Initiative Roll and Set-Up
Alexander (being Inspired) gets +2 on the Initiative roll - so he promptly rolled a 1 (and set a pattern for the game). The new de-luxe dice tower was in play - and it almost went through a window at one stage! So Darius won the initiative and - after placing our scenery (for 'hilly' terrain) it was down to troop placement.
I stuck my prodomoroi out on the left flank (hoping to take on Russ' Saka Horse Archers) only to find out he'd taken the 'cavalry' option so my light lancers would need to make a CMT to charge them. Off to a good start...
The Macedonian lines
I then placed all my skirmishers together with a view to dilute the effect of Russ' massed archers and to smash them (with my Superior javelins in the middle) and then submit his heavy foot to missile fire.
Russ lined up his Horse Archers opposite my prodomoroi and his skirmishers opposite mine. I took a risk and placed the remainder of my cavalry on the left as well - but Russ decided to place one BG of Bactrian Heavy cavalry on his left and the rest facing mine - so potentially I could get numbers to bear.
The heavy foot on both sides lined up opposite each other and the first moves began.
Opening Moves
Russ immediately moved his horse archers and Persian Guard cavalry up onto my left flank and his archers and slingers moved forward to engage my skirmishers. He also decided to move his left-placed Bactrian heavy cavalry over to join the expected horse battle on my left - but they had to cross the battlefield to get there.
The Bactrian cavalry aim to move to the other side of the batttle as the skirmishers move in.
I moved my horses forward in turn - moving the prodomoroi towards Russ' light foot and to shadow the Horse Archers (and also create room for my heavy cavalry to move forward).
In the middle, there was an outbreak of missile fire as slings and arrows did battle.
The skirmishers start shooting
My policy of matching skirmishers paid off as Russ' massed arrows were distributed between 3BG's and so failed to make much impact (forcing a couple of cohesion tests but Alexander was close by...).
Similarly his horse archers had a pop but similarly did little to disrupt the flow.
I then charged his skirmishers en masse and they all evaded but there were a couple of close calls where I almost caught a couple of BG's in the rear.
The skirmishers charge - and the Persians evade.
The Bactrian Cavalry were now moving down Russ' battle line, holding up his advance slightly as my heavy foot moved forward.
As Russ' skirmishers got near to their own heavy foot, he decided to charge my skirmishers in turn. This is what I wanted (be careful of what you wish for!) as I thought my Superior javelinmen in the middle would turn the balance in my favour. Little did I know that Superior means 'can't hit a barn door!'
As the skirmish lines met, my slingers did well in forcing death rolls and cohesion tests on both skirmish flanks - but Russ passed these with ease. In the middle, the javelinmen were clearly tripping over their own feet, dropping their spears and generally being rubbish as they lost combat after combat. Not even Alexander's presence could keep these idiots in the fight.
My skirmishers start to fall apart
On my left, Russ decided my prodomoroi presented no threat and moved his horse archers towards the skirmish battle. I shadowed this move with my prodomoroi who had a chance to charge in the rear but is was just not worth it as the angle meant they could only get a ++ against one base and would still be 2 dice vs 2 (and with my dice throwing so far that probably meant a solid Persian victory).
The Macedonian cavalry get themselves lined up while the horse archers head away
The Macedonian skirmishers were being chopped to bits. Despite the + POA the javelinmen lost a base, as did the slingers on their right. Darius watched fromm his chariot with a big grin on his face. This was quite serious as it meant that Russ could get skirmish numbers attacking my heavy foot.
The Macedonian heavy foot therefore moved up to support the melee as best they could - just by being close mainly). But it was no good - the slingers went disrupted and lost another base. It was looking grim for Macedon.
The Middle Battle
On the left, the Persian cavalry were in good order but with the Horse Archers moving away and the other BG of Bactrian Heavy Cavalry still a way off (and now with the horse archers between them and any horsey action) Alexander decided to strike.
With 2 commanders in close attandance the Agema (Companian) Cavalry and the Superior Thessalian cavalry charged the other Bactrian Heavy and Persian Guard cavalry. Crucially, the Average Thessalian Cavalry were also in the mix - and their presence would soon be felt.
The Macedonian cavalry decide to charge...
...while the Bactrian cavalry and Horse Archers are otherwise engaged.
In the skirmishing battle the right BG of Macedonian slingers lost more bases and Autobroke - causing cohesion tests on all BG's nearby. Luckily these were passed (Alexander strikes again) except by the useless javelinmen who went Fragmented. I had the chance to get Alexander to join and bolster them but thought his presence would be better served in the main event so he just let the useless idiots get on with it.
Javelinmen - useless.
