Battle of Megiddo 1479BC – battle report with 1d6 DBSA

Introduction

After playing some replays of this battle with Dominion of the Spear, I realised how interesting I find this battle.  I decided to play it with the latest iteration of my Ancient Battlelines Clash rules. And then I played it using a small variation on DSBA, the forerunner to DBA.   Being a bit of a 1d6 resolution fanatic, I converted DBSA to 1d6 and gave Megiddo a go.

Rules

To convert DBSA to 1d6 it is roll 1d6 for combat +/- combat factors:  <1 Attacker destroyed, 1-3 Attacker recoils, 4-6 Defender recoils, 7+ Defender Destroyed.  A unit is destroyed on a recoil if up against a “quick kill” (i.e. a less than half result is a destroyed).  I also went with variable activation: roll a 3+ to activate a unit/group, rather than PIP rolls, and then do move, shoot, combat ith each unit/group. Lastly all units armed with missiles may fire 1 basewidth, Light archers still fire 2 basewidth.  If both units have missiles, this is revolved with the single d6 roll.  I may streamline the quick kills and also add in some reactions but I may not need much of the latter as the recoil mechanism takes care of it.  It is also slanted towards DBA and may incorporate movement rates from ABC (ABC is Bill Bank’s Ancients combat with an Armati II riff).  And these rules lend themselves  to gridding and so may look to do that too.

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC  

The Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III defeats a Canaanite coalition before the walls of the city of Megiddo.

Sources

See this previous Megiddo battle report for sources I used.

Troops

Egyptians

3 CH Chariots (one with the general Thutmose III)

1 HI Heavy infantry (Blades)

2 MI Medium Infantry

2 LA Light Archers

1 CP Camp

Breakpoint: 3

Coalition of Syrians under the prince of Kadesh

2 CH Chariots (one with leader)

2 MI Medium Infantry

2 LI Light Infantry

1 LA Light Archer

1 CP Camp

Breakpoint: 3

Scenario & Deployment

Special rules: A draw is a rebel victory.

I have gone with a deployment loosely based on the Peter Sides scenario.

Deployment (Egyptians on the left)

Game

Note: Frustratingly I thought I had taken about 3 more photos of the action during the game but did not; the report is not illustrated by as many images as I expected.  Ah well.

Egyptian right flank advances to the river bank.  The Chariots advance into missile range of the Canaanite Chariots.  Two Egyptian Chariots are forced to retreat, while the Canaanite Chariot (+general) retreats.

The Centre chariot missile exchange

The Egyptian left flank moves into light archer range (so the Canaanite LI with javelins cannot return fire.  The Canaanite archers rout (a 6 was rolled) and the Light Infantry recoil.

First blood – Canaanite archers rout on the Egyptian left flank

Still on the Egyptian left flank, the LI  advances and forces the Egyptian archers to retire.  The Li was tempted to move and form a group with the Medium infantry but decided to give missile fire a chance.   It paid off.

After not missing any activation rolls, the Egyptians failed to activate most unit for two turns.  Back in action though and the centre Canaanite chariots retreat and the Canaanite light infantry is routed by missile fire on the left flank.

Canaanite chariots forced back, and an Canaanite light infantry lost

The Egyptian right flank contacts the Canaanites on the hill.  The Blades manage to force the light infantry back, but the clash of the medium infantry sees the Egyptian recoil.

Egyptian right flank clash on the hill

In the centre, the Canaanite chariots continue to be forced back, on the left the Egyptians advance to pin down the lone Canaanite light infantry unit. 

On the Egyptian right flank the light infantry managed to recoil the blades but then later is forced to flee.  On the left flank the Egyptian missile fire is ineffective.  In the centre, the Egyptian chariot manages to loot the camp.  This brings the Canaanites to their breakpoint and they retreat into Megiddo.

