The purpose of this article is to use the Clash of Empires Hellenistic game rules to create a believable chronology for the reign of the fictional Spartan King Archelaus. Clash of Empires uses an economic system which combines troop points per turn (the result of taxation, economic resources and tribute) with trading cards which represents the funds raised mainly from trade, but also other sources such as the spoils of war. They also control random events. Troop points from a

In this article we leap forward to the 20th century and the start of WW2 when Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland. Here we use the Clash of Empires Battle System to recreate the opening campaign of Germany’s Lightning War the innovative and lethal force of which would propel the German army from victory to victory until most of continental Europe was under Nazi control. Following the invasion of Poland Britain and France declared war on Germany while the USA proclaimed its

As an introduction to a future release of Clash of Empires: The Napoleonic Wars I thought it would be interesting to use the Clash Battle System to recreate some of the famous battles of the Napoleonic era starting with the Battle of Lodi in 1796. More correctly described as a battle of the Revolutionary period Lodi is important because it was during this action that Napoleon earned his soubriquet of “Little Corporal” and it was after Lodi that Napoleon himself became convinc

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Battle of Pharsalus 48 BC. This battle was the turning point in The Great Roman Civil War between Caesar and Pompey 50 – 44 BC. It is significant because it pitted legion against legion in a campaign in which the outcome was decided more by discipline, experience and morale than just leadership and numerical strength. Background At the time of Caesar’s rise to fame Pompey was Rome’s leading statesman and

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Battle of Vosges (58 BC), which was the third major battle of the Gallic Wars 58 – 51 BC. This battle is significant because it was fought against the Germans who had a fearsome reputation as fighters and were respected by the Gauls and the Romans alike. At the Battle of Vosges Caesar dispelled their aura of invincibility and fuelled his own ambition for greatness. Background After the Battle of Bibracte

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Battle of Bibracte (58 BC), which was the second major battle of the Gallic Wars 58 – 51 BC. This battle is significant because it illustrates the relentless form of attack of a Roman Legion as represented by the linear exchange of tired engaged troops for fresh men from the rear ranks. This together with the keeping back of a tactical reserve and good leadership enabled the Roman army to consistently de

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Roman disastrous defeat at the hands of the Parthians at Carrhae in 53 BC. This battle is significant because it demonstrates how vulnerable the Roman Legion could be when fighting in an unfamiliar environment and against an enemy using sound military tactics. Background Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Rome and the third member of an unofficial coalition formed between himself, Caesar and

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Roman victory over the Macedonians at Cynoscephalae in 197 BC. This battle is significant because it was a contest for supremacy between the two superpowers of the day namely Macedonia and Rome each of which used a different type of warfare. These being the old and ridged Macedonian Phalanx versus the new and flexible Roman Legion. The battle also marked the start of Roman domination over the Hellenistic

In this article I’m going to use the Clash Battle System to recreate the Carthaginian general Hannibal’s victory over the Romans at Trebbia in 218 BC. Trebbia is significant because it is the first major battle in which Hannibal demonstrated his military genius and it is the only battle in which his use of war elephants contributed to his victory. In fact, they were also used at Zama at the end of the Second Punic War (202 BC). However, that was a Carthaginian defeat. Backgro

To coincide with the release of Clash of Empires: The Hellenistic World strategy game I’ve decided to use the Clash Battle System to recreate Alexander the Great’s stunning victory over the Persians at the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. Background After the Macedonian success at Granicus in Asia Minor the Persian King Darius III decided to face Alexander in person. Having learned that the Macedonian leader with some 30,000 troops was moving into Syria, Darius at the head of a 100

As a prelude to the release of the Clash of Empires Hellenistic game I have decided to do a recreation of the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) using the Hellenistic Battle System rules. The Battle of Marathon 490 BC The Battle of Marathon came about because of an Achaemenid Persian expedition to subjugate Greece and punish Athens for giving aid to an Ionian revolt in Asia Minor. As soon as the Athenians learned of the arrival of a seaborne Persian invasion force, they requested ai

In this article, the intention of which is to demonstrate the Clash Battle System procedure, we pick up where we left off in the chronology of the fictional Pharaoh Tefen-Ra. It is now the fourth regnal year of his reign and Pharaoh receives disturbing reports from the Levant. An Assyrian army led by King Adad-Ninurta II has captured the northern Syrian stronghold of Ugarit. This move took advantage of a crisis in Anatolia whereby the Hittites, who are allied to the Levant, w

The following scenario is an extract from the chronology of the fictional Pharaoh Tefen-Ra.   In Turn 9 of his 2nd Regnal Year the Pharaoh Tefen-Ra dons his battle armour and, in his chariot, leads his army, which comprises the 8 units of the Mont and Seth divisions, out of Lower Egypt and invades the Levantine territory of Canaan. A Levantine army of 10 units formed by a coalition of petty Canaanite princes with reinforcements from Syria prepare to defend Canaan. The battle

In this article, the intention of which is to demonstrate the Clash Battle System procedure, we pick up where we left off in the chronology of the fictional Pharaoh Tefen-Ra. It is now the third regnal year of his reign and Pharaoh concerned with reports of attacks by the Sea Peoples both by land and sea upon Anatolia and the Levantine coast resolves to increase the security of Egypt and its Canaanite vassal. Therefore, he sends the Anubis division to reinforce Canaan and str

The purpose of this article is to use the Clash of Empires Biblical Conquest Game rules to create a believable chronology for the reign of a fictional Pharaoh named Tefen-Ra. Clash of Empires uses an economic system which combines troop points per turn (the result of taxation, economic resources and tribute) with trading cards, which represents the funds raised mainly from trade, but also other sources such as the spoils of war. They also control random events. Troop points f

The Trojan War The most likely date for the Trojan War was about 1250/40 BC. According to legend the war was brought about by the abduction of Helen, wife of Menelaus , King of Sparta. She was taken by the Trojan prince Paris who took her back to Troy a city in western Anatolia and seat of King Priam. Paris and Hector, the greatest fighter for Troy, were his sons. In retribution the King of the Achaean Greeks (Mycenaeans) Agamemnon assembled a huge armada and sailed to wester