Zante - A Holiday Location with a Bit of Unexpected Local History

Zante is a small island off the Peloponnese of mainland Greece. A pleasant holiday destination, where there was the sweet holiday sun and sea.

The Wikipedia link to the History of Zante gives a rather formal historical description, until teh last lines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Zakynthos

During the Nazi occupation of Greece, Mayor Karrer and Bishop Chrysostomos refused Nazi orders to turn in a list of the members of the town's Jewish community for deportation to the death camps. Instead they hid all (or most) of the town's Jewish people in rural villages. According to some sources, all 275 Jews of Zakynthos survived the war;^[65][66] however, other sources state that about thirty died of starvation,^[67] or state that some elderly Jews, incapable of fleeing the town, "disappeared" in a German SS truck.^[68] Statues of the Bishop and the Mayor commemorate their heroism on the site of the town's historic synagogue, destroyed in the earthquake of 1953.^[65]

In 1978, Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority in Israel, honoured Bishop Chrysostomos and Mayor Loukas Karrer with the title of "Righteous among the Nations", an honor given to non-Jews who, at personal risk, saved Jews during the Holocaust.^[65] After the war, all of the Jews of Zakynthos moved either to Israel or to Athens.^[69][70]

Another description: https://chrissieparkerauthor.wordpress.com/2017/04/30/zakynthos-under-world-war-two-occupation/

In short the people of Zante were nothing short of incredible by the way they protected their Jewish community from the Nazi holocaust. Where 80% of all mainland Greek Jews disappeared in the Holocaust, the ones on Zante were protected by absorbing them into rural villages and small towns, blending them into the background.

As the Greeks say as they drink a toast Yamas!

Yamas to the brave people of to Zante!

Ancients - "One Hour Wargames" an excuse for some 15mm Family Fun

It came to pass that in the land of ancient Greece, a city state whose name has now been long lost in the annals of antiquity, fell into dispute with its local neighbour over access rights to a local temple and gathered together a force of hoplites, skirmishers and a band of mercenary archers to do battle (see below, three infantry, two skirmishers and a troop of archers): 

Within sight of the sacred grounds of the ruined temple a battle was to be fought to settle the dispute once and for all (see below, the "Corfu airport travel shop" surrendered this little beauty for me, a perfect 15mm DBA camp if ever I saw one, I thought to myself and with "last few Euros" of holiday money well spent, it began its trip to England - note the two temple attendants are from Essex [Miniatures] and are probably my oldest "ancients" miniatures - holding up well but I might be tempted to add a layer of modern "wash" over them):   

The invaders obviously came from Thessaly, bringing two powerful contingents of horse, plus three heavy infantry and a band of skirmishers (see below, the armies are yet ti form into their distinctive hoplite lines of battle as they deploy from their respective camps):  

That soon changes as the battle lines of bronzed hoplites masses in the middle of the battlefield and a relentless heavy push of bronze begins. The system is not grid based (like Lost Battles for instance) so although the movement comes in pleasant "big chunks" combat overlaps can easily occur. However only one unit can fight each other frontally (like Impetus if I remember correctly) so I did not force "lining up" to avoid DBA/DBM movement geometry to spoil the ebb and flow and lt units scrum together naturally (see below, I was using Neil Thomas' "One Hour Wargames" rules to blood my teenage son into the hobby. as he has familiarised himself with the complex mechanics of 5th edition D&D, this should be a breeze - but I wanted a "fluid" game noses out of the rulebook if at all possible - Note dice are damage points accrued, get to fifteen and the unit goes "bang", which I liked): 

The unarmoured horse suffer badly (as they should) as they try and push their way through a solid hoplite block (see below. there is a nice mechanic in the rules that armour halves damage which seems to work very well representing ancients) 

The horse unit "cracks" (if I had thought on I could have had them scattering away fro the picture) leaving a whole in the line that the victorious hoplites wish to exploit (see below, the attrition caused by the combat system slowly builds to a "busting point" which again I quite like, creating moments of dreaded tension): 

