3.6.4.5 Fifth battle turn

After the exertions of the previous battle turns, both Darius and Alexander choose conservative strategies for the fifth battle turn. These are then revealed simultaneously.

As Alexander's phalanx 2 retreats, Darius' Spearmen attempt to charge them in the rear. Because the two infantry 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. Shadrak has a basic value of 3 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +0 (IQ) -1 (quite tired) =3; he rolls 2D-3, gets a 6 and 5 making a dice roll result of 8. Leonidas has a basic value of 4 (Tactics) +2 (specialism) +1 (IQ) -1 (quite tired) =6; he rolls 2D, gets a 6 and 1 making a dice roll result of 7. Shadrak just manages to close on the phalanx as it retreats.

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

Fifth battle turn (missile fire)

On Alexander's right flank, Alexander's Archers 3 unit (460 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 normal tiredness and has good morale. It is standing and firing from a normal firing position (i.e. nether advantageous or disadvantageous) at Darius' Spearmen 2 (with a defence value of 12) in close 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 (normal tiredness) +0 (normal firing position) -12 (defence value) +0 (target in close order) +0 (normal visibility/wind) = 18. He risks 4D+6, rolls a 2, 2, 1 and 2 giving a dice roll result of 13. This results in the firing unit causing casualties in the target equal to 8% of its size (i.e. 8% x 460 = 37 casualties). The unit strength of the spearmen unit is reduced by 37.

Fifth battle turn (melee combat)

On Darius' left flank, Darius seeks to restore morale to his troops. He makes a dice roll using his Influence (including battlefield command specialism) + WP; his basic value is 6 (Influence) +2 (specialism) +2 (WP) -2 (tired) =8; enough to guarantee recovering a level of morale.

In the centre, Darius' Spearmen 2 charge into Alexander's Pike phalanx 2 from the rear. Shadrak is commanding the unit and has a Tactics score of 3 with a specialism in battlefield strategy of 1 and an IQ of +0. His unit of green troops are armed with spears, there are 2,256 (2,293 less the 37 casulaties from missile fire) of them and their melee value is 19. The unit is quite tired and has good morale. They are charging the pike phalanx (defence value of 20 in close order). To determine how many casualties are delivered this battle turn, Shadrak makes a dice roll, with a basic value of 3 (Tactics) +1 (specialism) +0 (IQ) +19 (melee value) +2 (good morale) -1 (quite tired) +0 (normal position) +1 (charging) -20 (defence value) -2 (target is veterans in close order) +6 (attacking the target's rear) +0 (normal visibility) = 9. He decides to roll 3D, gets a 4, 5 and 6, which results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 20% of its size (i.e. 20% x 2,256 = 451 casualties). The pike phalanx is reduced by 451 casualties.

The pike phalanx manages to inflict some damage on the charging spearmen in return. 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 1,130 of them and their melee value is 25. The unit is quite tired and has average 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) +0 (average morale) -1 (quite tired) -2 (disadvantageous position, being struck in the rear) -12 (defence value) -1 (target is green in close order) +0 (attacking the target's front) +0 (normal visibility) = 16. He decides to risk 4D+4, rolls a 3, 5, 1 and 3 giving a dice roll result of 16. This results in the attacking unit causing casualties equal to 20% of its size (i.e. 20% x 1,130 = 226 casualties). Despite being struck in the rear, the phalanx manages to inflict 226 casualties on the spearmen.

Fifth 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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