Your Battle of Gaugamela GET IN HERE!

[mikepettyrtw]

I recently have been playing a Arverni campaign that led to great battle. So great, and so difficult, I ended up replicating the tactics of Frederick the Great in the Second Silesian War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblique_order) .
I felt like a true Diodochi then.
The great battle took place in 268 BC in hills north Mediolanum. It was spring. It was still cold. The Aedui faction heir begged our outnubered forces to surrender and lay down our arms;
Our king's response;
μολὼν λαβέ
"Come and take them"...........
Anyway, I used oblique order, yada yada yada.....I swear'd at my screen for 20 seconds as I watched his depleted annoying slingers break 2 Brihentin charges. It seems to me the AI knows all the engine exploits. None the less....., I won and vanquished his entire army. Killed him too. something like 2000 (me) vs 3000 (him). But the context mattered the most! In four years I had wiped Aedui out of Gaellia proper. But he trained a monster full stack in Mediolanum. I sent my depleted army to stop the unit production. Unfortunately the monster left his cave and assaulted my depleted army. If I was defeated, I was finished; all of my cities had only 2 units or less in them, he had a fullstack and scripted money to make more monster stacks. I was 50k in debt. This battle was a campaign ender for one of us.
It was one of the hardest battles I have ever fought. (next to when I play as Sakae or Pahlava and have to take on the big blue baktrian monster starting stacks, but those never have this much context flowing behind them.)
But it is no longer about me...............................

I want to know YOUR personal battle of Gaugamela
http://warandgame.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/suvorov_alex_v.jpghttp://www.thegeminigeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Who-was-Alexander-the-Great.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Friedrich_Zweite_Alt.jpg
And if you ever fought a campaign were a series of battles led to a major confrontation to decide the future of your campaign
GET IN HERE NOW AND LET THE BARDS TELL YOUR TALES FOR THE HISTORIES!!!!!!!
......I want to know if you have ever said to an enemy...
Molon Labe
This is now the Histories thread:
Rules:
# 1 No "I'm better than you" or "You don't understand tactics" talk. Someone said those exact words in this forum once and it caused a flame war. None of that.
# 2 None of the "My fav faction is better than yours" talk. Its generals that are good, not factions, the Romans learned that the hard way at Carrae, Teutoburg Forest, and many others. Even the steppe (yes even my precious Sakae (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jaxartes)) have had their rears handed to them.
# 3 and most importantly, If you really doubt someones story, or if you're pissed off, just offer a MP battle to settle things, rather than flaming like in COD 4 or something.
I believe bravery should be rewarded, so those who submit the most awesome stories shall receive a balloon from me, and I encourage others to do the same. Automatic balloon if you post battle plans of your battle, as those take a while to make. Be it by hand or computer, battle plans take half an hour to draw.

[seleucid empire]

Molon labe was said at Thermopylae not gaugamela if I recall.

I've had a few thermopylaes in my campaigns. One battle near kophen where my mercenary army that conquered India came across an elite Bactrian army which I was not expecting. Anyway my four units of mercenary Hellenic spearmen held off their 3 units of Bactrian late bodyguards and I routed the elephants just before they reached my line using my remaining peltestai and a near suicidal charge with my generals bg. The elephants went amok and stampeded their line and since it was on a hill, they stayed amongst the enemy army for some time shredding their ranks for me. I won narrowly and it's wa something like 2500 men for me and 3300 for them and they had overwhelming quality.

If I had lost that battle, all of my hard work in Indian would have been for nothing

[mikepettyrtw]

badass^, lets keep it up!
PS. http://www.memes.at/faces/wow.jpg
That feeling when you kill elephants with a cav charge.
PPS. I know Molon labe was said at Thermopylae; just trying to make a super-hero ultra general megaman resistance thread is all.:boxing:
Besides, everybody copied it afterward.
ie "pry my [any given object] from my cold dead fingers"

[seleucid empire]

badass^, lets keep it up!
PS. http://www.memes.at/faces/wow.jpg
That feeling when you kill elephants with a cav charge.
PPS. I know Molon labe was said at Thermopylae; just trying to make a super-hero ultra general megaman resistance thread is all.:boxing:
Besides, everybody copied it afterward.
ie "pry my [any given object] from my cold dead fingers"

yeh leonidas was pretty badass, it would have been much easier to rout those elephants if i had a unit ox taxilian cavalry with me. I didnt so I lost so much of my generals 60 man bg that they sat useless for the rest of the battle.

