3.6.4.1 First battle turn

First battle turn - orders

The first battle turn's orders are as follows:

On Alexander's left (Darius' right), the Cataphracts charge at Archers 1, but the Pike phalanx 1 interposes itself between the cataphracts and the archers, so the Cataphracts end up charging into the phalanx instead. As they charge, the cataphracts can fire missile weapons at either their original target (the archers) or their new target (the pike phalanx). As they do this, the archers will fire at them. Finally, melee combat is resolved between the charging cataphracts and the braced phalanx.

In the centre, a similar pattern emerges with Spearmen 3 ending up charging Pike phalanx 2 (which counter-charges), while Archers 2 fires at the charging spearmen.

On the right flank, the Light cavalry fire missile fire at Archers 3, who return fire; as the Light cavalry turn and wheel away, the Heavy cavalry charge into them, and the Light cavalry attempt to evade the charge. Because the two cavalry units are of similar speed, the referee requires the unit commanders of the affected units to make opposing dice rolls using their Tactics (including battlefield strategy) + IQ to see whether the light cavalry evade the charge. Alexander rolls 4D and gets a 14; Xerxes cannot match this with his 2D-2 - the charge smashes into the light cavalry.

As a result of these maneuvers, the deployment at the end of the first battle turn is as follows:

First battle turn (missile fire)

On Alexander's left flank, Alexander's Archers 1 unit (500 strong, with a missile value of 20) is led by Hector, who has a Tactics score of 5 (with +1 specialism in leading a unit in battle) and an IQ of +1. The unit is fresh and has good morale. It is standing and firing from a normal firing position (i.e. nether advantageous or disadvantageous) at Darius' cataphracts (with a defence value of 29) in close order. To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Hector makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 5 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +1 (IQ) +20 (missile value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal firing position) -29 (defence value) +0 (target in close order) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 0. He risks 2D-6, rolls a 3 and 2 giving a dice roll result of -1. The arrows bounce harmlessly off the well-protected cataphracts.

As they charge, the cataphracts fire back at the archers. The cataphract unit (200 strong, with a missile value of 19) is led by Darius, who has a Tactics score of 3 (with +1 specialism in leading a unit in battle) and an IQ of +0. The unit is fresh and has good morale. It is moving (hit and run) over open terrain (i.e. neither advantageous or disadvantageous) at the archers (who have a defence value of 7) in skirmish order. To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Darius makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 3 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +19 (missile value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal firing position) -2 (moving) -7 (defence value) -3 (target in skirmish order) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 13. He risks 2D+7, rolls a double 4, giving a dice roll result of 15. This results in the firing unit causing casualties equal to 8% of its size (i.e. 8% x 200 = 16 casualties). The unit strength of the archers is reduced by 16.

In the centre, Alexander's Archers 2 unit (500 strong, with a missile value of 20) is led by Skipios, who has a Tactics score of 4 (with +2 specialism in leading a unit in battle) and an IQ of +0. The unit is fresh and has good morale. It is standing and firing from a normal firing position (i.e. nether advantageous or disadvantageous) at Darius' Spearmen 3 (with a defence value of 12) in close order. To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Skipios makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 4 (Tactics) +2 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +20 (missile value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal firing position) -12 (defence value) +0 (target in close order) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 16. He risks 3D+7, rolls a triple 4, giving a dice roll result of 19. This results in the firing unit causing casualties equal to 11% of its size (i.e. 11% x 500 = 55 casualties). The unit strength of the spearmen is reduced by 55.

On Alexander's right flank, Alexander's Archers 3 unit (500 strong, with a missile value of 20) is led by Ptolemy, who has a Tactics score of 5 (with +2 specialism in leading a unit in battle) and an IQ of +1. The unit is fresh and has good morale. It is standing and firing from a normal firing position (i.e. nether advantageous or disadvantageous) at Darius' light cavalry (with a defence value of 11) in skirmish order. To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Ptolemy makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 5 (Tactics) +2 (specialism) +1 (IQ) +20 (missile value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal firing position) -11 (defence value) -3 (target in skirmish order) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 16. He risks 3D+7, rolls a 3, 4 and 2 giving a dice roll result of 16. This results in the firing unit causing casualties in the target equal to 10% of its size (i.e. 10% x 500 = 50 casualties). The unit strength of the light cavalry unit is reduced by 50.

Meanwhile, the light cavalry return fire at the archers. The light cavalry unit (400 strong, with a missile value of 18) is led by Xerxes, who has a Tactics score of 3 (with +1 specialism in leading a unit in battle) and an IQ of +0. The unit is fresh and has good morale. It is moving (hit and run) over open terrain (i.e. neither advantageous or disadvantageous) at the archers (who have a defence value of 7) in skirmish order. To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Xerxes makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 3 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +18 (missile value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal firing position) -2 (moving) -7 (defence value) -3 (target in skirmish order) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 12. He risks 2D+6, rolls a double 6, giving a dice roll result of 18. This results in the firing unit causing casualties equal to 10% of its size (i.e. 10% x 400 = 40 casualties). The unit strength of the archers is reduced by 40.

