Recent translations have shown glimpses into the Sumerian world. This one contains a Sumerian military marching song:
"Gone marching 'cross the near an' far
never getting lost 'cos we don't know where we are,
following the Rupert, staring at his ass, Ass! hurrah!
"There's clingons on the straddle car, straddle car,
there's clingons on the straddle car,
clingons on the straddle car!
Feet ache an' furry bits itch, kit's a heavy bitch!
We get to shovel mud sir! Mud Sir! More mud!
We pass water sir! Water Sir! Pass water!
There's clingons on the straddle car, straddle car,
there's clingons on the straddle car,
clingons on the straddle car!"
Always have a campaign of some sort in the pot. Life over Easter got very complicated (due to a covid scare) Proving that no plan survives contact. BUT Proper Planning Prevents Poor Playing.
I got another small order from Museum Miniatures and painted up some more a bit quick. The baggage train was a previous purchase (for my Achaeans) not yet finished.
Worth pointing out that there's 2 ways to play this game. The traditional is small groups of individual adventurers fighting. This is different, as it relies more on group activations.
I made a few adjustments. Once I set up I realised that I needed sub commanders for each force. I didn't price them - each side had one replacing a better fighter.
Clan Dirka Dirka. At a local level there is more ability to raid, but the edge has been blunted by inaction.
Tribal troops will be Q4 C1 with slings and bows (good morale but less prepared, not fast) Warriors can go to Q4 C2 Javelin and the leader Q3 C3 with an add-on.
War Leader - Personality |
Points 78 | Quality 3+ | Combat 3 |
| Dashing, Leader, Sharpshooter, Shooter: Short |
Warrior javelin |
Points 18 | Quality 4+ | Combat 2 |
| Shooter: Short |
Tribal Bow |
Points 18 | Quality 4+ | Combat 1 |
| Shooter: Long |
Tribal Sling |
Points 14 | Quality 4+ | Combat 1 |
| Shooter: Medium |
The town of Aaarg Under the influx of new troops, now there is a force capable of raiding. The force is equipped and good morale, So Q4 C2 with most shielded javelin. Leader is Q3/C3 mounted and 1/2 add ons.
Leader 106
Champion 68
8 shielded javelin 144
8 unshielded javelin 88
4 Woodcutters 84
490
Aaag Leader - Personality |
Points 106 | Quality 3+ | Combat 3 |
| Leader, Mounted, Shooter: Short, Tough |
Champion - Personality |
Points 68 | Quality 3+ | Combat 2 |
| Dashing, Sharpshooter, Shooter: Short, Tough |
Shielded Javelin |
Points 18 | Quality 4+ | Combat 2 |
| Shooter: Short |
Unshielded Javelin |
Points 11 | Quality 4+ | Combat 1 |
| Shooter: Short |
Aaag Woodcutters - sling & axe |
Points 21 | Quality 4+ | Combat 2 |
| Shooter: Medium |
Game 1 Aarg's work party has started gathering timber for spears but they are spotted and the Dirka come out in challenge.
The locals come on - javelins respond but the archers sneak around their flank and put a couple down.
The other flank forms up.
The Aaarg javelin recover and return the favour. A rag tag bunch around the champion dash in.
The woodsmen go forth.
The sub commander sends his flank forward, but the archers are squeezed like toothpaste up the hill and he finds himself the obvious target! First local dead.
Slingers advance and the first Aaarg dies, flank turns into a chewed up mess.
Recall! The flank forms up around their sub commander. One lad is left. Slingshots start to bracket.
Rear spear are being sent up the hill.
The locals clump on the flank and the spear approach the archers.
One archer goes down.
Meanstwhile the Boss sends the other flank forward.
Another archer gone and the champion moves in.
Crap. 1 reaction and initiative swap. I need a Sumerian Duck of Initiative.
Another archer goes, but not before knocking down the champion.
Now the locals advance and pelt the line, killing one javelin.
That makes a gap.
The champions up and the last archer is holding them back even with the weight of missiles arrayed!
Now the locals target the woodsmen, killing one and knocking another down.
The archer skips down the hill, pausing only to shoot the champion back on his arse. Again.
The other flank turns into a push & shove.
The locals start to take losses.
A gruesome death! The first -the locals go back. A few flee.
The javelins pursue.
The slingers knock down another.
The locals regroup.
Attack! Through the gap a warrior attacks the leader! He is struck down but distracts the leader. The Aaarg's looses momentum.
Now the locals advance and the archers outflank the force, causing the leader to - regroup.
The tables are turned! The leader calls a reform and order is restored.
Now the long march of those spear pays off as they press the locals on the flank.
Crap.
That allows the locals to get organised.
Doing well -
Oh come on!
Finally, the champion upon his hill faces the local sub commander -
Aw crap -
There we ended it. 500 points is about the limit for a 4 hour-ish game, Gives a good look, does it not?
Game 2 Aaarg seeks to build on their success, but before they can begin construction the Dirka once again send out their warband. Well that fits in well doesn't it?
Tony swapped to the Sumerians. As defender he set up the terrain. You can consider this " back a bit" from the last game, a defensive hill near a water source plus plenty of local wood.
I set up a fairly wide line, you must imagine a tree line behind, but that would have been a real pain in play. You can spot the leader (front left) and 2ic (middle) by their extra thick bases.
The very start. My leader gets 2 actions and uses one to group activate the archers, who also get 2. One archer, as you can see, is in range so does a +1 shot. A gory death.
That disrupts Tony's formation. Can I exploit or can Tony recover? I could have sent the remainder of the archers forward, but I didn't risk it.
With the final activation my leader sends a line of warriors forward, but only 1 so over to Tony.
Tony gets a line together and a volley of javelin knocks mine down.
The 2ic kills 1, the champion trots up into contact.
My leader gets 1 activation, so goes for the javelins threatening his archers. That was the poor roll that lost me the game.
Risking, shrugging off a free hack, the champion pounces on my leader and strikes him down!
Now it's time for me to roll morale.
These are the ones who went off-table, including the sub - so no leader. Game over.
My dead.
Well that was quick! But it had the right feel of a more disciplined force opposed by a much less organised tribal gathering.
No comments:
Post a Comment