Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Remember he who writes the history wins the battle.
User avatar
Wayne Richards
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 4:44 pm

Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Postby Wayne Richards » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:25 pm

The Sassanids fielded 2 x 6 cataphracts, 2 x 6 Lights Cav, 1 x 6 Arab Cav, 2 x elephants and 3 units of skirmishing foot.
The Pontics fielded 2 x ^ sarmatian nobles, 2 x Light cav, 2 x 6 pike, 1 x 6 Theuop 1 x 6 archers, 2 units of skirmishing foot.
Turn (1 of 8).jpg
The Sassanids loaded their left flank with cataphracts, elephants and huns. The Pontics spread out with an infantry centre and cavalry on both flanks.

The initial turns saw the Sassanids advance on their left flank with the Huns engaging the inferior Pontic horse archers. Meanwhile the Pontics pushed forward with their pike blocks and their skirmishing troops on their own left flank. Early missile exchanges earns a few momentum tokens for each side without causing any panic.
Turn (2 of 8).jpg
Turn (3 of 8).jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Wayne Richards
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 4:44 pm

Re: Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Postby Wayne Richards » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:33 pm

Turn (4 of 8).jpg
The Pontic Sarmatian cavalry don't fancy their chances against two units of the Sassanid cataphracts and so beat a hasty retreat. meanwhile the Pontic centre trundles on, slowed by Sassanid skirmishers. The Sassanid elephants execute some nimble footwork and manage to end up flanking one of the pike blocks.
Turn (5 of 8).jpg
With nothing to stop them the Sassanid cataphracts come rampaging over the hill and engage the Sarmation cavalry and open order infantry - ouch.
If the Pontics can hold then the unit of supporting Sarmatians might be able to make it across the field in time to take the Sassanids in the flank.
Turn (6 of 8).jpg
Meanwhile, sustained shooting finally takes it's toll on the Sassanid cavalry on the right flank who break, along with some skirmishing foot. The Pontics are no free to push ahead.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Wayne Richards
Posts: 470
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 4:44 pm

Re: Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Postby Wayne Richards » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:47 pm

Turn (7 of 8).jpg
The Pontics hold on and the Sarmatian cavalry thunder into the flank of the Sassanid cataphracts. Surely that will swing the combat.....err not a chance. Safe with their 2+ save, and swinging their maces, the cataphracts mince through the open order infantry to their front whilst keeping the Sarmatians at bay.

Meanwhile, one of the Pontic pike blocks flees from being charged in the flank by an elephant and is run down as it fails to outdistance the beast.
The sight of this panics the other pike block and horse archers who promptly depart the field.

The brave Pontic archers take a charge from the other Sassanid elephant and bring it down in combat but the Sassanid morale doesn't waiver.
Turn (8 of 8).jpg
The end is nigh as the brave archers get caught in the flank by the cavalry. They suffer a push back but are unable to do so and so they flee.
Likewise the Sarmatian cavalry are pushed back off table and so they flee.

A crushing defeat for the Pontics as the Sassanids take the field.

Cheers W.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

MartinG
Posts: 926
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2016 8:48 am

Re: Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Postby MartinG » Tue Jun 06, 2017 9:20 am

Thanks for the write up Wayne! Cataphracts and elephants are a pretty nasty combination.
"No one ever achieved anything without making a few mistakes along the way"

Mikeharding
Posts: 147
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:53 pm
Location: Waterlooville

Re: Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Postby Mikeharding » Tue Jun 06, 2017 1:09 pm

Great report Wayne.
I have learnt from playing Dave P and his Cataphracts ( or heavy Cav with a 2+ save) & elephant combination, that the archers have to sit behind other units and concentrate their fire at the elephants as they can be seen, but shooting into Cav with a 2+ save is a waste of time. Only when the elephants are eliminated can you start to take on the Cav, as the elephants remove the benefit of close order, and if you don't win you are reading the result one line lower, that is assuming you have passed the terror test in the first place.

User avatar
A Lot of Gaul
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2016 11:32 am
Location: USA

Re: Early Sassanids vs Pontic

Postby A Lot of Gaul » Tue Jun 06, 2017 2:44 pm

Terrific battle report and pics, Wayne. Thank you for sharing them here.
"Experience is the teacher of all things."
~ Gaius Julius Caesar


Return to “Battle Reports”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests