Lazy.

Too much work to move two armies down to storage, so elected to keep the Ottomans (and a chance for redemption) on the table and re-introduce the Abyssinians, as well as a detachment of Portuguese.

This keeps the focus north of the campaign’s Area of Operations (AO), but still following the general storyline involving the  Ottomans moving south on an overland route towards the Horn of Africa.

The battlefield is dominated by a hill and ruined temple.  So, in a burst of originality, this struggle will be remembered as “The Battle of Temple Hill”.

Patches of rocky scrub limits mobility for all troops, and provides defensive advantages for the Abyssinians.

Here are photos of the original dispositions and the dispositions after rolling for Disease & Mishaps (D&M).  Not as bad as the previous Ottoman debacle, but the Incompetent Quartermaster (adversely affecting D12 rolls) contributed to the disarray and some loss in Resolve.  The Abyssinians enjoyed the benefits of a Skilled Physician, and have suffered few adverse effects.  The black mini-dice indicate reduced Resolve.

Here’s the Army List.  Only Losers Scan.

Instead of rallying, the Ottomans should have marched back to their ships……..

Although it will take some time for the bad news to make its way East, there will be hell to pay in Constantinople.

Ottoman ambitions in the Horn of Africa suffered what could most kindly be termed “a setback” at a nameless defile just outside of Aden.

A motley group of civic guardsmen, mercenaries and neighboring tribesmen defeated an Ottoman force comprised of elite Sipahis and Janissaries.

Why? Overconfidence. The Ottoman Commander, Osker Boz, determined a frontal attack would scatter the opposition, assuming his army’s  high resolve ratings  would wear the Yemenites (what someone from Aden is called -today) down. Boz forgot, or ignored,  his Janissaries were missile (bow/shot) troops with low melee capabilities, and that he had just two units of Sipahis.

His scheme of maneuver seemed sound. Launch a demonstration with his Azabs against the east ridge (pinning the Yemenite forces), and a measured attack, with the Janissaries shooting as they advanced, against the west ridge. When these attacks had developed, and his artillery had reduced Yemenite resolve, a Sipahi charge against the long spear armed civic guardsmen holding the defile. This was a risky business since long spears have a +2 DRM against cavalry.

The Ottomans advanced after regrouping and restoring resolve.

The assault on the east ridge initially pushed back the Yemenites. But they rallied, scattering the Ottoman Azabs. One unit, through both pursuit and being out of command, and rolling for impetuous actions, even charged and scattered the Ottoman artillery unit.

The Janissary missile unit advance/shoot tactics wore down the Yemenites holding the west ridge. In desperation, the Yemenites pulled back to the reverse slope. This was the decisive event of the game. The Janissaries continued their advance while the Yemenites rallied, charging the Ottomans as they crested the ridge. Now locked in melee, it was a matter of time, and decent die rolling, until the Janissaries wavered or scattered.

Meanwhile, the Sipahi initial charge failed to dislodge the long-spear armed guardsmen. Again, locked in melee, the Ottomans were at a disadvantage.

The Sipahis wavered and scattered, leaving the Janissaries to fight a “last stand” against what remained of the Yemenites on the west ridge, eventually breaking under the  pressure.

Quite the fight.

Much of the defeat can be attributed to Osker Boz’s characteristics (inexperience and cowardice) and his employment of an incompetent physician who exacerbated the effects of some poor Disease and Mishap rolls.  As a result, the Ottomans rarely won an initiative die roll, had trouble rallying troops to restore resolve, and had significantly lowered resolve due to illness going into the battle.

Add an attack plan that called for some good fortune, and the outcome cannot be considered a surprise.

Recent rumors from Constantinople indicate that the Sultan has put his plans for naval expansion into East Africa on hold, pending successes by his overland forces working south along the both coasts of the Red Sea. Osker Boz has been ordered to return home. Given this blow to Ottoman prestige, it’s unlikely he will survive the trip.

As usual, a series of marginal photos with incoherent captions.

The Ottoman Attack Develops.  Top of picture is NNE.

Melee on East Ridge

Ottoman Artillery Support Ineffective

Melee

Melee Continues

Sipahis Scatter With Yemenite Pursuit Threatening Artillery

Preparing For The Final Assault

Final Melee.  Light Cavalry Ready To Flank Janissaries

Before I get into the mayhem, here’s a summary of the Game Modifiers.

Coastal Arabs:  Well Laid Plans – Allowing all companies to be in Command for one phase; and Ill Chosen Bedfellows – A -1 DRM for Disease and Mishap Rolls.

Ottomans:  Enterprising Captain – one Company always in command; the aforementioned Ill Chosen Bedfellows, which combined with their incompetent physician will cause real Resolve problems; and Miraculous Cure – good to add one to a unit having lost one Resolve due to disease.

The Disease and Mishap rolls were really something.  Each side lost a company through bribery (Bought Off), the Ottoman right became too Enthusiastic and moved well forward of their initial dispositions, while Coastal companies arrived late.  Both sides were affected by disease, with the Ottomans ravaged.  Two companies lose two Resolve!