End 

Verdict

That was a fun game.  And at least the Egyptians won this refight.  I will continue to tinker with the rules as am not that fond of lots of recoils.  I understand why they are there but I am used to using a disorder marker for deteriorating positions.   After the game I remembered I thought I had done a version of my own rules, ABC on a grid with no markers required.  Looking through the files I did do so, back in 2019! It has some good points that I was thinking of applying to these rules.  It seems I am at least consistent it what I like in rules.  I will continue to see if these are worth playing but in the meantime with move onto other rules to use with Megiddo.   But before that, I have gone back to playing a lot of Dominion of the Spear – so simple, so fast!

 

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC – battle report with DBSA (sort of)

Introduction

After playing some replays of this battle with Dominion of the Spear, I realised how interesting I find this battle.  I decided to play it with the latest iteration of my Ancient Battlelines Clash rules.

And then I have always wanted to use DSBA, the forerunner to DBA.  Megiddo has a lot of archers and DBSA has no ranged combat so I added to DBSA the Bows troop type able to fire at 200p. I made a few very minor modifications to the combat results.  But very minor (I amazingly resisted doing a lot more). DBSA also has Chariots as a distinctive troop type, which I like.  I have never really been enamoured with the opposed dice and compare to less that or greater than half but we shall see.  If I am ok with it I may play it more.  Of course, in the past I have always said that and then played a game of DBA and then moved on :-)

Post battle spoiler: opposed 2d6 and comparing half/greater than half I found I am ok with but not greatly inspired. So I worked on a 1d6 variant that is good enough for me.  Nuances are lost compared to the 2d6 but I am fine with that for less calculation.

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC  

The Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III defeats a Canaanite coalition before the walls of the city of Megiddo.

Sources

See this previous Megiddo battle report for sources I used.

Troops

Egyptians

3 CH Chariots (one with the general Thutmose III, 1 Swordsmen/Blade/HI Heavy infantry, 2 Auxilia/MI Medium Infantry, 2 Bows/LA Light Archers, 1 CP Camp.

Breakpoint: 3

Coalition of Syrians under the prince of Kadesh

2 CH Chariots (one with leader), 2 Auxilia/MI Medium Infantry, 2 Psiloi/LI Light Infantry, 1 Bows/LA Light Archer, 1 CP Camp.

Breakpoint: 3

Scenario & Deployment

Special rules: A draw is a rebel victory.

I have gone with a deployment loosely based on the Peter Sides scenario.

Deployment (Egyptians on the left)

Game

Egyptians go first and all advance towards the opposing Canaanites.  The Egyptians fire, as do the Canaanites in return.  This breaks up the opposing lines on the Egyptian left flank.  The next turn sees the Canaanite archer destroy their opposing Egyptian archer.

Egyptian left flank battlelines are now broken up due to missile fire

The Egyptian chariots charge into the Canaanite chariots, all the Egyptian chariots recoil (expect the support one).

Egyptian chariots charge and are repulsed

The Egyptian right flank charges up the hill and manages to force a Canaanite Medium infantry further up the hill.  Next turn the light infantry is also forced back and then the turn after flees

Egyptian right flank charging up the hill

Across the line the Egyptians are slowly forcing the Canaanites back.  On the left they are recoiling from bowfire, in the centre both Chariots are forced to retreat and on the right flank a medium infantry is forced back into the cliff and so routs.

Canaanite chariots in retreat

Egyptian right flank forces a medium infantry to retreat

But then disaster for the Egyptians!  On their left flank the Canaanite bowfire is so great the other Egyptian archer unit routs.  There is only an Egyptian medium infantry for defence.

Egyptian left flank down to one unit

And then even more tragedy!  In the centre an Egyptian chariot is lost. 

Egyptians lost a chariot

The Egyptians have lost 3 units from starting with 8 units so flee the battlefield.  They have lost.

