Isolation Week #? Update

Broken Rays of the Sun Campaign updates have slowed down as I need to add some reinforcements to the arsenal.  Having said that, the 5th edition of the Babylonian Sun Times is almost done and once these reinforcements are complete another battle will be in the offing.

Any kind of campaign with the Parthians is going to need lots of horse archers.  This week I finished up two more BGs:  a Scythian cavalry group of four stands and a Parthian/Persian cavalry group of four stands.  I have had sixteen stands of Pre-Islamic Bedouin/Arab foot archers for my Hatrans, a Hatran camel camp, two Steppe Nomad wagons, a six-stand group of Mountain Indian light horse and a Mountain Indian general also waiting around for me to flock so today's goal was to get their bases painted and ready.

Skythian cavalry (Old Glory) to the left and the two battlegroups of Hatran foot archers (mainly Forged in Battle with a few OG and 1 Corvus Belli Numidian) in the foreground.  

Here is another view from the other side.  In the front are the Parthian Horse Archers (Old Glory) with the Mountain Indians (Old Glory Hippakantistai) behind them. To the left of the Parthian Horse Archers are three 40mm x 80mm camps:  one is a Hatran Camel Caravan (mix of Essex, Forged in Battle, Gladiator) and two Forged in Battle Steppe Wagons.

The bases have been painted a base color of brown.

Tomorrow, I will apply the flocking to give them a burnt grass look.

Note:  Almost all of the figures pictured have been painted by yours truly.  About 16 or 17 of the Arab Archers were painted by Thomas Demers of Mad Monkey Painting in Mississippi and I added some additional figures to get enough for 16 total stands (48 figures).

FOG 300: Battle of Ecbatana Spring 220 AD

Special Report of the Babylonian Sun Times by correspondent Máikl KéliZ.

The Battle of Ecbatana:

Brother Against Brother

Desperate times call for desperate measures and on this late Spring day the situation appeared very desperate to Artabanus IV, one of two brothers claiming the crown of Parthia.  His brother Vologases was on an almost unbroken streak of success as city and tribe fell sway to his influence while Artabanus had suffered rebuff after rebuff.  Gathering his forces, Artabanus organized two expeditions into the lands of his brother.  One force moved against the trade center of Hatra and another against the great city of Ecbatana.  Artabanus decided to lead the force against Ecbatana himself and as events would should show, it may not have been well advised.  Not wishing to give up Ecbatana and his access to the Iranian plateau, Vologases led his forces out onto the plain to oppose his brother.

Army of Artabanus:  List and Host

BG 1 - Bow Cavalry
BG 2 - Bow Cavalry
BG 3 - Purple Cataphracts
BG 4 - Red Cataphracts
LH BG

Army of Vologases:  List and Host:

BG 1 - Light Horse
BG 2 - Bw* Lance Cavalry
BG 3 - Light Horse
BG 4 - Green Cataphracts
BG 5 - White Cataphracts

 Vologases wins the initiative and opts for Steppe.  Artabanus takes the compulsory open, a broken and the 2nd open.  Vologases takes the gentle hill but it is picked up.

Artabanus' forces deployed (left to right - red numbers and letters):  Light Horse BG, Cavalry BG 1, Cataphract BG 4, Cataphract BG 3, Cavalry BG 2, Artabanus is with BG 4

Vologases' forces deployed (left to right - orange numbers):  Light Horse BG 3, Cataphract BG 5, Cataphract BG 4, Cavalry BG 2, Light Horse BG 1, Vologases is with BG 4

Artabanus moves first and sends the Red Light Horse BG ahead 7".  Red Cavalry BG 1 moves 5" straight ahead.  The cataphracts moves as a group 8" straight forward.  Red Cavalry BG 2 moves 5" straight ahead and shifts one base away from the cataphracts.  There is no shooting in this turn.  In joint action, Vologases moves to Orange Cavalry BG 2 ending the 1st turn of Artabanus.

After Artabanus' 1st turn.  The single piece of terrain (a broken) is at the bottom right of the field

In Vologases' 1st turn, Orange BGs 1 & 2 move 3.75" straight ahead stopping just outside of 4" from Artabanus' Red Cavalry BG 1.  Orange cataphract BGs 4 & 5 move 4" straight ahead.  Orange Light Horse BG 3 moves 7" straight forward.  In the shooting phase, Vologases Orange BGs 1 & 2 manage three total hits on Artabanus' Light Horse BG who shrug it off with no ill effects.  At the other end of the line, Vologases Light Horse BG 3 scores two hits on Artabanus' Cavalry BG 2 who score two in return.  Both BGs drop to disrupted on cohesion.  In the joint action phase, Artabanus moves to Red cataphract BG 3 whole Vologases moves to his own cataphract BG 4 to end the joint action.

