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 Battle System
The Egyptians have a well-trained and disciplined professional army which has 2D10 Battle Dice (highest scoring die only) and a Combat Rating of ❸. They also have Forced March which gives them a +1 bonus to Initiative. In contrast the Sea Peoples and their allies have a Warband army which has 2D6 Battle Dice and a Combat Rating of ❶. Apart from their numerical strength their main advantage is their Special Ability Battle Rush. This is because the Sea Peoples are the main contingent of the army with the Libyans making up the numbers. An army with Battle Rush relies upon the momentum of a ferocious charge to sweep an enemy away. For this reason, on odds or evens Battle Dice the Sea Peoples get a +1D6 Battle Bonus and if they win Initiative as well this bonus is doubled. However, if they roll one odd number and one even number then their special ability will fail to activate. The Combat Rating (CR) is dependent upon the number of units and converts into a Fighting Bonus (FB). This whole procedure is called a Battle Roll. The difference between the two Battle Rolls determines the number of casualties on a casualty table.
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). If applicable Battle Bonus activated by odds or evens Battle Dice.
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.
Biblical Battle Log
Domain = Nilotic Region (Egypt)
Battle = The Fields of Apis Date: Year 3 Turn 4
Initiative | Battle Dice | No. of Units | CR to Fighting Bonus/Battle Bonus if applicable | Battle Advantage Dice | Total Score |
1D6 +1 = 5
| 2D10 = 10 and 5 (highest scoring die) | 8 2 Army Divisions (1O.OOO troops incl. of 400 chariots) | ❸ +6 FB Battle Bonus = N/A | Supreme War Leader in command +1D6
1D6 = 4 | 10 + 6 +4 = 20 |
Solo Player: - 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. Due to the difference between the two Battle Rolls the Egyptians lose one unit.
Domain = Migratory Horde (Sea Peoples and Libyan Alliance)
Initiative | Battle Dice | No. of Units | CR to Fighting Bonus/Battle Bonus if applicable | Battle Advantage Dice | Total Score |
1D6 = 5
| 2D6 = 5 and 3 (highest scoring die) Odds Dice | 15 (Over 20,000 warriors) | ❶ +4 FB Battle Rush = 1D6 (x2)
1D6 = 3 | Supreme War Leader in command +1D6 Opponent outnumbered +1D6
2D6 = 3 +2 = 5 | 5 +4 +3 +5 = 17 |
*NPD: - The Sea Peoples manage to activate their Special Ability with odd numbers on the Battle Dice and roll a 3 for Battle Rush. The fierce attack of these mainly sword and spear armed infantry gets off to a good start but they roll low on their Battle Advantage Dice and therefore the total score of their Battle Roll is 17. This is a losing score but only just. 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.
*NPD stands for non-player domain. This means that this domain or tribal group is not represented by a physical player but is instead controlled by the rules of the game, which are overseen ideally by an impartial umpire, but if one isn't available then this role should be shared between the players or a single player if playing solo.
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: 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).
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