621 Lechaeum (391 BC)

Details
Written by: GMT Games
Category: The Spartan Hegemony (404-362 BC)
Hits: 7987
Victory Results:
 39 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  61 %
Total plays 18 - Last reported by Riclev on 2023-12-20 23:49:15

Historical Background
The Spartan commander at Lechaeum, honoring the tradition of the Amyclaeans in his army to return to their city of Amyclae to celebrate a religious festival, marched an escort force of Hoplites and cavalry past Corinth. After successfully leading his force well past the city of Corinth, the Spartan commander ordered his Hoplites to return to Lechaeum, while the cavalry continued on with the Amyclaeans. Iphicrates, who commanded the light troops in Corinth, seeing that the Spartan Hoplite force was unprotected by light infantry or cavalry, decided to attack the Spartans as they marched past the city. The Spartan commander ordered some of his men to charge the Athenians, but the slow heavily-armed Hoplites could not make contact. When the Spartans turned to return to their lines, the Athenian lights fell upon them again flinging spears, and inflicting casualties. This process was repeated several times, with similar results. Unable to drive off the Athenians, the Spartans were forced back to the hills which proved to be a bitter blow to Spartan pride.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

Light Infantry Light Sling Light Bow Auxilia                             Leader  
6 1 1 2                             2  
          Medium Hoplite Infantry       Light Cavalry                 Leader  
          6       2                 1  

War Council

Athenian Army (Use Greek light blue blocks)
• Leader: Iphicrates
• 5 Command Cards      
• Move First

Spartan Army (Use Spartan orange and bronze Hoplite blocks)
• Leader: Unknown
• 3 Command Cards

Victory
3 Banners

Special Rules
• The Hoplite Infantry Rule is in effect.

• Six Spartan units are special bronze five block MH units.

• Corinth is a Fortified Walled City. The city walls are impassable except at the city gate.

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Posts in discussion: 621 Lechaeum (391 BC)
Riclev replied the topic:
#45541
3 months 4 weeks ago
Two interesting games. Each side won the battle 3-0, with the winning side losing only 5 blocks. In their defeat, the Spartans finally managed to close with the Greek auxilias with a single unit, only to bounce off with a complete miss. Up to that point, the hoplites had been decimated by withering missile fire. Both games were decided by the card draws, with the opening Greek Darken the Sky card so disrupting the Spartans that they never really recovered. One of the weaker scenarios in Expansion 6 - with only three banners it isn't long enough for a side with poor cards to get back into it.
mk20336 replied the topic:
#2628
5 years 9 months ago


That was interesting, 3 block battle, with heavy units on Spartan side and light on Athenian. It was long cat-and-mouse play, which ended in narrow Spartan victory.

Full session report here:
mk20336boardgames.com/2018/07/12/eng-spa...ca-campaign-part-ii/
Tomek replied the topic:
#1343
12 years 3 weeks ago
Yesterday was my first battle of Lechaeum (solo) and it was a victory for Sparta but very close one. A great scenario that gives perfect opportunity to practice imbalanced combat light vs. heavy troops. Fortified Corinth adds to the tactics with its only city gate, giving strong defence position for the Athenians. I played the gate as scalable city wall, was it right?
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