Tuesday, April 4, 2017

When Assyria was in Egypt's Land: HAVOC game 1

The snow on Friday and Saturday of HAVOC this year had a huge effect on attendance all three days, although the forecast was worse than the reality for points SOUTH of the site, as related in my last post. Thus I felt fortunate indeed to six players for the game, none of whom had ever played To the Strongest! before although about half the players were at least aware of the rules.

The players, from far to near were:

Assyria:             Egypt:
Nate                    Greg
Caleb                  Bob
Leif                     Dan


In the early going Nate, Caleb, and Lief on the Assyrian side look on while Greg and Bob maneuver their Egyptian troops. 


The Egyptians have a much more coherent line at this stage!


The very powerful Assyrian 4 horse Chariots try to try down the their lighter Egyptian opposition, but Dan keeps making the card draw for Evasion successfully!


Nate's Assyrians have largely over run Greg's Egyptians on this flank; Ramses' boys are running very low on victory medals... although both the Egyptian and the Assyrian C-in-C in this game were lost in battle!


In the infantry battle, the better armor and quality of the Assyrians didn't seem to be enough to make for the larger numbers of more lightly armed Egyptians.

By the end of the game, though the calculus had reversed, and it was Assyria who proved to be The Strongest this time!

Thanks to all of the players who braved the elements to attend! Everyone seemed to enjoy the game despite the one major error I made at first handling formed archers in melee, to Caleb's disadvantage. 

12 comments:

  1. Great looking game. Plenty of inspiration there for my next project!

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    1. Thanks, and hope it inspires you top make a start on Pharaoh's troops!

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  2. That sounds like it went well Peter, and the game looks really good with all the troops massed together.

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    1. Thanks, Laurence; I was pleased with both the look and play of the game.

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  3. Fine looking game, Peter! Your mottled table covering look smart and I bet travels well.

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    1. Thanks, Jon. It is a heavy tan "heather" felt pattern, with the judicious light application of multiple colors of spray paint, and dark green "sharpie"dots to mark the corners of the grid. It is indeed very durable!

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  4. Looks like a great looking game and sounds like everyone had fun, what more can you ask?
    Best Iain

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    1. What more indeed, especially on a "snow day"!

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  5. Looking terrific Peter! I feel very guilty that the forts 28mm mini that I bought in recent times (2003?) was an Assyrian chariot- and I've still not finished the army!

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    1. On the one hand, we have a very good idea what the Assyrians looked like from the bas reliefs, etc. On the other, we have little information about their battles from any tactical standpoint, unlike, say the Greeks onward.

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