Petra Mountain Passes - Lazic War 548 AD - Command and Colors Medieval Game

 

Forces deployed from the Byzantine side

From the Sassanid side

Sassanids move first, cavalry advances

Byzantine archers are exposed

Sassanid cavalry look to force the mountain passes

Byzantines play a Scout card

Byzantines evade and retreat on the left flank

Byzantines retreat on the right flank

Last Tuesday morning I played a solo Command and Colors Medieval game out in the shed. The scenario was from the Lazic War in 548 AD with a Sassanid relief force commanded by Mir-Mihroe, heading for the besieged city of Petra, while a small Byzantine force tried to defend the mountain passes. The Sassanids outnumbered the Byzantines two to one, moved first and had an extra Inspired Action token, and both sides had five command cards. This turned out to be an interesting game where the Sassanid attempt to force the passes actually back fired on them.The Byzantines took a cautious approach evading, retreating and relying on shooting and defending in difficult terrain to counter the Sassanid numbers. The Byzantines actually managed to hold the mountain passes with a hard fought 5-3 victory.

Byzantine horse archers attack

The game is level pegging

Sassanids attack in the centre

Byzantine infantry fight off a cavalry charge

Sassanid infantry are vulnerable

Sassanids try again to break through

Byzantines hold the mountain passes
with a hard fought 5-3 victory

Battle of Hormuz 226 AD - Command & Colors Medieval Game

 

Sassanids and Parthians deployed on the plain of
Hormuz between the Bebahan and Shuster Rivers

View from the Parthian side

Parthian left flank

Parthian centre

Parthian right flank

Sassanid left flank

Sassanid infantry and cataphracts in the centre

Sassanid left flank

Last Thursday afternoon Rick, Garry and Craig came over and we played a Command & Colors Medieval game (CCM) out in the shed. The scenario was the Battle of Hormuz 226 AD with the Sassanids under Ardashir I revolting against their Parthian overlords under Artabanus IV. We diced for sides, Craig and I were the Sassanids, Rick and Garry the Parthians. The Sassanids had six command cards, the Parthians only had five but moved first. Both sides started with three Inspired Action tokens. 

The Parthians played a Move Fire Move card, followed by Darken the Sky. The horse archers with their Parthian shot proved to be very effective. The Parthian forced some costly Sassanid retreats to have the lead early in the game. The Sassanids returned fire and managed to claw back the Parthian advantage making the game level pegging. They then launched a make or break Mounted Charge to try and finish the game but the Parthians prevailed 7-5, killing Ardashir I in the final turn.

Parthian horse archers 'Darken the Sky'

Horse archers with their Parthian shot were very effective

Artabanus IV with his cataphracts

Sassanids suffer some costly retreats

Sassanids return fire

Game is level pegging

Sassanids launch a Mounted Charge

Parthians prevail 7-5 victory banners

Lion Rampant Second Edition - Late Romans vs Sassanids

 

Warband champions fight a duel

Warbands advance

Late Roman light cavalry with javelins

Late Roman heavy cavalry

Late Roman light infantry with javelins

Light infantry with javelins, heavy cavalry and archers

Sassanid elite  cavalry

Sassanid heavy cavalry with bows

On Monday Craig came over to my place and we played another Lion Rampant Second Edition game out in the shed. This time it was his Late Romans versus my Sassanids and we played Scenario 2: Gladiators Ready! which is a variant on the usual Bloodbath scenario. After deployment each player chooses a champion from the Leader’s unit and they fight a duel rolling six dice each. The two sides gains bonus dice for combat or shooting for every hit scored. The Romans killed the Sassanid champion and gained two bonus dice and the Sassanids gained one.

Combat quickly developed in the centre as the Sassanid elite cavalry all have Wild Charge but the results were mixed. The Romans had three units armed with javelins and were able to whittle away at the Sassanid cavalry wearing them down. Once the cavalry units were down to half strength the Sassanids were done for. A better mixed Sassanid force with more fire power would have been handy. Next time I’ll try a single unit of elite cavalry (cataphracts), two units of heavy cavalry with bow, a unit of light infantry with javelins and a unit of archers.

Sassanid light infantry and archers

Sassanid elite cavalry

Sassanid elite cavalry threaten the Roman centre

Mixed results from combat

Sassanid elite cavalry are battered and at half strength

Sassanid heavy cavalry are in strife and at half strength

Sassanids are done for

Romans win, five warbands remain on the table

Sassanid Heavy Infantry

 

Here are some more Sassanid infantry that I've just finished painting for my 15mm Sassanid army. These are all Forged in Battle figures from their Sassanid heavy infantry pack with an LBM banner. These are really lovely, detailed little figures, more true 15mm than 18mm, that are just great to paint. I have quite a few more packs of these to paint, mainly Clibinarii and a pack of the Daylami hillmen.