[mikepettyrtw]

I am working on making battle plans of the battle I fought yesterday.

[Basileus_ton_Basileon]

You must be onto the "good ;)" stuff. :clown: mind if I try some?

[mikepettyrtw]

You must be onto the "good ;)" stuff. :clown: mind if I try some?

Load us up. Feel free to let loose your finest tales of conquest!

[mikepettyrtw]

The Battle of Milan-Pass
https://imageshack.us/a/img341/2192/majorbattle268bcopening.jpg
https://imageshack.us/a/img404/1002/majorbattle268bcdesiciv.jpg
Aedui (Enemy)
4-6 Lugoe (celtic Levy spearmen)
1 luce epos (gallic light cav)
3 Iaosatae (celtic slingers)
1 Brihentin (98 men) (FM Faction Heir)
4-5 Botroas (Southern Gallic Swordsmen)
possible 1 or 2 cartuges INF

Arverni (me)
2 Brihentin FM (Faction leader & heir; depleted)
3 Luce Epos (Depleted)
3-4 Kluddacorri (alpine shortswordsmen) (badly depleted, less than half) (I used oblique formation with them)
4 Iaosatae (mildly depleted)
3-4 Botraroas (northern Gallic Swordsmen)(Massively depleted, far less than half each)
1 Botroas (not badly depleted)

This was one of the hardest I have ever fought.
Now that I have done it, the people of EB must follow Suite.
LET THE BARDS TELL YOUR TALES FOR THE HISTORIES!

[seleucid empire]

Hmm nice work, looks like a true cannae you had there

[stratigos vasilios]

Mine was a glorious auto resolve...

[Hamata]

i had my own battle of constantinople in stainless steel my byzantine forces were out numbered by 2 fatimid stacks both were armies on jihad i only had at least 3 units of athantoi and the rest were mostly militia i won the battle as i was determaned not to let constantinopolis fall this time

[huth]

Here is my quite important battle -> http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=12005810#post12005810
If I had losed that, my invasion on Caucasus, Media and Armenia would stop for long time and I would need to get reinforcements from south, stopping invasion on Susa and Babylonia... Generally it'd irritate me :P


By mistake I left my army behind the bridge instead on in, though I'm not sure if my position at bridge would be very helpful. (I would like to know what's the name of that river... google says something about Talar or Tajan rivers...)

I had spread phalanx line blocking the passage in the woods with javelinmen behind, placed the rest few Parthian units at the flanks inside the woods and left cavalry in reserve waiting what will happen.

Battle has begun, the enemy threw forward his phalanxes, covering them with spearmen and going at my right flank with skirmishers, enemy hetairoi were in reserve.

Almost when the phalanxes clashed with each other, I sent my General, Median and Eastern "lancers", as I call them, as my right wing to intercept enemy flanking units and then to flank the very enemy line. Also I sent my brave Indo-Iranians far at the flanks to harass any poorly defended enemy units later.

The phalanx masses have become one rough sea of spears and shields. My hiding units in forests were attacked by far stronger force in numbers than they could handle, but they were quickly reinforced by the mad axemen from the mountains of the East. Unfortunately my cavalry at right wing after initial charge at the flanking enemy were pinned down by the mighty Hetairoi. The clever gambit changed into fight for survival and many hit-and-run attacks against the enemy general. My leader's guard has retreated to help keep the morale of my men. However Indo-Iranians did tremendously well overcoming enemy archers and harassing exposed enemies.

