Epeirot Adventures

[Keith McNelly]

Having finally had time to compile a more complete report of a recent linear campaign I have uploaded it to my blog. "Epeirot Adventures" provides a brief description of the campaign and battles that track Pyrrhus' campaign in both Italy and Sicily starting in 280 BC. Along the way he encountered determined opponents and secured both great victories and stunning defeats.



The battles were all resolved using DBA. The figures are all 15mm with the Epeirot and Carthaginians from my own collection while the Romans from my opponents.

If you are interested you can find the full report here:
https://ancientwargaming.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/epeirot-adventures/

[Prufrock]

Thanks, Keith! Will give it a read.

[Martin Smith]

Excellent campaign, Keith. Nice pics, too.

Given the option of knight or cavalry status for the Pyrrhic general under DBA, did Pyrrhus deploy as a 3Kn or a Cv in all/some of his battles? Wondering whether the extra punch of the 3Kn outweighs the risk of 'pursuit into peril' which goes with it?

Martin

[Imperial Dave]

I've said it once before but I will say it again. I think your figure painting style is really very good. From a distance the effect is superb and I wish I could be less fussy than I am and adopt this style of painting. Looks really really good on the tabletop

[Keith McNelly]

Given the option of knight or cavalry status for the Pyrrhic general under DBA, did Pyrrhus deploy as a 3Kn or a Cv in all/some of his battles? Wondering whether the extra punch of the 3Kn outweighs the risk of 'pursuit into peril' which goes with it?

Martin, it is not pursuit into peril, but seeking glory in personal combat.

The DBMM list provides a cut-over date date from Kn to Cv as after 275 BC. The notes indicate he was probably responsible for the spread of shield use among Hellenistic cavalry, having become familiar with the use of shields by his Tarentine allies". It also notes the reference to Plutarch and Pyrrhus personally using xyston.

I suspect this is based on Duncan Head's Armies of Macedonia & Punic Wars page 116 where the introduction of shield is discussed in relation to Greek cavalry (Figures 45 & 47).

[Keith McNelly]

I've said it once before but I will say it again. I think your figure painting style is really very good. From a distance the effect is superb and I wish I could be less fussy than I am and adopt this style of painting. Looks really really good on the tabletop

Thanks.

I don't consider myself a particularly good painter but I find this style generally works and produces a good look on the table. I find the highlighting really brings out the detail on some figures, when combined with the black undercoating etc.

Good basing and attractive terrain on the table also add considerably to the overall impact. I have seen some really poor terrain detract considerably from the miniatures.

[Martin Smith]

Given the option of knight or cavalry status for the Pyrrhic general under DBA, did Pyrrhus deploy as a 3Kn or a Cv in all/some of his battles? Wondering whether the extra punch of the 3Kn outweighs the risk of 'pursuit into peril' which goes with it?

Martin, it is not pursuit into peril, but seeking glory in personal combat.

The DBMM list provides a cut-over date date from Kn to Cv as after 275 BC. The notes indicate he was probably responsible for the spread of shield use among Hellenistic cavalry, having become familiar with the use of shields by his Tarentine allies". It also notes the reference to Plutarch and Pyrrhus personally using xyston.

I suspect this is based on Duncan Head's Armies of Macedonia & Punic Wars page 116 where the introduction of shield is discussed in relation to Greek cavalry (Figures 45 & 47).

Thanks Keith.
I ask because my Kn /HCh generals are somewhat more inclined to pursue into peril than 'seek glory in personal combat' 😵.....lost a few doing the former .

M

[Keith McNelly]

I ask because my Kn /HCh generals are somewhat more inclined to pursue into peril than 'seek glory in personal combat' 😵.....lost a few doing the former .

I know the feeling, but opted to approach it from a different perspective.

I have only recently rebased my Successor xystophori to 30mm deep bases. I originally opted for the 40mm bases to allow me to use them for DBMM. However, as it turned out I only played DBMM a few times. In DBA, which are my standard rules, I frequently found them pursuing and then attacked in the flank. With no ability to recall (due to the 40mm base depth) it wasn't ideal.