Hoplite Stuff...

While rambling through the Web one day I found this: 

"We recreate and analyze historical hoplite warfare including the battle of Leuktra by using the awesome new steam game "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator"! Game Trailer: ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OuKjxAvD6w Alpha Sign-up: http://landfall.se/totally-accurate-b... For documentaries on classical antiquity check out this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list..."

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/awblog/the-value-of-simulating-ancient-battles/

So I decided to play about ... with a lot of 28mm hoplies and complete a set of Warlord Games 28mm hoplites I had hidden in a box .. the result was a lot of lining up of 28mm hoplites in various formations (see below, Spartan hoplites four deep - seen enfilade): 

A bunch of Greek (Spartan) boys in close shield wall self-protection mode (see below, seen head on - one long stretch of contiguous shields to pose and impenetrable wall  - this is the Mortal Gods size of forces, although no peltasts in sight): 

All my unpainted hoplites out on the table .. Athens (left) versus Sparta (right), with a few 'soft' slingers and 'peltasts' thrown in on the sides for goes measure - with an Athenian Strategos to the left hand side (see below, sorting out a dispute Ancient Greek style, Athens 4+ deep while Sparta is 3-4 deep): 

Now pool all these troops side by side (thinking Platea) and you have a eight rank deep mass of hoplites (see below, which gives a totally different perspective to a line of battle from than a four figure wide stand of hoplites in DBA .. one deep - moving this about is going to be a bit of a pain):  

Up close and personal - now that is going to be a very restricted view of the battle (see below, I also feared that they would fall over like dominoes - but they were quite solid and "locked together" - multi poses helping here):  

Next steps .. a spray can of primer and a bucket of dipping wash!

15mm Essex Hoplite Refurbishment (WIP)

Once upon a time, when my wargaming interests finally expanded outside the Twentieth Century World Wars, it came to pass I had to [just had to] try and paint an ancient Greek DBA(ish) army - knowing not quite what even a hoplite was. As it was in those days I picked up a few random packets of Essex miniatures at a wargames show and "experimented" (see below, please note how unashamedly naively I mixed up my Ancient Greek and Macedonian painting schemes - I owned not one Osprey at this point [don't tell the wife that as she would say "happy days"]):  

 

Note !the horrid stylised throwing posture of the spear", in fact the spear is an infeasibly large trunk of a spear (yuk), the inadvertent 'bendiness" of the spear after the first handling of it on a wargames table (it was never ever straight again) was hated and then there was small matter of the shield - you either had basic hand painted symbol or simple decal shield designs [no Little Big Man works of art here]]. I cursed these figures as I superglued the spears onto their tiny little hands (and off they came and on they were put again ... etc ... )! I also made the classic rookie mistake of basing them first, undercoated them and then tried to paint them - awkward .. but eventually they were finished and even flocked. But I hated them and only used them as matters of last resort as I moved onto other figure ranges .. I think it was the chunky spears I hated. About a dozen times I think I came close to throwing them out (see below, some twenty years later I decided a quick change of spear to the wire, like I had used for the Xyston boys may, just may, rejuvenate them - with little sense of expectation I started the renovation): 

Instantly they "felt" (or rather 'looked') better. The eye was not drawn to the horrific spear, The un-Greek blue and green colour schemes and ugly shield decals were over-painted with Airfix Acrylic primer and with old hands but better skills new Vallejo paint licked their surfaces (see above and below, they suddenly looked half decent - so "washes" were applied and highlights made):   

Although a little touching up is still required - I think the shields will get a free-hand basic symbol - they are "wargames table passable" to my eyes (see below, they will certainly do as "filler" hoplites for me .. in service of Greek .. Macedonian .. Persian "overlords" [delete as applicable]):  

In total I have nine stands of Essex hoplites and the throwing out of the old Essex spear for new brass wire IMHO has given them all a new least of life!

