The Ballad of Bradicles

Added a third unit of pikemen. Now I need to decide what to add next

I finished up the objective markers. The pigs are from Warlord Games farm animal set.

This last game against Brett and his Romans swung back and forth multiple times. As it was, the game ended on Turn five with Brett having slightly more models killed with three break points and myself with just two and a bit. That last attack on the Slingers was a near run thing.

Overall the army performed as I expected. The Hetairoi cavalry is a glass hammer. They’re good for one charge and then just die. The Roman cavalry has heavier armor, and javelins and is a real threat. But the Xystons my cavalry use can, if they can pull it off, give a -2 to armor saves.

The pike formations are a bit odd. Less armor than Hoplites, no shield overlap, they’re just more likely to be disrupted by skirmish units. I decided I had to be more aggressive with them and close the gap quickly enough to actually be able to use those initiative 4 weapons before they died to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

I’ve had multiple players comment that they really worry about my big unit of slingers. I don’t get a lot of hits but I do get some and the bonuses of some fatigue. The fact that in multiple games they’ve survived in melee combat just boggles my mind. They might be due an upgrade!

Or maybe they just get some bacon.

Eeyoricles watched as the pikemen struggled to keep the pigs headed toward camp as the Pezhetairoi hastened the retreat of the lone Roman officer. Meanwhile out of the corner of his visor he saw movement. He spun around and raised his shield and spear. It was a lone warrior of one of the Roman allies. He trotted forward and dispatched him with ease. He looked at his spear tip and sighed. He was going to have to spend all night cleaning and polishing it. Again.

The heavy Roman infantry slammed into the Slingers and how they did not break, Bradicles could not understand. Perhaps the gods did favor them this day. Maybe TimToo was an actual prophet. The Romans had enough. They began to withdraw.

As the pikes brought the pigs back to camp and the Pezhetairoi watched warily for more Romans, Bradicles called out to his brother.

“Bacon?”

Eeyoricles just grinned.

Eeyoricles saw the Roman light troops scramble over the wall and begin herding the pigs toward their lines while the Roman allies pelted his Pezhetairoi with javelins, scoring a few hits. He considered ordering them forward but judged the time wasn’t right. Meanwhile the dense mass of pikemen split apart clearing a path for the mounted Companions.

Bradicles watched the Companion cavalry slipping between the pike blocks while the Pezhetairoi dealt with a nuisance on the left flank. Then he watched as the cavalry reformed and moved forward, first at a slow trot, then picking up speed to a fast canter the whole while staying knee to knee in dense formation.  Then he saw the Companions lower their Xystons as one as they surged forward the last few yards in a virtual avalanche of men and horses and watched as the Romans melted away as the Xystons ran them through. He almost pitied them. Almost.

But Bradicles glee was short lived as he saw a few Romans still standing, shaken, fear stricken but standing. And then the javelins appeared from behind the building, taking the exhausted cavalry down in a hail of destruction and despair.

Eeyoricles saw the second unit of pike hug the wall of the farmhouse as they advanced and then destroyed the javelin men. This left them exposed and the Roman cavalry reappeared and peppered the exhausted pikemen on their exposed flanks. Eeyoricles ordered the Pezhetairoi forward and reformed the remaining pike to deal with this new threat. The Roman cavalry fell back leaving one of their subordinate commanders dangerously exposed.

As Eeyoricles continued to study the map, Bradicles picked up his helmet and tossed at his brother’s head. Eeyoricles was able to grab it just in time.

“You need to be properly dressed for today’s activities” intoned Bradicles in mock seriousness. “You need to put on a good show for the men”. Eeyoricles just grunted and strapped on his helmet as he thought to himself, I’ll show my brother something.

Bradicles recognized his foe. Those damnable Romans with their heavy cavalry. Well, he’d have a surprise for them today. He wondered if Eeyoricles would seek revenge on them this day.

Bradicles watched his brother lead the left flank while he watched the right. He smiled to himself as he saw the Roman right hesitate. Things were going to plan!

Added another unit of Pikemen and expanded on my archers. I can now field up to 16 pike and 12 archers. For the current campaign turn I won’t be using archers at all as the slings are more effective. I will, however, field 2 eight man pike units.

Need to decide on the next unit to paint up. It’ll probably be the third unit of pikemen but I might do another cavalry unit of traditional heavy Greek cavalry (armed with javelins) or maybe work on that elephant.

With the new turn starting, points are increased to 900 and Eeyoricles is returned to the cast of characters.

This turn I’m adding some pikemen and some cavalry. This will necessitate changing the composition of some other units but not by a lot.

Bradicles Level 4 leader

Eeyoricles Level 3

Mediocrates and Testicles are both Level 2 and are on standby.

6 x Xyston armed Heiatori cavalry

2 x 8 Man Pezhetairoi with Pikes

2 x 6 Man Pezhetairoi with Javelins

1 x 9 Man unit of slingers

1 x Seer

Total is 987 points.

I dropped the Hoplites to get a second unit of Pikemen to go along with the cavalry. Initiative 4 pikes could be important but with an armor save of only 5+ they may not prove a good swap. I may have to be more aggressive and get them stuck in before the skirmish troops break up their formation.

Eeyoricles intercepted the servant and with a curt dismissal, took the tray of food. He then backed his way into Bradicles tent.

Without looking up from the map he had spread in front him, Bradicles gave a dismissive wave. Eeyoricles set the food down then leaned back against a tent pole. He considered his older brother. Still as beautiful as ever, he had a new determined look on his face he’d not seen before.

Finally noticing that someone was still in his tent, Bradicles rounded on the stranger about to thrash them when his anger turned to joy.

