FOG 800pts Galatian vs Alexandrian Macedonian

FOG game today using my Galatians vs Stephens Macedonians

Good game with very few rules queries (FOG definately scores highly in this respect)

Galatian Foot slogged it out with Pikes and eventually were ground down.

If Celts dont win at Impact they are fighting disadvantage for all (most) ensuing Melee phase (ie 5s vs 4s) and will be ground down.

Elite Agema cavalry with a General in front rank fighting are mean re-rolling 1-3s !

FOG does not really have an equivalent to Warband or IrrA or Firece trrops of other sets.

Galatians seemed quite impotent/diluted compared to other sets, not sure if this is good or bad ??

FOG 800pts Early Bulgar vs Abbasid Arab

FOG game with Stephen

My Early Bulgars vs Abbasids

Game essentially hinged on my charging 4 BGs of Lancers into 3 units of Defensive Spear MF and losing awfully. Lancers not potent at all vs such foot as they lose Lance vs steady Spear who also get +POA for being steady. So Lancers who need to win Impact are at disadvantage only becoming equal in Melee.

Much different interaction than in DBMM wherein KnF can 'take on' SpO/I more readily. FOG much like 7th Ed

Still fun game with lots of action. Again the rules proved their strength of writing as all queries easily answered in rulebook (once you find relevant rule).

Still think Dbmm has more depth but at cost of more complication....................

FOG 800pts Sassanid Persian vs Dominate Roman

FOG game today vs Stephen

Using my Sassanid vs his Late Romans.

Sassanid

1 FC

2 TC

2 BG of 6 Armd/Supr HC Bow/Swd

2 BG of 4 Armd/Supr HC Bow/Swd

1 BG of 4 LH Unprot/Avg Bow

1 BG of 4 Cat HArmd Lance/Swd

1 BG of 6 LF Unprot/Abg Bow

1 BG of 6 MF Unprot/Avg Bow

1 BG of 6 MF Prot/Avg Lr Spr

1 BG of 8 MF Mob/Poor LtSpr

2 BG of 2 Elephants

Romans (estimated)

1 FC

2TC

4 BG of 4 Legionaries with 2 LF Bow

2 BG of 4 MF Auxulia with 2 LF Bow

1 BG of 4 Cataphracts

1 BG of 6 MF Archers

2 BG of 4 LH Jav

2 BG of 4 Cav Lt Spr

1 BG of 4 Slingers

1 BG of 6 LF Javelin

Persian gained initiative and used Developed terrain with a River on left flank. My compulsory village ended up on Roman left edge and all other terrain ended up in my half with a small GH near river and my left bunged with large Enclose Field, a Vineyard and a Plantation.

Romans deployed with Legions massed in centre flanked by Aux on left with Archers and slingers and Cataphracts to their right with a BG of LH providing support to rear. Roman right comprised 2 BG of Cav with a BG of LH and BG of LF archers.

Sassanid placed an ambush of LF archers in the enclosed field with Hillmen in plantation also in ambush.

The MF archers deployed in the enclosed field with Levy. The Clibanarii deployed centrally with Cataphracts and on Persian. To their left the 2 BG of elephants were arrayed with a BG of LH on the GH with BG of Clibinarii behind.

Initial moves saw the Romans advance all along the line and Persians essentially matching them.

On Persian left and exchange of missiles between the LH saw the Persians go fragmented without losses and then evade Roman charge (they played no further part in proceddings ) Persian Cav charged with a General into oppossing Cav with their general and several rounds on inconclusive fighting ensued (Romans lost a base and went disrupted but recovered) with Roman LH charging ineffectually into Persian flank.

The Elephants charged the oppossing Roman LF and narrowly missed hitting a BG of Cav in skirmish order. Next turn the Elephants charged again and caught the LF (Cav evaded) and routed them. Nothing further of note occurred on this flank.

On Persian right the Persian LF Archers gained upper hand vs the Roman MF archers causing a loss. The Hillmen emerged from ambush to chase off enemy slingers. The Persian MF Archers shot with no effect at the Aux bearing down on them. The Aux then charged into the field and after some initial resistance the Persian archers routed.

