Syrian Wars 3

Seleucids against Ptolemies

  The Valley of Tears

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NEWSFLASH!!!....Defeat!!.... Utter ignominious defeat.....hide your daughters......bury your hams....
the Seleucid menace is loose....NEWSFLASH!!!

 

Huleh, near Mount Hermon.

The forces of good and righteousness were overturned by treachery and evil guidance this weekend.  General Snopus' forces were marching towards Damascus on their peaceful non-aggressive intention to deliver that city into freedom from the Seleucid mad-man emperor.  According to sources (who will not be named owing the the sensitivity of the subject matter), the Ptolemaic army was split into three parts as they marched over the Ituraean heights through the Valley of Tears.  The left wing was composed of heavy cavalry and the baggage, the right consisted of mercenaries, the center led by general Snopus himself marched through the three passes that convey one from Huleh to Damascus. The columns were spread out so as not to overwhelm the wells when they were encountered.  After a long hot march the forces under General Snopus reached  the high point of the pass known as the Valley of Tears.



The campaign so far.

 

The rugged terrain of the Valley of Tears, which skirts the edges of Mount Hermon. (File Photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Snopus' dispatch:

Yeah, as we ... er.. marched... they were sneaky.. and they uh set a trap...Yes!! A trap.  And we walked right into it. Well I sent the cavalry ahead, but then. well.. they didn't tell me the whole frigging enemy army was there!! 

So I told the men it looks bad.. real bad... but then an eagle flew overhead, and I said to the men, "Did Alexander quit when he faced the Indians at Thermopylae? So the tough get going when the rough start mowing!!! "Cheers rang out down the line.... "Don't stop him he's rolling!!" They cheered....

But a good speech wasn't enough and the phalanx was too tired and outnumbered, and the evil enemy were uphill and had better shields, and fancier duds. Our guys were smaller, they had fight and big hearts but they broke and ran.  

During the next few days we rallied the remaining phalanx and troops, and headed for Jerusalem to regroup.


The Thessalian cavalry engage the Thracians instead of scouting the enemy battleline.



The Neo-Agrianians take the high ground and report the enemy is deployed on the other side of the crest!

The well deployed enemy battleline surprises General Snopus.

 

The Ptolemaic light cavalry engage the Seleucid Arab "brigand" cavalry.

The fatigued and inexperienced phalangites struggle to deploy as the enemy battleline approaches.




Enemy Thracians drive up onto the ridgeline, only to be isolated, surrounded, and destroyed by the Thessalian cavalry, the Thorakitai, and the slingers.

 

The Cretans supported by thureophoroi, hold a knoll along the roadside.

The epic battle between the Cretans and Trallian slingers will be heralded throughout history!
(Note the snake-eyes! Paul rolled all his leadership tests. But could not make a save, I rolled well in combat
but when my phalanx rolled leadership, off it went, taking the General, ASB, and everybody with it.)

General Snopus attempts to inspire the tired infantry after their long march without water.

 

The phalanxes crash together along the foothills.

The elephant and the thureophoroi crush the enemy mercenaries underfoot!!



The light cavalry's hard fight ends with their destruction.

The Ptolemaic Kleruch phalanxes give way!!



Fighting on into the darkness, General Snopus destroys the enemy cavalry, but calls off the fight when the elephant is captured by the enemy.

 

Ptolemaic Army list 2000 Points

CHARACTERS

                                M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld            Pts
Strategos                 
8    5       4       3    4    3     5    3    9          169
Equipment: Sword, and xyston. Heavy armour. Warhorse.
Special Rules: Army General. Drilled and Stubborn. 