First combat turn - melee combat

On Alexander's left flank, Darius's cataphracts charge into Alexander's Phalanx 1. Darius is commanding the unit personally and has a Tactics score of 3 with a specialism in battlefield strategy of 1 and an IQ of +0. His unit of elite cataphracts are armed with lances, there are 200 of them and their melee value is 34. The unit is fresh and has good morale. They are charging into the front of the phalanx (defence value of 20 in close order). To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Darius makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 3 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +34 (melee value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal position) +1 (charging) +6 (cavalry charging with spears) -20 (defence value) -2 (target is veterans in close order) +0 (attacking the target's front) +0 (normal visibility) = 25. He decides to risk 5D+10, rolls a 6, 5, 3, 2, and 4 giving a dice roll result of 30. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 63% of its size (i.e. 63% x 200 = 126 casualties). The unit strength of the phalanx is reduced by 126.

In return, the phalanx braces against the charge. Pericles is commanding the unit and has a Tactics score of 5 with a specialism in battlefield strategy of 2 and an IQ of +0. His unit of veterans are armed with pikes, there are 1,500 of them and their melee value is 25. The unit is fresh and has good morale. They are braced against the cavalry charge and attack the well-armoured cavalry (defence value of 29 in close order). To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Pericles makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 5 (Tactics) +2 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +25 (melee value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal position) +8 (braced against cavalry charge with pikes) -29 (defence value) -3 (target is elite in close order) +0 (attacking the target's front) +0 (normal visibility) = 10. He decides to risk 2D+4, rolls a 3 and 1 giving a dice roll result of 8. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 6% of its size (i.e. 6% x 1,500 = 90 casualties). The unit strength of the cataphracts is reduced by 90.

In the centre, Darius' Spearmen 3 charge into Alexander's Phalanx 2. Mishak is commanding the unit and has a Tactics score of 5 with a specialism in battlefield strategy of 2 and an IQ of +1. His unit of green troops are armed with spears, there are 2,445 of them and their melee value is 19. The unit is fresh and has good morale. They are charging the phalanx (defence value of 20 in close order). To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Mishak makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 5 (Tactics) +2 (specialism) +1 (IQ) +19 (melee value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal position) +1 (charging) -20 (defence value) -2 (target is veterans in close order) +0 (attacking the target's front) +0 (normal visibility) = 8. He decides to risk 2D+2, rolls a 6 and 3 giving a dice roll result of 11. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 12% of its size (i.e. 12% x 2,445 = 293 casualties). The pike phalanx strength is reduced by 293.

In return, Alexander's Phalanx 2 engage Mishak's Spearmen. Leonidas is commanding the unit and has a Tactics score of 4 with a specialism in battlefield strategy of 2 and an IQ of +1. His unit of veteran troops are armed with pikes, there are 1,500 of them and their melee value is 25. The unit is fresh and has good morale. They are engaging the spearmen (defence value of 12 in close order). To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Leonidas makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 4 (Tactics) +2 (specialism) +1 (IQ) +25 (melee value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal position) -12 (defence value) -1 (target is green in close order) +0 (attacking the target's front) +0 (normal visibility) = 21. He decides to risk 4D+9, rolls a 6, 2, 1 and 3 giving a dice roll result of 21. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 36% of its size (i.e. 24% x 1,500 = 480 casualties). The spearmen's strength is reduced by 480.

On Alexander's right flank, Alexander's heavy cavalry successfully charge into the rear of the light cavalry unit (350 strong). Alexander is commanding the unit personally and has a talent for Tactics (+2), a Tactics score of 7 with a specialism in battlefield strategy of 3 and an IQ of +2. His unit of elite heavy cavalry are armed with spears, there are 250 of them and their melee value is 30. The unit is fresh and has good morale. They are charging into the rear of the light cavalry unit (defence value of 11 in skirmish order). To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Alexander makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 7 (Tactics) +3 (specialism) +2 (talent) +2 (IQ) +30 (melee value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal position) +1 (charging) +4 (cavalry charging with spears) -11 (defence value) +0 (target in skirmish order) +6 (attacking the target's rear) +0 (normal visibility) = 46. He decides to risks ten dice, rolls10D+16, rolls a 6, 5, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2 and 3 giving a dice roll result of 53. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 171% of its size (i.e. 171% x 250 = 426 casualties). The light cavalry are annihilated.

Meanwhile, the light cavalry fight back at the charging heavy cavalry. The light cavalry unit (350 strong after having taken casualties from the missile fire of the archers, with a melee value of 22) is led by Xerxes, who has a Tactics score of 3 (with +1 specialism in leading a unit in battle) and an IQ of +0. The unit is fresh and has good morale. They are attacking Alexander's heavy cavalry, who have a defence value of 18 and are elite troops in close order. To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Xerxes makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 3 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +22 (melee value) +2 (good morale) +0 (fresh) +0 (normal position) -18 (defence value) -3 (elite target in close order) +0 (attacked frontally) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 7. He risks 2D+1, rolls a 4 and a 3, giving a dice roll result of 8. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 6% of its size (i.e. 6% x 360 = 21 casualties). The unit strength of Alexander's heavy cavalry is reduced by 21.

First battle turn - consequences of combat

At the end of the battle turn, the units in the battle have the following status:

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