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.