Round #7
EZPickins (Sassanid): 4 Banners and 31 blocks lost
RiverWanderer (Byzantine): 6 Banners and 20 blocks lost
After a little mixing up of left and right, the battle opened with most of the Byzantine ambush party lumbering into the rear of the Sassanid right flank. The Sassanids made a good riposte on their turn and the Byzantines spent the first half of the game trying to cut through back to their own lines. In the end, only their leader made it home with a lucky escape. The ambush had gained no great advantage for the Byzantines, the double-edged sword inherent in rear-attack tactics showing as banners reached 4:2 to the Sassanids. Yet, Sassanids had advanced far on their right to achieve this and vulnerable units were promptly countered by Byzantine Super Heavy Cavalry advancing from the centre, bringing the score back to parity.
This fresh wave of Byzantine Super Heavies continued to divert Sassanid attention to their right flank. Taking advantage of this, the Byzantines now brought their centre/right units into the action against the Sassanid centre/right with an Inspired Leadership “Foot Onslaught”, Two melee attacks in succession felled a Sassanid auxiliary unit for a sixth banner. Yet, at the cost of two blocks from the Byzantine heavy infantry.
The final moments were now very tense. For instance, a “leadership” card play in the centre could have brought the reserve Sassanid Super Heavy Cavalry into action, headed straight for the weakened Byzantine centre, and an almost certain two banners. But, it was not to be. Instead, the Sassanids reorganised to protect their most vulnerable light cavalry and bring their super heavies into attack range, meanwhile only able to launch ineffective ranged fire.
Byzantines next ordered heavies. Their most vulnerable infantry retreated, hoping to put Sassanid cavalry out of range, whilst the Byzantine remaining full-strength Super Heavy Cavalry moved to support the infantry right flank. Their ranged fire likewise missed. Now the Byzantines had one final chance for victory. The left flank super heavies weighed into a Sassanid full strength light bow cavalry unit. Fortunately for the Byzantines, its evade path had been cut off in the previous Sassanid turn. Lady Luck lent a hand and each of four die scored a hit to bring victory to the Byzantines at 6:4.
