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BATTLE OF MARATHON This battle took place at the Pittsburgh Iron Legion GameFest 2. Conflict arose between the mighty Persian empire and the emerging democracy of Athens when the later aided some fellow Greeks in a revolt against the Great King, Darius of Persia. Not one to let bygones be bygones, Darius sent out 600 ships in an expedition to punish the Athenians and some of his other enemies along the way. Everything was going fine until the Persians got to Attica. There they met the Athenian army on the beach near the village of Marathon. After starring at each other for a few days the Persians decided to re-embark and try to beat the Athenians back to their city. As they were doing this, the Greeks took the opportunity to charge into their line and kill many of them. Some managed to get away and they sailed around Attica to capture the now undefended city. The Athenians, deciding perhaps that a mile long jog, followed by a few hundred yard sprint in 70 lbs of kit was not enough exercise, then marched the 26 miles back to Athens arriving just before the Persian fleet. Discouraged by loosing both the race and the fight the Persians sailed for home. That was the historical out come. We decided to have a go at it ourselves. This battle report pits about 2000 pts of Greeks vs. about 2600 pts of Persians. You can see army lists for both sides here. The battle would last for 8 turns. The Greeks and the Persian infantry start opposite each other, about 42 inches apart. Each unit of Persian cavalry is allowed to show up at the Persian table edge on turn 4 on a roll of a 4+ on a d6, any that do not arrive may roll on turn 5 with a 3+ and so on.
Greek Deployment: The Greeks deployed with their 5 hoplite units in the center, a unit of skirmishers on each flank and the two units of cavalry on each flank beyond the skirmishers. Rather symmetrical actually. The Greeks rolled for their oracle points, and the Gods sent 4.
Persian Deployment:
The Persians deployed, from left to right, slingers, East Iranian levies, Sparabara 1, Sparabara 2, Immortals, Sparabara 3, Scythian levy infantry, median levy infantry, median javelinmen.
Greeks Turn 1: The Greeks surged toward the Persian line, everyone moving as fast as possible. This would become something of a theme. Persian Turn 1: The Persian line advanced to get within bowshot of the Greeks.
Greek Turn 2: The Greeks advanced as last turn.
The view from behind the Greek line. Persian Turn 2: The Persians managed to find some of their units in range this turn and fired on the advancing Greeks. Sling stones went hurtling past the right flank Greek cavalry on all sides but not a one could find its mark. The East Iranian infantry decided to show the slingers up and fired on the cavalry and failed to cause any damage as well. The median levies fired on the cavalry on the Greek left killing 1. A unit of Persians fired on this cavalry unit as well tumbling a further rider from his saddle. This was enough to force a panic test which was quickly failed and the cavalry went running away and being under 5 models they would not rally.
Greek Turn 3: The Greeks continue to advance, heedless of the rain of arrows falling to their left and right, well, except for the cavalry on the left who were headed back to Athens with all possible speed. The psiloi on the right managed to get into range of the East Iranian levies and killed one of them. The cavalry returned fire on the slingers killing two. On the other side of the table the psiloi hurled their javelins at the Saka infantry killing one. Persian Turn 3: The Persians moved their javelin men up to attack the Greek psiloi. Everyone else shot and what a round of shooting it was. Being within 9 inches, the slingers didn't move and fired twice at the Greek cavalry wiping it out, this disconcerted the psiloi next to them enough to make them run away. On the other side of the table the Greeks received some rough handling as well. Sparabara 3 fired on the skirmishers killing three, enough to force a panic test and with Ld 5 they flee before the onslaught.
Greek Turn 4: Both units of psiloi rally. The hoplites continue their forward movement, putting them about 2 inches away from much of the Persian line.
Persian Turn 4: The Persians roll for their cavalry and all three units of Persian cavalry arrive, in addition to the General. Emboldened, the Persian decide its time to take the fight to the enemy. Sparabara 3 charges the hoplites to their front. The Saka levies charge the unit in the flank.
The Greeks charged in the front and the flank try, futilely, to hold on The rest of the Persian line fires at the Greeks. The first two Sparabara kill one hoplite each out of the first phalanx. In hand to hand, the Greeks manage to kill two Saka compared to the loosing one of their own, however without a rank bonus, and the Persians getting flanking bonus the combat results ended up being Persians 6, Greeks 2. The Greeks decided not to waste any Oracle points on such a hopeless situation and fail their break test, fleeing 6". The Saka pursue 9" and wipe them out. The Sparabara attempt to not pursue and fail, going 4".
The hoplite units all test for panic and all pass their tests, one re-rolling using an oracle point.
