KOH3 Byzantines vs Seljuks

The Seljuk's are back in the action again, this time up against the Byzantines.

I played the Byzantines & opted for a strong centre comprised of Knights. Light Horse would form one flank while the other would be guarded by Bows & Blades. My camp would also be guarded, knowing how daring the horrors can be.

Jack would take the Seljuk's & went straight for a massive six elements of Light Horse on one flank. He would use Cavalry & Knights to form the central attack. However he did not opt for any troops for camp guard duty. He did not fear I'd threaten him... cheek!

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Game 3 Battlefield setup. The Seljuk Light Horse would

be on a 'Deep Strike' mission again.

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Seljuk Blitzkrieg!!!!

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Heroic Byzantine Allied Light Horse ride out.

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Again this game would feature major Light Horse action early on.

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While the main lines would take forever to meet.....

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HA! As I told Jack, the Byzantine left flank would never be taken..

(Because it had 'no one to fight' he replied)

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The Byzantine Psiloi can only look out from their camp...

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The Byzantines bring up some Knights to help out.

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Typical! First Combat, ALL the Byzantine Light Horse recoil

AND the Byzantine Knights are destroyed.......

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Positions at this point, I'm going to have to get the centre involved.

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The Seljuk's press their advantage.

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The entire Byzantine line advance, but it's at a snails pace.

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One casualty each at the battle of the 'Palm Tree'.

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But Seljuk numbers count & another Byzantine bites the dust.

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The Mighty Byzantine Emperor spurs on his troops!

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View from Jacks side of the table, I have to dispatch another Knight to stem the Seljuk tide. Somehow I believe this one is 'getting away' from me as well...

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Jack insults me by announcing his 'Auxilia will take the Byzantine camp'.

More shame for me.

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At last the main forces Engage.

'This would be the turning point!!!' I exclaim...

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'I don't think so Dad' retorts Jack & down goes the final Byzantine...

Another Seljuk Victory!!

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Final Battlefield positions.

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Well, at this point I must apologise most humbly to all lovers of Byzantine troops as my performances on the battlefield are truly woeful.

But well done to Jack, along with his sister, they are both mastering the Light Horseman of the Holy Land. The Seljuk's are turning out to be the 'Dark Horses' of the campaign.

I think for the next game I start by placing all 12 elements in a single line...

KOH2 Seljuks vs Ayyubids

Next up, it's the Light Horse laden Seljuk Turks vs the Cavalry heavy Ayyubids. Defending General Amy would take command of the Seljuks & I the Ayyubids. The Seljuk plan was to have two flanks of three Light Horse, while the centre had the rest of the force. An Auxilia element was giving Camp Guard duty. The Ayyubid setup had a flank of Cavalry while the other would be Light Horse. The other troops would form the centre.

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The Battlefield Setup.

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Good PiPs & the Ayyubid Psiloi leg it for the Oasis.

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Nice view from the Ayyubid lines.

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Seljuk Light Horse advance on the flank checked by Ayyubid Cavalry.

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On the other flank rival Light Horse look set to clash.

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Positions just before the fighting starts.

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Seljuk Light Horse have extra on this flank....

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...plus advantage to the Seljuk Light Horse on the other.

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Seljuk Bows take on the Ayyubid Psiloi.

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The main lines advance slowly towards each other.

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'Tis a strange game DBA' on one turn, death to 2 Ayyubid Light Horse...

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...and death to 2 Seljuk Light Horse on the other flank.

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On the next turn, the Ayyubid Cavalry press their advantage.

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BAH! General Amy brings up the Khwarizmian Knights & some

Ayyubid Cavalry are outnumbered & destroyed.

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3-2 to Amy's Seljuks!

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Shocking! The Ayyubid right flank has collapsed....

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The Seljuk Light Horse is in a bad position, could the Ayyubids take advantage?

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All this action & the main lines still haven't clashed!

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'Ger in there!' down goes the Seljuks Light Horse 3-3.

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Alas my joy is short lived as the Seljuk Bows finally take care

of the Ayyubid Psiloi.......it's another BOO HOO!

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Well done to General Amy, victory to the bold! Unfortunately for me it's another defeat, I'm going to have to get a grasp of these Light Horse tactics.....

Scores after one round....

Crusaders - 9 points

Seljuks - 9 points

Ayyubids - 3 points

Byzantines - 0 points

KOH1 Komnenan Byzantines vs Crusaders

Greetings, first in our Kingdom Of Heaven series, the Komnenan Byzantines versus the Crusaders. Jack would be the attacker, playing the Crusaders & I the Byzantines. I must admit the Komnenan's were a new one to me, Knights/Light Horse & Archers. Would I get it right & do them justice? The main plan would be to use the Light Horse to capture the Crusaders camp & possibly use the Quick Kill ability against the Knights.

The battlefield, had a few hills, two pieces of 'rough' in the shape of some scrub & temple ruins. A road ran the length of the battlefield.

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The Battlefield & set-up. Light Horse on the flanks for the Komnenan's.

Knights & Bows/Blades in the centre.

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The mighty host of Crusaders. Jack placed his Spears in a vast column on the road, he was going straight for the kill! Knights off to the side of the road. His shooters were placed on the flanks to deal with the Light Horse threat.

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Nice shot of the Crusaders.

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Komnenan Knights, Bows & Blades.

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Light Horse & Psiloi race off for the Byzantines.

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Jack's PiPs are good & he's away. A slow sense of dread descends over me.

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An impressive sight, Crusaders march to war!

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More Byzantine Light Horse race out to attack the Crusaders flank.

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Oh no! The Lionheart spots the danger & races to attack

the Byzantine Light Horse.

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Those Crusader Spearmen are racing ahead. My PiPs are poor & I can only concentrate on the Light Troops on the flanks.

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Onward comes the Lionheart..!!!

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The combat begins & Jack has the advantage.

Strike one Byzantine Light Horse.

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The Battle opens up, Byzantine forces threaten the left flank. One Light Horse even manages to go for the Crusader camp. The Lionheart is rampant & he's off looking for more Glory!

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The Byzantine Light Horse gives Jack the shock of his life & nearly wins. But alas it's too much, down it goes.

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At last decent PiPs & off go the Byzantine Knights!

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Mercenary Frankish Knights are spotted by the Lionheart!

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No Quarter! Down go the Mercenary dogs....!!!

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The end is near for the poor old Byzantines!! Positions at this point.

The Light Horse attacking the Crusader camp is repulsed.

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Arrows fly into the Crusader Spears but they bounce off harmlessly.

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Not a chance Richard! Poor old Emperor Manuel Komnenos spots the Lionheart, but doesn't fancy his chances.

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He's spared his blushes as the last Kill for Crusader victory is achieved.

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Oh dear, what a disaster for the Byzantines & I'm to blame. A poor set-up, I should of known that putting that road down the centre of the field was an open invitation for Jacks Crusader Juggernaut. I even failed to get the Byzantine Bows matched up against the Crusader Knights.... Boo Hoo.

The Lionheart was rampant, I'll have to figure out a way to neutralize him in other games, given that the Crusaders have the Seljuks & Ayyubids left to face.

Jacks 'over the moon', he's whooped his Dad & back to winning ways.