The horse was the first unit to fall, but the unit of archers is lost making an equally unsightly whole in the line, however the hoplites that vanquished the horse are the quicker to turn and bear down on the flanks of their hoplite cousins. The challengers are about to lose their heavy infantry at teh end of this turn (see below, another feature of the rules is the relative ineffectiveness of skirmishers against heavily armoured troops - they can bother but they do not kill, see far left as despite being on a flank a unit of skirmishers is merely tickling the hoplites locked in combat with another hoplite unit):    

That said, as it was often the way with hoplite battles the "rights" of both sides 'win' and a swirling/wheeling motion occurs. The last unit of exhausted heavy infantry do indeed fall to the outrageous slings and arrows of the skirmishers (so much for my ""nothing to worry about" write-up in the last picture):   

What remains of both armies turn for the final face-off. Two relatively untouched skirmishers, but the heavy infantry looks more menacing than the battered horse (see below, I suppose at this point "morale" should click in with a reality check - with all the heavy infantry gone .. would the horse and skirmishers really slug it out? On the other hand they have come all this way and there is really no way back):    

After a brief "pivot" dance the bloody end-game battle commences (see below, no one fancies the chances of the skirmishers against the armoured hoplites, but the battered horse versus the "still fresh" skirmishers is harder to call) : 

In the end the horse perish, they were obviously too tired from their previous exhortations to pull this one out of the fire (see below, the temple attendants can now safely return to their duties as nothing has changed - apart from a field full of dead and dying Greeks, which means plenty pf work for the temple):   

All in all a very good game. A simple set of rules. yet circumstances arose which were not covered and were met with more "mutual agreement" that "rules lawyering". A competition set of rules it is not (and thank gawd for that") but a nice set you can modify from sound beginning and add flavour to suit, yes. Already after one game it have made a good "Return on Investment" (ROI). It already had bloodied my son's interest, brought some toys out of the loft and started my grey cells turning. The other set of rules I have been reading was Piquet which stands on the opposite extreme compared to these. I cannot wait to try out more scenarios and play with other periods.  

Mortal Gods

I am a sucker for a good looking game in a box. I am already an owner of Test of Honour (although I have still to make the figures and play it) so my eye was naturally drawn to an excuse to collect 28mm Ancient Hoplites. I have eyed up Command and Colours for using my 15mm Ancients in large battles but 28mm IMHO is an individualised painting affair, hence my purchase (see below, suitable expansion packs already exist .. for the Spartans and ehe Athenians):

Watch this space as I am in the process of sticking together 28mm Victrix figures!

Sparta v Argos (Re-Run Take III): Done (Part 7)

Flying high with gods the Spartan left flank can be seen cruelly wheeling into the Argive right hoplites, harvesting them like ripe wheat. The Argives have one last hope, a third attempt to shatter the Spartan "youth hoplite stand" of spears that has twice thwarted them (see below):

The proverbial kitchen sink is thrown at the Spartans. Notice how the Argive General (myself) refrains from attacking the Spartan hoplites to the right hand side of the attacking Argives, because success is unlikely to kill and a push back would help out the the beleaguered Spartan stand. On the other hand it would have potentially interrupted the run of "bad Argive dice" in the vital sector, but statistics say that should not have mattered because you do not affect the future with past rolls of a d6 (see below, I as the Argive ruminate about this now):

A sacrifice is offered to the gods, harsh words of encouragement by the Argive Captains of War are given and the attack commences and the die is thrown. Stunned into silence, all pleasure of head banging gone (see previous posts) just the sad (from the Argive perspective) calculation is repeated. "No, unbelievable, these Spartans cannot be moved" (see below):

The Spartan run through the Argive hoplites like a hot knife through butter. Smoothly and without mistake two Argive hoplites fall upon the hill. The Argive army morale shatters and they flee (see below, Sparta 5 Argos 3 - Sparta remains supreme on the Peloponnese):

