Hyboria (again)

 A few days ago, I was toying with ideas for Dominion of the Spear only with more units. I had a little trial game and then yesterday received an email announcing Dominion of the Spear - Big Battles ! Having chucked my redundant notes in the bin, I purchased Steve's new game and printed it this morning. So as to not waste the game I did try, I present it now - the rules used were certainly heretical so ignore them and just focus on the story!

Conan: Free booter once more.

At the end of the Ladder Campaign I tried in the Summer, King Conan had returned to Aqulionia. He had defeated the Nemedians but had failed to reacquire his favourite concubine. Brooding over his loss the King sent out his spies. At last information came back telling of the movement of his missing cortesan across Turan.  Putting the State in the hands of his most trusted advisors, Conan threw off his courtly garb, and dressed once more as a barbarian mercenary, set off on the long trek to Turan. Crossing Ophir, Corinthia, Zamora and Western Turan, he finally reached the Sea of Vilayet where he took passage on a trader. Winning the gratitude of the captain by single-handedly defeating a pirate vessel's crew, Conan was deposited on the Eastern shore in Hyrkania.

 Being a persuasive sort of chap, Conan quickly gathered together a band of Hyrkanians of the type who liked a fight (and post-fight loot especially) and set about raiding the Turanian border region in order to gather intel. The governor of the region, seeing his tax revenues dropping, sent an army to stamp out this threat.

 The Battle of Razz-Beri

The army of Turan, under the command of General Aly Wei, attacked the Hyrkanian camp at dawn. Fortunately for Conan, his scouts had raised the alarm, and it was a fully prepared force that the Turanians met.

Ferocious mounted steppe dwellers, many armed with bows, flew into the Turanian regulars. 

The Turanian centre was strengthened by the presence of two regiments of Cataphracts of the Governor's guard.

Amid the din of battle Conan urged on his barbarous force as men and horses fell on both sides.

The mighty Cimmerian's force of personality goaded on the Hyrkanians, and soon the Turanian cavalry lay fallen or had fled, leaving the foot soldiers to face the enemy. Girding what loins they possessed(!), the spearmen awaited the inevitable charge.

 With the battle heading for its climax, Conan roared into the front line to lop the head from the unfortunate Aly Wei!

The day was done, with much scurrying of Turanian soldiery, heading for the (cardboard) hills.

Now it's time for your humble author to look to his new rulebook, after doing the chores...

Testing a "Dominion of.." variant - The Battle of Santa Lucia

 The following is a test of Mark Cordone's Dominion of Leaders and Generals rules (possibly posted on Facebook) using Dominion of Napoleon Bonaparte as the core rules. The setting is completely fictional, and armies were balanced and all regular units.

Mark's rules add more random behaviour simulating a General's decision making during the battle, and making combat and reinforcement from the reserve each turn no longer a given.

The Battle of Santa Lucia

The setting is the long running border war between the Grand Duchy of Karbunkle and the Exarchate of Osstlebabstein. His excellency, Bishop Adolphus of Osstlebabstein has instructed his military to reinstate the village of Santa Lucia within the borders of the Exarchate. This has, quite naturally, raised the hackles of the Grand Duke Edrich Marie St. Clemence Pankraz-Kunibert (Ed for short). The armies of the two states arrive at Santa Lucia and set to almost immediately.

As the game is about leaders I feel it is incumbent on me to name the commanding officers, at the very least. The Army of the Grand Duchy (black) is commanded by Herzog Ulrich of Dunkerwald; that of the Exarchate is led by General Monseigneur Francis of Frinchum. 

The battle began with an artillery bombardment from both sides which achieved very little. The two sides then advanced...

Early skirmishing saw both sides losing Heavy Cavalry units and the Grand Duchy moving reserves to their left flank.

In an inspired move, General Ulrich took personal command of the 5th Infantry regiment and broke his rival's centre, such was the force of his personality.

Returning to his General Staff, the Herzog observed his enemy bring up reserves. To his dismay the Exarchate's remaining Heavy Cavalry then swept forward and routed the 10th Infantry that were holding his left.

Ulrich then committed his artillery, hoping to blast the enemy Cuirassiers from the field.

 Whist cannon balls bounced ineffectively about the horse, the 5th Infantry once again proved their mettle destroying the Exarchate's centre.

The Herzog's right flank suddenly broke and momentarily distracted he failed to commit reserves.

