EPIC11 Paraitacene (317 BC)

Details
Written by: GMT Games
Category: Wars of the Successors (323-281 BC)
Hits: 14232
Victory Results:
 47 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  53 %
Total plays 43 - Last reported by SimSportPlyr on 2024-04-25 02:36:16

Historical Background
By 318 BC the Successors had formed two competing alliances: the “Royalists” who claimed to fight to maintain the empire for Alexander’s infant sons, and a rival coalition that sought to claim their own independent kingdoms. The opposing Successor armies in Asia—one commanded by Antigonus, the other by Eumenes—met in battle at Paraitacene in 317 BC. Antigonus was by now the most powerful of the Diadochi, controlling most of Anatolia and the eastern satrapies. Eumenes had the backing of Alexander’s heirs and a large war chest, though the fact that he was a Greek and not a Macedonian was a major handicap. Antigonus fielded 28,000 infantry and 11,000 horse. Eumenes’ force of 35,000 foot and 6,000 horse included the veteran Silver Shields, who had fought with distinction in all of Alexander’s campaigns. The battle opened with Antigonus’ light horse attacking Eumenes’ right. This attack was wrecked by Eumenes’ heavy cavalry. Meanwhile in the center, the Silver Shields drove back Antigonus’ phalanx. Antigonus’ army was on the ropes when he pulled off a stroke that evened the score. He charged through a gap and was successful in routing Eumenes’ left flank. Both sides at this point were exhausted and returned to their camps. Antigonus claimed victory, but realistically the battle was a draw and a final resolution would not be reached until the armies met at Gabiene, a year later.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War Council

Eumenes Successor Army
Leader: Eumenes
9 Command Cards

Antigonus Successor Army
Leader: Antigonus
9 Command Cards
Move First

Victory
15 Banners
(Winning side must have a margin of at least 2 Victory Banners to achieve a decisive victory: otherwise the battle is declared a draw.)

Special Rules
• The hill hexes are impassable.
• The Silver Shields is a special unit. Place a special unit block in the same hex as the Silver Shields unit to distinguish it from the other units. The Silver Shields will score a hit for each leader symbol rolled in close combat and may ignore one flag.

 

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Posts in discussion: EPIC11 Paraitacene (317 BC)
Lastall replied the topic:
#3683
3 years 5 months ago
Eumenes grab a 15-14 draw. The Antigonus left flank was destroyed by the Silver Shields but did amazingly well on the right flank. I think the Eumenes elephants had something bad to eat since they missed on almost every attack (even on a mounted charge into heavies). This left the elephants as easy pickings. The center was a slaughter with neither side being dominant. In short, this was a very well balanced game that spun in a counter-clockwise direction.
TomKnight3 replied the topic:
#2650
5 years 9 months ago
Eumenes wins again in a tight 15-13 victory. Eumenes' left was cracked early, but his center moved forward with order. Antigonus pushed his right flack against the cracked left of Eumenes, but twice had his units destroyed attached to him. He also was even able to void death with an escape through enemy lines. The Silver Shields tried to push the medium infanty of Antigonus but were stopped and finally crushed, even though a rally card had brought new life back into the famous heavies. However, an elephant charge helped to break the center of Antigonus. This was followed up by general leadership in the center which finally broke the best troops of Antigonus. Eumenes wins 15-13.
TomKnight3 replied the topic:
#2647
5 years 9 months ago
We had only 5 players, so we set it up 4 to 1 so one side could expereince the Epic feel with the chain of command. The game was fairly matched, but the elephants in Eumenes' army caused huge problems for Antigonus. One elephant unit took out 4 heavy units of Antigonus in two turns. It left a huge whole in his line. However, Antigonus was able to hit a line of medium troops in the center of Eumenes and roll them up. It was back and forth. In the late game the center of both armies was spent. The game ended on the Eumenes' right flank when he got the Silver Shields into the last of Antiongus' medium infantry. The Eumenes army had the 4, and Antigonus was a sole player. The game ended 15-11 in favor of Eumenes.
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