What a fantastic game! Incredible in that right up until the end the Argives thought they had it, but the Spartans played true. This young novice Spartan King is a man to watch in the world of DBA, he plays the period not the game system. Immense fun. Maybe I should look to introduce some new troop types. Perhaps from Persia or Thrace ;)

Sparta v Argos (Re-Run Take III): Time to Finish it (Part 6)

For the second time of asking the seemingly forgone conclusion of a forlorn stand of Spartan hoplites outnumbered 3:1 and with no possible room for retreat were drawn into a "do or die" combat (see below, "Spartans we salute you! You fought well but Argos needs to teach Sparta a lesson"): 

Instead the Spartans show Argos that today, here, on this piece of hallowed ground no more Spartans shall give way to Argos. Bang 8-6 - the massed ranks of the Argives bounce away again. Quite sportingly the Spartan King offers me a cushion so to not damage my head (see below, the unbelievable happens and to my shame I did not use the extra PiP I had to bring the extra Argive troops into "usefulness", hubris my friends, hubris): 

It is Sparta;s time to deal the death blow. The Spartan king watches as his mighty phalanx unfurls for a  Sparta [Spears 4 + 2 flanks] = 6 versus  3 Argos [Spears 4 - 2 overlapped flanks + 1 for being on a hill] basic attack - needing to double to kill (see below, all to play for at 3-3 and just one stand needed by both sides to win):

Ah! The Argives roll a 1, all seems lost but then Sparta also rolls a one: 7-4 Push Back! How on earth? Argos has yet another chance to pull it out of the fire! Will this game ever finish? Will this game not stop providing "crazy" dice rolls. The Spartan King is momentarily crestfallen but composes himself and moves on (see below): 

Apologies for the misdirection saying it was a "done thing" but we seem to be now playing on past the end of regulation time ;)

Next: Extra Time Sudden Death?

Sparta v Argos (Re-Run Take III): Don't Go Counting Chickens (Part 5)

And so it came to pass that a bunch of Spartans stood between myself and immortal glory. These should be second-stringers as they were a third of the way along from teh weaker (less prestigious end of the line of battle). As an Argive it was time to "seize the moment" (before the catchphrase of the Dead Poet's Society even existed). Again the Argive killer Psilio were the key, placed in the rear of the Spartan Phalanx (see below, left middle):

In went my solid Argive hoplites, supported on their left by the Argive General's personal cohort and assisted by the deadly Psilio in the rear. It was the same trap to be spring for a third 'killer' time. Except these Spartan milksops had not read the script, the fought the Argives to a standstill and then pushed them back (see below, a classic case of DBA 6-1 to the Spartans!):   

The groans and revulsion was acute. A twisted knot formed in my stomach as my bolt was shot and the initiative had been passed back to the unforgiving scarlet Spartans. The concerned Spartan (novice DBA'er) General asked it I was OK. To which I replied "Fine. Absolutely fine. Banging my forehead off the tabletop like this is quite usual in these circumstances. In fact it has a quite a therapeutic affect!" I said smiling inanely (see below, the Argive General is left pondering "How did that not work?"):

Simply stated the Spartan milksops had remembered what their Spartan mothers had said to them before they left for war. Presenting their sons with their shields, "With it or on it" and you don't cross your Spartan mother (see below): 

The Argives now faced a fight for their lives on the right of the battlefield, but a critical low PiP roll of "one" gave the Argives hope. Instead of an overwhelming "no retreat overlap battle" the Spartans merely hit the Argive hoplite (who had luckily recoiled away from the front-facing Spartans last go) in the flank. The Argives turned to face and the die were rolled (see below):

The Argives gasped in horror as they were on the receiving end of a 5 to 1 die result. Fevered calculations took place, Sparta 4 (+0 supports) +5 = 9 versus Argive 5 = 4 + 1, so it was a push back. Had we been playing DBA version 2.2 then the rear holpites woudl have supported +1 and it would have been 'curtains' for the Argives, game set and match! As it was it was "Game on!" (see below, "Would you Christmas Eve it?"): 