Time was passing fast and my phalangites became tired though they still hold the line, thanks to their high experience and morale. Also because enemy concentrate the attack at my flanks, but there in the woods, the Eastern fight courageously and with a little help of Greeks, the flanks could hold for a while yet. Against the Hetairoi I chose a mobile squad of brave Hellen spearmen to catch and hold the enemy guard, so my lancers could break them. But they were tough and fought long, slaugthering their Hellen πεζοί brothers, while they shields and armour get smashed with sharp javelins from the very Ioudaia.

My flanks becoming weaker with every second, the Klerouchoi push indefatigably, the enemy general is still alive. My archers were ordered to join the fighting. But then the Indo-Iranians horsemen begin their ride, breaking the enemy formations, luring them for death and make their hearts anxious.

Finally my general watching what it is going to be, rode with his few companions and in great struggle defeats the enemy Hetairoi commander. The rest of his forces learned about this fact did not throw their weapons immediately, but seeing that the enemy pushing at them without fear, they started routing.



Well, I have made a mistake and I didn't notice the Hetairoi charging at my cavalry :P I was very surprised that my flanks had stood almost surrounded by enemy Thorakitai and others, I suppose that Axemen's 'forest' bonus was pretty improtant here. And after this battle I have just discovered that Indo-Iranians are really superior to many other medium cavalry units and lack of prodromoi and Baktrian cavalry hurts(they gone for retraining)...

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Can I tell a story about a 'Reverse Gaugamela' - a great and glorious battle where I'm the loser? It was a glorious battle... for the enemy. And their survival was at stake.

Or do we need a separate 'Glorious Defeats' thread?

[huth]

I think you are more than welcome to do this :P

[mikepettyrtw]

Here is my quite important battle -> http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?p=12005810#post12005810
If I had losed that, my invasion on Caucasus, Media and Armenia would stop for long time and I would need to get reinforcements from south, stopping invasion on Susa and Babylonia... Generally it'd irritate me :P


By mistake I left my army behind the bridge instead on in, though I'm not sure if my position at bridge would be very helpful. (I would like to know what's the name of that river... google says something about Talar or Tajan rivers...)

I had spread phalanx line blocking the passage in the woods with javelinmen behind, placed the rest few Parthian units at the flanks inside the woods and left cavalry in reserve waiting what will happen.

Battle has begun, the enemy threw forward his phalanxes, covering them with spearmen and going at my right flank with skirmishers, enemy hetairoi were in reserve.

Almost when the phalanxes clashed with each other, I sent my General, Median and Eastern "lancers", as I call them, as my right wing to intercept enemy flanking units and then to flank the very enemy line. Also I sent my brave Indo-Iranians far at the flanks to harass any poorly defended enemy units later.

The phalanx masses have become one rough sea of spears and shields. My hiding units in forests were attacked by far stronger force in numbers than they could handle, but they were quickly reinforced by the mad axemen from the mountains of the East. Unfortunately my cavalry at right wing after initial charge at the flanking enemy were pinned down by the mighty Hetairoi. The clever gambit changed into fight for survival and many hit-and-run attacks against the enemy general. My leader's guard has retreated to help keep the morale of my men. However Indo-Iranians did tremendously well overcoming enemy archers and harassing exposed enemies.

Time was passing fast and my phalangites became tired though they still hold the line, thanks to their high experience and morale. Also because enemy concentrate the attack at my flanks, but there in the woods, the Eastern fight courageously and with a little help of Greeks, the flanks could hold for a while yet. Against the Hetairoi I chose a mobile squad of brave Hellen spearmen to catch and hold the enemy guard, so my lancers could break them. But they were tough and fought long, slaugthering their Hellen πεζοί brothers, while they shields and armour get smashed with sharp javelins from the very Ioudaia.

My flanks becoming weaker with every second, the Klerouchoi push indefatigably, the enemy general is still alive. My archers were ordered to join the fighting. But then the Indo-Iranians horsemen begin their ride, breaking the enemy formations, luring them for death and make their hearts anxious.

Finally my general watching what it is going to be, rode with his few companions and in great struggle defeats the enemy Hetairoi commander. The rest of his forces learned about this fact did not throw their weapons immediately, but seeing that the enemy pushing at them without fear, they started routing.



