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 aid from Sparta and prepared themselves for battle. The Spartans were willing to send reinforcements, but they were delayed by a religious festival. Under the command of Callimachus and with Miltiades as chief strategist the Athenians and their allies the Plataeans mustered an army about 10,000 strong and took up a defensive position on a narrow plain at the bay of Marathon where the Persians had just disembarked from their ships. The Greek army was made up of heavy infantry only and was at a serious disadvantage against the superior Persian cavalry force. This advantage, however, was thrown away when the Persian commander Datis decided to re-embark a large part of the Persian army including most, if not all, the Persian cavalry. It was his intention to leave a sizeable holding force of about 20,000 troops at Marathon to keep the Greek army pinned down while the rest of the Persian host sailed down the coast to attack Athens. However, Miltiades guessed the Persian plan and counselled that only by an immediate attack and quick victory would the Greeks be able to save Athens. Without delay the Greek army advanced towards the Persians in a long phalanx formation the centre of which was weaker than the flanks and thus by such an arrangement would be able to promote an encircling movement. Such was the speed of the Greek advance that the Persian archers who were the mainstay of their army were given very little time to shoot their arrows. As soon as the two lines met and the melee commenced the Greek centre, as expected, began to give ground while the powerful striking force on each flank pushed back the lightly equipped Persians. Thus, the Persians became outflanked in a double pincer movement and as their line compressed, they lost all cohesion and broke. Panic stricken the Persians ran towards the shore to get to their ships and in the chaos that followed they are reputed to have lost 6,400 killed and many captured. In contrast the Greeks only lost a fraction of their force and crucially they still had time to double back for the defence of Athens. When they saw that their plan had disastrously failed the Persians decided upon a strategic withdrawal back to Asia.
Clash of Empires
The Clash Battle System may look a bit daunting at first glance but as with any strategy game there is a set procedure to follow. In the case of Clash of Empires the main principles are set out below.
Clash Battle System
After rolling for Initiative the Battle Roll for each army consists of the following procedure:
Roll Battle Dice (highest scoring die only)
Plus, Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB) (conversion dependent upon number of units).
Plus, Battle Bonus calculation and Double Bonus if applicable.
Plus, Advantage Dice (representing a numerical, tactical or other special advantage)
Highest score wins and the difference between the two Battle Rolls determines the number of casualties.
Conversion and Casualty Tables not shown.
With the supporting information in the rule book this procedure can be used to recreate any historical ancient battle or any variation thereof.
What follows is an interpretation of the Battle of Marathon using the Clash of Empires: The Hellenistic Game rules. Please note that the Battle Log can be as basic or as detailed as the players want. The following lengthy interpretation is intended to show how the Clash Battle System can be used to recreate what is essentially a large and complex battle. The Greek army is made up of Citizen Hoplite Phalanx units which has an initial 2D6 Battle Dice and a Combat Rating (CR) of ❷ which depending upon the number of army units converts into a Fighting Bonus (FB). In contrast the Persian army has an initial 2D6 Battle Dice and a Combat Rating of ❶. Only the highest scoring Battle Die is used and an odds or evens score is required to activate an army’s Battle Bonus. This being Hoplite Phalanx for the Greeks and Arrow Storm for the Persians. If Initiative is won as well then this special bonus is doubled.
Ancients Battle Log
Domain = Athens
Battle = Marathon Date: Year 20 Turn 8
Initiative | Battle Dice | No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus | Battle Bonus | Battle Advantage Dice | Total Score |
2D6 -1 4 and 6 (Highest die only)
6 - 1 = 5 | 2D6 4 and 2 (Highest die only)
Evens Dice | 8 units (10,000 troops)
❷x 8 = +4 FB | 12 Points Converts to 1D4
= 4 x 2 (Double Bonus) = 8 | Tactical Advantage 1D6 = 4 | 4+4+8+4 = 20 |
Battle Bonus Calculation Table
Battle Factor (1D6) | Modifiers | Score | Points Value |
Shooting | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Infantry Melee | +2 Close Order Infantry | 6+2 | 8 |
8Mounted Impetus | N/A | N/A | - |
|
|
| Total = 12 |
Roll 1D6 for each Battle Factor and apply modifiers to find total points value and then compare with total FB on the conversion table (in rulebook) to calculate Battle Bonus Dice. Can simplify by rolling #D6 plus total modifier. Double bonus for odds or evens Battle Dice.
