Seleucid versus Ptolemaic Successors ADLG Game

 

Armies deployed

Opposite end

Seleucids advance

Seleucid elephant, Agema and pike charge

Last Wednesday afternoon Garry and Craig came over and we played a Seleucid versus Ptolemaic Successor ADLG game inside. It was too hot for the shed, the maximum temperature was 43 degrees centigrade, the curtains were closed and the air conditioning running! The only drawback with this, was the table was a bit small (6 x 4 foot) for the size of the game, our usual 9 x 5 table tennis table is much better and allows manoeuvring on the flanks.


Garry and Craig commanded the Ptolemaic defenders with a sizeable advantage in phalangites, some of these the machimoi, were supposed to fight as mediocre. My later Seleucid army had cataphracts and an armoured elephant but the game was decided by the pike infantry. My elephant, Agema cataphracts, pike and thureophoroi all charged. Multiple rounds of combat saw the Seleucid flanks hold but in the centre the pike were quickly ground down and in tatters.

 

Pike combat in the centre

Seleucid pike break, Thracians
take casualties from shooting

Seleucid cataphracts charge on the left flank

Seleucid centre in tatters

Seleucid Armoured Elephant

 

Here's another Seleucid armoured elephant and crew for my 15mm Later Seleucids. Figures are by Museum Miniatures with Veni, Vedi, Vici waterslide shield transfers. Below are two comparison shots with the Xyston Seleucid armoured elephant. The Museum Miniatures ellie is easier to assemble and paint.

Macedonian and Successor Elephants

 

Here are four 15mm Macedonian and Successor Elephants that I've just finished painting. In the photos above of early ellies with pikemen astride, the middle one is Xyston which I just painted, while the other two, by Gladiator Miniatures and Essex Miniatures, were done some time ago. In the photos below the later armoured Seleucid elephant in the middle is by Xyston while the other two are Forged in Battle. To finish there's a shot of my Seleucid Successor infantry and cavalry.

Seleucid Armoured Elephants and a Command and Colors Medieval Crusades Game

 

Here's a Warlord Games armoured Seleucid elephant and crew that I've just finished painting. The shield transfers are by LBM, Foundry and VVV. It's quite a hefty beast, nearly a match size wise, for the massive 1st Corps ellie to its right. In the elephant parade group shot above there are two Old Glory elephants (far left and far right), an Aventine one (second one from the left), Warlord (centre), and 1st Corps (second from the right). Of course these are all more armoured Seleucid elephants than I'll probably ever use in a game but it's nice to have some options! My favourite elephant is the Aventine one with a purple crest and blanket.

Last Tuesday afternoon Robert came over and we played a Command and Colors Medieval Crusades board game out in the shed. The scenario was Dorylaeum 1 July 1097 Phase 1 - Defendable Base Camp. This is the first of four scenarios, based on different phases, of this battle. There are twenty scenarios in total for this expansion, hours of fun gaming! Hopefully we will get in a game with figures over the Xmas break. We diced for sides and Robert had the Crusaders and I had the Seljuks. 

Robert cannily retreated with his cavalry who were a bit exposed with their initial deployment. He made good use of his infantry to support his cavalry in attacks and the medium crossbow infantry were particularly effective, shooting range of four hexes and hitting on colours and swords! I had quite a few inspired action tokens but squandered the opportunities they presented and failed to use most of them. Robert managed to kill two of my leaders and in the end won fairly easily 6-2 victory banners. We both enjoyed it so much that we have another game organised for next week, Dorylaeum Phase 2 - Attack on the Camp.

Initial deployment Crusaders' side

Dorylaeum Phase 1 scenario

Initial deployment Seljuks' side

End of game Seljuks' side

End of game Crusaders' side