The key central combat saw generally poor shooting from the Persian mounted and the Romans passed any Cohesion tests with ease. Persian lancers failed a CMT to not charge and broke off Disrupted from 2 Legion BGs.

The Legions charged enmasse into the lines of Clibinarii and usual grind occurred with Romans gaining slight advantage. Major turning point was death (by double 6) of a Persian General in frontline combat ! the Cohesion tests caused by this saw one Persian BG go Fragmented and another rout. This rout then Fragmented another BG and wavered the Inf in the field. Subsequently the Persian centre collapsed as did the right wing and their arrition level (12) was equalled ending the game in Romans favour

A decent game and played to completion in about 4 hours including several of our usual discussions.

FOG is definately in our experience a less decisive game than DBMM and I still feel it lacks a lot of 'flavour' of ancient warfare as such. But it is definately a more balanced game and will I think be main competition set eventually.

Mounted Bow is not very potent generally and Sassanids had problems dealing with Armd Romans with supporting Psiloi. They can option to use skirmish and frustrate the HF but still no real punch and evading Sassanid HC does not really seem very historical ?

FOG is growing on me slightly as very playable but it does seem a tad bland overall.

FOG Romans vs Selecuids

800pt FOG game at UWS Sat 29/03/2008

Game vs Keith Branagh at UWS club (some 5+ years since I attended there !!)

My Romans comprised

1 FC

1 TC

1 TC Roman Ally

2 4 base Roman HCav

1 4 base Numidians

1 BG of Elephants

1 4 base Extraordinarii (Prot)

2 8 base Supr Legions

1 4 base Elite Triarii

3 4 base Velites

2 4 base Avg Legions (Allies)

1 2 base Supr Triarii (Aliies) a

nd compulsory Fort Camp giving 14 BGs

Keith used (I think I recall it all correctly)

1 FC

2 TC (might have had 3)

2 Elephant BGs

1 4 base Companions

1 4 base Cataphracts

4 8 base Pikes (3 Avg 1 Supr)

1 8 base MF Bow

1 8 Base LF Bow

1 6 base Thorakati

1 6 base Thracians with Hvy Wpn

1 BG of Scythed Chariots

giving him 12 BGs

Selecuids won Initative and we placed terrain. On my left was an OF and a small Plantation with a OF on base line on Keiths half was a SH on his left about mid table and couple of OF that had no bearing on events.

I deployed with Legions lining centre (Avg Allies on my left) with Velites to front.

My Elephants took left flank duty with Numidians further left.

My Cav shored up my right opposite the SH.

I placed the Extraordinarii in ambush in the plantation.

Keith deployed his Pikes enmasse opposite my Legions with his right having the nasty Companions & Cats and Elephants with LF support.

His right was anchored on the SH occupied by the Bowmen/Thorakati/Thracians. Both sides advanced all along the line with my Numidians evading from the Heavy Greek horse.

Usual inconclusive shooting from LF was prelude to the clash of Pike and Legions.

My elephants supporting Allied foot clashed with enemy Elephants and one Greek set of nellies were destroyed. However a 4 Base Legions BG was fragmented.

As this was occuring my Numidians bravely stood against charges by both heavy Greek Cav BGs with predictable result (ie auto-broken) this exposed the flank of my own Ele and the shaken (sorry fragmented Legion.

Too late I brought my Extraords from their leafy sojourn (they never made it to contact). A Unit of Velites was routed exposing the flank of my centre.

On my right I extended one Cav unit into Skirmish formation and the other went Disrupted from bow fire but I had a TC on hand to restore cphesion.

In the centre a mighty battle ensued as I charged into the Pike Phalanx (4 BGs each 2 wide 4 deep) with my Impact Legions.

I gained very narrow advantage over two turns of combat disrupting one Pike block and managing to inflict a couple of base losses. This advantage proved decisive versus 3 of the Pike blocks in the end (due to loss of POAs once steadiness is gone) as one routed and the others failed cohesion tests.

It was great to watch 3 blocks of Pike flee with their General desperately trying to restore some order (not sure Keith enjoyed the spectacle as much)

One Pike block stood firm however and broke its oppossing Legion.