Ancient Battles with DBA Version 3: Sparta versus Argive (Part 2)

Just when you need high the Spartan King (me) rolls incredibly low (a one) for his PIPs. He surrenders the initiative somewhat by defensively extending his right flank but securing the King from immediate odorous peril (see below):

The Argives seize the moment and "pounce but also bounce". The armies move into contact and are aligned with each side's left flank being overlapped. A vicious combat then ensues (which seems much more deadly for Spears than I remember in DBA Version2.x). The result being the leftmost Spartan hoplite stand is killed (at the top of the picture), but the the Argives mostly "bounce" back apart from a litle local success in the centre (see below): 

The Spartan's retaliate and fell the errant Argive Spear who dared face the Spartan King. The combat modifier that makes the difference is the +1 gained by a Spear (or Blade) for a "solid" supporting Spear (or Blade) to the left or right [essentially a Phalanx or Legion bonus].  A Spear (+4) with rear support (+1) gains a further (+1) for a flanking Spear in it's support which equals (+6). At the ends of the line the enemy Spear (+4) is deducted (-1) for being overlapped. A +6/+3 basic combat before the die are rolled (+7/+3 in the case of the Spartan King combat). Spear versus Spear combats can now be quite brutal is the disadvantaged side rolls a "1" or "2"! I for one like it. It will also help the Republican Roman armies fight their enemies although not quite matching visually but rather abstracting their "three lines" of battle. Meanwhile a dangerous position is poised on the Spartan left. The furthest right Argive unit of Spear is eligible to "close the door" on the leftmost Spartans (two stands) as they have already  been positioned on flank for one move [a new DBA V3.0 restriction] so when (as they surely will do) come forward, two further Spartan Spears could be lost (see below .. dramatic music required):

The Argives move forward, the "door is closed", the die is cast and the Spartan's lose another two Spears (3-1) and are now just barely hanging on. (see below, the revolving battle is going the Argives way):

The Spartans retaliate and manage to take another Argive Spear down (3-2) pushing hard on their stronger right flank. Much more was needed though as the Argive initiative sees a plum "low hanging" Spartan Spear waiting to be plucked. Two Argive Spears (+4 basic with + 1 for supported "solid" Spears equals +5) to one Spartan Spear (basic +4 but overlapped -1 makes +3). The final blow lands (the Spartan Spears are doubled and die) and Sparta is defeated. One senses that a great chapter in ancient history will have to be rewritten. My old PhD supervisor is still the 'master' and I the acolyte (see below, the fourth Spartan hoplite stand dies 'heroically' and the battle is lost):

Defeat for Sparta is bad but there is worse news than that.

When I was writing up the battle account into this AAR I suddenly noticed something was wrong courtesy of careful examination of the pictures in the first part of the AAR post. Wheb handing the armies out I (yes it was by my own fair hand) had given the Argives an extra stand of hoplites (13 stands v 12) which allowed them to construct the overlap on both flanks so easily and which caused me so much discomfort losing the initiative as I realigned my troops! The Argives should have been 1x4Sp(Gen), 9x4Sp, 2x2Ps instead I gave them 1x4Sp(Gen), 10x4Sp, 2x2Ps, urk. The Ephors would be doubly unhappy with this particular Spartan King. My opponent kindly suggested a rematch for another night. The 'master' is still teaching the (now old and none the wiser) 'student' a few things even in his retirement!

Summary: Generally I am liking DBA V3.0 for Greek v Greek hoplite battles as the whole thing played out in under an hour without the arduous 'grind' I remember from DBA V2.x battles.

Ancient Battles with DBA Version 3: Sparta versus Argive (Part 1)

Now DBA and DBM (in particular) has a troubled past with me. DBA holds so much promise but IMHO (and I recognise it is mine not necessary 'others' belief) DBM is a "breaking bad" of a good set of rules. Even so DBA has it's "moments" too. I hummed and hawed but having "missed the boat" the first time snapped up a copy of DBA V3.0 when I saw a copy advertised on the WRG site.

