Thursday 21 August 2008

DBA Teutonics vs Post Mongol Russians

We've been busy & created some new terrain boards. This one is the Snow covered board, so to 'celebrate' we had a game. What better armies for a 'Winter Battle' than the horrible Teutonics versus the Post Mongol Russians. General Amy played the Teutons & yours truly the Russians.

IV/30 Teutonic Orders 1201-1522AD
1x3Kn(Gen), 3x3Kn, 1x3Cv, 2x2Lh, 2x4Cb, 1x4Sp, (1x3Ax + 1x2Ps) or 2x7Hd

IV/44b Post Mongol Russians 1381-1533AD
1x3Cv(Gen), 5x3Cv, 2x2Lh, 1x4Sp, 1x3Bw, 1x2Ps, 1x3Cv or WWg




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The Battlefield & direction of attacks.
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boo.. hiss... boo.. The nasty Teutonic Knights!
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View from the Russian lines.

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Both of us had the same idea with the Light horse, this flank would be a stalemate.
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It was to be a Knight versus Cavalry scrap.....
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Ooooo... General Nevsky likes the look of those Hordes!
Would it be two easy Kills?
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Wow... Lots of Horsemen.

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Thud.. The lines clash into each other.
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Positions at this point. I still thought that concentrating on the Teutonic Horde elements was key to victory. Amy didn't care as long as her Knights ran over everything.
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Oh dear.. Here we go, one of the Russian Cavalry is beaten & falls into the snow!
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I redouble my efforts & bring in extra Russian Cavalry.
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However it leaves the right battlegroup rather short on men...
I press the attack into the Hordes!

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Teutonic Crossbow Bolts force the Russian Psiloi to Flee.
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Another Russian Cavalry element is destroyed!
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At last some success, one of the Hordes is destroyed.
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Amy presses her attack with the Teutonic Knights.
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Teutonic Crossbows support the counter attack into the Russian Cavalry.

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Amy's Teutons force back the Russian Cavalry.
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Oh Doom & Gloom, down goes another Russian Cavalry element.
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Going into the final stage of the battle, it's not looking good for the Russians.
The Russian General is looking very lonely!
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Spectacular view across the Battlefield.
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Amy piles in everyone!! The Russian General is cut off & slaughtered.
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Well, well, there we go, another crushing defeat. I placed to much emphasis on the Russian Cavalry & they paid the price. I didn't manage to bring up the Russian Spear & Bows, two elements wasted. I was impressed with the Teutonic Hordes, I liked the fact that they 'stood fast' when other units would of recoiled. Amy doesn't care about the facts, she's Victorious & lets me know!!!

Richmond Castle

As I've mentioned, we're very keen members of English Heritage & visit a lot of historic sites around the North of England. We'll put up some posts of the places we've been to & a bit of the history involved.


Now the history bit... William I 'the Conqueror' laid waste to all the countryside from York to the Wear, the 'Harrying of the North'. This was in reprisal to the death of the Norman garrison at York. Afterwards, 'Big Bad Will' divided out the land between his Norman lords. Alan the Red was one of these men and he was given the Borough of Richmond. He started to build the initial Richmond Castle, in stone, around 1071, choosing a natural defensive position above the River Swale.


Richmond Castle's purpose was to protect Swaledale against border raids. The keep was started late in the 12th century. The keep was built on rock, rather than on a man-made earth motte, which enabled the builders to construct a very sound structure.

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Jack surveys the landscape from the top of the Keep. The view from the top is quite spectacular.
The view on the left is overlooking the River Swale.


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The horrors in front of the main keep. Still an imposing & terrific structure.






Richmond Castle was still in use during the First World War. It was used as a jail to house 18 'conscientious objectors'. There is a display of a cell in the visitors centre.




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Richmond Castle = http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.17243

Friday 15 August 2008

DBA Seleucid vs Ptolemaic

There's six of us in our humble abode, three with blond hair & three with dark brown hair. Sometimes we have a 'Blondies vs Darkies' rivalry & this had to spill over onto DBA. In the Seleucid corner, Blondies Jack & little sister Jenny. In the Ptolemaic corner, Darkies Amy & yours truly. Jack & I would move the troops, the little'uns would roll the dice.

I wanted to have a game with the Seleucids after the recent army photos. Opponent wise, who could we have? Well after a mini debate between Jack & I, we plumped for one of the other Successor Armies, the Ptolemaics. Lots of Pike, Horsemen & Jumbos!


II/19c Seleucid 204-167BC
1x3Kn(Gen), 1x4Kn, 4x4Pk, 1xSCh, 1xEl, 1x3Cm, 3x2Ps


II/20c Ptolemaic 274-167BC
1x3Kn(Gen), 1x3Kn, 1x2Lh, 6x4Pk, 1xEl, 1x4Ax, 1x2Ps
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The Ptolemaics ready for Battle! 6 Pike & a Jumbo would form the centre.

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Ptolemaics & a rather nice Egyptian camp....
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The Seleucids ready for War
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The battlefield & line of attacks.

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Seleucid Psiloi take the Oasis & the mounted sweep the flank.
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Seleucid centre of 4 Pike, Elephant & the Knight General
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The centre would see the most action. The Seleucid Scythed Chariot waits to pounce.

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Ptolemaic Knights hold the right flank
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HA! The Blondies shriek with glee & manage to catch the Ptolemaic Light Horse...
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The Light Horse leg it from the battlefield, 1-0 to the Seleucids.
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Battlefield overview at this point. That Scythed Chariot would have to be watched.
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This flank would prove to be a stalemate, the Ptolemaic Knights would tie down these units.
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Back to the centre, both juggernauts prepare to clash.
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Pike, Knight & Jumbo crash into each other. Who would break first?
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The Ptolemaic Knights withdraw to a safe distance.
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Close up of the 'Big Boyz'!

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DOWN goes the Seleucid Jumbo! But the other combats fizzle out.
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It's a breakthrough, could the Ptolemaics make it count?
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No! Jenny's combat rolls are spot on. First repulsing the Pike & then on their turn, attack the Jumbo!
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The Ptolemaic Jumbo goes down 'skewered' by Seleucid Pikes.
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The Seleucid General had a 'charmed life', somehow the 'Gods of Dice' shined down.

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Combat positions at this point. The Ptolemaics push forward the Auxilia in support.
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HA! The Blondies shriek again... The Seleucid Scythed Chariot looks for another victim.
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The Ptolemaic Auxilia turn to face & unleashes a volley of Javelins....
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Down goes the chariot.... But alas it doesn't count towards the Battles Score.
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However the Ptolemaics have the most troops in the centre!

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At long last the 'Dice Gods' abandon the Seleucid General. The Score is now 2-2.
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It's looking grim for the Seleucids & their evil 'Blondie masters'. One of the Ptolemaic Knights is pushed forward to block any support for the Seleucid centre. On the left the Seleucid Pike matches the Ptolemaic line.
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It's a mega clash in the centre, but the Seleucid Pike hold.
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At last Victory is sealed, Amy's die roll is superb & the Auxilia take out the Pike.
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Final Battle positions.

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Another good battle, lots of fun for everyone. Some of the moves may have been a bit dodgy, but both sides are happy. Pity the Seleucid Psiloi couldn't be better used. The Scythed Chariot did it's job though!