And from another even more dramatic perspective, hoplite to hoplite and the Argives bend but do not break. The Spartan General adopted a disbelieving maniacal laugh instead of my primitive trepanning. Welcome to DBA, you never forget moments like these. They seem to come with alarming regularlity defying the 'sane' Laws of Statistics. In DBA terms statistics is merely a suggestion thrown at the gods, who more often than not will just laugh back at you. I digress! (see below):

After the recoil (see below, the Argives were now technically backing up a gentle hill. Could good news come from the other side of the battlefield to save the day? (see below):

After that"topsy turvy" sequence of events, both King and General wondered what twisted fate still lay in store for these armies?

Next: The End of the Matter!

  

Sparta v Argos (Re-Run Take III): Go Tell it to The Spartans (Part 4)

The Argive General gasps as he sees the fruition of his planning come to pass. Dirty ragamuffin Argive Psiloi crest the hill and fall upon the cream of Sparta (the opposite flank to the General was the point of second honour). These Spartans now found themselves between a rock and a hard place (see below):

The die is cast: Sparta 6+2 (4 - 2 overlaps, flank and rear) = 8, versus 9, Agive 4+5 (4 + 1 flank support). The Spartans could not have fought better, not doubled but beaten with no place to run they died where they stood (see below, Argos 1 - Sparta 0):

The Spartan General's riposte is to advance his battle line and turn the Argive right flank (see below, "Here it comes!")

As expected the shattering of spear on shield spells disaster for the brave Argive hoplites on their "second point of honour" (Argos 1 - Sparta 1). The Spartan juggernaut is poised to roll up the Argive right flank. Then a shout of victory as the Spartan spears facing the Argive General are "doubled". Unexpectedly fate swings in the favour of the Agives (see below: Argos 2 - Sparta 1):

Carrying forth the initiative the Argive hoplites on the hill advance 'shoulder to shoulder' overlapping the remaining Spartan spear. To add insult to injury the ugly Psiloi again seal the rear. Sensing victory is near the Argive General calmly explains the situation to his Spartan opponent and the dice roll (see below):

With a whimper rather than a bang the third Spartan hoplite spear is removed. The Spartan Army has almost reached its breaking point (see below, incredulously it is now Argos 3 - Sparta 1. ):

Not phased in the slightest, the Spartan General responds in the only way he knows how, "Spartan's Advance!" The ranks of Spartan spears and cloaks of scarlet descend once more upon the Argive right (see below, the Argive spears have been placed in mortal peril by their callous Argive General, he intends to buy time with their death to win elsewhere):

Predictably the Argive spears fall. This must be the oldest trap in Ancient warfare to fall into. Get the Spartans looking as if they are beaten, and you are going to win but merely you make them annoyed. You think you have them beaten, on the ropes but they come back and give you double the fight you expected (see below, Argos 3 - Sparta 2):

Suddenly an unexpected rush of Spartan spears leads to another cry of victory as the Spartan King himself engaged in combat smashes yet another Argive spear in by "doubling" it. This battle looks as if it is going to be a short and brutal affair like a knife fight in a telephone box! (see below, split honours "even Stephens", Argos 3 - Sparta 3):

The Spartans certainly "did all the telling" at the end of this sequence. The Argives were given a lesson in war but have they learned anything from it? The initiative is with Argos, one more stand would spell doom for the Spartans! That small, insignificant Argive Psiloi still looks as if it holds the key to victory.