Here’s a picture of a not quite so tidy battlefield.  The black die indicate units that have already lost Resolve.  This is not a game system for The Orderly & Systematic General!

Both sides need to spend a few turns regrouping……

It ended so quickly.  What some might find to be the weakness of the Irregular Wars’ rule set was on full display during this action.

Over at Boardgamegeek, there’s a on-going (and increasingly pedantic) thread discussing fog of war and randomness.  While Irregular Wars doesn’t have much in the way of fog, it certainly can provide plenty of randomness.

First off, the tidy initial dispositions featured in the previous post were immediately disrupted by the designed randomness of the Disease and Mishaps die rolls.

Some companies pushed forward, led by over-enthusiastic Captains.  Others formed up ravaged by disease, with reduced Resolve (companies with black die).

It took a couple of turns for the attacking Kattegoans to sort themselves out and advance towards the Neons.  Their attack plan called for Archers to neutralize the Neon center, while Warriors assaulted the small ridgeline on their right.  The flanked Neons would then be subjected to a general assault.

However,  Neon archery took its toll.  After several exchanges, many Sanwanian units were wavering (red dice).  And, it only took one misplaced Company’s (left within archery range) scattering to unhinge the Sanwanian center and left.  Again, a Scattering Company reduces the Resolve of any friendly unit within 80mm (2U)by one.  Wavering companies are down to their last Resolve.  They lose that, they Scatter.  And, that’s what happened – en masse.

The companies facing to the rear are those that scattered in just one turn.  Here’s what the battlefield looked like after they were removed.

While the Sanwanian Warriors on the right made a last valiant effort to close with the Neon Archers, the latter companies were able to disengage.  The Warriors withdrew.

A notable victory for  Neo, with all due credit to the help provided by Bey Mahir of Behefe.

The stage has been set for battle between the Sanwanians and Neons.

Quick note:  I have capitalized game-specific terms/usages.

The Neons made the most of the short time they had to prepare.   Much of the credit for the ability of the peaceful Neons to resist goes to the Lord of the Behefian forces sent to their aid.

Bey Heydar (or The Lion) is an Experienced  and Heroic Persian mercenary (receiving a positive die roll for Initiative and also when his Company is in Melee).  He has brought with him three companies of Persian Archers and one of Shot,  along with two companies of  mercenary Warriors.  His staff includes one of Behefe’s most experienced Physicians (this is a positive modifier when rolling for Disease and Mishaps after initial deployment(s)).

Recognizing the Neons lack of combat experience, Heydar’s preparations  focused on a Neon strength; hunting.   The majority of the Neon contingent received intensive  Archers training, with  one Company of young men to be used as Warriors.

The nominal Lord of the Neons is Sisay (or Good Omen).  He has excellent Local Knowledge and is an Inspiring Lord (receiving a positive modifier when rallying companies).  However, he is Inexperienced and Cowardly (these two traits will result in negative modifiers when he rolls for Initiative and if/when in Melee with his Company).

The Sanwanians are led by Tamrat (or Miracle).  His  distinguished conduct in the recent  victory over Kattego made him  the logical choice to lead this large force,  with includes a  solid Veteran contingent.  He is Heroic and  Experienced.  His only shortcoming is Rash behavior in the field (increasing his chances of being killed in melee).

The Sanwanians are once again accompanied by their  adopted Wandering Mystic (Shaman in game terms), Kibwe Nkruma.  He is counted on to bolster the Resolve of any Wavering companies.

Photos of the summary sheet for the battle, and initial dispositions before rolling for Disease and Mishaps are shown below.  The dispositions are oriented North/South (Top/Bottom), with Neons in the North.

What a difference a victory makes.  The otherwise peaceful Sanwanians, reveling in their marital prowess and emboldened by the exhortations of Kibwe Nkruma, are now coveting the rich grazing lands surrounding the village of Neo.

The visionary (some say psychotic)  Nkruma convinced Sanwa’s Council of Elders  the unexpected victory  was proof the village’s destiny is that of greatness and accompanying wealth.  To ignore their providential good fortune would invite disaster at the hands of  Shango, God of Fire and Lightning.

The Council agreed that with Kattego weakened there would be plenty of time  to attack North and subjugate Neo.  Once accomplished, Kattego would be attacked and brought under Sawanian control.

These two villages would provide new-found riches in crops, herds and slaves.  They  would also serve as buffers against aggression from coastal towns.

Council members opposing this plan were given the choice of compliance, death or exile.  One chose exile, but fearing for his and his family’s lives regardless of promises of safe passage, fled  to Neo.

The Neons were shocked and dismayed by his news and abrupt turn of events.  They had lived in peace for as long as anyone could remember and had no experience in warfare.

Desperate, they turned to the leader of Behefe, Bey Iman Mahir,  for protection.

He agreed to send soldiers to help defend Neo.  He wanted to stop the spread of this agitation before it affected his domain.  However, he also saw the possibilities of increased wealth.  So, there were terms.

The terrified Neons agreed to reduce the prices of goods sold to Behefian merchants, and to now pay annual tribute to  Bey Mahir.