I eagerly read the core "battle rule section" DBA Version 3.0 and liked the content (insert "all smiles" emoticon!). It cleared up lots of wriggles that had crept into the various versions of DBA 2.X's and to my delight correctly defined "a gap" being less that 40mm (let's not go there). The use of "base width" movement measurements and the need to spend one turn on the side (or overlap) before the "closing the door" move, I really liked (it was also a Redcar wargamers "house rule"). Hence I jumped at a simple Greek on Greek [Argive verus Sparta] run out with the rules against one of my favoured adversaries. We randomly rolled for sides, I became Sparta and my old PhD supervisor strode in as the troublesome Argives (see below, the hoplites phalanxes line up in a suitably flat plain in Greece as per normal - courtesy as it happens of the new deployment rules):

I opted for a thick double-ranked Spartan line, King as traditional to the right and helots to the left. I intended to keep well away from that troublesome looking wooded hill on my left flank. The Argives put their strength to their right but extended their line cunningly by thinning it out. The two units of Argive Psiloi took full advantage of the hill to their right (and the extra first turn moves allowed) on the first move (see above). Meanwhile I admired my scarlet line of Spartans (see below, I have started my line outside of the "edifice" as not to break up my battle-line as it was considered "rough going" and not suitable for a group move - Note: I regretted this later!):

The Argives, defending their turf from the aggressive invading Spartans (see below, can you spot anything funny? .. see post Part 2 for further details):

The phalanxes march forwards. The Spartan helots were left behind to act as a flank guard against the Argive Psiloi. Rather alarmingly I noted that I was overlapped by the Argives on both sides but thought my depth could puncture their "thin" line. I expected a "revolving door" style of battle as often happened with the ancients (see below):

The Argives closed to almost touching distance, even bringing out a Psiloi from the wood on my left flank to "worry" my last unit of Spartan hoplites. However it was pleasing to see that even the hoplites get on with it under the new "base width" movement system. I was however facing a DBA dilemma as I really could only "move forward" with my Spartan battle line. "Conformance rules" (meant you slip to the longer side overlap) would leave my Spartan King dangerously overlapped and that could spell a very short game indeed with but one bad dice roll (see below, three Argive figures on the overlap are my undoing and they will shift left which is not what the Spartan wants to happen):

The Spartan King was locked frontally but the rear rank of spears now has the movement to flip-out  and extend the Spartan right to conform to the Argives just where it is needed. It would however break the old adage "No one stands to the right of a Spartan King in line of battle"! The Spartans are notoriously superstitious and may not like this (lead figures have feelings too). Also I should have paid far more attention in my initial battle dispositions especially since I set up second. The Spartan King (me) had no excuses he had "messed up"!

Greeks and Romans ... tell me who were these Romans?

Whenever one reads about the Greeks (lumping Alexander and the Successors all in as one) there always seems to be a few chapters "comparing and contrasting" the Greeks to the Romans. "Soldiers and Ghosts" is no exception and gives a fascinating recount of the cultural as well as military forces that guided the Roman legionary war machine development (see below):

All these books seem to be drawing me away from WWII modelling intentions (see New Year's Resolutions) but heck "variety is the spice of life". My DBA+ armies of 15mm ancient painting projects 'frozen in time' are now calling me:

• Republican Romans
• Hoplite Greeks
• Early Achaemenid Persia
• Alexandria Macedonian

But which to start first? The Romans seen to be a bit of a front runner as I already have a Later Carthaginian army in need of the Roman Republican opponent to fight

;)

 

Peloponnesian Stirrings: Preparation for the First Battle of Mantinea

As the first signs of Autumn are seen with the cold mornings and reddening night sky thoughts turn to unfinished business in the Peloponnese circa 418 BC.

The Hoplite battle of Delium of 424 BC settled matters conclusively in Boetia against the Athenian Empire. However since that time political agitators have set in play machinations to embolden the Athenian Assembly again, this time to attempt to stage a devastating coup in Sparta's back yard (an early form of domino theory) by coxing Argos into battle with its traditional enemy Sparta ("boo hiss").

