Strutted like an Assyrian, Walked over like an Egyptian!

Last weekend I had Barry over for another game of "To the Strongest!" I had set up the armies and commands for both sides beforehand, but we did the deployments ourselves informally. Even with the army lists provided, this took some work to create an appropriate army for both sides. I once again used 130 points a side. Barry not having a preference, and the Egyptians having several newly painted units (vs the very veteran Assyrians, painted back in the mid 1970's), he took command of the Assyrians. One could almost see the "Assyrian Sneer" flash across his face; I had already made my first mistake!  I took the Civilization Creating Egyptians. We had quite a few more units than the Assyrians, but many of them were "light" vs but a single "light" unit for the ninnies from Nineveh. We hasd seen previously in our Rome vs Carthage game how brittle one-hit units can be!

New Kingdom Egyptians

Unit	Description	Save	Spec/Ammo	Pts	VMs
	Attached General Chariot, Heroic	3+		6	2
	Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran	7+	4	6	1
	Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran	7+	4	6	1
	Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran	7+	4	6	1
	Light Chariots, Bow, Veteran	7+	4	6	1
	Attached General in Chariot	2+		5	2
	Light Chariots, Bow	8+	3	5	1
	Light Chariots, Bow	8+	3	5	1
	Light Chariots, Bow	8+	3	5	1
	Light Chariots, Bow	8+	3	5	1
	Attached General	2+		4	2
	Shardanna Royal Gd - Auxiliaries	6+		8	2
	Medium Infantry, Shieldwall	7+		7	2
	Medium Bowmen	8+	6	7	2
	Light Infantry - Bow/Sling	8+	3	4	1
	Light Infantry - Bow/Sling	8+	3	4	1
	Extra Ammo		2		1
	Hero				1
	Camp			1	3
	Attached General - Heroic	3+		5	2
	Medium Infantry, Shieldwall	7+		7	2
	Medium Infantry, Shieldwall	7+		7	2
	Medium Bowmen	8+	6	7	2
	Medium Bowmen	8+	6	7	2
	Light Infantry - Bow/Sling	8+	3	4	1
	Extra Ammo		2		1
	Camp			1	3
	TOTALS			130	39

Victory Medals  = Total divided by 3 = 13

Reserve Ammo = 1 chit for every unit that can fire = 13 = 4 purchased = 17 (wasted points!)

Demoralized Command = Lost ½ of Victory medals

Later Assyria

Unit	Description	Save	Ammo/Spec	Pts	VMs
	Attached General in Chariot	2+		5	2
	Hvy Chariot shock Vet extra bow	5+	3   Shock	15	2
	Cavalry, Javelin	7+	2	9	2
	Cavalry, Javelin, Veteran	6+	3	11	2
	Attached General in Chariot	2+		5	2
	Cavalry, Javelin	7+	2	9	2
	Cavalry, Javelin, Veteran	6+	3	11	2
	Light Cavalry, Bow	8+	3	5	1
	Attached General	2+		4	2
	Quradu Royal Gd, Shieldwall, Vet	6+		9	2
	Assyrian Heavy Inf - Shieldwall	7+		7	2
	Assyrian Hvy Archers/Slingers, vet	7+	7	9	2
	Camp			1	3
	Attached General	2+		4	2
	Assyrian Heavy Inf - Shieldwall	7+		7	2
	Assyrian Heavy Inf - Shieldwall	7+		7	2
	Assyrian Hvy Archers/Slingers, vet	7+	7	9	2
	Camp			1	3
	TOTALS			130	37

Victory Medals  = Total divided by 3 = 12

Reserve Ammo = 1 chit for every unit that can fire = 8

Demoralized Command = Lost ½ of Victory medals

Barry's Assyrians, to the left (which we will call North for the purposes of the report) moved first. They turned an Ace (bad!) for the first activation of  their left center infantry command. As this wasn't for the general's unit, that entire command engaged in basket weaving for the turn. On my turn, my own left center infantry command did the same thing, thus practicing their hieroglyphics for the turn. Not to be accused of any originality, we both placed our stronger mounted forces on our Right. I am spreading out my swarm of Light Chariot units on my left, hoping to take advantage of their superior mobility before the heavier Assyrian troops can overwhelm them. 

View of the Assyrian army at the end of Turn 1. The small chariot is a General riding in same. No combat... yet!

The situation after the 2nd Assyrian move.; their right flank Mounted command is really pushing the attack!

Nor are they being shy with their let flank Cavalry, although the supporting infantry only manage a couple of unit activations, and thus lag well behind. 

On the the Egyptian right all four of their Light Chariots have targets (bow armed units have a range of 2 boxes) so they let loose. Being classed as veteran, they each have 4 ammo chits instead of the usual thee. They get lucky, and manage to score 2 hits on and Assyrian HC unit. As seen above, Barry was less fortunate, and failed to save either hit - the Assyrian Heavy Cavalry are eliminated. A cheer goes up from the men of Division Ptah!

The Egyptian Right Center has a fairly successful activation, pressing forwards.  There were supposed to be a few boxes with an "oasis" in them, but I couldn't mange to find my Palm trees when Barry came over, so I said the heck with it. I also ordered a bunch from China (AliBabba), but that order wound up being cancelled due to damage to their stock in the warehouse. Some times you just can't buy a Date (palm)!

The Egyptian Left Center, however, once again turns an Ace and cannot move at all! Almighty Amun will  not be pleased by his Division's performance! 

My chariots maneuver to 2 box "bow" range. Unlike their "veteran" counterparts, they don't even scratch the paint on the menacing Assyrian Heavy Chariots bearing down upon them.  Look at the stats for that thing - it's a Monster! Gulp!