Mahir’s small expeditionary force marched to Neo and began training the Neons for combat.

I have a newfound admiration for gamers publishing quality After Action Reports (AARs).  I lack the discipline and ability to a)  systematically record what occurred and b) take quality photos to document the ebb and flow of the game.

My (weak and convenient) excuse is that I get all wrapped up in gameplay.

So, what follows is a semi-coherent, poorly documented account of The Action(s) at Sanwa.

It’s plural because I played the scenario twice.  As discussed in an earlier post, I was not satisfied by my adherence to the rules, and wanted to try again.

Both games had the same outcome:  A resounding Kattegoan defeat.  By design, the circumstances were similar.  By this, I mean that each side employed the same tactics in both games.  Again, the purpose of the replay was to get better with implementing the rules.

In that regard, the second game was a success.

The battlefield featured several areas of rough terrain, and a small hill dominating the west.  North is at the top of the photo.  The measuring stick has 40mm (company frontage) increments (referred to as units in RAW).

As defenders, the Sanwanians deployed first, with two Companies of Archers on the small hill, four Companies of Archers deployed just north of the rough terrain in the center, and with all  warrior companies to the east, and deployed in depth.  The Lord’s Company was positioned in the center along with one Company of Slavers.

The attacking Kattegoans reacted with a similar deployment.  Two Companies of Scouts holding down the left (west) flank, with three Companies of Archers and two Companies of Warriors in the center, with all others on the right flank.

A quick tactical note:  Deployment in depth is trickey.  Rules As Written (RAW) has a Wavering company (Resolve at one (1)) immediately retiring one (1) D3 movement units (in this game a unit=40mm) to its immediate rear.  Any Company it comes in contact with (there is no interpenetration in these rules) immediately loses one (1) Resolve.  If a unit reaches a Resolve of Zero (0), it Scatters.  Any Company within two (2) movement units immediately loses one (1) Resolve.  Companies stacked up and with low Resolve can literally evaporate in a single turn.  This is absolutely critical when Companies (as is the case with Tribal Warriors) start with a Resolve of only three (3), and maybe at  two (2), if effected by Disease.

Both sides moved out of their deployment areas, crossed their respective  lines of departure, and began exchanging ineffective missile fire.  Yes, some Companies took significant enough losses to retire, but they were quickly rallied and moved back to their original positions.

The Warriors of each side advanced towards each other, but stayed beyond charge distance hoping for a favorable outcome in the lengthy missile exchange.  The Kattegoans lost patience and moved within charge range (Three (3) Units) of their opponents.  They gambled on gaining the initiative for the next turn (“Lord” Oumar being an Experienced Lord with a +1D6 modifier when rolling for initiative).  If so,  they could charge and receive a +1 D6 combat modifier.   It was not to be.  The Sanwanians rolled higher, and attacked.

Both sides were locked in melee for several turns.   Melee in Irregular Wars is decided by comparative 1xD6 rolls.  If the difference in rolls is one (1) or two (2), the units remain engaged.  If the difference is three (3) to six (6), the loser suffers a loss in Resolve.  If greater than six (6), a loss of two (2) Resolves.  Now here is where things get interesting…..a tie results in a “Bloody Draw”, where both sides lose one (1) Resolve.

As mentioned above, when a Company reaches one (1) Resolve, it Wavers, and must withdraw 1xD3 units directly to the rear.  In a “Bloody Draw” with  Companies at a one (1), both Companies have to withdraw.  This creates a battlefield that cannot be characterized as “tidy”, and accounts for the seeming absence of linear frontages for both sides.

After as series of melees, the Kattegoans buckled (the Sanwanian Warriors have shields – well all except one Company).  Simultaneously, the Sanwanians moved reserves to engage the Kattegoan Archers.

Quick Note:  The cotton “smoke” indicates a firearm equipped Company  has fired and has yet to  reload.  Reloading takes one turn’s Action Phase.  In this photo, the firing Company includes Lord Oumar, who subsequently became very busy using his Company’s Action Phase to rally his Wavering Companies.  His Company took several turns rallying companies before it reloaded.

Oumar’s efforts were effective as his threatened flank stabilized.  A Pious Company (with the ability to rally due to their strong religious beliefs – and designated with a gold cube) is shown moving behind the Kattegoans in order to support the left flank.

The Sanwanians maintained their pressure on the Kattegoan right flank, pushing through resistance as the Kattegoan archers continue to be disrupted by missile fire and a flank attack.

As the Sanwanian Archers moved forward  to support the final assault, the Kattegoan flank collapsed.  Only a few companies were able to flee the field without Scattering.

End Game here was very similar to the first battle.  Here’s a few pictures of those final stages of Game Number One.

In this sequence, what remained of the Kattegoan right flank/center were hemmed in, and attempted a retreat to the Northwest. It is doubtful their pursuers will take the fleeing Slavers alive.were pursued by the Sanwanians.

Good, fun solitaire game with twists and turns.  Not for the Gamer looking for total control.

Now I have figure out the ramifications of this stunning victory.