End

Verdict

The Egyptians rolled ok when it was not critical but rolled badly when it was important and so lost the three units.  If they had just rolled well at the right times it could have easily ended up as an Egyptian victory.  Alas it was not the historical result due to hot Canaanite dice.  As noted at the start of the post, the whole roll 2d6 and compare for half/greater than half I think is a great mechanism but I think I would have to play a few more games for the calculations to just easily flow.  Rather than do that, I have a 1d6 variant that is not as nuanced but works ok.

I did not mind the flow of the game but the game took longer than with my own rules. There was a lot of interactions between units (missile fire or combat) that did nothing interesting e.g. caused a recoil to one side but next turn the unit was moved back in line. But then my rules are designed for really quick results, at least compared to DBA. 

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC – battle report with Ancient Battlelines Clash

 Introduction

After playing some replays of this battle with Dominion of the Spear, I realised how interesting I find this battle.  I decided to play it with the latest iteration of my Ancient Battlelines Clash rules.  Previous outings with previous rules versions are with an early copy of my own rules (2012) and a few times with a major rules revision in 2021.  ABC is designed to finish in around 30 minutes on a 2’x2’ or smaller table; I am currently using a 40cmx40cm table, although for Megiddo I used a 2'x2' due to the wide width of the battlefield, even with only 8 bases a side.

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC  

The Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III defeats a Canaanite coalition before the walls of the city of Megiddo.

Sources

Scenario source: Bill Banks Ancients (originally).

Link(s):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Megiddo_(15th_century_BC)

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1101/thutmose-iii-at-the-battle-of-megiddo/

https://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/Ancient/BattleOfMegiddo

https://www.donsmaps.com/egypt2cb.html  (a good summary of Nelson, see below)

Society of Ancients Slingshot articles:

• The Battle of Megiddo (43/6-11, Alan Buttery)
• The Battle of Kadesh (55/6-13, rp.92a/16-20, Alan Buttery)
• Megiddo! (135/15-18, Ian Greenwood; comments 136/18-19, Ian Russell Lowell; 137/11-12, Karl Heinz Ranitzsch & Noel McGlinchey)
• The Pharaoh‟s Breakfast [Megiddo] (136/16-18, Stephen Allen)

Other:

• Harold Haydon Nelson Battle of Megiddo (1913) is an interesting read on the battle

Troops

Egyptians

1 LDR Leader (Thutmose III), 3 CH Chariots, 1 HI Heavy infantry, 2 MI Medium Infantry, 2 LA Light Archers, 1 CP Camp.

Breakpoint: 2.5

Coalition of Syrians under the prince of Kadesh

1 LDR, 2 CH Chariots, 2 MI Medium Infantry, 2 LI Light Infantry, 1 LA Light Archer, 1 CP Camp.

Breakpoint: 2.5

Scenario & Deployment

Special rules: A draw is a rebel victory.

I have gone with a deployment loosely based on the Peter Sides scenario.

Deployment (Egyptians on the left)

Game

The two Egyptian flanks move (the right to gin the riverbank, the left to get closer to be able to use the light archers).  The centre decides to pause and wait for the flanks to get into position (in reality failed to activate).

The Canaanite right flank fails to move but their light archers do exchange some missile fire with the opposing Egyptian archers (for no effect).

Exchanging missile fire on the Egyptian left flank

The Canaanite chariots move slightly off the hill, just to put a little more distance between the Egyptian chariots and the Camp.

The Egyptian’s may be able to win their right flank and so advance to the river bank.  Inn range of the Canaanite Light infantry that fire and disorder the opposing heavy infantry

Canaanite light infantry disorders the Egyptian Heavy infantry

The Egyptian chariots charge in.  The Canaanites fire at them on them as they approach, forcing one to slow their advance. Disorders all round, except Thutmose’s Royal Guard.

Egyptian chariots charge, one falters due to incoming arrows

The Egyptian left flank fires missiles and disorder the Light infantry.  The Canaanite archers return fire and the rest of the flank moves off the hill as they need to rout the Egyptian archers.

Canaanite right flank advancing

The Chariots melee and one of the Egyptian Chariots is routed.

An Egyptian chariot routed

On the Canaanite left flank, the light infantry routs the heavy infantry (two 6’s in a row).  That was unexpected.

Heavy infantry routed

Thutmose charges his chariots in but are repulsed again.  On the left flank the infantry clash and are both disordered, archers fire at the other archers on the hill and the latter are disordered, the far left archers fire at the light infantry who return fire with javelins and disorder the Egyptian archers.

The Egyptian left flank is still in contention

But then it all goes pear shaped for the Egyptians.  On the left flank, the Canaanites rout the archers and the medium infantry, the remaining chariot in the centre routs the opposing chariot.

Collapse of the Egyptian left and centre

This well and truly breaks the morale of the Egyptian side that abandon the battle.

End

Verdict

Wow.  The collapse at the end was the Canaanites rolling a string of 5s and 6s Vs the 1s and 2s of the Egyptians.   I was not expecting the Egyptians to lose.  They rolled so bad throughout the game, and the Canaanites rolled so well.  No changes to the rules, still happy with them.  Of course, this is after 3 games with the revised rules so that can easily change :-)

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC – a few battle reports with Dominion of the Spear

Introduction

While wanting to play some historical battles with the Dominion of the Spear expansion I went down a rabbit hole with Megiddo, the first battle in the pack.

Background

Dominion of the Spear is a really fast ruleset on a 3x2 grid.  I played a few games with it and have played about 15-20 more.  It won’t replace my other rules but is an interesting way to pass the time.  I have also used it to play a bit of a Cyrus the Great campaign. An expansion came out that has 36 historical battles and a couple of optional rules on modifying activation. I began using one of the optional rules (Attacker activates one sector, defender then activates another) after game 6 as it introduces some extra decision making. 

I wanted to play of few of them and so looked at the first one, Megiddo.  Now, Megiddo is one of my favourite battles and I have played it a few times, with an early copy of my own rules and a few times with a major rules revision in 2021.  I have thought about using it as a test battle for replaying the same battle with different rules (I may still do that).

Conveniently, Megiddo is a battle across three sectors and Dominion on the Spear is also a 3 sector game (although the rules have a way to easy add more sectors).  Megiddo is also one of those battles where the forces are not specified, other than there are chariots and infantry.  So there is quite a leeway in exactly what troops were in which sector, other than there were chariots in the centre for both sides.

The games

Game 1 is the game straight of the expansion.  A fine interpretation of the battle.

Game 2 introduces my own terrain rules

Game 3 changes the forces a little to have more of them

Game 4 changes the forces so chariots only in the centre

Game 1 Megiddo as per the expansion interpretation

This scenario has each sector populated with chariots with infantry in the reserve.  The Canaanite reserve is armoured to indicate they are on a hill. 

Setup, Egyptians at the top

Egyptian left attacks opposing chariot and the Canaanite chariots are destroyed.  Replaced with an armoured archer.  I chose the flank chariot to use for the attack as if the Egyptian won, the Canaanites would replace it with an infantry unit, and infantry do not get the outflanking bonus from a flank sector.  Also, I replaced the Canaanite chariot with the infantry archer as they get a bonus Vs Chariots.  The Canaanites choose that sector for their combat as they have a better chance at routing the Egyptian chariots.  But neither side flinches.

Canaanite chariot destroyed and replaced with archers

Egyptians choose the right flank for the same reason as the attacking on the left.  Both are destroyed and replaced by their respective infantry reserves.  Neither side has any reserves left.

Mutual destruction of chariots on the left

Canaanites choose the archers again and destroy the Egyptian chariots.   The Egyptian have the best chance in the centre so choose that for combat.  Mutual destruction again!

Egyptian chariot lost on the right and mutual destruction in the centre

The Egyptian force is down to one unit and so has lost.