After Vologases' 1st turn.  Red are Artabanus' BGs and Orange are Vologases' BGs.

To begin Artabanus' 2nd turn, he opts not to launch his cataphracts just yet and rolls CMTs to hold them.  In the maneuver phase, Red Cavalry BG 1 moves to be even with the Red Light Horse BG.  No other movement is made.  In the shooting phase, the Red Light Horse BG split its fire and scores two hits on Orange Light Horse BG 1 and one on Orange Cavalry BG 2.  The Red Cavalry BG 1 scores three hits on Orange Cavalry BG 2.  Orange Light Horse BG 1only scores one hit in return to the Red Light Horse and Orange Cavalry BG 2 scores one on Red Cavalry BG 1.  Orange Light Horse BG 1 survives the cohesion test.  Orange Cavalry BG 2 survives his death roll but drops to disrupted on cohesion.  On the other end of the table, Red Cavalry BG 2 scores one hit on the Orange Light Horse BG 3 and takes two in return.  Red Cavalry BG 2 fails its cohesion test and drops to fragmented.  In the joint action phase, Vologases moves to his disrupted light horse and attempts to rally the unit but fails.  Artabanus holds with Red cataphract BG 4 ending his 2nd turn.

After Artabanus' 2nd turn

To begin Vologases 2nd turn, Orange Cavalry BG 2 and Light Horse BG 1 declare charges.  The disrupted Orange Light Horse BG 2 also declares a charge against the fragmented cavalry to its front.  Both of Vologases cataphract BGs opt not to charge and successfully pass a CMT to hold.  Orange Cavalry BG 2 fails its CMT and refuses to charge.  Orange Light Horse BG 3 passes its CMT and charges. The fragmented Red Cavalry BG passes its cohesion test and stands.  The Red Light Horse BG opts to stand against the charging light cavalry.  In the impact phase, the fragmented Red Cavalry BG 2  score a single hit.  The Orange Light Horse BG 3 fails to hit.  It passes its death roll but fragments on cohesion.  Orange Light Horse BG 1 scores three hits on the Red Light Horse BG and takes three in return.  The Orange Light Horse loses a base on the death roll while the Red Light Horse emerges unscathed.  In the maneuver phase, Vologases moves to Orange cataphract BG 5. In the shooting phase, no one can hit enough to matter.  In the melee phase, Orange Light Horse BG 1 scores two hits and takes two in return for a draw.  Orange Light Horse BG 3 fails to hit the fragmented Red Cavalry BG 2 but takes one in return.  The Orange Light Horse BG 3 survives its death roll but breaks on cohesion and flees 8".  Red Cavalry BG 2 pursues 3".  In joint action,  Artabanus moves to the fragmented Red Cavalry BG 2 and attempts a rally but fails.  Vologases moves to Orange Cavalry BG 2 and attempts a rally and also fails.  The broken Orange Light Horse routes off the table.

After Vologases 2nd turn.  The black marked by Vologases' camp is the 1 attrition point lost for the broken light horse BG.

To begin Artabanus' 3rd turn, both Red cataphracts opt to try and hold and not charge.  Red cataphract BG 4 holds but Red cataphract BG 3 charges straight ahead.  In impact, Red cataphract BG 3 scores three hits and Orange cataphract BG 4 scores two.  The Orange cataphracts lose a base to the death roll and then disrupts on cohesion.  In the maneuver phase, the Red Cavalry BG 2 moves 2" forward and then wheels 2" towards the Orange cataphract BG 5.  In the shooting phase, Red Cavalry BG 2 makes no hits on Orange cataphract BG 5 while Red Cavalry BG 1 scores two hits on Orange Cavalry 2 who score one in return.  Orange Cavalry BG 1 fragments on its cohesion test.  In melee, the Red Light Horse BG score six hits on Orange Light Horse BG 1 and take one in return.  The Orange Light Horse automatically lose a base to hits and autobreak.  Orange Light Horse BG 1 flees 7" while the Red Light Horse BG pursues 8" and opts to charge into the fragmented Orange Cavalry BG 2.  The Orange Cavalry BG 2 passes its cohesion test and stands.  In the center, Red Cataphracts 3 scores two hits to Orange cataphract BG 4 but takes two from the Orange cataphract BG 4 and two more from the overlapping Orange cataphract BG 5.  Red cataphract BG 3 loses a base on the death roll and then drops to disrupted.  In the joint action phase, Vologases attempts to rally Orange Cavalry BG 2 but fails.  Artabanus successfully rallies Red Cavalry BG 2 back to disrupted.  The broken Orange Light horse flees off the table ending the turn.