Well, I have made a mistake and I didn't notice the Hetairoi charging at my cavalry :P I was very surprised that my flanks had stood almost surrounded by enemy Thorakitai and others, I suppose that Axemen's 'forest' bonus was pretty improtant here. And after this battle I have just discovered that Indo-Iranians are really superior to many other medium cavalry units and lack of prodromoi and Baktrian cavalry hurts(they gone for retraining)...

Now that was some good stuff. :balloon2:
Keep it up, these stories are as valuble as movies!
PS. Your army was only missing Elephants and the nice Baktrian specific HA and Hoplites to be a big blue Baktrian death stack. Also, something I never forget in any fullstack (as Baktria this is harder), is to bring the Cataphracts. Even depleted Hellenic Cataphracts have enourmous battlefield value.

[mikepettyrtw]

Can I tell a story about a 'Reverse Gaugamela' - a great and glorious battle where I'm the loser? It was a glorious battle... for the enemy. And their survival was at stake.

Or do we need a separate 'Glorious Defeats' thread?

As Huth said, you are more than welcome:yes:
If it wasn't a glorious victory for you, then it was a glorious victory for the AI:clown:

[huth]

Thanks mikepettyrtw!
The problem with Baktrian specific units is that I can't retrain them quickly, so I have only few cavalry units. Also I haven't yet developed the best barracks in Bactria and I more like Indian units, so I'm waiting until I can recruit Taxilan Agema (http://europabarbarorum.heimstatt.net/index.php?mp=unit&unit=eastern%20cavalry%20taxilan%20agema) and others.

[Ibrahim]

well, I never had a "Gaugamela" moment. But here's a battle that will meet the spirit of the thread. here goes (numbers approximate, and I'm afraid I took no pictures; however, my memory is up to it):

The battle occured in Egypt as I played as Saba'--I forget the year, but it was in the 230's. my best general (8 starred, mid 30's, already fought several battles) was just outside Memphis, but had not laid siege to it. He had marched with the men, of whom there were about 850, from Maryab along the Hijaz to Bostra, which was captured and used as a base, and from whence he mounted a sickle-cut attack to isolate garrisons in Judea and Syria, taking his army through the Levant and into Egypt--the total distance exceeding 2,000 miles, covered in a year. The strategy was to move quickly, and avoid a full, open battle once Bostra fell; any losses sustained from skirmishing would be replaced by men from Bostra, with the supply line by necessity being stretched thin, and kept light. Once in Egypt, the plan called for Memphis had to be taken, so as to cut the country in half. from there, I would allow my Ethiopian army to, at it's heart's content, capture all towns south of Memphis, and to eventually link up with the main Sabaean army for a final offensive against Lower Egypt.

As it happened, My general was just outside Memphis, but not yet besieging it, when I discovered that the Potelemioi had massed a large army to fight me, and was within striking distance of my army. making matters worse, they had 1,300 men, mostly phalangites, with some peltasts and heavy cavalry. These were led by a moderately experienced general--perhaps one or two stars. These had silver or gold upgrades to the weapons and armor, but no more experience than my men had. my men at best had bronze upgrades--if any--no phalangites, and less than 200 heavy infantry to the enemy's 800 phalangites. most of the men were light infantry of the Sabaean spearmen variety, whereas my heavies were guards, Ethiopians, and a few Noblemen. I had one unit of medium cavalry to the enemies' three of heavy cavalry. finally, I had one unit of Sabaean archers.

Thinking quickly, I went over to the western side of the river, by a bridge south of Memphis, hoping the enemy would follow, and we'd fight a bridge battle. To further improve the odds, I hasted the arrival of the Ethiopian army, and skipping the main towns in upper Egypt. Instead, when the next turn came, the enemy general had crossed at a point to the north of the bridge I was at, and swept round, causing me to have my back to the Nile. Battle was joined, in the springtime. Retreat was ruled out, as it was hoped that even in defeat, I might bloody the enemy enough to perhaps help the Ethiopian army as they attacked.