This was combined with the Companions/Cats flanking my Elephants and a Legion and breaking them both ! Time to send in the Triarii.

I only had the 2 base BG on this flank but had the Ally TC on hand to fight in front rank.

But despite intial stand they too sucumbed and another Legion was hit in flank (a Supr 8 baser !) and it too fled. On the right things were pretty indecisive as my Cav could not take on the Inf on the SH.

However when the Pikes wavered Keith was forced to come off his hill and charged his MF Bow into an overlapping Legion file but it made no difference to fight.

Indeed this unit then was charged by Roman Cav and routed. I charged my other unit of Cav into both the Thorakati and the Thracians but no advantage was gained by either side and the Cav broke-off.

At this point I had suffered 14 attrition pts and so lost the game but it was a bloody and close run affair with Greeks losing 10 attrition pts.

Keith might remember things a bit differently but I think I got the essential actions in reasonable order ?

Comments : All in all a very enjoyable game.

Only real gripe I had with rules was how to physically measure wheels ontable as it all seems rather fiddly. We had a few rules queries but managed (eventually) to find relevant answers after lots of page flicking.

As another confirmed 'DBMM lover' I must confess that FOG is a decent set of rules written in generally clear style with great support for any queries that arise and a lot less headaches than Dbmm.

Movement (wheels aside) and Combat flows logically and smoothly (we had several multi unit combats all resolved without headaches).

Combat takes a bit of getting used to with its 'grinding' nature compared to more descisive/quick events of Dbmm but it certainly works as it 'says on the tin'.

Actually its all has a familar feel to those of us who played 6/7th........... We played a solid 4 hours with minimal delays for queries, FOG games are not quick.

My main dislike is the Cmd and Control rules (or lack thereof) vis DBMM and FOG still feels like a smaller scope of battle than Dbmm despite having a few more toys on table, FOGs 'top-down' view seems to hover a tad lower than Dbmm

Whilst I understand the mechanism/simplisticty of having Generals whizz about the place from point to point I would have preferred that they were more limited in who they can control, that said it is certainly fun/exciting using them in front rank combat (despite numerous rolls and with every Gen on the table fighting at some point we were lucky we did not lose any !).

I miss the inertia generated by the PIP system of Dbmm as FOG allows every BG to move every turn potentially and indeed the new Strategems.

At times FOG feels like line 'em up roll' em forward and chuck buckets of dice but I know that is down to lack of playing experience and tactical nounce on my part although I am not sure just what tactics are viable in FOG compared to Dbmm as match-ups are not as critical ?

As I said recently on Dbmm forum if I rate Dbmm as 9 out of 10 FOG is a close 8. I can happily play either but suspect that FOG will be the more popular choice for Comps but maybe not otherwise ?

Looking forward to trying Cavalry based armies next instead of HF slogging matches

FOG 800pt Game Punic Wars

First 'official' FOG game today using my Mid-Republican Romans vs Stephens Carthaginians

Much more enjoyable than beta game but still not that enthused by FOG

Slow moves, slow attritional nature of fights and lack of C&C compare unfavourably with more exciting and decisive Dbmm games.

But much better written rules with most queries answered in text (even if lots of toing and froing to find things)

Not 4 times better than Dbmm despite 4 times the cost.........................

Dbmm 400pts Polybian Roman vs Carthaginian

Dbmm 400pt game on Sat 1/3/08 at Stephens

Really excellent game with exciting Warband vs Blade battle in centre.
Very close game.

Another loss of course...................

Update

Several Dbmm games in last few months latest today

Late Roman (stephen) vs Sassanid

Hard fought with narrow win for Romans


Fuedal Spainish (Stephen) vs East Frankish

Spainish win

Maurikian Byzantine vs Tang Chinese (Stephen)

Tang Win

DBM3.1 400pt Game

DBM3.1 game using Eastern Frankish vs Hindu Indian

My Knights vs Elephants (not a great matchup) a close game fpr a long while but ultimately the Elephants got to grips and my Knights died in droves.

Used 3.1 for a change and overall they now pale compared to Dbmm.

Moves to slow and fiddly, and some awful stuff ref 1/2 base shifts to line-up and recoils causing death zones and HI unable to followup into contact with LHI.

On plus side the combat gradings/factors/outcomes are a lot easier than Dbmm but lack the decisive nature of newer set.

Still a decent set of rules and probably more balanced as a comp type set (ie more viable army types) but just not as much fun.

400pt DBMM Maurikian Byzantine vs Abbasid Arab

400pt game at Stephens using Maurikian Byzantine vs Abbasid Arabs

I used 3 Reg Cmds with a small Nomad Ally

CiCs Cmd had Cic plus 2 CvS Bukellaroi, 2 LhS 3 KnF Optimates and 2 Kavallorii double-based 'blocks'

One Sg had 4 Kavallori blocks & 4 LhS

Other Sg had 2 LhS 7 BdI backed by 7 PsO and 3 PsS

The Nomad commanded 5 LhO

a Baggage Cmd (Pip dump) of 6 Reg Bg F completed the 73 ME army

The Arabs comprised a train cmd (Pip dump) of 3 ArtI and 1 ArtS behind a wall of TF

3 other Cmds with Reg gens comprised IrrCvS some Reg CvS several LhO, SpI, SpO some PsO and 4 BwO with several Hd and 2 Bagg per Cmd.

Byzantines invaded and terrain was almost exclusively on Arab half with only a marsh on my rear edge. 3 GHs (1 on my left and one centrally) with a Bua and Orchard and a large SF all aided the Arabs. I had chosen a 1FE SF myself but it was unable to be placed.

The Arabs planted the Arty park on the central GH with TF in front (making it a virtually impregnable fort (Arty factors +3 for TF +1 Uphill +1 Train uphill !!). His Bow and Ps were in the SF flanked by Spear (partially also behind TF) and CvS. His right was as Cmd of LhO and to his left his Cic with 8 Irr CvS.

I deployed second and lined my Bd on my right angled at 45deg my other Sg lined up vs the SF with Cic to his left and my Ally to extreme left vs the enemy Lh.

DBMM 400pts Hunnic vs Late Roman

400pt Dbmm game using Hunnic vs Stephens Late Imperial Roman

I had 3 Irr Cmds

CIC CvS 2 CvS 15 LhS

SG CvS 1 CvS 15 LhS

SG CvS 11 LhS

Gepid Ally KnF 4 KnF

No Baggage

An Ambush and Feigned Flight strategem were paid for

The Romans had 3 Reg Cmds plus usual Baggage/Camp Pip Dump

1 Cmd had several Cataphracts with couple of Huns

A Cmd with Legionnaries backed by LI Bow and LH and 4 ArtF (I hate these sods !)

A Cmd with Bow and Aux (Lanciarii)

several Cav and LH interspersed

Huns invaded and had plenty of open terrain with only a small wood of any note

Romans managed to get a DH on their right and 2 RH on their left with no real room to circumvent them basically providing them with a terrain 'fort'

The Roman 'fort'

The Hun LH where therefore nullified as no real opportunity to outflank on or off table (I was loathe to use flank march after non-appearence in previous games)

As expected the Romans lined up between their hills with Inf on the hills.

Huns had little option but to line up opposite. I did place a 4 element ambush of Lh in my wood hoping to use the feigned flight to draw enemy on DH towards them (bit optimistic as wood fair distance from hill)

Huns advanced with Lh and Gepids. The Roman bolt-shooters on carts moved to their right immediately to face the Gepids. They fired several times at Geipds but thankfully no kills just several of recoils.

Battle was joined with several Hun Lh charging into Blade and being charged by KnX

Couple of Huns spent and 1 killed by KnX but nothing too drastic. But they lack power to deal with a wall of foot or mounted if they cant gain overlaps. The Gepids managed to charge in despite attentions of bolt-shooters and they had an overlap on the right flank of Legionary line. This was facilitated mainly by use of a feigned flight by my left Cmd forcing the Roman infantry to halt.