This led to the epic hoplite clash of arms at Mantinea in 418 BC dubbed as the "classical Greek v Greek hoplite battle". I hope to play this battle before Xmas 2013 or early 2014. In the meantime I have to count figures and doubtless paint a few more (it would be a shame if I didn't) and finally get round to reading the big "Thucydides" (before Xmas, no light matter).

I plan a reading campaign on three fronts. An old battered paper copy (see above) plus a new fangled digital version (FREE) of the same thing as an iBook on my iPhone and then I have "The Landmark Thucydides" (see below) to cross reference places to maps if (or rather when) I get lost trying to find where things are or in some cases were.

I also have a nice large map from "The Pelloponnesian War" board game from Victory Games I map resort to sticking pins into.

Persians go a Wandering to Triples

There are many wargaming armies that contain mercenaries, but one of my wargaming armies is a true mercenary unit. It was loaned out by its owning warlord chieftain (me) to another wargaming overlord and sent wantonly rampaged across an Impetus '15mm cloth of gold' last weekend at Triples (see my 15mm Achaemenid Persian below):

Originally it was collected as a single DBA project that grew into a collection of several DBA projects from different manufacturers (Xth Legion, Chariot, Xyston), building up to a combined DBM/FoG sized army (hopefully at a distant point in the future). However, a touch of ingenuity was required (to avoid prohibitive destructive re-basing) to field an army based for Impetus. Multiples of DBA bases were stuck to a card block but instead of 'packing the area out with troops' only the front half was used. The remainder was annotated with the "troop characteristics", thus avoiding a 'too tightly packed' look and having the vital statistics ready to hand (see a close up of the Persian Cavalry and Greek Hoplite units below):

Pride of place are the Xyston miniatures followed a close second by those lovely Xth Legion (I still have to build a War Tower for Cyrus). How did they do? Mid-table respectability, "a win, a loss and a draw" but they had a damn good outing.

I'll be gaming Impetus with 15mm figures as well as 25mm with Impetus from now on, covering ancients as well as Renaissance ;)

BBDBA Delium 424 BC (Peloponnesian War) Part 4

Demoralisation and defeat of the Athenian Army in glorious "blow-by-blow technocolour"

The (now demoralised) left wing Athenian hoplite phalanx suffers the ignominious fate of being flanked and then completely routed (see pictures below, the outflanking through to the "coup de grace"):

Even the cavalry contest on the left goes badly (so to be expected as the right wing of the army is now demoralised), with the Athenian cavalry stand being killed, note how Alcibiadies' "light horse" standing forlornly alone in the Athenian backfield (see below):

Athenian Right Wing Losses: 0
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 5 (Demoralised)
Athenian Total Army Losses: 5 (Note: Only 12 needed to break whole army, almost half way)

Two Athenian hoplite stands fall (see below):

Athenian Right Wing Losses: 0
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 7 (Demoralised)
Athenian Total Army Losses: 7 (Note: Only 12 needed to break whole army, therefore over half way now)

The jaws close on the last left wing Athenian hoplite stands. Of the original DBA Army force only the "Light Horse" of Alcibiadides remains (his once in a game 'potent' +1 attack option rule having been long forgotten about by the Athenian player). The Theban "deep phalanx" doubling its opponents, as does a traditional group of Theban hoplites. The Athenian hoplites fall like leaves from the trees in autumn (see below): 

Athenian Left Wing Losses: 0
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 11 (Demoralised)
Athenian Total Army Losses: 11 (Only one more point required to reach the army breakpoint)

The Athenians push hard at the Thebans extreme left flank, the very flank the Athenian general Aristogoras dreamed of "turning quickly" earlier in the battle. Here is an unusual DBA contest of Cavalry (in bad going) defending against advancing hoplites (Spear) trying to slow down the hoplite advance and buy time (see below):  

It goes well for the Athenians killing one Cavalry (its retreated impossible in the bad going, blame the dice I say) and making a perilous situation for the other (see below):

Theban Right Wing Casualties: 1 (25% to breaking point)
Theban Left Wing Casualties: 2 (50% to breaking point)
Theban Total Army Casualties: 3 (25% of breaking point)

