Hoplites in Cyprus

My first face to face games in Cyprus, and some Men of Bronze Hoplite battles against Rob, another Durham Wargames Group exile.

Quite pleased with the look of these guys, but maybe some 3,2, 1 basing is needed.

My game map needs a bit of work but it's looking about right.  I intend to have it blown up to A3.

Salamis - Kingdom
Poisedon's Elite Sacred band 1
Drilled Hoplites 2
Militia Hoplites 1
Greek cavalry 1
Peltasts 1
Citium - Phoenician colony
Bhaal's Children Elite Chariots 1
Citizen Hoplites 2
Ship crew peltasts 1
Archers 1
Paphos - Priest-king
Aphrodite's Sacred Band 1
Drilled Hoplites 2
Militia Hoplites 1
Slingers 1
Curium - Tyrant
Elite Sacred band 1
Drilled Hoplites 2
Militia Hoplites 1
Greek cavalry 1
Peltasts 1
Marium 
Persian Governor
Sparabara 2

Archers 3

Cavalry 2

Game 1

Bellendus of Paphos vs Testicleas the Greater of Curium.

Bellendus is ambushed on the march to Curium.  My initial reaction,  "that's not good."  Wasn't wrong either.

Fight.  The leading edge of the lines clash.

First clash

The front lines wipe each other out.  Bit of a blood fest Men of Bronze/

And a stand off between the stone throwing guys and the useless cavalry

But the ambushing Strategos has been killed.  Nobody fight over his body so we can assume he wasn't well liked.

And on the other flank, I'm attacked... in the flank.  

and the damn cavalry pile in too.  Its pretty much a massacre.

My hoplites are destroyed.

And my last group pass the morale rolls to fight on.

And my Strategos is also killed.  Or perhaps ran away because he's clearly still on his feet.

Time for revenge.  We target the Sacred shrine of Vectron. 
The scenario is burn down the shrine.

And yes, its a 15mm Saxon Church, but that's how Vectron swings.

My right flank goes in.  Honours are even

But the Hoplites in the Sacred Sanctuary give me a bloody nose.  

And on the left flank its a shooting battle.  My rock chuckers are supreme.

We kill his Strategos.  It seems to be the same guy!

I close in on the shrine.  My Strategos is clearly unhappy to attack it again, so I rely on the slingers.

I win the Hoplite battle on the flank, but I have no answer to the strongpoint.  I`m thrown back again, wavering.

And the end game.  I can't win.  It's a defenders Victory and Vectron will smile on us all.

I enjoyed Men of Bronze for these games.  Its quick, brutal, small scale and quick.  Perfect for the mini campaign format.  

Obviously I`m going to need to scratch build some "Greek" buildings to replace the Saxon church, dig out the triremes for a coastal landing scenario, and maybe finally buy those Persians and bring the Macedonians over from Durham.

We also discussed using goats for arete points, and although I rather like the Das modelled coins I think it would look better.  indeed one of the plot complications is a herd of goats, and I have the pan pipes guy to go with them.

Really enjoyed my first actual non solo wargames here in Cyprus, and a welcome return to ancient Greek battles.