Chariot Wars, Rematch

After last Monday's contest with The Rejects (see Chariot Wars!), they all agreed that a replay on the following Monday would be fun.  Having only been introduced to Basic Impetvs in that game, this week's game provides a chance to reinforce what was learned.  Perhaps, an opportunity to experiment with different tactics may come up as well. 

All five Rejects attended but only four actively participated.  Given the loss of one player, commands were shifted.  Surjit jumped over to the Hittite Army taking command of the Left Wing.  Lee took sole command of the Egyptian Left.  As in Game #1, Ray commanded the Egyptian Right while Richard commanded the Hittite Right.

Two armies arrayed for battle.

In last week's game, both armies led with their chariots and soon the battlefield was littered with destroyed chariots.  The great loss in the mobile arm of both armies brought a quick end to the battle.  Would the players learn from this experience and alter their tactics?  Let's find out.

Both armies started with a different approach from the last game.  While chariots on the Egyptian Left and Hittite Right advance with the battle lines, chariotry on the other wings remain motionless.  Hmm.  Is each army planning to hold some chariots back in reserve?  Not for long!  The Hittite chariots on the Left Wing begin to move forward.  

Chariots on one wing trot off toward the enemy
while chariots on the other wing remain stationary.

Hittite chariots on the left remain in reserve...

but then strike off.

On the Egyptian Left and Center, the bow-centric Egyptian army moves into effective bow range.  The Hittite battle line is pelted with arrows from both skirmishers and massed archers.  Much of the Hittite Right is thrown into disorder.   Annoyed by the presence of these bowmen, the Hittite chariots attack!  In an act of extreme bravely or absurd foolishness, two Egyptian skirmishers fail to evade the oncoming war cart.  Sometimes fortune favors the foolhardy.  Already disordered coming in, the skirmishers succeed in driving off one of the enemy chariots.  

The second Hittite chariot charges into a body of massed bowmen.  The bowmen deliver a punishing volley of arrows into the attackers but the unwavering Hittites come on.  Maintaining its momentum, the chariot hits the bowmen and sends the defenders scurrying through their line to the rear.  Hot in pursuit, the Hittite chariot crashes into the waiting Egyptian second line.  This time, the Egyptian line stands firm.  In a bloody melee, the unsupported Hittite chariot fails to break through.  It turns around and races for the rear.  Its work is done for the day.  In a matter of minutes, the Hittite chariot arm on the right is destroyed.       

Egyptian bowmen harass the Hittite battle line.

With one Hittite chariot driven off,
the second charges in.

That chariot, too, is driven off.

Seeing his chariotry on the right give way, the Hittite King gallops into action.  With the Egyptian Center weakened from the clashes moments before, the Hittite King strikes!  Hitting the Egyptians before they have time to recover, the King puts the Egyptians to flight.  Destroying infantry as he passes through the line, the King sets his sight onto the Egyptian camp.  In a series of successful melees and pursuits, the Hittite King cuts through the entire enemy line to sack the camp.  

The Hittite King rips through the Egyptian line... 

and sacks the enemy camp.

With the center torn apart and his camp destroyed, Pharaoh attempts to stabilize the situation.  On the Egyptian Left, one chariot attacks a body of infantry but is badly repulsed.  On the Egyptian Right, infantry and chariots advance toward the enemy behind a skirmish screen.  The Pharaoh, himself, turns his cart around and he is off in pursuit of the Hittite King.

Egyptian chariot attacks and is repulsed.

Egyptian Right moves forward
 behind a skirmisher screen.

Pharaoh goes after the Hittite King!

Egyptian skirmishers along with massed archers soften up the Hittite line.  The Egyptians await the right moment to strike.  In the Egyptian Rear, the exhausted Hittite King is caught by the hard-charging Pharaoh.  In a few minutes, the King has been dispatched and the Pharaoh turns back toward the main battle.

As word of the King's demise spreads, the Egyptian chariots on the right strike!  In a series of melees, the Hittite Left is torn apart.  The two chariots on the Hittite Left are put to flight.  With the King dead and the Hittite Left destroyed, this battle is over.  

Hittites endure preparatory missile fire.

Having dispatched the Hittite King,
Pharaoh turns back to main battle.

The Hittite Left crumbles!

Victory to the Egyptians!

Again, the battle hung in balance until the end with fortunes sometimes swinging violently back and forth.  The King's gallop through the Egyptian lines looked decisive.  Until it was not.  Over-extended and unsupported, the King found himself in a pickle.

Egyptian chariots in hot pursuit!

The battle could have easily swung in the Hittite's favor but, today, it was not too be.  The loss of their King and the destruction of both wings of chariotry was too much to overcome.

Congratulations to Ray and Lee for an impressive victory.  My condolences to Richard and Surjit in a victory lost.  Another exciting game on the plains of the Near East.

Besides an engaging game that was over in under three hours, the players, I suspect, may walk away with a little more understanding of the rules and how to wield the weapons at their disposal.

Thanks, fellas, that was great fun!