Again the Theban left wing suffers, but this time the Cavalry lives to "flee" to fight another day. The Theban left wing is battered but not broken (see below):

The Theban come back fresh, straight at the outflanked Athenian hoplites, rolling them up from the side. These are the final Athenian casualties being the 'straw that finally broke the camels' back. Two right wing hoplite stands so flanked die in close combat (see below, there is a big hole in the middle of the photograph "where" they used to be):

Athenian Right Wing Losses: 2 (50% to breaking point)
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 11 (Demoralised)Athenian Total Army Losses: 13 (army broken)

Victory, and a hard fought one at that, to the Thebans. They chant their Boetian paean (victory song), which roughly translates to "Athenians go Home!"

A nice battle and well played to all, the Theban C-in-C commander gets MVP as he persisted in a brave cavalry attack on the ford which ultimately helped turn the game. Rolling good dice in the Theban attack on the Athenian hoplite center also helped for sure. 

BBDBA Delium 424 BC (Peloponnesian War) Part 3

Push and Counter Push

The Athenian right wing pushed hard at the extreme Theban left. An isolated Theban psilio has been identified as a "vulnerable juicy target" and is double overlapped (gulp). As the Theban left wing commander I have to take full responsibility here. I was left with insufficient PiPs for what I needed to do. I could not pull back both of my psilio units on the left and ran the risk of losing more by reinforcing failure (see below).  

The inevitable happened as the Theban psilio descended to Hades (see below). The rest of the Theban left wing gives as good as it gets.

Theban Right Wing Losses:1 (25% to Demoralisation)
Theban Left Wing Losses: 1 (25% to Demoralisation)
Theban Total Army Losses: 2 (Still 10 to play with but every penny starts to count at this stage)

The Thebans go in hard on their right (see below, top) but tactically refuse on their left (see below, bottom). To their advantage the Thebans find that they can disengage their two 3Cv units from the Athenian 4Sp (a case of four legs better than two legs in getting out of trouble). The down side being that the 3Cv enter a region of "bad going", something they don't want to linger about in. The remaining Theban left wing psilio discreetly pulls back deeper into "bad going", but in its case feels much safer. 

The "crux of the game" occurs in the next few combat rolls in the "hoplite phalanx on phalanx" action. Firsly the Athenians survive a "6 to 1" roll against them and therefore recoil.

(Note: DBA/BBDBA Quantum physics calculations are, the Athenian Spears +4, supported by back rank of Spears when fighting Spears +1, with +1 rolled on the dice equals 6, versus Theban Spears +4, supported by back rank of Spears when fighting Spears +1, with +6 rolled on the dice equals 11)

The Athenians make it interesting by rolling another "1" and the Thebans roll a "5" but as they are now overlapped are doubled and destroyed.

(Note: DBA/BBDBA Quantum physics calculations are, the Athenian Spears +4, supported by back rank of Spears when fighting Spears +1, overlapped -1, with +1 rolled on the dice equals 5, versus Theban Spears +4, supported by back rank of Spears when fighting Spears +1, with +5 rolled on the dice equals 10)

Suddenly the Athenian left is on the brink of demoralisation with the Theban "deep phalanx" still to be brought into the attack. But alas for the Thebans the last two remaining combats result in "stands" (see below).

Athenian Right Wing Losses:3 (75% to Demoralisation)
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 0 (Untouched)
Athenian Total Army Losses: 3 (Still "9" to play with but the Athenian right is in a 'critical state')

Note: The northern cavalry battle has been pushed past the river line to the flank and rear of the Athenian left. Another "worry" for the Athenian Strategos to consider. 

The Athenians follow up on their right wing as best they can but only manage to shuffle back some hoplites and get within striking range of the vulnerable lights and horses for the "next go" (see below): 

Fearing inaction being the worse of strategies the Athenian sends his auxilla in to battle the Theban lights on his extreme left in the "bad going" (see below). His reasoning is sound as the two units of Theban hoplites are potentially vulnerable. The die roll is a straight "2 to 2" as the auxillia suffers from an overlap, but if luck stands with Athens these low combat rolls can be deadly, but to whom?
  