                                         M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A   Ld   Pts
Army Standard  Bearer    8      5    5    3     4   2   5     2     8    86
Equipment: Sword. Heavy armour. Warhorse.
Special Rules:
Army
Battle Standard. Drilled and Stubborn.
_______________________________________________

Total Characters =                                                       255 pts

 CAVALRY
                                         M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A   Ld       Pts
0-1 Elite Light Cavalry    8     3      4      3    3     1    4    1     8    22
Equipment: Sword, javelins, throwing spear, light armour, and shield.
Special Rules: Light cavalry.
x8 L/M = 120 + 10 =                                                     186 pts

                                  M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Light
Cavalry          8    3       3       3    3    1     3    1    7          16
Equipment: Sword, javelins, throwing spear, and shield.
Special Rules: Light cavalry.
x8 L/M = 120 + 10 =                                             138 pts
_______________________________________________
Total Cavalry =                                                       324 pts

INFANTRY
                                     M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Kleruch Phalanx        4    3       2       3    3    1     3    1    7      10
Equipment: Sword, pike, light armour, and shield..
Special Rules: Macedonian Phalanx.
x24 L/M/S = 240 + 15 =                                       255 pts

                                     M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Kleruch Phalanx        4    3       2       3    3    1     3    1    7     10
Equipment: Sword, pike, light armour, and shield..
Special Rules: Macedonian Phalanx.
x24 L/M/S = 240 + 15 =                                       255 pts

                                     M  WS   BS  S    T   W  I    A   Ld       Pts
Kleruch Phalanx        4    3       2       3    3    1     3    1    7      10
Equipment: Sword, pike, light armour, and shield..
Special Rules: Macedonian Phalanx.
x24 L/M/S = 240 + 15 =                                       255 pts

                                      M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A   Ld       Pts
Neo-Agrianians         5    3       3       3    3    1     3    1    7       8
Equipment:   Sword, throwing spear, javelins, and shield. 
Special Rules: Skirmishers. Elephant Escorts.
x 9 L = 72 + 5 =                                                      77 pts

_______________________________________________
Total Infantry =                                                      842 pts

 SPECIAL TROOPS

WAR ELEPHANTS 

                                  M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
African Elephant    6     4      -      6    5     5    3    4     4      141
Mahout                     4    2       3       3    3    1     3    1    7          -
Crew                         4    3       3       3    3    1     3    1    7          -
Equipment: The mahout has light armour and is armed with a goad.
Two crewmen with light armour and armed with swords and javelins are included. 
Add pike +2 pts. Shields may be hung on the sides and back of the war tower for a total cost of +4 pts.

_______________________________________________

Total Special Troops =                                                     141 pts

 

MERCENARY TROOPS

 
                                  M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Thureophoroi         5    3       3       3    3    1     3    1    7          8
Equipment: Sword, thrusting spear, javelins, and shield.
Special Rules:
Light Infantry.  May form as Close Order.
x 16 L/M/S = 128 + 15 =                                            143 pts

                                  M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Thorakitai                5    3       3       3    3    1     3    1    7          10
Equipment: Sword, thrusting spear, light armour, javelins, and shield.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.  May form as Close Order.
x 12 L/M/S = 120 + 15 =                                            135 pts

                                  M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Expert Slingers      5    2       3       3    3    1     2    1    5          8
Equipment: Sword and sling.  May add buckler +1 pt.  
Special Rules: Skirmishers.  Expert Slingers do not suffer any penalty for shooting at long range.
x 9  = 72 =                                                                        72 pts

                                  M  WS  BS  S   T   W  I    A    Ld      Pts
Cretan Archers       5    3       4       3    3    1     3    1    7          10
Equipment: Sword, bow, and shield. 
Special Rules: Skirmishers. May not be the largest or only unit of skirmishers in the army. 
x 8 L = 80 + 5 =                                                            85 pts

_______________________________________________

Total Mercenary Troops =                                         435 pts

 

Total Army Points =                                               1997 pts

 

 

"Defeat is only a temporary setback for ultimate victory"  Ptolemy, Lord/Dude

 





Follow the Seleucid side of the campaign on Paul Rigby's Blog:

http://paulwargamespot.blogspot.com/

 

 

 



Wise Ptolemy speaks:

"Peace through Ptolemy."

 

 

The exalted one, Ptolemy IIII guarantees the veracy of the Memphis Gazetteer's press.
One hundred years of honest, totally truthful, unbiased, state run media excellence

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05/21/11