Player A: - Twenty years after the end of the Athenian ‘tyranny’ Athens is forced to defend itself against Persia. As the chief strategist of the Greek force Miltiades is ranked as a Great Commander 2D6 for Initiative (Highest scoring die only). The Greeks have a Citizen Hoplite Phalanx Army with 2D6 Battle Dice and a Combat Rating of ❷. However, they have no Cavalry upgrade and a -1 penalty to Initiative due to the unwieldy nature of a phalanx and its vulnerability to flank attack. Nevertheless, the Greeks still win Initiative by rolling a 6 which is downgraded to a 5. After winning Initiative and gaining a 1D6 Tactical Advantage the Greeks advance rapidly towards the Persian host. Due to evens Battle Dice the close order infantry of the Hoplite Phalanx achieves a Double Bonus of 8. This together with their highest scoring Battle Die, Fighting Bonus and Tactical Advantage gives them a Battle Roll (Total Score) of 20. This gives a battle winning difference of 4 which on the Casualty Table equates to 50% losses for the Persians and 15% for the Greeks. This means that the Greeks lose 1 unit of troops killed or wounded.
Domain = Achaemenid Persia
Initiative | Battle Dice | No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus | Battle Bonus | Battle Advantage Dice | Total Score |
1D6 = 3
| 2D6 6 and 5 (Highest die only)
No odds or evens
| 16 units (20,000 troops)
❶x 16 = +5 FB | 8 Points Converts to 1D4
= 1
| Opponent outnumbered 1D6
= 4 | 6+5+1+4 = 16 |
Battle Bonus Calculation Table
Battle Factor (1D6) | Modifiers | Score | Points Value |
Shooting | +3 Arrow Storm | 1+3 | 4 |
Infantry Melee | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Mounted Impetus | N/A | N/A | - |
|
|
| Total = 8 |
Roll 1D6 for each Battle Factor and apply modifiers to find total points value and then compare with total FB on the conversion table (in rulebook) to calculate Battle Bonus Dice. Can simplify by rolling #D6 plus total modifier. Double bonus for odds or evens Battle Dice.
Player B: - The Persian holding force at Marathon is commanded by Artaphernes who is ranked as an ordinary commander 1D6 for Initiative. The Persians have a Feudal Sparabara Army with 2D6 Battle Dice and a Combat Rating of ❶. Due to a tactical error the Persians have deprived themselves of their Cavalry upgrade along with its +1 to Initiative and skirmishing modifier for Deadly Shots. Things get worse for the Persians when they lose Initiative and fail to get odds or evens Battle Dice which together with a low Shooting score ruins their Arrow Storm. Nor does their slightly higher Fighting Bonus and numerical advantage save them. The Persians score 16 and suffer a major defeat losing 8 units.
The Athenians and their allies clash with the Persian diversionary force at the bay of Marathon where they win a great victory. To their utter disappointment the Spartans arrive too late to take part in the battle. Figures by Irregular Miniatures from their 25mm Greek & Persian range. Painted by Silurian and from the author’s own collection. The numerical strength of each army is denoted by blank coloured poker chips. Game board from the Clash of Empires: The Hellenistic World Game.
The Greek hoplite phalanx closes with the Persian sparabara at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Miniatures a mixture from Essex and Magister Militum from their 15mm Classical ranges. Painted by Silurian and from the authors own collection. Army composition produced by the Clash Conversion Table for Wargaming.
Clash of Empires also provides the complete campaign system for wargaming incorporating map, campaign setting, quick battle rules and the facility to convert Clash army units into wargames bases for any size battle with wargames figures.
Sources
Dupuy, R. E. and Dupuy, T. N. 1993: The Collins Encyclopaedia of Military History. Harper Collins Publishers.
Mellersh, H.E.L. 1995: Chronology of the Ancient World, 10,000 BC – AD 799. Helicon Publishing Ltd.
Scott, J.C.1977: The Greek and Persian Wars 500-323 BC. Osprey Publishing Ltd.
Article Front Page Picture
The Battle of Marathon, 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece, fought between Athens, aided by Plataea, and the Persian Empire. After the painting by Allan Stewart, (1865-1951). From Hutchinson’s History of Nations, published 1915. After Alamy (IY04212203).
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