But.........isnt their always at least one.............the Gepids could not kill any Legionnaries !! this was true for a full 3 combats...................

Meanwhile I was taking some losses on my right from the Cataphracts so I decided to hurl my CiC with his accompanying Nobles (a 3 element line with Gen in middle) through my Lh into the Legions to try to punch a hole.

But................told you there is always at least one !............of course this failed with my Nobles recoiling leaving the Cic overlapped twice in Roman turn and.................wait for it................the loss of my CiC !!!!

True to form on my next Pip roll this Cmd rolled a tremendous 1 meaning I could not even halt anyone so my largest and central Cmd routed (at some speed being mainly Lh)

This of course meant doom for neighbouring Cmds (in fact game nearly finished their and then as the temporary 2ME morale hit almost broke my left Cmd !) as their flanks now exposed.

The Gepids had at last quick killed two Bd plus 2 Ps (this was to be total Roman losses for game !!!!)

but too late as they also lost a 2ME element and my left Cmd became broken next turn ending the game.

Despite yet another drubbing (25-0 this one) it was as ever a good game to play with the Gepid charge and my Cic charge being two events that could have easily gone my way against the Blade.

The feigned flight was interesting to use but needs a lot of careful planning and timely Pips. Still at 5pts and capable of being used 3 times its a useful stratagem.

The Roman Art F is potent with ability to move and also to 'gang up' on single target (I was lucky not to lose anything to their shooting). Blade with PsO in back rank are tough for mounted to defeat (even the Kn) usually even or better factors for Bd.

The terrain was major factor as the hills robbed me of flanks to target.

Hunnic array

DBMM 400pts Turgesh vs T'Ang Chinese

400pt game today with my Central Asian Turks (Turgesh) vs Stephens T'Ang Chinese

T'Ang invaded in spring and terrain consisted of 2 DH 3 GH 2 RH and 2 RF.

I used Su Lu a brilliant General with 2 CvS, 8 LhS, 6 PsO, 6 HdO, 6 BwI a CvO SG with 4 CvO 8 LhS a second SG with 2 CvO and 6 LhS, Army baggage comprised 6 BgF and a Sogdian AG with 4 KnF and 2 LhF and 2 BgF.

Su Lu bought an Ambush, a Flank Attack and Feigned Flight (ambush discarded). Sogdian sent on Flank Attack on left and smaller SG Cmd delayed to rear. Su Lu deployed on left with LH to front and Bow in RF with Ps on a RH to rear with Hd guarding the baggage. The other SG deployed in Centre and to Right with 2 groups (turned out to be a major mistake) on 4 Lh with 2 CvO behind.

T'Ang comprised a Reg Bag (Pip dump) cmd and 3 largish Cmds with lots of Reg CvS several KnX, BwX, LhF and subject LhS turk renegades 2 ArtO also appeared.

I went first as defender and rolled a 6 for Su Lu and a disasterous 1 for on-table SG (other 2 Cmds not appearing yet. The 1 was major bind as I had deployed the SG in 2 groups and could only halt/move 1 and had to watch 4 of my Impetuous LhS ride forward onto lower slope of a GH in staggered formation.

The oppossing T'ang Cmd rolled a 6 of course and marched CvS right into my LH with upslope advantage.

It was shape of things to come as T'ang consistantly rolled high Pips and my lot low.

After 2 turns my SG Cmd had lost 4 elements of LH and were being outflanked on table by oppossing Turkish LH. My delayed Cmd appeared on turn 3 but despite the Flank Attack my Sogdians remained off table (they had a nice open flank to appear on as well with T'ang Cv and BowX).

In centre it was initally a stalemate as my Lh screen managed to survive vs BwX, Art and Cv. But once the KnX got into contact I began to lose a few elements. By this time my right flank had become disheartened and then broke.

In centre I moved a group of 6 Bow out of RF to counter Cav threatening Su Lu but this proved another mistake as large Pips by T'ang allowed them to surround the bow and destroy them in 2 turns.

Things looked bad (as usual) as I had inflicted only minimal losses on T'ang. I then charged Su Lu into an T'ang General using a brilliant stroke to try to turn things around. But.....you guessed it............ he threw the inevitable 1 to enemy 6 and bounced ingloriously off !