Back on the left the Macedonians charged in - and the crappy dice throwing continued. Russ was throwing hits for fun and the Macedonians - despite superior numbers - were doing no damage to the Persian cavalry. Indeed, the Agema themselves dropped to Disrupted after another shocking dice performance.
The Horse Archers and second BG of Bactrian Cavalry lined themselves up to wipe out the remaining skirmishers and my light horse.
The Macedonian skirmishers crumble as the Persian horse run in.
The only bright spot for Macedon at this stage was that my leftmost skirmishers were actually winning their melee and taking bases off the Persians.
Meanwhile one BG of archers - having disposed of my slingers - were now peppering my Greek hoplites with arrows (thankfully for little effect). His second BG of archers were having similar ideas - they just had to polish off the useless javelinmen. This was done in good order and the Macedonians now had a huge hole where 2BG of skirmishers had run away.
The hole left by the rubbish skirmishers
At the same moment though, the Persian slingers gave up the ghost and autobroke. Russ' dice throwing was impeccable and his BG's carried on regardless. It wasn't looking good for the Macedonians!
This was especially true as the cavalry were having a torrid time. The Agema had dropped to Fragmented in no time and a commander had to join them to bolster. Luckily the dice started to improve - slightly. The Superior Thessalians managed to get the Bactrian's Disrupted and took a base off them, but the Persian Guard cavalry were taking on all comers and winning.
The Agema go Fragmented but at least don't lose a base.
Luckily though the Average Thessalians could join the melee in an overlap position and the Horse Archers charged the prodomoroi - and got a nasty shock. The light lancers got the horse archers Disrupted - meaning thiey were fighting on pretty equal terms.
The other Bactrian cavalry BG charged the slingers (who evaded) and went straight into the pikes (and the hypaspists were trapped behind the prodomoroi and couldn't intervene.
Bactrian cavalry impact on the pikes and the horse archers charge the prodomoroi.
In turn the hoplites and the other pikes decided to charge the archers pinging at them and by doing so would impact on the hoplites facing them.
In the horsey battle the Bactrians lost another base but were bolstered back up to normal.
The other Bactrian cavalry were finding it tough going against the pikes and soon got Disrupted themselves. We forgot to 'bounce' the cavalry off the foot and as a result they stayed in contact.
So all the Persian cavalry were now Disrupted except one - time to turn the screw.
Endgame
The hoplites and pike steamed into the Persian hoplites. There were overlaps on both sides but the Macedonians had the upper hand and took a base and Disrupted the Persians.
On the left the Bactrian cavalry were hanging on and drawing conflicts against incredible odds. But the Persian Guard cavalry finally went Fragmented as the extra numbers told. The Agema had finally been bolstered to Disrupted.
The prodomoroi unluckily lost another base and so Broke.
The prodomoroi break and the horse archers move to support the guard cavalry.
This meant that the Horse Archers could finally engage the opposing cavalry and fed into the melee to try and save the Guard cavalry. But the prodomoroi breaking meant that the Hypaspists could get within stabbing distance.
In the middle, the pikes polished off the Bactrian cavalry and moved forward to engage the hoplites, who were overlapping the other pike.
Back where the horses fought, the Horse Archers went Fragmented as a result of the Bactrian rout - so could only add 2 dice to the melee. But the Bactrians and Persian Guard were down to 50% strength and Fragmented (1 dice each) agaist 4 dice and the Agema now overlapping. Even with my bad dice rolling it was likely that the entire horse BG's would go.
8 hits - ouch!
The cavalry finally managed to break the Persian Guard and the Bactrians went down to 1 base (finally) meaning an Autobreak there. This would leave the Fragmented Horse Archers against three intact horse BG's - a likely loss.
At that point the landlady popped in to tell us to pack up!
Conclusion
A close run thing. I was very unlucky at the start and Russ was at the finish. The key was having superiority of numbers in horses on the left - Russ thought that leaving the Bactrians on his left was a mistake.
Similarly, diluting the archers was a good move, although they did wipe out 2BG's in the melee. I may think about reducing skirmisher numbers and trying more javelins next time.
But it was a brutal battle. I lost 3BG and came close to losing my best units (the Agema). Only timely intervention by the Thessalians saved them. In return, Russ had lost his slingers, his Guard cavalryand 1 BG of Bactrian cavalry. The Persian hoplites and horse archers were also Fragmented - so the Macedonians could just about claim victory.
But with all his horse in one place, it may have been a very different outcome. If my Agema had gone, then its likely the horse would have been defeated - and by consequence the battle.
Still, a very enjoyable evening and (I think) Russ will get his revenge next week!