Fast and furious, as designed.

Game 2 My own terrain rules

Ok, prepare for a little bit of a complication.  Here are my terrain rules as pertinent to Megiddo:

A target infantry unit on a hill count as elite for first melee combat.

A target unit in a river counts as elite for first melee combat.

First is with the same unit – if melee with a different unit bonus will count again.  If both in the same sector and both in same terrain type then there is no bonus.

If terrain is used, a unit (in a sector or reserve) sits on the terrain feature. If the unit is destroyed the terrain feature moves to the winner, unless it is a river, then remove it. If both destroyed then if a reserve unit moves into the sector the terrain feature stays in that sector with the newly moved reserve unit, else remove the terrain feature. If a unit initiates an outflanking combat, remove any terrain feature under it. A reserve unit moving into a sector keeps its terrain feature and overrides the one currently in the sector.

Also, for Megiddo there a steep cliff between the right and centre sector so no outflanking bonus is given for combat across from the right sector to the centre.  

For the battle, there is a camp in the centre behind the chariots and also Megiddo to retreat into.  While the Egyptians looted the camp while the retreating enemy managed to escape, I will assume that this occurs after the battle itself so won’t represent it in the game.

I am using the same forces as game 1 but modified as some unit no longer have specific armoured status for being on a hill.

Egyptian

Reserve: 1xElite Spearmen

Sectors: 3xElite Chariot Archers

Canaanite

Reserve: 1x Spearmen, 1x Archers (both on hills)

Sectors: 3x Chariot Archers (left defending a river, centre and right on a hill)

Setup

Egyptian left attacks the opposing chariot (hill will have no effect).  Mutual destruction.  The hill under the chariot goes at it is replaced with the Canaanite spearmen that has its own terrain feature.  This happens to be a hill so the end result is the Canaanite spearmen moves onto the hill.  The Egyptian spearmen replace the chariot.

After mutual destruction on the right

The Canaanite select their right flank for combat as it is an equal chance, compared to the other sectors where it may not be so great.  The Canaanites rout the Egyptian spearmen.  No replacement for the Egyptians. The Egyptians combat in the centre. Mutual destruction!  No replacement for the Egyptians, Canaanite reserve archers advance (on a hill).

Egyptian spearmen routed on the right, mutual destruction of chariots in the centre

The Egyptians are down to one unit so lose, again.

I do like the terrain rules for their first outing.  A bit more complexity but has a good feel to it.

Game 3 Increase the Egyptian units

Still using the same points but will take the Elite off two Egyptian chariots and add a spearmen unit to the reserve. Centre chariots are still elite to represent Thutmose III and the royal forces.

Egyptian

Reserve: 1xElite Spearmen, 1xSpearmen

Left and right sectors: 2xChariot Archers

Centre sector: 1xElite Chariot Archers

Canaanite

Reserve: 1x Spearmen, 1x Archers (both on hills)

Sectors: 3xChariot Archers (left defending a river, centre and right on a hill)

Setup

Again, Egyptian first combat is their left flank.  No casualties. Canaanites combat on their left sector, forcing the Egyptians to attack across the river.  However, as it is all archers, the river has no effect.  Mutual destruction! Oh, now who replaces their reserve first?  I will assume it is the side that was not activated, so in this instance it will be the Egyptians that replace first with the non-elite Spearmen (save the elites for attacks on hill units).  The Canaanite replace with a spearmen as well.  If the spears were not on a terrain feature they would move into the river.  However they are on a hill so the hill “moves” with them as the river is removed.

Mutual destruction on the left.  Egyptians have advanced though through the river to the hill.

Egyptian combats in the centre and destroys the Canaanite chariot.  The archers replace the destroyed chariot.

Centre Egyptian chariot destroys the opposing chariot, latter replaced with archers

The Canaanites choose the left flank – spears Vs spears but they have the advantage of being on a hill.  The Canaanites win and the Egyptian Nubian spears are replaced with the elite spearmen.