Greek Turn 5 Finally in range to charge, the Greeks push into the Persian line. The psiloi on the Greek right interpose themselves between the flank of the right most phalanx and the East Iranians. Hoplite units 1, 2 and 3 charge into Sparabara units 1 and 2 while Hoplite unit 4 charges into the Immortals. The psiloi fire at the Iranians killing one. Smashing headlong into the Immortals spara, the Greeks try to press forward but are held up by the wicker shields and the spears poking out between them. The Greeks loose their momentum and flee. The Immortals decide not to pursue the fleeing Greeks and stand fast.
The Greek line finally crashes into the Persians. The Persian regulars are not so lucky. The Greeks manage to kill three from the two regiments and break one of the units. Since hoplite unit 1 was not in contact with the Sparabara that didn't break they were able to pursue and caught the Persians wiping them out. The Persian slingers and the remaining Sparabara unit (2) in combat panics. Everyone else passes their panic tests (surprisingly) and we move on to the Persians. Persian Turn 5 The Scythian cavalry arrives this turn. The slingers fail to rally and flee further. Sparabara 2 rallies and turns to face the Greeks. The Immortals charge the rear of the hoplites that fled before them, causing them to flee a further 6". The Iranians charge the psiloi and run them down as the Greeks attempt to flee. The Saka levies, the Median levies and the javelin men reposition themselves to sweep into the Greek flank. The javelin men fire on the Greek psiloi on the Greek left destroying them.
Greek Turn 6: Hoplite phalanxes 2 and 3 charge Sparabara 2. Hoplite phalanx 4 rallies and faces the Immortals. Hoplite phalanx 4 has a unit of Sparabara and Saka levies to their flank.
The Greeks see the Persians to their table edge. Hoplite phalanx 1 reforms to block the left most unit of Persian cavalry. Before they have a chance to get their spara up, Sparabara 2 is set upon by Hoplites 2 and 3. The Greeks kill 2 Persians (the Persians managed 3 6+ saves on 5 wounds!) The Persians break and flee 9", with both phalanxes hot on their heels. The Immortals pass their panic test. Persian Turn 6: The Immortals, Sparabara 3 and the Saka levies all charge into the Hoplite phalanx 4. A unit of Persian cavalry charges Hoplite phalanx 3 in the flank. Sparabara 2 rallies, seeing much more going their way, the slingers also decide to rally. The Persian cavalry facing Hoplite phalanx 1 has no where to go, so they shoot, killing one hoplite. The cavalry charge carries the Greek position, killing one of them. Without a rank bonus the Greeks flee but cannot escape the Persian cavalry and are run down. The other unit of hoplites (4) fares only slightly better. Being charged in the front and the flank they manage to equal their enemies in kills but it is not enough and, evidently discarding their heavy shields, they speed away 10". The pursuing Persian fail to catch them. Hoplit phalanx 2, seeing their neighbors violently slaughtered by the Persian cavalry decides enough is enough and turns tail.
Greek Turn 7 But then they come to their senses and rally to face Sparabara 2. Before that Hoplite phalanx 1 charged the slingers who flee behind the cavalry and off the table. Hoplite phalanx 4 continues to flee. Persian Turn 7 Javelin men charge the already fleeing hoplite phalanx 4 and they flee 11" further. All the other Persian units move to a position to try to attack some Greeks, either turning around or moving up. Shooting is desultory this turn.
Greek Turn 8: Phalanx 2 charges Sparabara 2. Phalanx 4 keeps running. Phalanx 1 continues to face off against the Persian cavalry moving towards them.
Phalanx 4 threw their shields away and are headed back to Athens. Phalanx 2 kills one Persian, no Greeks die. With the standard, the Persians manage a tie, which the Greek musician wins. The Persians flee and this causes the Scythian cavalry to panic and they flee also (but only 4 ".) The Persian cavalry unit lined up for a charge into Phalanx 2's rear panic also. Persian Turn 8: A Persian cavalry unit manages to charge Phalanx 2 in the flank. Seeing this the Sythians and Sparabara 2 rally. As it is the last turn the rest of the Persians, realizing they can't shoot anyway, decide to take a cigarette break. In the hand to hand combat the cavalry manage to kill 1 Greek and the Greeks kill 1 cavalry man in return. The Greeks loose by 1, break and flee 10", the cavalry fails to catch them. Results: The Greeks had one unit remaining on the table, unbroken, at the end of the game. Most of the Persian army was left intact at the end of the game.
Notes: All figures were painted by Pictors Studio. Figures manufactured by Old Glory, Battlestandard, Foundry and Newline. The terrain boards were built by Jaime and Scott from Pictors Studio.
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