Still no sign of Sogdians despite by this time only needing a 4 or better to appear.

They had not arrived by the time a lost several more Lh and a CvS element which broke Su Lus Cmd ending the contest.

Despite yet another loss it was as ever an enjoyable game. My Pips were frustratingly low each turn and the non-appearence of the sodding Sogdians was not that helpful to my cause...........

BwX are a pretty decent troop type.

The impetuous LhS are caught by Cav

DBMM 400pts Polybian Roman vs Carthaginian

Game today with Stephen using my Romans vs his Punic bunch

I defended with DH on my left and a fortuitous river om my right (DH to Punic rear only other feature)

I had large cmd of Blade (16 elements) with PsS, SpS and 4 Iberian AxS in centre with AG on right with 4 Bd 2 Sp 2 PsS 2 PsO. The left flank (on the DH) was held by Iberian Ally. My Cic with 4 CvO was in reserve. No baggage used. I allocated highest die to CIC and lower to SG.

Punics had 3 Elephants interspersed with WbO with several Reg AxS, SpS and numerous Numidian PsS AxI and LhO and about 10 CvO. My narrow frontage and presecence of river/DH thankfully stopped his LH from worrying my flanks.

Main attack came from the Wb/El combo in centre.

I put my Cic & Cv in behind my blade and velites with ful intention of pushing them thru to counter the El/WB but suffering a brain barf i neglected to do this instead sticking my velites into close combat with blade close behind (usual unhelpful minimum Pips not aiding my decisions).

My Iberian allies fought well on flank holding up the Rg Ax/Sp and some Cav and my Roman AG was also successful in thwarting Punic Cv/Lh on my right.

Crunch in centre saw my Velites recoil behind the blade who then were charged by Wb/El and suffered several QKs, on my following turn I only managed a couple of QKs on WB.

Next turn saw the Punic shock troops break my main Cmd (32ME) and leave them only 3 ME from routing my Army.

A lucky Pip roll allowed me to keep the broken Cmd in situ and low and behold my broken troops offered stout resistance (ie winning several die rolls !!). However it was a transitory 'victory' as then soon succumbed which of itself was not too bad (as already counting lost) but on my right the game was decided by 3 Punic CvO vs 3 BdO as two Cv recoiled but the third doubled opposing Bd which combined with loss of 2ME earlier from Iberian Cmd routed my Army.

Despite its one-sided nature this was still an enjoyable game and I kick myself for not following my plan to engage the Wb/El with my CvO which may have course made no difference given my penchant for losing key die rolls :-)

The Roman Cav watching inital stages of destruction of their comrades.......................................

Dbmm 400pts Khazar vs Early Byzantine

Dbmm at Stephens 4th Oct 07

Another (!!) Dbmm game with my Khazars having another outing this time vs Early Byzantines.
I had 3 Irr Cmds using basis of CvS (was tempted by the KnF option) backed by Lh F with LhS and 3 KnF several hordes and a few Slav AxO/PsO and again my newly painted Guard.
Byzantines had 4 Reg Cmds and Pip dump of BgF.
Another really good and close game which could have gone either way in the end hingeing on my right flank Cmd getting anything but 1 on Pip dice (of course 1 is exactly what they got) and then a Lh vs rear of enemy Cvs Gen which I failed to Win !!! this then lead to right flank breaking and game ending but I did at least shatter the Byz CICs large Cmd.

Bit of a brain-barf between us regarding Broken vs Shattered (we had forgotten the claraification) status (so much to remember each game).

Dbmm 400pts Islamic Berber vs Feudal Spainsh

Dbmm game 28th Sept 07 at Stephens

I used his Islamic Berbers vs Spainish to try out a Spear based army.
Spear dome quite well especialy in defense against Knights but are rather poor on own turn as lose back ranks and therefore have difficulty killing anything but are vulnerable to doubling. Losing only a single rank is a bonus though.
A Cmd of SpO fought Knights and eventually succumbed but mainly by their being ouflanked.
A Cmd of SpI fought Spainisg Aux and Ps and done rather well.
However the Berber Light horse suffered from enemy mounted and Berber Christian allies were overwhlemed by oppossing knights.

