Eannatum and Ush c.2450 BC - Command and Colors Ancients Game

 

Armies deployed - Umma on the left,
Lagash on the right

Opposite end

Umma infantry advance in the centre

Lagash infantry attack

Umma infantry forced to retreat
and units are destroyed

Last Sunday afternoon I played a solo Command and Colors Ancients game with my Sumerians out in the shed. I noticed recently on the Command and Colors Ancients website that there were some new Sumerian scenarios. I thought I'd try this battle, Eannatum of Lagash versus Ush of Umma c.2450 BC, which was a great victory for Eannatum and Lagash. The famous Stele of Vultures, now in the Louvre, actually commemorates this battle. Both sides had similar forces with a slight advantage in cards and numbers for Lagash. There was a reduction in shooting range for LI bow and some special rules for Sumerian Commander Chariots. I didn't worry about any terrain, it was most likely fought on a flat plain.

The infantry of Umma advanced confidently in the centre, two double time cards in their hand, no doubt bolstering their belief in the favour of the gods! The infantry of Umma were forced to retreat and after several turns had two units destroyed. The Lagash infantry pressed the attack in the centre, while Ush of Umma responded by ordering the advance of his infantry on the right flank. Shooting, casualties and retreats followed but Umma finally had some success clawing back a couple of victory points. It was too little, too late, however and Eannatum of Lagash won easily 6-2 victory points.

Lagash attack again

Umma advances on the right flank

Shooting, casualties and retreats
on the Lagash left flank

Umma finally has some success

Umma claws back a couple of victory points

Lagash win 6-2 victory points

Sumerian Midgard Game

 

Armies of Lagash and Ur deployed

Opposite end from the Lagash side

Ur attackers advance

Lagash defenders advance

Battle cars charge and counter-charge

Infantry combat in the centre

Battle cars in combat on the Lagash left flank

Last Sunday afternoon I played a solo game of Midgard Heroic Battles with my Sumerian armies out in the shed. These beautifully illustrated rules, written by James Morris, published by Reisswitz Press and available on the TFL's website, have only been just released. I played a set battle with similar 300 point armies, the attackers of Ur and the defenders of Lagash. As it was my first game, it was quite slow going, I had to check a lot of the rules and look things up especially the traits of units and heroes. The rules are designed to cover historical, legendary and fantasy battles in an age of heroic deeds and are well supported with a QRS, army lists and rosters. Managing your army's reputation (represented by tokens) while destroying your opponent's reputation is the key to winning games.

After a slow start I got on a bit of a roll after a few turns and the casualties quickly mounted. In the end  the defenders of Lagash won a mighty victory by 8-4 reputation tokens. Heroic deeds performed by the heroes of your army can certainly change the action in a game but most of the fighting in my game was done by units of warriors. There is a lot to like about these rules, they are fun and remind me of WAB and Dux Bellorum games I've played and enjoyed in the past. Much of their appeal for me is for heroic Bronze Age and Dark Age games but I'm sure they will be very popular, whatever your gaming interests and preferences may be.

Ur battle cars on the left are destroyed

Infantry combat continues

Ur skirmishers support in vain

Skirmishers fail to evade

Army of Ur's reputation is in tatters

Lagash wins 8-4

Sumerian ADLG Game - Lagash versus Ur Revisited

 

Forces deployed - Lagash on the left, Ur on the right

Opposite end

Shooting commences

Armies close

I haven't played a game with my Sumerian armies for about two years, so thought it was high time to get them out on the table again. Last Thursday afternoon Craig came over and we played a Sumerian ADLG game out in the shed. We diced for sides and I commanded the army of Lagash and Craig commanded the army of Ur. Both armies are very similar and could really represent any Sumerian city state. The spearmen of the army of Ur have copper helmets and copper studded cloaks as depicted in the Standard of Ur in the British Museum. The spearmen of Lagash have copper helmets, crossed leather belts on their upper bodies with long spears and a front rank of axe armed shield bearers with large shields as depicted in the Stele of Vultures in the Louvre.

I had already deployed the armies on a small 6 x 4 foot mat to save time and Craig was the attacker and moved first. The armies advanced within shooting range and exchanged missile fire. I charged on the left flank with my battle cars and in the centre with my spearmen and royal guard axemen. A protracted combat ensued which was soon joined by units on both sides on the Lagash right flank. Craig had terrible luck with his dice in the game and couldn't take a trick in combat. Some games are just like that, as I had experienced recently in our Second Bedriacum, Strength and Honour game! Gaps appeared in the Ur line, a commander was killed in combat and before long the army of Ur had broken. 

Combat in the centre

Battle cars in combat on the Lagash left flank

Gaps appear in the Ur line

Army of Ur breaks

Umma versus Lagash - Sumerian Mortem et Gloriam Game

 

Armies deployed - Umma left, Lagash right

Battle cars on the Lagash left flank

Battle cars on the Umma right flank

Armies advance

Battle cars of Lagash declare a charge

They charge the battle cars of Umma

Last Wednesday I played a solo game out in the shed, with the city of Umma taking on Lagash. This was a Magna sized MeG game with the army of Lagash under King Eannatum and that of Umma under King Ur-luma (actually the troops of Ur). Both sides had fairly similar armies, Umma had a slight advantage in numbers, while Lagash had a unit of retained rather than all militia spearmen. The Sumerian Shakespeare site has a great page on the Sumerian "Hundred Years War" between Lagash and Umma which was fought over the possession of the fertile fields of Guedena:

A History of the Wars between Umma and Lagash

The armies advanced and the battle cars of Lagash charged those of Umma. Combat was level pegging for a while before the battle cars of Umma eventually broke. Meanwhile Umma's infantry on the left flank and in the centre charged the Lagash infantry and casualties quickly mounted. Umma's left flank and centre then collapsed handing a decisive 15-2 victory to Lagash.

Battle car combat is level pegging

The infantry close on the left and in the centre

Umma's infantry on the left flank and centre charges

Battle cars of Umma break

Infantry casualties mount quickly

Umma's left flank and centre collapses

Sumerian ADLG Game

 

Armies deployed - Lagash left, Ur right

Archers and slingers exchange fire 

Armies advance

Ur spearmen wheel in the centre

Royal Guard of Lagash

Here's another post from the archives, a Sumerian ADLG game, Craig and I played about five years ago. Craig commanded the army of Lagash, while I commanded the army of Ur. Again I don't remember too much about this, apart from the fact that it was a great victory for Lagash!

I've got another Sumerian game planned, using the same armies which have increased in size since then. This will be a Magna sized MeG game with the army of Lagash under King Eannatum and that of Umma under King Ur-luma (these will actually be the troops of Ur). The Sumerian Shakespeare site has a great page on the Sumerian "Hundred Years War" between Lagash and Umma which was fought over the possession of the fertile fields of Guedena:

A History of the Wars between Umma and Lagash

Ur battle cars smash into Lagash archers

Lagash battle cars lumber forward

Battle cars collide on the Ur right flank

Ditto on the Ur left flank

Gaps appear in the Ur line

Still slogging it out in the centre