ALEXANDROS BI2.0 - Granicus

See this post for background to the conversion to Basic Impetus of the Alexandros campaign (really just a series of linked games).

Turn 2 Granicus 334 BC

Macedonian Army 3.2 (plus one unit)  vs Later Achaemenid Persians 3.4 (minus scythed chariots)

The battlefield has the Granicus River running across the middle of the table, but is otherwise open terrain.  The Macedonians are the attackers.  The river is Broken Terrain about 1H in width.  The Persians set up first.

Special Rule: Alexander is deployed with the Hetairoi and can reroll a “6” on a Cohesion Test (once per test).

Ace in the Hole – Aggressive Deployment (in a rush to cross the river) 

Ace in the Hole – None 

There are numerous articles on this battle, but nothing definitive.  No mention of scythed chariots.  The Macedonian list has the Thracian javelinmen replaced by a unit of pike.  Not sure this should be the case and it might be better to have the extra skirmish unit and have the Hypaspists armed with Long Spear.

But on with the games.

Round One

Mark B is the Persians and I am Alexander.

Solid deployment

Alexander advances while the Persians manoeuvre.

The Macedonian wings evaporate

and the centre is not doing as well as expected either.

Oh dear.

Things momentarily look up for the Macedonians

But a very significant defeat befalls Alexander.

VD loss inflicted by Mark B 12 and lost by him 3 gives him a score of 9.

Round Two

A quick game is a good game and now it was Mark B's turn to be Alexander.

A different deployment this time

with pikes in echelon.

Persians get busy manoeuvring to face the threat caused by the enemy concentration.

Things are in the balance on the Persian left...

But the attention is now switching to the centre.

It's hard going for both sides

But the Persians centre collapses.

In the subsequent turn their left wing cavalry breaks and victory goes to Alexander this time.

VD loss inflicted by Mark B 11 and lost by him a gives him a score of 10.

This proved to be a very interesting scenario and worth playing again with the Hypaspists with long spear and extra skirmishers (which would be more in keeping with the Basic Impetus Army List options).