The field was flat, with the Pyramid complex to my right, and a walled area to the left. This created a corridor no more than two bow-shots wide at the side nearest the foe, widening to about half a mile towards the Nile. The enemy thus could only go in one direction, and the cavalry advantage was nullified. I deployed my line as far forward as possible. The line was entirely of my light infantry, with the heavies forming a reserve.

The battle began with the enemy advancing in as broad a front as possible. before they could reach me however, I signaled retreat, while also extending my line. This had the effect of forcing the ptolemioi to widen their line, and this in turn caused unit cohesion to decay. I then ordered an attack along the line, which further scattered and disorganized the enemy as I did not have the men attack in any clear, coherent pattern. Particular emphasis was placed on assaulting and surrounding isolated units, thus taking them out of the fight, while losing few men of my own. To prevent the enemy from using his cavalry on the retreating lights, my unit of archers, and unit of medium cavalry, drew out and skirmished the cavalry, exhausting them, so that I can send the Ethiopians in to finish the job. I repeated this pattern For almost a half-hour, inflicting heavy casualties on the foe, which gradually shifted to the left of my line, as the units on the right were the most isolated. Suddenly however, my general was killed in battle, by some stray heavy cavalry from the enemy, who had rallied after being drubbed by the Ethiopians; these were finished off, but the damage was done.

This was because it caused a panic, which led many to rout; this caused many deaths as well, as the enemy peltasts ran after them, and more of the enemy could focus on those who didn't rout. Luckily, my Ethiopeans, guards, and cavalry kept at it in spite of severe losses, and eventually the routers rallied round those, as they for the next hour and a half, duked it out all over the battlefield, repeating the original plan of the commander as best as possible, though with heavy casualties, this proved difficult.

Eventually, the last phalangites and peltasts were simply surrounded, and massacred, along with their commander, by the exhausted survivors of my army, for the enemy simply bunched together as they converged on the remnants of my army. After two hours of fighting, I had lost about half my force, while killing off 88% of the enemy's. My Ethiopians, Guards, and Nobles were finished as fighting units. In return, the enemy lost one of their crack agema's, as well as a couple pezhetairoi, and one of just three generals in all Egypt. They also lost all the heavy cavalry in Egypt, and a third of their peltasts.

The men then settled in for a siege of Memphis, as the Ethiopian army joined up after the battle (in the same turn). There was no pursuit of the enemy, as the men were too exhausted. The victory was judged "hero

The battle proved fatal to the Ptolemioi, in spite of my losses, as it removed the only real protection the Ptolemioi had in their heartlands, with half the Ptolemioi fighting men in the region now dead. Within the game year, most cities in Egypt fell to my forces, save Alexandria, Theron, and Hibis. The rest fell the following game year and a half (i.e. 6 seasons).

bear in mind, I have a realistic movement mod, and I was at war with the Seleukids as well as the Ptollies.

[mikepettyrtw]

Good stuff. Kuddos for sharing all that! :balloon2:
I must say, most don't campaign with Saba for so long. I am very impressed. Do you play multiplayer?

[Ibrahim]

Good stuff. Kuddos for sharing all that! :balloon2:
I must say, most don't campaign with Saba for so long. I am very impressed. Do you play multiplayer?

thanks! :bow:

as to your question: I used to, but then my hamachi and xfire both stopped working, so I couldn't do more. steam is a pain, so I gave up trying again.

And to be honest, I'm not good at multiplayer: I lost all but 1 battle. As those who beat me could tell you, I simply lack the speed and reaction times of theirs, and at the time, there was no coherent way of moving multiple units of men on mass while keeping cohesion--this was all in 2008 IIRC (the affair I described is from this year--February IIRC).

And of course, the AI is a bit of a DF--so it was a failure of AI as much as it was my success.

EDIT: I did finish the campaign, though without the extensive territorial acquisitions I'd hoped for: I was gunning for all of Persia as well as North Africa and Spain. made due with Gujarat and the Indus river delta (bribed into control), as well as the provinces along the Zagros. my possessions in Africa went no further than Cyrene :sad: