Game 2 vs Inert NKE. Bassano 10/2011
The second game I met the same opponent I faced in Bassano 2010, using an inert version of NKE. The past year I won a tough game taking huge risks. This time I guessed another hard game was waiting for me. The advantage was that I had not to face KnS.
I was the attacker and this was the battlefield
I choosed two large rocky flat, while my opponent wanted a table more open as possible, having a large chariot force, and put down just a compulsory waterway.
I had the advantage of deploying second and moving first, but being the attacker I had less difficult terrain I liked to anchor my line. Looking at the enemy army, I decided to keep my center protected by the terrain, while my attacks would be launched versus the enemy wings. On the right I hoped to destroy by shooting the enemy ICvO. On the left I enjoyed quality superiority, while the enemy had more troops. There too I would have tried to attack, to take the rough and go for enemy flanks. In a perfect world after crushing the enemy wings I would have destroyed the chariot mass with attacks from three sides. Of course no plan survives to enemy contact, and this battle made no exception.
Early Egyptians advanced on both wings
While the ICvO withdrew to take less bow fire as possible, the lowest pip dice RCvS reserve moved to the rescue. The egyptians reserve and its left wings had the lowest pip dice, and often were reduced to one or zero pips. This helped me. What didn't work, was that my attacks were weak. On the right 4 RPsS neede three turn to kill 2 IPsI, losing one in the process, while the archers shooting on the ICvO did no harm.
This was the high mark of my advance, just before a moon eclypse (read as several 1-6) put the fear in egyptian hearts. My PsS were going to be mauled
The inert counterattacked and destroyed my attack force
Having failed to destroy the enemy CvO, the opponent put his RCvS reserve in line, with two commanders leading upfront. Some skillfilly moved enemy RBwO and RBdF supported the chariotry and started to annoy my bowmen.
Knowing that discretion is better part of valour, I started to tactically withdraw alternate corps to force the enemy to close to the Nubians
Inert pip dice slowed the opponent, and I could accelerate my withdraw.
After losing my attack troops on the left wing, the hordes advanced to protect the flank
NKE army is now pursuing. I withdrew to create a salient based on the rocky flat area and use the nubians. The pip problem inert armies have hampered infantry and chariotry coordination.
My defensive line on the right. The Nubians started to take casualties but kept the position.
The NKE attack on the right. Early Egyptian line held out. When the time was called ther was sporadic fighting all over the line, but not enough to cause significant casualties. 13-12 for Early Egyptian.
This game showed how weak is the army when forced to attack enemy mounted. Bowmen fire is usually uneffective versus superior troops and RBwI cannot survive close combat in open terrain.