Field of Glory Wargaming at Burton Doubles, (Badcon) 2010
The snow was not yet falling however the TV cameras were already rolling at Badcon 2010.
In a Dark Ages period spanning loads of books, we had chosen Fatimid Egyptians, largely on the basis that I wanted to try out some Arabs, and having gotten a bit bored with some aspects of FoG, this bag of bits army promised to be both interesting and challenging to use even if it was not likely to prove that super-efficient at winning.
It also allowed us to use a poor quality pun in the form of the Al Shearer Infantry
Game 1 saw us facing .... a Nikephorian Byzantine Army who's list is available here
Pictures of Byzantine Troops from my Ancients Photo Directory
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The Match Video
The match was recorded by Madaxeman TV, with commentary from the Burton Town Hall, and analysis from our two experts in the studio back in Madaxeman Towers.
Supplementing the video, here are a series of shots from Battle Chronicler. I accidentally graded our 4 Crossbowmen as "Sk Jv", and missed out a LH unit on our left, but you will still get the picture.
Initial Deployment.
The Arabs push forwards on the left and right, whilst reorganising in the middle. Note the Dailami making a bee-line for the mixed Bw/Sp formation on the far right.
The Fatimids now have an overwhelming advantage on the left, and the Byzantines have little choice but to back off. One Fatimid LH unit is missing from this picture remeber!
The Byzantines have been caught on the left, and some of them have to stand and take the Arabs charge.
The Byzantines fall back on both wings, but in the dailami are in contact and making short work of the Mixed formation. One unit of lancers has been drawn towards 2 units of Fatimid foot.
Other than the loss of the mixed formation, the Byzantine left flank is evading succesfully - but their right is being chewed up. The first lot of lancers go in unsupported, but bounce off unharmed.
With the Byzantine right flank almost totally crushed, the Arabs still have no-one available to roll up the by-now engaged Byzantine lancers, who - assisted by the Varangians - are doing serious damage to the Arab foot.
Time is called and the Byzantines have taken a beating, but have managed to escape with some units intact on both flanks. In the middle they have had the better of the combat against the Fatimids
Post Match Summary
As
Al Shearer, King o the Arabs in the Toon Of Alexandria, Ah felt this battle showed weh in wor best light, an wor worst.
Wi cleverly delayed fighting the myest difficult port o the battle in the center instead of rushing forward leik maniacs, but wi were unable te cross the baal into the middle te score even affta wi enjoyed considerable advantages gannin doon both wings
Wor infantry fared rortha well Ah thowt , especially the Drilled Al Shearer javelin an sword lads , whee were a lot tougher than they looked.
The apparent weakness o the infantry formation suckered the Byzantines into a frontal charge frem which they were lucky te escape unscathed. If ernly wi had more pace doon the wings an crossing into the middle wi could hev wrapped up a handy victory fre the team sharp doors.
Haweeeeyyy Tha Lads!
Hannibal's Post Match Analysis
This new fangled TV rubbish cannot hide the way in which you let victory slip from your grasp, and alowed your opponents to not so much pluck a draw from the jaws of defeat, but practically to reach down your throat and fish a draw out from the oesophagus of defeat.
Your oh so clever army is in actuality a rag-bag collection of odds and sods, which has little to recommend it other than making it intellectually challenging for you to actually achieve anything whatsoever other than abject failure.
You should have realised by now, armoured troops are the only way to get success. Having armour always gives you a POA, being protected always loses you one. And with your spearmen and the pathetic Al Shearer Infantry both being protected, even if they manage to beat enemy knights and cavalry at impact, they are still at best on an evens shot in melee - which is hardly any good when you are average and your opponents are always superior, is it?
Also, what on earth are you doing with a unit of 4 protected crossbows on table? They can't fight, they can't take casulaties, they can't really even shoot that well. Another unit of Lancer LH woudl have been a far better option IM-not-so-O. They will come back to bit you mark my words.
Anyway, I'm sure your next opponent won't be so obliging.
NEXT!!!
Following a quick pint of inappropriate Summer Ale at one of Burtons many real ale establishments we returned for the next round
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