Hail Caesar Pyrrhic Wars Game

Co-hosted a Hail Caesar Pyrrhic Wars game last evening at my buddies place (only 10 minutes away). It was a fictional scenario pitting his Antigonid forces against my Epirote army. We didn't use all our forces as a few of the players had to cancel out at the last minute. We ended up having 3 players per side - one of which ran 2 divisions. We have 3 elephants, and 5 pike units per side, with various support units and cavalry.

Above, on the left are my buddies Antigonid army with a unit of my merc hoplites on loan. We plan to re-fight this game at my place on a bigger table with more troops next time. My Epirote force on the right, with Galatian warbands and Samnite light infantry on the left flank division.

Epirote right flank division which I ran, consisting of Greek light cavalry, Galatian medium cavalry, and a unit of Agema with kontos. We reduced the Agema cav units to 8-figures each, mainly because my buddy had his 3 Agema units sized that way already. They still fought as standard sized units.

Below is the Epirote center of phalanxes and elephants. The two pikes units on the far left are Foundry figures from the center player.  All of the elephants had javelins and bows.

The Antigonid center divisions of pike units and elephants, as well as skirmishers. These are my buddy's figures - mostly Warlord games, with the one far left pike unit being Victrix - still awaiting shields, Lol!

Pictured below is part of the Epirote center and the left flank division consisting of a unit of Samnite light infantry with javelins, and two units of Galatian warbands.

Below, the Antigonid left flank division with horse archer skirmishers, and 3 units of Agema cavalry with long spears. I made the first activation roll of the game, intending to charge my light cavalry into the opposing cavalry. However, the this first roll ended up with a Blunder roll! The blundering unit ended up in front of my Agema cavalry. 

Pictured above is the Antigonid Agema and Scythed chariot (which made their mandatory proximity charge) into my Greek light cavalry unit. As you may suspect, the light cavalry was soon destroyed by overwhelming numbers. The one positive thing from this engagement was the Scythed chariot is a one-hit-wonder, and removed after this charge, and sparing my remaining units its attack.

My Agema cavalry having defeated the enemy with my kontos counter charge after their follow up from destroying my light cavalry. I chose to remain in place to make a charge in our next turn.

The center division consisting of the pike and elephants - Epirotes on the left, and Antigonids on the right. They had many back and forth clashes throughout the game.

Initial engagement of the pikes and elephants. The Antigonid Rhodian slingers successfully attacked the Epirote elephant, making it retreat soon after.

The other division of pikes and elephants in the distance.

Epirote pike and elephant right center division in combat.

Above, the Epirote left center pike and elephant division with a unit of merc hoplites on their left next to the elephant. A unit of Samnite light infantry from the Epirote left division makes it way around cover on the far left.

Epirote Galatian warbands finally able to charge into Antigonid merc hoplites at the end of the game. Both the Epirote left division and Antigonid right division continually failed to successfully activate units. The Antigonid merc hoplites being drilled were allowed to make free moves after each failure.

Being the last turn of the game, and both players engaged for the first time, we allowed the Galatians to both attack the one unit of merc hoplites. This was later determined to be incorrect, as only one of the Galatian units should've attacked, and the other used as support. Of course, the hoplites were destroyed as Galatian warbands get 9 dice each in the first round of combat, and get to re-roll one missed attack dice in the round being Wild Fighters. Oh well, at least the Galatian player (who normally doesn't like Hail Caesar or Black Powder), left happy.

All in all a nice refresher game for me as I haven't played Hail Caesar in a very long time. Waiting for a date from him to confirm with the players for the re-fight, but I'll be sure to make a blog post when it happens. Until next time, hope you liked this post, and best wishes to all!

Warlord Games Alexander the Great

With the upcoming Tuesday evening Pyrrhic Wars game, I was finally motivated enough to paint up this figure. I picked it up at the Panzer Depot closing sale several years ago. Although a very nice pose, the details were a bit hard to make out - particularly the armor. This is not surprising as very little of the famous cuirass is visible being a mounted figures, and wearing a cape as well. I did my best, and spruced up the base with a spare shield and helmet to help the overall look.

Also arrayed the forces for the Tuesday evening game below. Besides Macedonians/Successors and Greeks, there is a contingent of Galatian mercenaries. My buddy has 4 pike units, 3 elephants, cavalry, and other troops as well. We'll sort out units for a 6-8 player game - the usual Tuesday night Olympia Wargamers. As mentioned in the earlier post, I've been invited to join this group for over a decade - I only occasionally attend as I usually like to game during the day.

With the Alexander figure out of the way, I'll start on the remaining Paymaster Hawaiians next. Until next time, thanks for checking out the blog, and wishing you all the best!

Alexander the Great's Dad and Cousin - Warlord Games

The Philip of Macedon figure comes with the mounted Alexander the Great figure (yet to be painted); and the Pyrrhus of Epirus figure is a "freebie" that comes with the Pyrrhic Wars supplement.

Philip's armor is based upon the one found in his tomb. The cuirass is made of iron, and some sources say it was polished to high shine, while other sources have it covered in silk. Pyrrhus' armor is sometimes depicted as silvered, or possibly of iron also.

Both figures are well detailed; the Epirote tripod motif nicely sculpted on the shield and back of the cape.

I was going to start on the Alexander figure next, but I might be getting some more Eureka Hawaiians in the mail tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you all the best!

Aventine+Relic Successor War Elephant

Picked up the new Pyrrhic Wars Hail Caesar supplement, so was motivated to paint up some figures I've had for sometime. First up is a war elephant that uses an Aventine elephant head, tower, and crew. This was part of an order many years ago when I ordered two elephants - Keith included these parts as samples, I think. I had thought about finding a body at a craft store - one of those in bags of toy animals. Then a couple of years ago, Mike Evans of Relic kindly sent me some Successor samples along with an elephant. Initially, I thought the body was too small for the Aventine parts, but as you can see the body doesn't look too bad. It is slightly smaller, but as with people, elephants come in different sizes.

