Through the Ages, Series 1 Round 2, 7 October 2022

 Through the Ages, Series 1, Round 2

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Early Hoplite Athenians invade Lydia

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Three difficult hills and one long gentle ridge in the corner of a normal-sized table.

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Lydians deploy light command on their right, rKnF set back in the middle, hoplites centre-right, then Cv chariots with more Kn and more light far-right. Athenians send two commands of hoplites down the middle while trying to get Thracian allies around the hill on their right to link up with another hoplite command flank marching. Athenians delayed the start of the battle to get their flank march on sooner.

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Lydians quickly take the hill on their right (nearest camera in last shot) but find the one on their left is more 'difficult' than they first thought. Athenians get the best of the Ps battle on the green-but-difficult hill allowing their hoplites to advance around it. Lydian Kn continue to hang back while taking the obviously difficult hill unopposed.

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When the flank march comes on, the chariots and Lh have redeployed to meet it (stop it marching).

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Hoplites crunch, then the Kn go in as well.

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Hoplites repulse the first Kn attack, killing two. Undeterred, the Kn go in again with much the same effect and lose another one. At this point the, Lydian CnC is seriously concerned as the pivotal hill is slowly being taken over by the Athenians.

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However, his second in command has carved a gap in the Athenian line (clearly visible in earlier pics) and an AxS has come off the bottom hill to join the fight at that end. Thus, when the Kn go in for a third time, the yellow hoplite crumbles and becomes disheartened. The CnC and his attendant Kn also whittle away at the blue hoplite command at the other end, and they too become disheartened. The flank march pushes forward, but struggles to press home its attack against the faster moving but retreating Lydian mounted. The Thracian ally demonstrates a reliable unwillingness to engage (several 1s for PIPs after an initial 5).

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Lydians administer coup de grace following bound. 23-2 to Anthony.

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After 2 rounds: Anthony 33, Bob 17. I think I really needed to win this one against the hoplites as I think Bob has some very tough Chinese armies to come out in later rounds.