Battle of Bir'a 2446BC

 The village of Bir'a lies halfway between Eridu and UR and it's there that the armies of Larsa and UR meet. Balulu, Ensi of Larsa, is full of confidence and has managed to conscript a well-balanced Army of One chariot Regiment, 3 Spear Regiments and 2 Skirmisher companies armed with Bow. 

I'm playing as Mesannepada of UR and have a slightly inferiour Army of 3 Spear Regiments, 2 Skirmisher companies using Javelins and 1 Bow armed Skirmisher company. 

Not using a Scenario for this battle, but instead my random Terrain chart plus 4 objectives.

One in the wooded area, one on each hill and one in the village of Bir'a.

There is the normal 2-hour limit. 

As per my solo rules I deployed and gave orders before the enemy is revealed.

The Javelin company on the right have occupied the village of Bir'a 

(yay one objective to me) with orders to defend it using skirmishing.

The other Javelins took the left flank with orders to capture the objective in the woods.

The Spears and Bows lined up to advance and capture the central hill.

However, Balulu had a few surprises. 

He assigned one of his Bow to capture the left Hill and then advance on Bir'a Village.

So, half the objectives for one Company of Bows.

He sent a Spear Regiment through the woods and then to out flank the central Hill. 

The Chariots, 2 Spear and the other Bow to capture the central Hill.

Larsa captures the first two objectives.

I feel like I might have a chance here and advance full speed towards the Hill.

The initial skirmishing is pretty even. Though Larsa does capture the objective.

But, as is his habit, Balulu managed to win the critical initiative.

His bow inflicts many casualties on my skirmishers. And his Spear climb the heights. 

In the background you can see the chariots peppering my left flank Spear with Javelins.  

With a "rush of blood" I charged up the hill at the enemy Spear.

Knowing they had the tactical advantage, but hoping Elan would make up for it.

I lost 4 to 1. A disaster.

Things suddenly look pretty bad with half the Army retiring Shaken.

The battered left-wing Spear manage to repel the enemy Chariots

and regain some order. Perhaps there is a small chance of recovery.

If the other Spear on the hill can win, if the javelins on the wings can hold out....

The Larsa Bow advance on Bir'a and inflict wounds on the defending javelins,

who rush out to close range where the bows now reduce them to half strength. 

Oh no.

My last hope. The Spear on the Hill can only manage a very bloody draw.

That was my last chance and I conceded. 

Game time 1hour.

Sumer Campaign Update 2446BC

 2446BC

Balulu of Larsa, flush with both success and Gold and having reduced His 

enemy Eridu to a Trading partner 

now has one more enemy left, the mighty City of UR. So Balulu raises his Army and marches east. 

Balulu makes no secret of it and Mesannepada of UR has plenty of time to recruit an Army to meet him.

They face off at the village of Bir'a

UR is a mighty City but Larsa has nearly twice the Gold reserves. So, I will play as UR.

Having managed to lose as both Umma and Eridu so far so let's hope I can do better for UR.

Battle of Mas

The army has retreated to the village of Mas just before Eridu City.

The Eridu army consists of 3 Spear Regiments, 2 companies of Bow Skirmishers 

and 2 Companies of Javelin Skirmishers.

The Scenario

There are two Objectives. One on the wooded hill to the southwest and one in the village of Mas.

I placed 2 javelin and a Bow on the hill and a Bow and the three Spear in the village.

Orders for all but the northern Bow is hold. The Bows order is to advance and engage. 

All forces are Rep 2.

Larsa Army is then deployed as below. I changed from the usual random deployment 

according to type because of this scenario.

Right flank is one Spear. Center skirmishers with bows and 3 Spear.

Left flank is one Spear and a Regiment of Guards with Two handed axes.

All are Rep 2 except the Guards Rep 3.

The center Eridu Bow advance to meet the enemy.

The Larsa forces move out.

The Right-wing Spear become disordered moving through the difficult terrain.

 

The bow on both sides exchange arrows at long range. 

They all miss!

The defenders rain arrows and javelins down on the advancing Heavy infantry.

I think the Spear on the left have already taken some casualties. 

The Larsa Centre is starting to open out into line.

The Spear have now taken 3 casualties

The bows advance to point blank and finally someone gets a hit!

Ensi Balulu keeps his Spear out of the disordering soft ground as they reach halfway.

Taking plenty of casualties and becoming Disordered the Spear still manage to 

chase the javelin skirmishes from the field.