At the end of Artabanus 3rd turn.  The two black markers in front of Vologases' camp represent the two attrition points for the two broken light horse BGs.  He is one attrition point away from breaking. 

To begin Vologases 3rd turn, the Orange cataphract BG 5 opts to try and hold to finish off the Red cataphract BG 3 but fails its CMT not to charge.  Red Cavalry BG 2 intercepts and strikes the rear stand of Orange cataphract BG 5 canceling its charge and dropping it to disrupted.  Artabanus, smelling victory, jumps into the frey and leads the Red Cavalry from the front.  In the impact, the Red Cavalry BG 2 scores only one hit while the cataphracts give a backhand of two hits.  Artabanus forgets to zig and is crushed by an enraged cataphract.  The Red Cavalry BG 2 also loses a base from its hits.  In cohesion, the Red Cavalry BG dissolves as it breaks from the impact.  Both Red cataphract BGs pass their cohesion tests for seeing Artabanus' death.  The Red Cavalry BG 2 flees 6" and the pursuing Orange cataphracts plow into Red cataphracts 4.  As this was still in the impact phase, this impact is resolved and both score two hits for a wash.  On the other end of the field, the Red Light Horse BG misses completely while the Orange Cavalry BG 2 scores a single hit.  The Red Light Horse emerges unscathed.  In the maneuver phase, Red Cavalry BG 1 forgets to move and as there is no shooting to be had into melee the turn progresses.  Red cataphract BG 4 and Orange cataphract BG 5 both again score two hits each for a draw.  Red cataphract BG 3 and Orange cataphract BG 4 score one hit each and also draw.  Red Light Horse BG scores three hits on the Orange Cavalry BG 2 who manages only two in return.  Although the Orange Cavalry survives its death roll, it fails its cohesion test and breaks.  In the route move, the cavalry flees 5" and the Red Light Horse pursues into them taking a base.  Vologases manages to survive.  This ends the melee phase and the game as Vologases' army breaks fleeing from the field.

After Vologases 3rd and final turn.

Test Run of Broken Rays of the Sun

During this time of Isolation, I have begun a test run of the Broken Rays of the Sun Campaign.  Only three factions are active at this time:  Artabanus IV, Vologases VI, Ardashir I.  I hope to keep a campaign newspaper up so people can read of the action.  When battles occur, I will do an AAR separate from the newspaper.

The story of the Broken Rays of the Sun Test Run can be found below:

Babylonian Sun Times Summer 220 AD Vol 6 

Battle of Hegra

Map for Vol 6

Babylonian Sun Times Summer 220 AD Vol 5

Battle of Pura

Map for Vol 5

Babylonian Sun Times Spring 220 AD Vol 4

Battle of Ecbatana

Map for Vol 4

Babylonian Sun Times Spring 220 AD Vol 3

Map for Vol 3

Babylonian Sun Times Spring 220 AD Vol 2

Map for Vol 2

Babylonian Sun Times Spring 220 AD Vol 1

Here is the map from the newspaper as it came out blurry in the pdf:

FOG 300 - Parthians vs Principate Romans circa 220 ADR

At the instigation of the Imperial Legate in Coele Syria, the governor of Osroene in Edessa has dispatched elements of Legio III Parthica east.  Anicetus Caecus, Tribunus Militum, has been tasked with pushing the frontier into the lands of the Parthians. Slipping across the border from Amida in the early hours, his column surprised the Armenian town of Salmas.  Leaving a small garrison, the advance turned south towards Arbela where Artabanus IV, one of the two claimants to the Parthian throne was holding court.  News sped ahead of Anicetus Caecus and Artabanus had time to gather his forces to meet the Romans on the road north.

Parthian List and Host:

White Cataphracts have the white flag.  Green cataphracts have the green and white flag.  All mounted figures are Old Glory 15s.  Cataphracts are a mixture of PA02, SA02 & ES03.  Light Horse are from LA10.  Camp figures are all from Xyston (Camels - ANC20282, Holders - ANC20282 & ANC20056).

Principate Roman List and Host:

These are actual Marian Romans but hey its what I've got.  All figures are Old Glory 15s.  Legionaires are from  MR02 Legionaires Advancing.  The cavalry are from MR04.  The Auxiliary are actually the Javelinmen from the Thracian pack TH03.  They were originally painted to be the Greek City Militia for my Parthians but they will work as Thureophori too.  The camp is a scratch built affair I picked up at Bayou Wars years ago.  All of the legionaries, cavalry and leaders were painted by Thomas Demers of SMAC.