 Taking advantage of his enemy's temporary confusion, General Monseigneur Francis swept forward to lead his left flank Infantry who delivered a withering flank attack on the 5th, routing them with many casualties.

Regrettably, the final pictorial record did not download properly for some unknown reason.  Suffice to say, the fickle finger of fate was just enough to break the Grand Duchy's Army. The Cuirassiers charged and spiked the guns, pursuing the gunners mercilessly. The Herzog and his remaining Infantry regiment bid a hasty retreat, and Santa Lucia was, once again, in the clammy hands of the Bishop. 

Mark's rules worked very well and created the sort of chaos that this solo wargamer enjoys!

Dark Elf First Battle

 The Dark Elf Army that appeared in yesterday's post got their first taste of combat today with a quick game of Dominion of the Orc. They were pitted against a veteran force of Dwarves.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a newly formed wargaming unit or army will suffer defeat on their debut. Would this fate await the evil Elves?

The attacking Dark Elf Army comprised two heavy infantry units, one heavy cavalry unit, one archer unit, a giant spider and a sorcerer. The defending Dwarf Army consisted of three heavy infantry, one cavalry, one crossbow unit and a wizard.

 During the early phases of the battle the magic users concentrated on supporting their combating units. Both sides began to take hits.

Axe wielding Dwarves destroyed the Giant Spiders, however not before the monster's poison affected their slayers (I have made the spiders hit on 5 or 6 but always poison a unit they are in combat with, -1 on the latter's future throws). 

A good number of poor dice later, the Dwarves had the edge over their foe.

Finally, the Dark Elf force admited defeat and grudgingly withdrew allowing the Dwarves to quaff much ale and sing about gold and the like. The old maxim has proved to be true.

Heading for battle (hopefully soon)

 Very little to report recently due to work demands and a short trip to dear old Blighty (visiting family). I have however painted another very small army for my very small fantasy games. 

My Dark Elf Army is made up of virtually all Irregular Miniatures figures from the 10mm Fantasy and Historical ranges (apart from the Magic User in the last pic that is from Pendraken). The Giant Spider is from Irregular's 6mm Fantasy range - it's still fairly giant though!

I'm hoping to start a Mini-Campaign using Dominion of the Orc this Autumn, time allowing.

Once again the picture quality isn't great - we're in the grips of another Storm and it's very overcast.

Heavy Cavalry

Heavy Infantry and Archers

Wizard & Giant Spider

I hope to have some more news soon.

Bridgehead

 A report for a battle fought back at the beginning of August (when the weather was a great deal nicer than today) is available for viewing HERE.

OHW 5 Bridgehead

Collaborative Campaign Turn 23 (Part 3)

 In today's post there is further news from Picenia (text and pictures are the intellectual property of Mark Cordone).

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The battle of Teanum.  30th day of the seventh month of the year of the Anteater.

Anaxander of Sentis invaded Picenian Luss in support of his Therissian allies before receiving news of their defeat at the battle of Frourus.  His advance was slow as he methodically looted and devastated the countryside as he advanced.  Multiflavious allowed this to continue as he had a plan of his own to defeat the thus far undefeated Anaxander.  A couple of days march east of the city of Dubrovium near the town of Teanum was a naturally very strong position which would require a long exposed march to bypass.  Banking on Anaxander's impetuousity Multiflavious chose to await him there.   As the seventh month of the year of the Anteater drew to a close Anaxander's army approached, made camp unmolested and prepared for battle.

The next day saw Multiflavious deploy his army defending a narrow defile with a range of rugged coastal hills on his right and an extensive ancient forest on his left.  In the center was a steep hill. On his left he placed the 4th legion, on the hill were his limitari archers and on the right the 5th legion.  In reserve behind the hill he had the veteran (disaplined) 3rd Legion and his cavalry.

Anaxander, unable to see Multiflavious's reserves, thought he had a significant numerical advantage.  This assumption was reinforced by the lack of opposition offered by the Picenians thus far.  On his left he deployed his elite phalanx, in the center his peltasrs and on the right his ferocious elphas (elephant) corps.  In reserve he had his cavalry and a second phalanx.  The weather was clear and bright as he confidentiality prepared to sweep away the Picenian force in front of him.

He opened the battle with a ferocious charge by the elphas and the 5th legion quickly broke under the pressure and fled.  Anaxander was then unpleasantly surprised when the veteran 3rd Legion moved out from behind the hill and methodically began the process of containing the great beasts.  The rest of the day would see a stalemate in this sector. 