Finding evasion too difficult the bowmen manage to evict the Larsa Guard from the hill!

The Bow then turn their attentions to the vulnerable Spear.

This leaves the javelin skirmishes to deal with the Guards. 

Which they fail to do.

The Guard easily deal with the skirmishers.

Meanwhile the Spear turn the tables on the bow. 

The Javelins manage the miracle Moral save!

The Bow have proved to be the equal of the disordered and battered Spear.

The Guard have routed the last of the Javelin. 

Under half strength, Disordered, Shaken, the Spear refuse to run

The Guard and the Bow are now facing off for the final show down for the Hill.

Both are Disordered but the Guard have taken many more casualties. 5 to 1

Just as things have become climactic down at the hill the Larsa main force has attacked the village.

They win both melees and with such little room the second  Eridu Spear routs. 

This effectively ends the Eridu defence of the village and the battle. 

I used my own rules, Two-Hour Ancients, for this game 

and they gave me a very enjoyable afternoon.

With the exception of the instant, one turn loss that is. 

This wraps it up for the Eridu resistance to the Larsa attack. 

I diced for the surrender conditions and

 Eridu must now act as an ally of Larsa.

Battle of Gaba Ru Gu 2448BC

 Ensi Balulu of the City of Larsa has invaded Eridu. As Larsa has a much more dominate stradgic strength I'm going to play as Eridu. Both sides are racing to a dominate hill on the road from Larsa to Eridu called Gaba Ru Gu. This hill represents the only objective for both sides. Randomly I rolled up two more hills, some rough going and a ploughed field. 

Both Armies started off table with random forces and a slightly randomized arrival. (Without going into the mechanics, the more you have the greater chance of missing the next arrival.) 

Larsa lead off with bow armed Skirmishers who refused to advance!

Eridu also rolled up Bowmen, who also refused to advance! 😀

Well Larsa managed to get their Bowmen to start cautiously forward. 

Perhaps it was the moral lifting sight of the Chariots appearing on their flank.

The Chariots, pulled by wild Onagers, struggled to get up the hill though. 

 The Eridu army is now reinforced by Javelin armed skirmishers, who, refuse to advance.

I imagined this battle would be a mad dash to the hill. Not so. 

Suddenly the generals were able to motivate everyone to get going.

But then, as a regiment of spear appear for Larsa and the Chariots get into a good 

out flanking position there is a blunder. Those Onagers really are bad tempered.

This takes the Chariots back a turn but they are able to regain good order.

The Eridu skirmishers have captured Gaba Ru Gu.

Also winning the first exchange of arrows.

Again, the Chariots blunder. These Onagers pulling them must be in a bad mood!

This time the chariots come close to leaving the field and take a casualty. 

With a second regiment of Spear ariving Balulu is ready to march on the hill.

Things have now shaken out with Larsa having two spears in the center, 

another unopposed on the right. The chariot is back advancing on the left flank.

The Chariots have now out flanked the Eridu centre as the 

Larsa Spear Regiments crest the hill and capture the objective.

I have sent my only spare unit, javelin skirmishers, to harass and delay the enemy Spear on my left.

Bow skirmisher reinforcements arrive on my left. 

My center Bow get disordered by enemy fire.

And things get serious on my right between my spear and the enemy chariots.

I saw chariots go straight through my spear then my bowmen last battle.   

The Chariots chose to use initiative to charge instead of shooting 

then risking having to pass a counter charge.

They were disordered going in then lost the melee 3 to 1.

Then followed with a really bad moral check. Routed.

Then, foolishly, I advanced my Spear to base of the hill.

The Larsa Regiments attacked first and won.

Eventually the Larsa's right-wing spear caught my javelin skirmishers and routed them.

Unfortunately, for my center troops, things just got worse and worse 

and I couldn't extract them.

Well despite everything being against them the Eridu Blue Regiment managed 

to reduce its opponent to Shaken. It wasn't enough though.

The Larsa Army had held the hill and objective for 6 straight turns and it was late. 

So I awarded them the win.

The Larsa Army.

General Balulu

1 Chariot, 4 Spear, 1 Bow

Lost 1 Chariot.

The Eridu Army.

3 Spear, 2 Bow, 1 Javelin.

Lost 1 Javelin.

The rules, Hail Caesar have been working well for Solo play.

But. I grew up playing WRG 6th. I always wanted to House rule WRG 6th.

To make it easier, lessen the bookkeeping. 

Right now I'm thinking why not look into it? Its solo. Who cares?