JD81 Elasa (160 BC)

ELASA - 160 BC
Seleucid vs Hasmonean
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JD81 Elasa (160 BC)

It's tough for the Maccabees - pinned to the baseline and their troops outclassed in all sectors. Line Command got them off the baseline but the Seleucids were already one hex closer. The Judaean cavalry spread out but kept Auxilia in support (or sacrificial protection?). Judaean shooters got some hits on the phalanx and, in a lucky break, hit them first in melee with their medium foot. It was a bloodbath with on phalanx going down, two badly beaten up, but the hits back telling. In the follow-up Seleucid turn, the phalanx crushed the survivors. The Judaean right held but Judas got caught on the left and he and his cavalry punished hard. 5-2 to the Seleucids.

Game 7, and last, of the Maccabean Revolt campaign. Once again, after my disaster at Beth Zacharia, I am commanding all that heavy infantry pike. What can go wrong....

A resounding 5-1 win to the Hasmoneans. Bacchides and his heavy cavalry charged Judas and his supporting Auxilia and were promptly destroyed. Bacchides fled back to the Seleucid medium infantry who were promptly destroyed. Bacchides fled back to the auxilia unit who were promptly destroyed - every Hasmonean shot hit a mark and Judas charged in to destroy the final block, including the unlucky Bacchides. In desperation the Seleucid left flank of warband and medium cavalry chased the Jewish light cavalry off the board and then were cut to pieces by Simeon and his auxilia unit. Another embarrassing Seleucid loss with the heavy infantry pike spending the battle stationary after the Seleucids failed to draw and any centre, leadership or move heavy troops for the game (again).

The Maccabean Revolt campaign ended with a resounding 28-10 Hasmonean victory.

I cannot recommend enough playing through a succession of linked games. We played 7 in the evening, starting at 7:30 and finishing at 11:30 with drinks and snacks. It is a relaxing way to end the working week. Love this game.