Again another fun game with lots of decisive action.

Stephen convinced Spear armies are redundant. I agree for an open style competition but not for themed comps or near historical match-ups.

DBMM 400pts Khazar vs Khorazanian

Game on Fri 7/9/07

I used Khazars vs Stephens Khorazanians.

A really excellent game with lots of too and froing and incident.

DBMM Turgesh vs Romanian Frank 31-08-07

Another game of Dbmm vs Stephen using Turgesh (with Brilliant Su Lu) vs Romanian Franks (with lots of KnS) I was invader in Summer and lots of terrain including a large DH 2 GH 2 SH 1 O & 1 RF. The DH dominated one flank of the Franks the others dotted acroos the tabletop. The Franks advanced their Knights in one solid block which I faced with a mix of LHs and CvO (my Horde and Bow were on camp guarding duties) the Franks had a mixed Cmd of BwO and AxO on my right. I had 4 Cmds 2 with a mix of LHs & CvO 1 with the CIC the foot and 3 CvS, my 4th Cmd was 4 KnX Tibetians (outclassed by KnS). The Frank Knights failed to damage on Cmd of Lh but killed 4 elements of the other in their initial charge punching a large hole in my line which my Tibetians had to plug along with some CvO. Inveitably despite my getting some overlaps the Kn broke this flank completely. On the other flank however I managed to use a GH to shield my Lh & Cv from Bows and I weas able to charge into the Bw/Ax downhill. I managed to kill several but not enough to break the Cmd and after a loss to bow fire I placed my SG into line for a new charge but a single Bw element killed him (6 -1 on dice) !!!! breaking that Cmd and losing me the game............again..................

Rather quick game but lots of action. The KnS are tough to deal with..............................

The Frankish setup

The Turgesh array

The Frankish Knight Cmd

Dbmm Sassanid vs Late Roman

Game at Stephens on Tuesday 21st

I used Sassanid a Regular version and Stephen used Late Romans with Inert General (not strictly historical match-up but close). Romans invaded with very little terrain (couple GH O and E none of which had any effect on game except a large M on Stephens left)). Romans had 4 ArtF Carts in centre vs my 2 Ele and CvS so I held these back (ie lowest die) to avoid shooting and advance on both flanks with CvO/CvS Cmds. My left Cmd was badly outmatched with my LhF facing LhO and my Cv faced by 6 elements of KnX ! On my right I faced a mix of AxS and BwO backed with PsO. I had a Cmd of Nomads outflanking on my left. My left advanced into tteth of enemy and my LhF killed 3 oppossing LhO :-) CvO held up the KnX. On my right I manouvered vs the Inf and took a couple of recoils from Bows but no losses. The Roman Legions backed by Ps and the Arty advanced towards my centre. Things continued reasonably favourably on my left (except Arabs wouldnt appear) and on my right my Cav got to grips with Ax/Bw. The movement of the Arty stopped them shooting but they were coming into range.............
On my left things went downhill as KnX QK several CvO/S disheratening my Cmd. On my right despite totally out manouvering the Romans I could not kill the Bow (despite overlaps and no room to recoil !). Ofcourse Arty then killed an Ele and I was forced to charge into the Bd.
My left Broke just as my Arabs arrived. As it turned out Stephen had a smaller Arab cmd outflanking on this flank which I chased onto the table. On my right I still could not damage the Roman Inf ! Centrally it was a stalemate as I could not kill the Inf nor they my Cv.
But.................isnt there always.............. by now my left had broken so I hurled the Arabs into their counterparts and of course I managed to lose the combat and then watched as Stephens s Arabs then killed my Ally and broke his Cmd this loss with other broken Cmd and accumulate losses losing me the game..........again............

Yet another fun game with plenty of exciting combats. But I had nothing to really deal with the massed KnX (Ele deploying first meant they coul d avoid them) who after slow start ate my Cav.................

