101 Marathon (490 BC)

This battle was one for the books. I had not played this scenario or if I had, I had forgotten it. But it did not matter. It was a great game with the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.

Greece pressed their attack on the edges bringing their heavies to apply pressure but the Persians had some great rolls weakening them with volleys of arrows. A Greek medium was the first victim. However, the Greeks adjusted and a line command allowed them to move fast. The Persians sent a leader across the stream and he helped weaken the Greeks, but when his medium troops died, so did he. The Greeks were then up 2-1 and with pressure moved it to 3-1 and then 4-1. However, when all looked ill for the Persians, a Greek heavy took a loss, and his general was killed. This opened the door and the Persians were able to use a mounted charge to break open the Greek line. The Greeks were wearing the Persians down, and it was 4-3 after a comeback by the Persians. The Persian cavalry was a menace, but one medium cav was lost, but the one remaining general fell back to the last cav. It was now 5-3, but due to some good fighting the Persian cav took out two Greek Aux. to make it 5-5. But who would break first? The Greek left was shattered as well as the Persian right. Not once but twice Persian lights evaded in the face of a Greek heavy. Meanwhile, the Persian Cav pursued a light Greek to the edge of the board. He could not evade. The Greeks attacked another light, but could one get one hit out of five dice, leaving the Persians a chance. The Persians rolled the needed three hits to win the game 6-5. It was an upset for the Persians, but more importantly a very fun game.

Played 4 times, 
3 Greek victories 6-4 6-4 6-5 and one Persian victory 3-6
That was also the opportunity to try my new gaming platform!
 

6-5 for the Greeks. Persian cavalry managed to get behind the Greek line and take out a couple of weakened units, and had the last one needed to win in their sights, but couldn't get to it before the Greek heavy foot drove back the Persian left and right. Very close game - wondering if a valid tactic for the Persians might be to pull back into the river, thus taking away the advantage of the Greek heavies.

Yes I think it would have been better to either make the Athenian Centre Medium and the flanks heavy or simply give them more blocks on the flanks than in the Centre.

As for the Persians I would personally play them as auxilia but with bows instead of javelins.

Yes I agree.

What is being simulated here is that the Greeks thinned their lines in the centre and had heavier flanks. Perhaps a rule denying missile fire for the Auxillia units? But then their is still the problem that the Greek centre can move more quickly despite being hoplites. So the solution to that might be just to make all the auxillia units medium units with perhaps only 3 blocks each.

Having said all that, I enjoyed this scenario as written. Don Clarkes scenario is good too.

The Greeks had very little missile capability on this battle, didn't they? They wouldn't have had a centre full of javelineers as suggested in this scenario.

Game summary:

Greeks 6 - Persian 3

The Battle opened with the Greeks moving forward on the left flank while the Persians countered with ineffective Archery. This was followed by a line command that allowed the Greeks to close and begin the destruction of the Persian's right flank. The Persian Counterattacked bringing their Auxiliaries to bear on the center with the advantage of a near by leader and continuing the tradition of ineffective fire now on the left.

The Greeks continued the destruction of the Persian Left climbing to three banners and wheeling towards the center while the Persian used an Inspired leadership to move the Commanded Medium Infantry up to win their second banner and fire on the Greek right causing a slight retreat.

After a turn of mild maneuver by both sides, The Greeks finished their wheel to the center by attacking the commanded Persian Medium Infantry and killing both it and its leader.

More maneuvering saw another Persian Banner, but left the Persians in desperate straits with a weakened center and no right flank. The Persians used "I am Spartacus" but only managed two blue so they marched the Cavalry onto to the river hoping to hold out one more turn to use a "Mounted Charge". The Greek closed and finished off a damaged medium infantry for the victory.

Lucky Roll of the game: A Greek Auxiliary Infantry took out a three block medium and its leader.

Bad move of the game: The Persian did not play "First Strike" against the above attack, especially bad because the Auxiliary was not supported.