Next: Spartan remember, "With it" or "On it"! Argive, "Be sure to take fortunes offering when it comes your way"

Sparta v Argos (Re-Run Take III): The Sands of Time Start Slipping Through my Hands (Part 3)

The Argive General (aka me) can feel the sands of time slipping through his clenched fist. His problem? The Spartan right needs to be decisively defeated on this hill (apologies to scholars of ancient history, we got our lefts and rights mixed up on our deployment, so we are strong where we should be weak and weak where we should be strong, if you get my drift), but quickly. The Spartans can match us spear for spear as we expand but the Psilio in the rear is my "ace" card to play (see below, they are out of camera shot at the moment): 

On the Argive right things look grim as I could easily lose the isolated base of spears by being doubled (Spartans attack with 6 - Argives have 2)! As I am pinned the best I can hope for is to hold my ground and be flanked, the "door closed" and then rolled up (see below):

The "20,000 Foot General in the Sky" can see my Psilio scampering to position themselves in the rear of the Spartan Phalanx (see below, middle left. Alas my ingenious plans come unstuck as I roll a "1 PiP" (see below, middle bottom right). All I can do is expand by a base on my left and "hope for the best" with the combats I am forced to make via existing points of contact (see below, the circling whirlwind of rotating wings begins): 

The Argives only menace with a developing overlap and future rear attack but only provide a tickle to the Spartan salient of two bases (see below):

That pushes one spear back but leaves the other isolated but in a stand-off. These Spartans can expect help from their fellows next turn (see below):

Remarkably the Argive right-most spear wins and pushes the Spartans back, but this success rather weakens its future position ("Doomed" as Fazer from Dad's Army would say). The Spartans immediately to its right can "close the door" next turn (see below):

The Argives await the Spartan riposte!

Next: Go Tell it to the Spartans!

Sparta v Argos (Re-Run Take III): Clash of Spears (Part 2)

The Spartans rolled for their Command PiPs and got a ... (see below):

I strained hard not to smile but it is hard even for a veteran player like myself. Explaining the options [or rather 'option'] open to the Spartan Phalanx (stand still and expand one base width or go forward) he decided (see below):

"Spartans go forward" was the simple reply and he did straight into my face, a typical Spartan tactic, he must have been reading some background information (see below, a brave move as the Argives could cause the Spartans big trouble if they roll high PiPs):

They look pretty tough dudes these Spartans (see below):

My plan however was simple, to win on the hill on the left of the Argive line with the help of my Psiloi friends from behind the Spartan line of battle. I should also add, before I got crushed on my Argive right by superior Spartan numbers (see below):

All I had to do was .. not ...

Not throw a 1 .... "Arrrgh". I didn't hide that emotion very well either! All I could do (after my head had bounced off the table in despair) was expand out on my weaker right hand flank to cause the Spartans more PiPs before they destroy it (maybe I should have just bounced forwards in retrospect). I had thought it best to bring my Psiloi into play but I had grossly miscalculated the command radius . The Psiloi were over the crest of the hill (The command range dropped to four bases widths [160mm], halved from the normal eight [320mm] because of the LOS obstruction of the crest of the hill. The very hill that was so integral to my "cunning plan") and now required 2 PiPs that I didn't have to move. Curses. No combat was initiated by the Argives this turn but not so with the Spartans on their next turn as they came bowling over, in that same old Spartan fashion. I was feeling like the novice now. This was going to hurt, if not immediately then it would set up the Spartan attack on the Argive right flank where the Spartan numbers [of pointy spears] would decisively tell (see below):

The clash of bronze on bronze rung through the hills of Sparta. I worked through teh mechanics of combat with the "novice" and he picked them up very quickly, in fact almost intuitively he got teh hang of things rather well. No immediate deaths but what resulted was rather an uneven and ragged battle line. To my Argive horror I noticed I had a very vulnerable looking isolated hoplite stand on my right but on teh otehr hand I had bounced the Spartan middle back in a very interesting fashion. If I pushed forwards next turn there could be interesting results. However I was feeling very queasy about not having any of my Psilio to hand, or rather to the back of the Spartans (see below):

So with the opening maneuvering rounds over and the two hoplite lines "going at each other like rabbits" it was only a matter of time before something gave way in true DBA fashion.

Next: Your Best Friends are always at Your Enemies Back