Clash of Empires: The Biblical Conquest Game. The Pharaoh Tefen-Ra versus the Sea Peoples

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 strengthens the garrison of Lower Egypt by moving the reserve Re division from its current base in Nubia back to its main base at Heliopolis in Lower Egypt. Furthermore, Pharaoh transfers, on a temporary basis, his royal court from Thebes in Upper Egypt to the former capital Memphis in the Nile Delta. These precautionary measures prove to be wise as in the fourth monthly turn Lower Egypt is invaded by a migratory horde of tribal peoples which consists of a loose confederation of Sea Peoples and contingents of Libyans. They are accompanied by their wives and families carrying their possessions in ox-drawn carts and clearly intend to settle in the region of the Nile Delta. With great speed Pharaoh at the head of his army, which consists of the Re and Montu divisions, confronts the tribal horde just within the Egyptian border with Libya. All is set for an epic clash between the Pharaoh Tefen-Ra and the Sea Peoples.

Clash of Empires

Using the Clash of Empires rules the battle strength and capabilities of the belligerents can be shown as follows: -

Army Statistics

Tefen-Ra’s Egyptian Army

Standing Army Type with a Combat Rating of ❸ which based on the number of army units i.e., 8 converts to a +6 Fighting Bonus (FB). Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only). Special Ability: Integral Archers which gives the Egyptians a +2 modifier which is added to the Battle Dice score. Double modifier if FB greater than that of the opponent.  Also +1 Initiative for Forced March which is an attribute of a Standing Army. Finally, the Egyptians get a 1D6 Battle Advantage Die for Supreme War Leader (Pharaoh) in command.

Sea Peoples Libyan Alliance

Warband Army Type with a Combat Rating (CR) of ❶ which based on the number of army units i.e., 15 converts to a +4 Fighting Bonus (FB). Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only). Special Ability Battle Rush which gives the Sea Peoples a +3 modifier which is added to the Battle Dice score. Double modifier for an Initiative win. They benefit from a numerical advantage of 1D6 and get a 1D6 Advantage Die for Supreme War Leader in Command. Despite being mixed with the Libyans they don’t get a +1 to Initiative for Lightning Raid.

Clash Battle System

After rolling for Initiative the Battle Roll for each army consists of the following procedure:

• Roll Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only)

• Plus, Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB) (conversion dependent upon number of units).

• Plus, Battle Bonus calculation determined by Army Type and FB.

• 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.

Combat Rating to Fighting Bonus Conversion and Casualty Tables not shown.

Biblical Battle Log

Domain = Nilotic Region (Egypt) 

Battle = The Fields of Apis                    Date: Year 3 Turn 4

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifiers)	CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 +1 = 5	2D6 (+2/+4) Integral Archers  4 and 3 (Highest die only) 4+4 = 8	❸x 8 = +6 FB	No odds or evens 1D6 = 4	Supreme Leader in Command 1D6 = 4	8 + 6 + 4 +4 = 22

Domain = Migratory Horde (Sea Peoples Libyan Alliance) 

Initiative	Battle Dice (Modifiers)	CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 = 5	2D6  (+3/+6) Battle Rush  5 and 3 (Highest Die Only) 5+3 = 8	❶ x 15 = +4 FB	Odds Dice 1D6 = 3	Supreme Leader in Command 1D6 Opponent outnumbered 1D6 3+2 =5	8 + 4 +3 + 5 = 20

Battle Bonus Calculation Table

FB	Warband	Feudal	Part-Standing	Standing
1-4	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)
5-8	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)
9-12	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)
13-16	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)
17-20	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)
21-24	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)
25+	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)	3D6(4D6)

(#D#) = Enhanced Battle Bonus on odds or evens Battle Dice.

Note: - Neither side wins Initiative so there is no tactical advantage.  Nevertheless, Pharaoh, at the head of his army, “in his majesty raged like a panther” and “by the valour of his arm” crushed the enemy. Despite this boastful rhetoric the battle is a close-run thing with the fierce attack by their mainly sword and spear armed opponents achieving an Enhanced Battle Bonus with odds Battle Dice. The Egyptians lose one unit, whereas the Sea Peoples and their Libyan allies lose 4 units and are repulsed back to where they came from i.e., the vastness of the Libyan plateau.     

The Egyptians clash with the Sea Peoples and their allies on the western frontier of Egypt. The Pharaoh Tefen-Ra is so impressed with the sword fighting skills of the Sherden (a Sea Peoples tribe) that he takes a contingent of them into his service to be employed as an elite guard infantry unit. Figures by Irregular Miniatures from their 20mm Biblical 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 Biblical Conquest Game.

Figure battle showing the Pharaoh Tefen-Ra and his army closing with the Sea Peoples horde. Figures by Essex Miniatures from their 15mm Ancients range. Painted by Silurian and from the authors own collection. Army composition calculated by the Clash conversion table for wargaming.

Sources

Boulter, M L. 2009/2023-4: Clash of Empires: The Biblical Conquest Game. A Silurian War Games Ltd publication.

Healy, M. 1992: New Kingdom Egypt. Osprey Publishing Ltd.

Mellersh, H.E.L. 1995: Chronology of the Ancient World, 10,000 BC – AD 799. Helicon Publishing Ltd.

Shaw, I. and Nicholson, P. 1995: British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press.

Stillman, N.R. and Tallis, N.C. 1984: Armies of the Ancient Near East 3000BC to 539BC. A Wargames Research Group Publication.

Various Authors: 1959, 1968 and 1989: New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology. The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited.

Article Front Picture

Ancient History. Egypt, King Ramses the Great in a battle. German engraving, 1865. After Alamy. (IY04221809).