from their mothers' wrath. All are dead on the field!

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  4. Great to see the battle from a different perspective, especially a close run battle like this

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    1. Seeing both sides of the story enlightens us all. Both accounts are very similar. That's good!

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  5. Congrats Matt!
    Great looking battle Gents!

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  6. The game certainly ebbed and flowed.

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    1. For my Persians, the battle flowed and then ebbed...

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  7. "Folded like a cheap tunic"...I'll have to remember that one πŸ˜€. Don't know the rules, but my sense is that it would be long odds for any unit to best a Spartan phalanx head on. Would be interesting to see how a rematch would run.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed my small attempt at humor.

      Long odds, perhaps, but Persian archers disordered some of the Spartans before they closed. The Immortals are pretty tough hombres themselves. I look forward to a rematch. Hope I get one.

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  8. Superb battle and interesting explanations Jonathan!

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  9. Ooooh! Very nice setup! I have always cherised palying some Command & Colors Ancients games with minis, but haven't really put myself to it.

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    1. The set up is Matt’s work. Commands & Colors is even better when played with miniatures.

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  10. Well the Spartans were a huge disappointment although I’m glad Pausanias survived to take the trophy back to Sparta. The sudden demise of both flanks was a surprise. A refight in 2023 seems appropriate πŸ‘

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    1. A refight sounds very good to me. I think I was more surprised by the sudden and complete collapse of the Thebans.

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  11. Great report, Jon. ⚔️⚔️ Many thanks πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌ

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  12. Definitely a game for the ages. I remember Matt's account and how close it was. These are always the best games.

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    1. This was a fun contest, for sure, Lawrence. I think Matt and I will remember this fight for a long time.

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  13. What a cracking game and closely fought too. Always good to have it come down to the wire at the end.

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    1. Steve, this battle was one of two halves, really. The Persians started off strong on the left but the Greeks came storming back on the right to claim victory.
      The decision came down to the wire and the very last point.

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  14. A real nail biter, the best kind with both sides happy.

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  15. Platea is such a classic battle of that period. It's very inspiring to see you playing this battle. Very nice style of telling the whole story too.

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    1. AndrΓ©, glad you enjoyed the battle report. Plataea is a classic. This outing may have been the first time I fought it.

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  16. "The Thebans fold like a cheap tunic!" Now that made me chuckle!!!

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  17. Brilliant game, I will have to give Impetus or Basic Impetus especially on a grid. I've always liked the sound of it but never got round to playing.

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    1. Thanks! Playing BI on a grid is an enjoyable exercise. Give it a try!

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