Leading with his Right, Barry's Heavy cavalry ride down one of my Light Chariots. "Whaddya mean, no Opportunity Fire?!  Who chose these lousy rules anyway?"  :-)

On his Left, Barry wisely pulls his Cavalry back from my mobile archery platforms, as his supporting infantry finally manage to advance somewhat.

My chariots move forward to bow range, but fail to accomplish anything this time. Their supporting infantry of Division Seti move smartly forward as well. However, those slackers of Division Amun just are NOT up for moving today, barely managing to inch forward a bit. 

My outclassed left flank chariots seek to refuse the flank. 

The Assyrian infantry commands manage to keep a pretty coherent front. The heavy archers don't actually have Pavises in game terms, although they could if they were paid for. They must be emplaced, and once emplaced they can not be taken up again. 

"I have a Bad Feeling about this, Cheops!"  The Assyrian Battle Tank, having ridden right over an Egyptian Light Chariot ("Mmmm, crunchy!"), strikes another, lead by Pharaoh, in the flank. Flank attacks allow the attacking unit to play a bonus (extra) "to hit Card. A third Egyptian LCh bites the dust, with Pharaoh managing to escape (he needed a 2+ to avoid being hit in the action). 

On the opposite flank, the Egyptian advance is going quite well itself!

Back to the Assyrian Right, where a unit of their Heavy cavalry tries to ride down the last of my Chariots on that flank (bolstered by their elusive Pharaoh)... but fails.  The position of Division Amun, however, is looking most unenviable!

An Assyrian Heavy Infantry unit charges my Light Infantry bowmen, who manage to successfully evade behind the Shardanna Royal Guardsmen. 

Similarly, one of my Light Chariots manages to evade a charge by the Assyrian Heavy Cavalry over on the Egyptian right flank.  The HC are now in a rather exposed position!

The chariots of Division Ptah have a good turn, as seen above. By the time they finish shooting the HC, and charging them from the flank twice, they are dispatched to the care of Nergal, Assyrian God of darkness. 

as seen in the upper part of the photo, the men of Division Seti have charged 2 Assyrian units, whilst their archers fire 2 volleys of arrows at the opposing Assyrian infantry - they will fire a total of 6 shots on the day, never once scoring a single hit! 

Crunch Time in the center! The "chicken" indicates that the Assyrian infantry is already Disordered (down one hit, which can be rallied off, but if they suffer another hit first, they will be lost). 

The men of the Assyrian Right center attempt to close with the recalcitrant Egyptians of Division Amun... 

before the attacks of the Assyrian Right flank troops leave them no targets!

Back on the Assyrian Left, the sole unit of Light Cavalry Horse Archers shoots... and manages to knock out a Egyptian Chariot! "Whaddya mean there's no Opportunity Fire?!"  :-)

The (still Disordered) Assyrian Heavy Spearmen charge the Shardanna (which are in good order).

"They chose... poorly!"

Back on the Egyptian left, however, things have gone from bad to worse. Heavy cavalry are charging Light infantry slingers, the Assyrian "Main Battle Tank" is now poised to charge 2 units of Nubian archers from the rear, whilst the other Assyrian HC is trying yet again to ride down the sole remaining Chariot on this flank, and Pharaoh along with it!

 "I want my Mummy!"  Oops, sorry! 

. 

Close up shot soon to appear on the "Victory" Obelisk back in Thebes...  a la Ramses at Qadesh!

The slingers successfully do the Theban two step to the rear, but talk about out of the Frying pan and into the fire! The remaining Spearmen are actually more than a match for the Assyrian HC in a frontal melee... at least on papyrus!  Also seen above is a fallen Egyptian (Heroic) general. Unlike his men, he failed to save against a hit by the Assyrian archers - 2 victory medals lost. Ouch!

The Egyptian Mace/Axe men chop their way clear through the (former) Assyrian archers. Enemy Camp in sight!  Meanwhile, the hapless Archers of Seti continue to be unable to hit the broad side of a Pyramid. Oh wait, Pyramids are equilateral. Make that "unable to hit the broad side of a Sphinx", then. 

My chariots try to eliminate the pesky Assyrian Horse Archers... but fail. 

The Horse Archers return the favor. The Chariot successfully Saves, but the accompanying Heroic general, needing a 3+... does not. 2 More Victory medals lost. Being Heroic is BAD for your health!

The Assyrian Heavy Infantry make short work of the accuracy-challenged Archers of Division Seti, pausing to collect a few heads to decorate the Great Gate at Nineveh. 

The Assyrian Heavy chariot  rides and over up the rear of one unit of Nubian archers, and prepares to leave its tread marks on the flanks of a second unit. 

Sound the trumpets. Checking the cuneiform on their clay tablets, the scribes determine that Egypt has lost all of its Victory Medals, whilst their opponents still have three remaining. Game - Assyria!

View of the Assyrian King crushing his enemies, as seen in the bas-reliefs of the Summer Palace in Babylon. To the glory of Ashur!

We finished this game in about 2.5 hrs, with the result a pretty clear Assyrian victory as seen. We made a few mistakes with the rules but got the bulk of everything right this time!  I need to remember about Overhead Fire" by archers, who can shoot over a friendly unit in their box into the box immediately ahead. Much better than waiting to get hit by enemy melee troops!  The Assyrian Heavy Chariot was amazing. It also cost a whopping 30 points* (15, actually), so I couldn't include two of them in the army as I had originally intended. I think the Egyptians will need to have at l;east some of their chariots classed as Medium (2 hits) in order to compete. By the time the Assyrians were opponents, it was already past the New Kingdom and into the Kushite dynasties, so not such a stretch. We both enjoyed these rules once again, which are more subtle than they seem at first!