Meanwhile, the limitari quickly put the peltasts to flight as Multiflavious rallied the 5th.  A general and inconclusive engagement then developed along the whole line until the 4th legion eventually wore down Anaxander's elite phalanx and drove them from the field.  As Anaxander tried unsuccessfully to rally them his other phalanx managed to drive the limitari from the heights, only to be driven back in disorder by the rallied 5th legion.  On the left the 4th and Anaxander's cavalry fought each other to a standstill but the Multiflavious committed his cavalry to the fight and they swept all before them giving the victory to the Picenians.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms that night allowed Anaxander and his bodyguard to escape. The rest of his army were not so fortunate.  He fled back to Sentis, closely pursued by Multiflavious.  Gathering as much of the portable wealth from his treasury as he could, he fled the city after making hasty arrangements for its defense while he attempted to raise a relief army.

As Multiflavious began the siege of the city Anaxander made stops at the other cities of the Tetrapolis.  All refused to even grant him an audience.  In despair and rage he fled into Inconnu with his bodyguard and treasure......

Meanwhile Sentis fell and was subjected to a brutal and comprehensive sack.

( Having rolled the Oracle dice and determined Anaxander would be unable to raise a relief army I determined the fall of the city was inevitable so I just rolled an average dice to see how long they held out.)

***

The Picenian juggernaut rolls on! Thank you Mark for another great report. The Cyraenian Tetrapolis has failed one of its members; from here on they are independent City States, unless they can form and new alignment.....  

Collaborative Campaign Turn 23 (Part 2)

 Further events in the Year of the Anteater (game year 23) unfold in the following by Mark Cordone, recounting the Picenian invasion of Therissa. (Text and Photos copyright Mark Cordone).

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Rionach's curse.  The winter following her execution saw a plague sweep through Picenia.  The symptoms were fever, A heavy cough and swelling in the glands in the neck.  While having a very low mortality rate. It was very widespread and attributed to Rionach's curse.  It returned the following winter as well....

The Battle of Frourus

The Picenian fleet is red and to the left, the Therissians blue and to the right.

The previous two years of peace were only a pause in hostiles as both sides used the break to refit, reorganize and rearm.  The diplomatic efforts bore no fruit so the resumption of hostiles saw the Picenian Republic vs the alliance of Therissia and Sentis.  Multiflavious, who's dictatorship was now in its third year, chose to attack Therissa with his rebuilt fleet and an invasion army while remaining on the defensive vs Sentis.  His hope was that the impetuous Anaxander would choose to attack him, thus nullifying the mutual defense treaty of the Tetropolis.

The Picenian fleet consisted of some 120 ships in 6 squadrons commanded by Senator Gaius Duilius.  In rebuilding the fleet it was decided to go back to what the Picenianns did best, hand to hand combat.  Thus the fleet was crewed by marines and trained to grapple and board the enemy ships.

Meanwhile, the Therissians had a fleet of similar size, but crewed mostly by Therissian sailers proficient in raming tactics.  ( The battle was fought using Dominion of the Ram, both sides had 6 regular squadrons, the Therissians were rams and the Picenians marines).  The king, Gaeius Marullus, was in command of the Therissian fleet.  His plan was simply, his fleet hid in a sheltered bay flanked by two huge rock spires called the Frourus and sail out to surprise the Picenian fleet and attack them in the flank as they sailed past.

The plan wasn't 100% successful however as the lead squadron moved too soon.  The Therissians had the initiative, but the surprise wasn't total and the Picenians managed to form a battle line.

The battle opened with the lead Therissian squadron destroying the leading Picenian squadron.  Another Picenian squadron was destroyed in the center as the Picenians struggled to form up, but as the Picenians organized their battle line they began to grapple with the enemy and turn the tide.  A confused melee then developed with the Picenians gradually gaining the upper hand in the left hand sector.  Marullus then committed his flag squadron and stabilized the situation, but then Duilius led his flag squadron into the fray with the two flagships ending up locked in combat.  The brave Therissians were no match for the Picenian marines however, and all were slain, including the king.  With this the Therissian fleet collapsed, with the survivors providing a feast for the Kraken.

Without their king, the Therissians had no stomach for further conflict and quickly surrendered to the Picenian army after it landed.  The terms were harsh, but still better than the wholesale sack of the island that would have followed a Picenian conquest by force of arms.

Next, the campaign in Luss.

***

Thanks to Mark for another excellent report! Therissa is back in Picenian hands - Where do they go from here?