CCA2024, QF, Mantinea
Game 1
Max/Viridovilas, Argives, 6 banners taken, 34 blocks lost
SteveT, Spartans, 8 banners taken, 30 blocks lost
Battle began with the Argive right flank advancing towards the Spartan left. The Spartan hoplites sacrificed themselves so that their lights could escape towards the centre (2-1). After some ranged fire on the other flank, the Spartan centre advanced and gained the advantage in a ferocious hoplite melee, including with the death of Nicostratus with his Argives (6-7). The battle ended on the right, with Spartan LC cutting off the retreat of Argive LC, who were then destroyed by Spartan hoplites and slingers (6-
Game 2
SteveT, Argives, 8 banners taken, 31 blocks lost
Max/Viridovilas, Spartans, 7 banners taken, 42 blocks lost
This time the Argive right flank, lacking sufficient orders, was slow to attack, and the Spartans were able to refuse their left. Ranged fire followed on both flanks, with the Spartans being a little more effective and the Argive cavalry elected to retreat behind their phalanx. At last the Argive right reached the Spartans, and fierce fighting ensued in and around the woods; Thrasylus died with his Argive hoplites and a Spartan leader fled (!) the field (4-4). The right of the Spartan phalanx advanced, while the left took casualties and fell back before effective massed Argive missile fire from the captured woods. Then the phalanxes clashed, but the Spartans had been more weakened by missile fire, and although Laches fell with his men, the Argive phalanx emerged victorious after a gruelling fight (8-7).
Both games were very tough, very challenging and great fun. The luck was generally even and we both generally had good cards, and each battle could easily have gone the other way. Thanks to Max for a great pair of games.
