King vs Pharaoh

After two run-outs of the chariots with The Rejects, another of the regular remote groups stepped up to the plate for a Wednesday contest.  While this group saw action in the Punic Wars' battles a few week's ago, Wednesday's action would be their first exposure to commanding chariots on the open battlefield.  

The two armies would be as in the prior two games featuring an Egypt vs Hatti clash.  We had four players scheduled but Chris had to drop out at last minute due to illness.  That left the two David's and Mark to take up the reins.  David B. (DB) would command the Hittite Army while David C. (DC) and Mark would split command of the Egyptian Army.  DC would take the role of Pharaoh with Mark commanding the left wing comprised of mostly Kushites. 

Mark's Kushites

DC's Egyptians

DB's Hittite Army

Armies arrayed for battle.

Let's see how the battle played out.

The battle opens with both armies closing the distance to the enemy.  While the Hittites bring their chariots up, the Egyptians hold their chariots back.  The Kushites begin working their skirmishers out and around the Hittite Right.

Pharaoh advances his infantry.

Hittite Left moves out.

The Hittite Right rolls forward too. 

As the two Hittite chariots on the left move up, they attract skirmisher fire.  The lead chariot is disordered.  One of the Hittite chariots on the right veers off toward the center.  Will the weight of the Hittite chariotry fall heavily upon Pharaoh? 

Skirmishers harass Hittite chariots.

A third Hittite chariot peels off to threaten Pharaoh.

Intent on dispersing Egyptian skirmishers shielding the main battle line, the lead Hittite chariot charges in.  Loosing arrows going in, Pharaoh's skirmisher in the path is driven back by the hard-charging Hittite.  Although weakened, the skirmisher does not break but falls back to the main battle line.  The Hittite pursues and crashes into the Egyptian battle line.  The massed archers to the left of the skirmishers shoot into the chariot causing more damage.  Already nearing exhaustion, the lead chariot cannot break the enemy line.  It pulls away in search of safety.

Hittite chariot charges in.

One Hittie chariot repulsed as a second one goes in!

Seeing the chariot to his left repulsed, the second Hittite chariot goes in against the second skirmisher.  Again, the enemy skirmisher is driven off as it falls back through its lines.  The Hittite continues on in pursuit striking the enemy battle line.  In a brief clash, he too fails to break through the enemy line.  He wheels about and heads for the rear.   

Second Hittite chariot repulsed!

Witnessing the turning back of the enemy to the Pharaoh's front, the Kushite brings up one of his two chariots to deal with the third enemy chariot in the center. Releasing a barrage of arrows as he closes, the enemy is overpowered.  The Kushite sends the enemy chariot limping back toward its own line, severely damaged.  Possibly knowing that this is the last action of the turn, the Kushite chooses not to pursue.  The turn ends.

The Kushite chariot strikes

but does not pursue.

With the start of a new turn, Pharaoh wins the initiative!

Note: In many of the previous games, DC has endured a string of some of the worst luck of the dice I have seen.  In this battle, DC's prior misfortunes are forgotten as Pharaoh dishes out punishment while winning crucial initiative rolls.

Having won the initiative, Pharaoh turns over command to the Kushite for the first activation.  Mark wastes no time in following up with (essentially) a double move.

The Kushite chariot, in the center, catches the retreating enemy chariot and quickly dispatches it.  This time, the Kushite pursues.  Pursuit carries the chariot into another Hittite chariot.  Like his comrade before, he is sent toward the rear.  Still the Kushite pursues.  Pursuit carries him into an enemy javelin unit.  The enemy buckles before him and runs, carrying away a unit caught in its path of retreat.  Slicing like a hot knife through butter, the Kushite carries on his rampage.  His pursuit allows him to catch up to the retreating enemy chariot.  Hit from behind, the enemy disperses.  Much of the Hittite center is gone and the battle line split!

The Kushite drives into the enemy line.

Opens up a hole...

and drives deep into enemy battle line.

With much of the Hittite Right in shambles, Pharaoh orders his wing of chariots to attack!  Like the parting of the Red Sea, Egyptian spearmen move out of the way to allow the chariots to pass.

Pharaoh's lead chariot catches the enemy from behind and destroys it.  Without wasting any time, the second Hittite chariot becomes the focus of pursuit.  With a similar fate to its compatriot, this Hittite chariot, caught from behind, is dispatched.  The Hittite Left is wide open.  

Another Hittite chariot bites the dust.

And another one goes!

The Hittite Left is no more.

The Hittite King's Army is teetering on the brink of destruction.  Still, he chooses to see if the situation can be salvaged.  Ordering spearmen forward, he attacks the enemy only to be repulsed.  The battle is over.

Trying to stabilize the Hittite Center fails.

The King is without an army!

Incredible.

Impressive victory by the Pharaoh and his Kushite ally.  The Egyptian Army tore apart the Hittites leaving the enemy chariotry in tatters.  The fighting was over in under three hours.  

Great job to Pharaoh David and Mark in their spectacular victory.  My condolences to King David in the defeat of his Hittite Army.

What are the players first impressions of chariot warfare?  I await dispatches from the field.  Great fun to watch this exciting battle unfold.  Thanks fellas!

Another refight of this battle is scheduled for later today in a F2F match up.