The Parthians ended up winning the initiative and chose Agricultural from the Roman terrain choices.  The Romans wanted to clog up the field as much as possible and chose the compulsory open field, an enclosed field and a gully.  The Parthians wanted minimal terrain and chose the Open.  The open field ended up on the right flank of the Roman line while the enclosed field ended up on the opposite side of the table on the Parthian flank.  The gully was picked up.

The view of the Roman line from atop on of the Parthian camels in the camp.  Romans deployed with the White Legionaires on the left, Tan Legionaires in the center, the cavalry next to them and the auxiliary on the right end of the line with the Roman leader.

Parthian light horse on the left next to the enclosed field followed by the Green flagged cataphracts then the White flagged cataphracts with general.  The right side of the Parthian line has another light horse on the outside and a BG of bow cavalry on the inside.

The Parthians won the roll to move first and opted to go straight ahead.  The cataphracts with general in tow moved 8" forward with a one base shift shift to their right.  The light horse next to them shifted 1 base right and advanced 5" into the enclosed field.  The Parthian bow cavalry moved 5" forward and shifted 1 base towards the Parthian center.  The light horse next to them moved 7" forward and shifted 1 base towards the center.  There was no shooting and no melee so the turn ended.

After the Parthian 1st turn.

The Roman 1st turn saw the auxiliary move 4" forward towards the enclosed field.  The two legionaries moved 3" forward and the cavalry moved with them to stay on line.  Again there was no shooting.  In the joint action phase, the Roman leader moved to the Tan legionaires in the center of the Roman line while the Parthian leader moved to the Green cataphracts thus ending the Roman 1st turn.

After the Roman 1st turn.

To begin the Parthian 2nd turn, both cataphracts charged forward slightly angered towards the center. The Roman leader attached to the Tan legionaries while the Parthian leader jumped in with the Green cataphracts.  In impact, the Green cataphracts scored 2 hits on the cavalry and 2 on the Tan legionaries.  The White cataphracts managed a total of 2 hits on the White legionaries.  The Roman cavalry scored 1 hit on the Green cataphracts while the Tan legionnaires scored 1 hit on the Green cataphracts and 4 on the White cataphracts.  Both generals survived the impact.  The Roman cavalry lost a base to the death roll and then disrupted.  The White cataphracts survived the 4 hits but dropped to disrupted on the cohesion test.  In the maneuver phase, the Parthian light horse in the enclosed field moved 4" forward towards the auxiliary.  The Parthian bow cavalry attempted a CMT to expand but failed and instead advanced to 4" of the White legionnaires.  The remaining Parthian light horse moved 5" into the open field and turned 90 degrees to shoot at the White legionnaires.  In the shooting phase, the Parthians scored 1 hit on each flank for no effect.  In the melee phase, the White cataphracts scored 1 hit on the Tan legionnaires who gave 1 in return.  The White legionnaires in overlap failed to hit.  The Green cataphracts scored 2 hits on the Tan Legionnaires (who missed completely) and 2 hits on the Roman cavalry (who also missed completely).  The Romans did not score enough hits to scratch the armour of the Parthian general and the Parthians were not able to hit the Roman general either.  The Tan legionnaires lost a base to hits and the disrupted on their cohesion test.  The Roman cavalry also lost a base to hits and fragmented on their cohesion test.  Both generals were tied up in combat and the disrupted legionnaires kept both cataphracts stuck in.

After the Parthian 2nd turn.

To begin the Roman 2nd turn, the auxiliary charged the Parthian light horse to their front.  The Parthians evaded 6" back and the auxiliary pursued 2".  In the shooting phase, the Parthians at the other end of the table scored 1 hit to the White Legionnaires to no effect.  In melee, the White Legionnaires scored 1 hit on the White cataphracts from overlap while the Tan legionnaires also scored 1 hit.  The White cataphracts scored 3 hits in return on the Tan legionnaires.  The Tan legionnaires scored 1 hit to the Green cataphracts as did the Roman cavalry.  However, the Green cataphracts came back with 1 hit on the Tan legionnaires and 2 on the Roman cavalry.  The Parthian leader survived combat yet again but the Roman leader was bashed into a bleeding lump by the mace of a Parthian cataphract who punched through.  The Tan legionnaires lost a base to the death roll and then double dropped to broken on their cohesion test.  The Roman cavalry survived their death roll but the death of the CinC pushed their cohesion test modifiers to -6 dropping them to broken.  The White legionnaires did not like the tribune anyway and emerged unscathed.  The auxiliary dropped to disrupted when the Roman cavalry broke.  The end of the melee phase saw the Roman army break ending the game.

After the end of the melee phase in the Romand 2nd turn.

Armoured Romans are expensive, hence the use of average legionaries in the list.  I will have to play with the list to find a way to get some superior ones.