The crack of doom, the Athenian auxillia falls bravely in battle (see below):

Athenian Right Wing Losses:4 (Demoralised)
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 0 (Untouched)
Athenian Total Army Losses: 4 (Still "8" to play with but the all Athenian right is 'demoralised' and at the start of the next turn will suffer -2 to their combat factors)

Can the Athenian right perform a similar feat of destruction on the Theban left before there is a "bonfire of hoplites" on the Athenian left? The Thebans are next up!

BBDBA Delium 424 BC (Peloponnesian War) Part 2

The opposing armies quickly close together.

The Thebans hold their position on the hill and the Athenians advance. On the Athenian left flank(see below top middle/left) the Athenian cavalry and supporting light troops position themselves to defend on the line of the river and protect the flank of their hoplite phalanx as the Theban right cavalry wing advances very aggressively. On the Athenian right (see below, bottom of the picture) both Thebans and Athenians draw their lights and mounted troops in to become the "end of their respective hoplite lines".

The battle on the Athenian left flank shapes up as "The battle of the fords". Each section of the river-line gives a random [to be diced for as encountered] defensive bonus, this section  going left to right gives [+0 (clear ford), +1 (defensive bank), +0 (clear ford)] (see below):

First blood to Thebes, as an Athenian psilio is lost to an unfavourable dice roll (see below):

Athenian Right Wing Losses: 0
Athenian Left Wing Losses: 1 (25% to Demoralisation)
Athenian Total Army Losses: 1 (As 12 is needed to "break" whole army, nothing "as yet" to worry about)

The Athenian's counter attack diverting an auxilla stand (4Ax) from assisting the main hoplite battle-line (see below):

The "fickle mistress of war" and "swing of fate" (in the guise of a d6) see the Theban psilio fall in battle (see below):

Theban Right Wing Losses:1 (25% to Demoralisation)
Theban Left Wing Losses: 0
Theban Total Army Losses: 1 (As 12 is needed to "break" whole army, nothing as yet" to worry about)

Meanwhile the battle lines are within spitting distance of each other. The Thebans aggressively come "off the hill", wanting to force the action in favour of of their perceived stronger right wing. The Thebans also seethe dangerous possibility of the Athenian right outflanking the Theban left wing (by sheer numbers there is at least a one stand overlap developing, see below bottom): 

The Athenians respond by cleverly contacting the Athenian right wing to the Theban left wing, but refuse and incline the Athenian left wing to the dangerous Theban right wing (and Pagadoras with his "deep phalanx"). Contact is made by only a few of the hoplite stands as the light forces find themselves just outside of range (see below): 

With the main event shaping up the Athenian pulls back his auxilla stand from "the battle of the fords". The next few rounds will determine the outcome of the battle.

BBDBA Delium 424 BC (Peloponnesian War) Part 1

Background to the Game: 

I am currently half way through reading Kagan's seminal tome ("The Peloponnesian War", which is a damn good read - he says on "his" third attempt to read it). "The Battle of Delium", the first big hoplite battle of the real-war, strikes me as both a golden opportunity missed (as in Athens "knocking Boetia out of the war") and a terrible confidence shaking tragedy for the Atheniam Empire. It seemed to put the Athenians off fighting in pitched land battles again, a bit of an Athenian "commitment problem". However as a battle it hung in the balance and could have easily swung either way but a moment of "fickle fate" (so hard to re-create on the tabletop), so therefore it begs as a "must to re-fight" if but only to ponder the historical "what-ifs". The Athenians at this time were exploring a more ambitious "take the war to the enemy" strategy from the original "passive Pericles" and ended up building a fort near Delium deep in enemy territory. After the fort's construction the Athenians were caught with their pants down as half their army (admittedly most of their 'lights' and useless mouths) had already sailed back to Athens. This served to even up the battlefield odds and gave the Thebans the incentive to "have a go", as their most bellicose Strategos Pagodas put it, "the Athenians would only come back later with more men another day".