The shields on the tower are from Victrix Phalangite kits, and the transfers from LBMS - all spare parts I've also had for years.

As you may see, the elephant being a bit smaller, and the tower being pretty large, the mahout has to lean a little forward in the "saddle", so to speak.

Interestingly, I just looked at the Aventine website last night, and saw that they sell the bodies of elephants separately. I don't think they did years ago, but this Relic body will do just as well.

Pictured below, flanked by the two Aventine-proper elies painted years ago.

The various parts of the new elephant build.

More mini-painting projects below. Besides the elephant, a Relic Pyrrhus vignette, Warlord Games Alexander the Great and Philip of Macedon figures, as well as the new Pyrrhus on foot figure that came with the supplement.

Plan to get a game in soon with my buddy who also picked up the supplement - and has a good-sized Successor force too. Until next time, wishing you all the best!

Epirote - Greek Army Arrayed

Well, since I added the new Hoplites, figured I'd take some updated photos of the Greco-Macedonian army to date. The army is based upon the one led by Pyrrhus of Epirus. The recently added Greek & Persian Wars Hoplites may look a bit dated for the period, but they're included nonetheless. Most of the figures are Victrix with a few other makes. All of the shields have LBMS transfers. The elephants are Aventine that were painted a long time ago, but still hold their own.

Here are the infantry; again mostly Victrix. The unit front and center of Hypaspist are a mixture of Foundry and 1st Corps. I foolishly sold off my Foundry Phalangites some years ago.

Next, along with the Aventine elies, a 1st Corps Oxybeles and crew. All of these saw a lot of action when I played WAB. I only used them a few times with Hail Caesar. I did use one of the elephants in a SAGA game a couple of years ago.

The Companion cavalry in wedge formation, flanked by Tarantine light cavalry - all Victrix figures.

Finally the command figures; the Pyrrhus figure on the left and Antiochus figure on the right are from Relic.

So much for the roll call. I hope to someday run a game based on either the Battle of Argos (where Pyrrhus met his end), or maybe the Siege of Sparta prior to this. I had co-hosted a Battle of Heraclea with my earlier mostly-Foundry Epirote army when my buddy had his Republican Romans. We also hosted a Magnesia game with the army led by Antiochus - both games used WAB and were run at conventions. Anyway, thanks for the indulgence, and hope you all are doing well.

Hail Caesar Successor Battle - Antigonid vs. Pyrrhic

Had another great Hail Caesar game today pitting my Pyrrhic army against my buddy's Antigonid army. It was a close run with the Pyrrhic army losing one pike phalanx unit, an elephant and their Companion cavalry, as well as their only two bow units. The Antigonids lost one of their own elephants, two Thracian foot units, a Cretan bow unit and a unit of slingers.

The start of the battle - Pyrrhic forces on the left, Antigonids on the right.

Close-up of the Antigonid battle line. Three towered elephants, one unit of heavy cavalry with lances (xyston), three pike phalanx units, two Thracian foot units with javelins and two-hand weapons, two units each of Cretan archers and slingers (on Rhodian).

The Pyrrhic army. A unit of hypaspist elite medium infantry, a unit of medium cavalry Companion cavalry with lances (xyston), two towered elephants, three units of pike phalanx, two units of mercenary Hoplite phalanxes with long spears, two light cavalry units and two units of archers.

A unit of Antigonid slingers move into the village on their right flank.

The Antigonid right; Thracian foot move up to support Cretan archers.

Pyrrhic light cavalry charge into Antigonid slingers. The slingers able to cause a few casualties prior to being destroyed.

Meanwhile, in the center of the battlefield, Antigonid forces successfully move up towards the Pyrrhic center. The Pyrrhic army failed a few activations early in the game.

Pyrrhic archers in combat with a unit of Antigonid Thracians foot wielding rhomphaias. The archers having no saves were destroyed.

Antigonid scythed chariot charges into a Pyrrhic pike phalanx.

Pyrrhic light cavalry charge into Cretan archer. With the help of another light cavalry unit in support the archers were destroyed - even after inflicting a few casualties from closing fire.

Antigonid pike phalanx units and elephants charge into the Pyrrhic center.

A Pyrrhic phalanx unit attacked to their front by Antigonid pikes and also to their left flank by a unit of Thracians with rhomphaias.

A unit of Greek mercenary hoplites waiting on their turn to charge into the rear of the Thracians. A free move as they are in the 12" proximity rule. Otherwise, the battle rages on in the center between phalanxes and elephants.

The "brave" Antigonid heavy cavalry charge into a small unit of Pyrrhic archers. The archers were destroyed shortly thereafter.

Pyrrhic Companion cavalry counter-charge into the Antigonid heavy cavalry after destroying the archers and making a sweeping advance. For the record, Hail Caesar doesn't have a special rule for cavalry wedge formations. We may come up with some kind of house rule for them later.

The Pyrrhic Companions lost their fight against the Antigonids and broke off the table.

Center of the battle field. The Thracians were soon destroyed by the combined attacks from the two mercenary hoplite units. We called the game soon after this as it would've continued as a slug match between the surviving forces.

All in all, another great Hail Caesar game where we got more familiar with some of the special rules - like elephants and phalanxes. My buddy promised to paint the rest of his command figures - since they might be mistaken for Cleitus. Tomorrow is a holiday Dragon Rampant game which will be the last game of the year for me. Until next time, wishing you all a healthy and great holiday season!