“Brother! You’re back!” He rushed forward and clasped Eeyoricles in an impossibly strong embrace. After a moment’s hesitation, Eeyoricles returned the gesture.

Bradicles stepped back and eyed his brother up and down. “You are healed?”

“Aye, and well exercised, I’ve been parading the new men while in full panoply to help strengthen my limbs”.

Bradicles raised an impossibly beautiful eyebrow. “Indeed? What inspired this?”

Eeyoricles shrugged and absentmindedly plucked some bread from the tray he’d brought. “Necessity. That and boredom. I needed the exercise after being on my backside because of that damned horse. And I would know how you intend to use these new men and it seemed prudent to learn of them and in turn be seen by them. “

Bradicles just beamed. As dour as Eeyoricles was, he was immensely proud of his younger brother. Always refining his art and setting an example for the men, he was improving as a commander.

“Where is Mediocrates?” Eeyoricles asked as he approached the map his brother had been studying.

“I’ve sent him on a recruiting trip. He’ll be back soon. Come, let me show you what I have planned”. And with that, they huddled over the map and discussed the possibilities these new men presented.

Turn 2 of the campaign was extended due to the holidays and I’m actually ahead of schedule for painting so I did something else because I’m stupid.
Here’s a unit of Samurai for Clash of Katanas.

Here’s the rest of the army. I started sometime last summer

Minis are a mix of Warlord Games plastic, Footsore, Zenit and some Etsy 3D prints and one kit bash using GW parts. Buildings are a mix of 4Ground and Things from the Basement. Scatter terrain is a mix of Perry and TT Combat. The bamboo and jungle terrain is self made.

I’m replacing the current set of Greek Hoplites with Macedonian Hypaspists. Figures are by Victrix. Shield transfers are by Little Big Man Studios but are only available via the Victrix website.

If I take a unit of Allied Hoplites I’ll use the Greek Hoplites that these guys are replacing.

And here’s  the link to Henry’s version of events. It’s probably technically more accurate as I’m not sure if a couple of events were in turn 3 or 4 but the rest is just lies.
Link thingy https://plasticpirates.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-close-run-thing-or-how-malchus.html

The Pezhetairoi hastened forward and score numerous hits on the Carthaginian Hoplites causing the already demoralized unit to flee. They Numidian javelins flew true in return and decimated the Pezhetairoi. The other detachment in the grove was spent, not able to do anything more. Once again the Numidian cavalry buzzed like thrice damned bees and dispersed the exhausted pikemen. They threw down their unwieldy pikes and fled to the rear. The slingers did what they could but it was difficult to target the fleet footed ponies if the Numidians.

Mediocrates looked over at Bradicles in concern. “Fear not. The Hypaspists will keep the enemy at bay while we round up the survivors. And those Numidians shall soon face an unpleasant surprise. “. Bradicles nodded, as if to himself. “Yes. Something very unpleasant.”

It was all a blur of blood, sweat and death as units flung themselves into the fight. Mediocrates could be heard bellowing orders, Bradicles saw the pikemen wheel and slam into the Carthaginian formation, victorious but exhausted. The slingers seemed to be keeping the Numidians at bay. The Hypaspists had dispatched the javelin men in his flank and unnerved the Carthaginian infantry. Now they were wheeling to face them next.

“Yes, yes!  Just a few minutes more.”

Mediocrates was doing well. He’d urged the slingers forward and they’d given the Numidian cavalry pause. This bought some time for the pikemen to move forward.

Bradicles turned his attention to the center. His skirmishers had been hard pressed by their Numidian counterparts. Losing men in one detachment, stalling out another.

But his Hypaspists remained intact and they were advancing on those Numidians. He grinned. Someone was about to have an unpleasant experience.

There was very little guile with this Malchus. But it didn’t matter, his moves were effective. Bradicles could tell where the Numidian cavalry was by the clouds of dust it created even though they put a building between them and his slingers. Seeing this, Mediocrates reoriented the pikemen and urged the slingers forward. Good, Bradicles thought , he’s anticipating what’s about to happen. The Numidians then appear, trot forward and throw a few javelins before retiring. A few land but the pikemen stay in formation.

Bradicles pointed to a figure in the distance. “You see that fellow in the resplendent panoply?”  Mediocrates raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “I’ve faced him before. Seems he’s learned a few things. He’s gotten rid of his militia and brought in some Numidian cavalry. He’ll be anxious to try them out. See what you can do about them.”

Mediocrates just nodded and trotted off to the right flank. He seemed competent enough but Bradicles missed teasing his brother. Bradicles turned to the priest. The priest shrugged and smiled. Well, at least that was still the same.

Both my Pezhetairoi with javelins got wiped out to no effect. Both times they were on the receiving end of an attack instead of being the aggressors. The Roman cavalry was a tough, big and scary unit so not to surprising but I thought he’d actually go around the field rather than through it. When the slingers activated to take on the Hastati they would’ve probably been better off going after the Equites to put more fatigue on them.

The Hoplites survived but seriously underperformed versus the Principes. They’re just a tanky unit and tough to budge. The slingers were able to break up their formation but they just reformed and I couldn’t capitalize on it.

My opponent played his Samnite allies to perfection as nd capitalized on their Guerilla rule by assaulting into the woods where my Pezhetairoi were lurking. I’d have been better off initiating combat as my poor armor means I’ll take casualties but my average fight skill means I can at least inflict casualties too if I start a fight.

In general I really like the Clash rules but do wish there was an index and a terrain chart. I’ll probably make a terrain chart for myself and post it up here.