Athenians and Allies

• Right Wing: 1 x 4Sp (Gen: Hippocrates [C-in-C]), 7 x 4Sp, 1 x 3Cv 1 x 2LH, 2 x 2Ps
• Left Wing: 1 x 4Sp (Gen), 7 x 4Sp, 1 x 3Cv 1 x 2LH (Alcibiades), 1 x 3Ax, 1 x 2Ps

Note: The difference between the two wings above (can you spot it, hint look at the "lights" was not planned as such, but just "how they inadvertently came out of the box" so don't try and read anything clever into it. Alcibides is referred to in a special rule detailed below, see also Socrates.)

Thebans and Boetians

• Right Wing: 1 x 4Sp (Gen: Pagodas), 7 x 4Sp, 2 x 3Cv, 2 x 2Ps
• Left Wing: 1 x 4Sp (Gen: Pagodas), 7 x 4Sp, 2 x 3Cv, 2 x 2Ps

Pagodas cunningly formed his men up from behind a hill and then appeared suddenly (see below, as seen from Theban/Boetian lines looking down on the confused Athenian position). To recreate this state of affairs the Athenians set up first and then the Thebans deploy which should give them a 'subtle' tactical advantage. Both sides had cavalry but it was hampered historically being on the wrong side of some rough terrain. I forced this deployment outside on the normal zone "just" within the reach of the commanding generals (see below, just off to the left out of camera shot is another group of Theban/Boetian cavalry).   

Both armies have identical army break points (50%) 12 stands or both wings going demoralised (that is 33% in each wing going four elements OR the general). The Theban hoplite line is shown below with a curious bulge at the far end of its line of battle (Note: a "special" scenario rule is in effect).

Pagodas was experimenting with a technique that was going (eventually) to pay handsome dividends to the Thebans in their future wars against Sparta (but that was still some fifty years off). Instead of eight deep he massed a phalanx of twenty four deep at the right hand side of his line of battle.

Special Scenario Rule: Theban Deep Phalanx (optional)
Requires four x 4Sp stands to be place in column with C-in-C Pagodas in the Front Rank. If any stands are ever peeled off the column, the "deep phalanx" ability is permanently lost for the course of the battle. 

Combat factor: +6

• +4 Front Rank
• +1 Second Rank
• +1 Third and Fourth Ranks Combined

You could say it is a very expensive way to get an additional +1 as you are sacrificing breath (and possible tactical overlaps) for a heavy "push point". Yes, if the "deep phalanx" were somehow ever "doubled" in combat all the stands would be lost (aka instant "wing" demoralisation). Blissfully unaware of this tactical innovation the Athenian hoplites muster into a straight line (see below).

In normal BBDBA the C-in-C for each army can claim a +1 offensive/defensive modifier once per game (which at first glance seems rather harsh when compared to the intrinsic +1 per turn in normal DBA, however it adds its own character to the game). This still applies to the Theban commander Pagodas in this "deep phalanx".

However there were two historical characters in the Athenian army which beg a special modification to the leader rules as the army commander Hippocratis was not that inspiring. Therefore the normal leadership bonus can be played in the following fashion instead:

• Shield of Socrates: The future great philosopher was present at this battle as a hoplite. In 432 at the siege of Potidaea Socrates had showed his great courage and valour saving the aristocratic Alcibiades' life (a rising Athenian "star"). Any Athenian hoplite unit (4Sp, including Hippocratis) can claim (only once per game) a +1 defensive modifier as they are "standing firm with Socrates". Note: The implication is that it can only be used to save a friendly unit not kill an enemy one.
• Sword of Alcibiades': In the Athenian left wing "light horse" has the young Alcibides with it and once per game this unit can claim a +1 attack modifier. Note the implication here is that it can only be used to kill an enemy unit not save itself.

The armies are ready for battle. The Thebans set up after seeing the Athenian deployment but the Athenians "go first" (another scenario rule) as on seeing that the Athenian right overlapped the Thebans left, Hippocrates (the Athenian C-in-C) immediately ordered a charge up hill to press this advantage home as soon as possible.