Battle of "Olympian Fields" 490BC.

Last night saw a 100% turnout for our last battle/game of 2017,and what a battle it turned out to be!-everything a wargame should be,colouful,exciting,loads of silly banter,tense etc. etc.

Top photo is the Scenario,bottom photo is the table before any movement-the Greeks are on the left,and Persians on the right.
I commanded the Corinthians and Thessalanians,Dave commanded the Athenians,and Graham commanded the dreaded Spartans-whilst Paul and Brian commanded the Persians-all was set for a great game.

I added a bit of "reality/excitement" by saying that each section of the Greek army had to throw a 3 or 4 on an average dice to indicate that the "omens" were  favourable,and that a 2 or a 5 meant that the "omens" were not favourable-if not favourable,that section couldn't move until the right dice was thrown!!-Graham and Dave threw the right dice-I didn't!!-hoist by my own petard springs to mind!!!
This photo shows the Spartans advancing-a formidable sight.

Eventually,I managed to get my troops moving,but Paul has "stolen a march" on me,and his cavalry and Immortals are charging forward-HELP!!

Dave's Athenians are pushing forward and have made contact with Brian's Phrygians-however,due to my "tardiness", his left flank is exposed!

Graham's Spartans are advancing under a hail of missile fire,against Brian's Cardaces infantry-this will be bloody!!

CRASH!!-and it was! After some wonderful melees,and even more wonderful dice throwing from Graham,the Cardaces were beaten,and driven back-hurrah!!

Meanwhile,on my flank,I have redeemed myself(for a while!) by beating Paul's cavalry,and holding his Immortals(that doesn't sound right!!)-In the background you can see Dave's troops giving the Phrygians a good old "hammering"-another hurrah!!

The "exposed" Athenian flank is now being threatened by Paul's Greek mercenary troops,and Brian has sent in his "crack" units,forcing Dave to put his commander into the fray-the inevitable happened-he got killed and his whole force had to take a morale test!!-most failed,except one unit,shall we call them the "Audacious Ones",who decided to attack Xerxes himself(surrounded by his elite bodyguard)-was this wise????

NO!!

Due,in part, to some of my notorious dice throwing,my flank is on the point of collapse,and Dave's Athenians are running for their little metal lives-all seems lost,although the Spartans are in good condition!

One last shot,we decided that because of the sorry state of my flank and the centre,that the Persians had won the game-well done to us all though!-Brian sure knows how to celebrate a victory,doesn't he???????????

Are there no prisons or workhouses?-bah humbug!!!-his little hat looks nice though!!!
On behalf of the Westerhope Wargames Group,I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and hope that 2018 brings us all peace and prosperity-enjoy it!