Field Of Glory game

Playtest game of FOG today using the generic Punic army lists in Beta rules (Romans vs Cathaginian)
Set up etc all smooth and plausible with exception of lack of non-deployment on flanks (a gift for corner huggers). Game phases worked fine and all mechanisms worked ok with any queries relatively easy to sort out. Romans are awesome (lots of Heavy Foot of Superior status with Armour and both Skilled Swordsmen and Impact Foot !!) able to take on foot and/or cavalry.
But....................
Boy o boy does it take ages to get to grips in FOG ( multiple wheels etc are nightmare to measure) so micro-management orintated (Competition bias shows thru) and so much dice rolling to achieve any results !! game rather lacking in excitement compared to Dbmm and despite much better clarity and its inherent playability its simply just not as much fun.
Sad to say I think FOG will probably be the more popular ruleset :-(

DBMM Eastern Frankish vs Ghaznavid

400pt Dbmm game on Fri 27th July 2007

I used Eastern Franks to try out revised list with KnO post 1085ad Stephen used Ghaznavids with brilliant Gen. Fairly non-descript terrain (One large DH towards centre) KnO lasted a bit longer than their KnF cousins but still beaten eventually by CvS. Elephants were on flank march but never featured.
Franks narrowly beaten (and sooner than they should have been due to my mistake with MEs).
Big discussion ref single element moves which we now think should be in one single direction and straight only.

No pics as I forgot camera...............

DBMM Defeat from the very Jaws of victory...............

Gallic vs Marian Roman

400pt game today with Stephen I used Gauls vs his Romans.

I invaded and terrain saw a huge (2FE) difficult hill plonked in Stephens middle zone, a couple of small woods and two small rough hills with a Paved Road completed battlefield.

Stephen deployed first with a line of Legionaries (a mix of BdS & BdO) supported by fortified Bolt-Shooters with flank resting on the DH and other flank supported by Cavalry and Light Horse with a few more Legionaries. The DH was occuppied by Psiloi and Auxillaries. I deployed 2 Allied generals with a large central Cmd (40 Wb with Ps and Lch support) and to rear a Cmd of Cavalry and Chariots to sweep around my left flank (on table). My warriors were all WbO.

Opening moves saw repective mounted Cmds move to flank and Legions and Warband approach each other. Thankfully both my Allied Cmds were reliable.

Roman Art caused a few losses. Hostilities began in earnest when BdS moved in against my central Wb Cmd (as they were a somwhat disrupted group due to sponno moves). Wb took a couple of losses but in their turn detroyed several Elite Legionaries. My mounted Cmd had poor Pips allowing oppossing Roman cmds to deploy unmolested against one Gaul Allied Cmd.

The key matchup in the centre saw the Legions in bit of distress nearing Disheartened status, with Gauls suffering losses but due to only counting 1/2ME per loss nothing too dangerous. Indeed things looked very good for the Gauls.....................until.......................with Romans tetttering on the brink the Gauls had 5 key combats in their OWN turn with each being 3 to 2 in favour of Warriors and quick kills looking almost assured ....................BUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......... with uncanny dice rolling managed to lose 4 out of the 5 combats and indeed lost 4 elements !! (my rolling 1 to Stephens 5 or 6 each time) the Romans then followed up and in their turn quick-killed several more Wb for no loss causing the central (CiCs) Gallic Cmd to break !!!!!!!

In the meantime the Allies had assaulted the DH with a to and fro battle uphill against Aux and Ps. On other flank my Cavalry and Allied Wb were dealing well with Roman horse but rather rashly I put an Allied Gen in his Chariot into melee and of course he ended up overlapped on both flanks and died, this broke his Cmd and tipped balance with Gallic army being routed.

Game hinged on that key turn when Gauls failed to win in their own bound as if they had of either killed some Romans or managed not to die against the battle was theirs...................but alas not to be.

This is closest I have come to actually winning a game but yet again my dice rolls let me down at crucial juncture.....................the Dice Gods hate my guts !

Still another superbly fun game with lots of exciting die rolling contests. Dbmm has not thus far failed to be anything but fun for us. Of course neither of us have used Spear armies yet !!