Jackson Gamers' 20mm Ancients Game
More Struggles on the Egyptian Frontier
Two Ancients games, played on April 18, 2009.

Photo by Jay Stribling

An Assyrian general in his 4-horse armored chariot rolls forward. The shields, held up on either side of him by shield-bearers preclude a view of the great man. The 20mm chariot, horses, and figures are produced by Irregular miniatures.

This was our ninth game for the year 2009. We played this at Jay Stribling's home in Jackson Mississippi on the third weekend in April of 2009. Our rules were our own Pharoah Rides to War. Jay Stribling contrived the victory conditions, and ran the game.

We used Eric Teuber's 20mm "Scruby" army originally painted in the 1970s. Jay Stribling has touched up the paint where needed and added a few newer units, but it is still Eric's old army.

The game began around 10:45am. It proceeded so swiftly that we were able to conclude the game and break for lunch (consisting of hot dogs and chips) about 1pm. Then we played a second game after lunch.

Photo by Jay Stribling

The Assyrians setting up for the first game. Phil Young is standing, near the camera while John Murdaugh is seated with rules in hand. Bill Hamilton is only partially shown to the left. Napoleon gazes serenely down from the wall.

What were your objectives in this first game?

Each side had four possible sets of victory conditions, and they were assigned one at random by randomly choosing a slip of paper with the listed victory conditions. This kept either side from knowing what their opponents were up to.

In the first game, the Assyrians had the objective of seizing the oasis which was the only source of water on the battlefield. It was worth 10 points to them, and each enemy unit destroyed or which left the battlefield was worth an additional 2 points.

The Egyptian victory conditions were simply to destroy the Assyrian army with 3 points being gained for each enemy unit killed or removed from the field.

Photo by Jim Pitts

The Egyptian left wing, commanded by Jim Pitts, consisted of the Green Division with two light chariot units, two heavy infantry units, one light infantry spear unit, and two light infantry archer units. In their battle array, they look formidable.

Photo by Jim Pitts

At the end of the first turn, one of Jim's light chariot units has lost over 75% of its strength and is fleeing back to Mother Egypt! They only inflicted light casualties on Bill Hamilton's mounted archer unit before they were shot up by that unit and a unit of Assyrian bowmen in the rocks.

Photo by Jim Pitts

Jim's second chariot unit has ridden across the front of the advancing Assyrians but inflicted only negligible casualties. Do you see a patter here? Why of course you do! Jim's die rolling was abysmal during this game. As Jim's heavy infantry advances, they do so over the dead bodies of one of their bow units. Nubian light infantry archers and spearmen hold the rocky area.

In the far right distance is a unit of Assyrian heavy chariots. Luckily they were delayed getting into the fray on this flank. Part of Bill's Assyrian battleline can be seen across the center ground of the picture.

Photo by Jim Pitts

Jim's remaining light chariot unit valiantly wheels across the rear of his force to help shore up the extreme right, held by a unit of heavy infantry armed with axes.. The Nubian spearmen in the right distance have chased away a unit of Assyrian heavy infantry but are left exposed out in the open. Assyrian heavy infantry but the Assyrian light and heavy cavalries prepare to renew the attack.

Photo by Jim Pitts

After some fierce fighting, Jim is left with most of the heavy axe wielding infantry and the Nubian spearmen. But the Assyrian heavy chariots are posed to run the Nubians down and the rest of Bill's wing is waiting just out of the picture to the left...

Photo by Jim Pitts

...Waiting to pounce on the hapless Egyptian axemen after they have destroyed the second Egyptian light chariot unit. I did say that Jim's dice rolling was abysmal, didn't I?

Who were the players in this first game?

The Egyptians were ably led by Sean Pitts who also commanded in the center, Ed Sansing captained the Egyptian right wing, while Jim Pitts led the left wing.

The Assyrian host was led by John Murdaugh, also commanding the central forces. Bill Hamilton led the right wing, while Phil Young commanded on the left.

Photo by Jay Stribling

The mighty forces of the Pharoahk! Sean Pitts - the Egyptian commander, is nearest the camera. Jim Pitts (Sean's father in real life) is a sub-general in the background, shown as he deploys the Egyptian left flank.

We set up a screen between the two armies and each could set up anywhere on their side up to 18" in from the rear of the table.

Photo by Jay Stribling

Another view of the Assyrian deployment. Phil has his troops set up and his rod of command (oops, a tape measure) gripped tightly. John and Bill are still moving the men forward.

Photo by Jay Stribling

A view of the Egyptians in the center after deployment and after the screen was raised.

Photo by Jay Stribling

The Egyptian heavy troops in the center start forward as their light mounted bowmen dash swiftly ahead on the left.

Photo by Jay Stribling

An Assyrian unit of heavy chariots roll forward while heavy infantry follow behind. Heavy bowmen shoot at a light Egyptian chariot in the rear. An Egyptian General in his 2-horse chariot is visible at top left. All of the Generals for both sides are mounted in chariots.

Photo by Jay Stribling

The Egyptians on the left are falling back from the Assyrians on the right. The Egyptian chariots may be executing a planned fall back, but at least one unit is showing a round red "rout" marker.

Photo by Jay Stribling

Two units of Egyptian light infantry with javelins are shown advancing towards the enemy. Aa area of rough terrain is ahead of them, but as light troops they may advance through this without penalty. An Egyptain general is shown advancing also and on the right, Egyptian chariots fall back after tormenting the enemy with bow fire.

In these rules, both light chariots and light cavalry may dash forward with half their move, fire during the movement phase and then ride away using the rest of their movement. Foot troops may only fire during the fire phase after movement and often may have no fire or a longer ranged target, after the light mounted units have shot and moved back.

Photo by Jay Stribling

Phil Young is measuring the range for his Assyrian archers. The Egyptian chariots shown her are falling back after their customary shooting maneuver of "dash forward, loose arrows at close range, and dash back again."

So, Who won this First battle?

The Assyrians won, overwhelmingly. They captured the oasis and destroyed 12 of the Egyptian units. Their point total was 34 when the game eneded after five turns.

The sons of the Pharoahs did poorly during this game. Their archery-heavy tactics failed along with their die rolls. They only drove four Assyrian units from the battlefield for a total of 12 points. Luck seemingly had deserted them.

Prior to this game, the Egyptians had seemingly been invincible, winning 3 out of the last 4 games. This battle redressed that imbalance.

Go to the second of this pair of games.

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