Canaanites win on the left, Egyptians replace the loss with another spearmen unit

Egyptians choose the Spearmen on their right.  Egyptians win and are now on the hill.

Egyptians win on in the left sector

Canaanite chose the right as have an equal chance there.  No effect.

Egyptian choose the spearmen to outflank the centre missile unit.  It is melee and the missile unit cannot return fire.  While the spearmen get no bonus for outflanking, they are elite and combating missile infantry.  Those bonuses stack! The missile unit routs.

The missile unit is attacked in the flank by the Egyptian spearmen

The Canaanites have lost, for the first game out of the three.  I really do like have 2-3 units in reserve, the game takes a little longer and a few more decisions.

Game 4 Chariots only in the centre.

Other Megiddo gaming scenarios only has chariots in the centre sector.  It is the setup I have used previously so I thought I would give the battle a run with different units configuration

Egyptian

Reserve: 1xArchers, 1xSpearmen

Right sectors: 1xArchers

Left sector: 1xElite Spearmen

Centre sector: 1xElite Chariot Archers

Canaanite

Reserve: 1x Spearmen, 2xArchers (all on hills)

Centre sector: 1xChariot Archers

Other sectors: 2xArchers (left defending a river, centre and right on a hill)

Setup

Egyptians attack in the centre as it is Elite Vs non-elite.  In a reverse of history, the royal Egyptian chariots are routed and the Egyptian archers replace them.  The hill under the chariots is removed (assumed to advance).

Egyptian centre chariots routed, Canaanite chariots advance off the hill

The Canaanites attack in the centre (as if they lose, infantry will go into the centre for possible outflanking bonus in the future).  Mutual destruction.  The Egyptian moves up the Nubian infantry, the Canaanites some archers (that are on a hill so it moves with them).

Egyptian elite spears attack the missile units in the river.  The missile units attack first but if they fail, the melee will be brutal.  The missile unit fails but the elite spears rout them.  The river disappears.  The Canaanite reserve archers are put into the battleline.  They are on a hill.

Mutual destruction in the centre, with replacements, left flank Canaanite fail to defend the river and Egyptian spearmen advance to the archers on the hill

Canaanite have no really good matchups but the missile unit on the left could take out the opposing spears with not return melee.   They don’t harm the spears but the spears do not affect the archers either.

The Egyptians choose this battle again as the missile units no longer get the +1 for being on the hill.  The spearmen survive the missile fire and take the archers out.  The Egyptian spears advance.  They are on a hill, as are the reserve Egyptian spearmen.

Left flank sees the Canaanite archers routed and replaced by the last of their spearmen

Canaanite choose their right flank – similar chance of rout.  No effect.

Egyptians choose the spearmen on the hill. No effect.

Canaanite choose their right flank missiles.  Mutual destruction!

Right sector is now wide open

Egyptians choose the spearmen on the hill. The Canaanites win the melee.

The battle on the hill sees the Canaanite come out on top

The Egyptians are down to one unit and so lose.

Verdict

All the games were fun to play.  I can see myself playing more Dominion of the Spear. I continue to be amazed at the simplicity in the rules and the elegance of the 4 troop types and two attributes that capture ancient battles with a broad brush so well.  I did especially like game 3 and 4 as they had 2-3 units in reserve but that did make the game longer.  I can see myself using the terrain rules for those historical battles where it played an important part.  It will also be useful in campaign games to generate some terrain every now and then to make it interesting.  If I ever play the Two Hour Wargames scenarios with these rules, then the terrain rules will work there.  I still think they are a bit too complex for the elegant simplicity to the rules but I like the way they help visual the flow of the battle as it unfolds.  I feel I have more mutual destructions than normal but possibly not - in a game should expect one sector to have this I am fairly sure. The activating one sector for each side I have been using for a while and did not disappoint in these games either.