Battle of Megiddo 1479BC – battle report with 1d6 DBSA

Introduction

After playing some replays of this battle with Dominion of the Spear, I realised how interesting I find this battle.  I decided to play it with the latest iteration of my Ancient Battlelines Clash rules. And then I played it using a small variation on DSBA, the forerunner to DBA.   Being a bit of a 1d6 resolution fanatic, I converted DBSA to 1d6 and gave Megiddo a go.

Rules

To convert DBSA to 1d6 it is roll 1d6 for combat +/- combat factors:  <1 Attacker destroyed, 1-3 Attacker recoils, 4-6 Defender recoils, 7+ Defender Destroyed.  A unit is destroyed on a recoil if up against a “quick kill” (i.e. a less than half result is a destroyed).  I also went with variable activation: roll a 3+ to activate a unit/group, rather than PIP rolls, and then do move, shoot, combat ith each unit/group. Lastly all units armed with missiles may fire 1 basewidth, Light archers still fire 2 basewidth.  If both units have missiles, this is revolved with the single d6 roll.  I may streamline the quick kills and also add in some reactions but I may not need much of the latter as the recoil mechanism takes care of it.  It is also slanted towards DBA and may incorporate movement rates from ABC (ABC is Bill Bank’s Ancients combat with an Armati II riff).  And these rules lend themselves  to gridding and so may look to do that too.

Battle of Megiddo 1479BC  

The Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III defeats a Canaanite coalition before the walls of the city of Megiddo.

Sources

See this previous Megiddo battle report for sources I used.

Troops

Egyptians

3 CH Chariots (one with the general Thutmose III)

1 HI Heavy infantry (Blades)

2 MI Medium Infantry

2 LA Light Archers

1 CP Camp

Breakpoint: 3

Coalition of Syrians under the prince of Kadesh

2 CH Chariots (one with leader)

2 MI Medium Infantry

2 LI Light Infantry

1 LA Light Archer

1 CP Camp

Breakpoint: 3

Scenario & Deployment

Special rules: A draw is a rebel victory.

I have gone with a deployment loosely based on the Peter Sides scenario.

Deployment (Egyptians on the left)

Game

Note: Frustratingly I thought I had taken about 3 more photos of the action during the game but did not; the report is not illustrated by as many images as I expected.  Ah well.

Egyptian right flank advances to the river bank.  The Chariots advance into missile range of the Canaanite Chariots.  Two Egyptian Chariots are forced to retreat, while the Canaanite Chariot (+general) retreats.

The Centre chariot missile exchange

The Egyptian left flank moves into light archer range (so the Canaanite LI with javelins cannot return fire.  The Canaanite archers rout (a 6 was rolled) and the Light Infantry recoil.

First blood – Canaanite archers rout on the Egyptian left flank

Still on the Egyptian left flank, the LI  advances and forces the Egyptian archers to retire.  The Li was tempted to move and form a group with the Medium infantry but decided to give missile fire a chance.   It paid off.

After not missing any activation rolls, the Egyptians failed to activate most unit for two turns.  Back in action though and the centre Canaanite chariots retreat and the Canaanite light infantry is routed by missile fire on the left flank.

Canaanite chariots forced back, and an Canaanite light infantry lost

The Egyptian right flank contacts the Canaanites on the hill.  The Blades manage to force the light infantry back, but the clash of the medium infantry sees the Egyptian recoil.

Egyptian right flank clash on the hill

In the centre, the Canaanite chariots continue to be forced back, on the left the Egyptians advance to pin down the lone Canaanite light infantry unit. 

On the Egyptian right flank the light infantry managed to recoil the blades but then later is forced to flee.  On the left flank the Egyptian missile fire is ineffective.  In the centre, the Egyptian chariot manages to loot the camp.  This brings the Canaanites to their breakpoint and they retreat into Megiddo.

End 

Verdict

That was a fun game.  And at least the Egyptians won this refight.  I will continue to tinker with the rules as am not that fond of lots of recoils.  I understand why they are there but I am used to using a disorder marker for deteriorating positions.   After the game I remembered I thought I had done a version of my own rules, ABC on a grid with no markers required.  Looking through the files I did do so, back in 2019! It has some good points that I was thinking of applying to these rules.  It seems I am at least consistent it what I like in rules.  I will continue to see if these are worth playing but in the meantime with move onto other rules to use with Megiddo.   But before that, I have gone back to playing a lot of Dominion of the Spear – so simple, so fast!