A Clash near Argos-A Homage to Tony Bath and Robert E Howard

A Clash near Argos

A Homage To Tony Bath and Robert E Howard

In my quest to play some of the rules that are sitting on my bookshelf I came across a wonderful small publication that I bought in the 90s as a teenager.  

Hordes of the Things is the fantasy version of the popular rules DBA by Phil Barker.  The rules have a bit of a reputation of being incomprehensible due to the Barkerese that they are written in, but I have never really had a issue with Phil Barker`s writing style.  This may be partly due to my academic training in modern philosophy.  Wargaming rulebooks don`t come close to the impenetrability of these learned texts. That doesn`t mean that I am necessarily playing the rules`right`, but they are working for me and as I am mostly a solo gamer that doesn`t really matter. I have the first edition but there is a version 2.1 available  that I have heard is easier to understand and most people play these days that I may purchase at some point.

I first played Hordes of the Things at the Sandgate wargaming club near Folkestone in Kent when the rules were published around 1991/92, I think.  My memory is a bit fuzzy on the exact date.  At that time I didn`t have any armies for the game as I was still in full Warhammer mode, but now I think it is time that I changed the situation.  

Looking over the rules I was taken by the army lists for Hyperborea in the book and it sent me thinking about Tony Bath`s legendary campaign.  I have no illusion that I could play or run a game of that sort of magnitude, but a kernal of an idea was lodged in my brain.  I have four armies for DBA 2.2, an Athen army, a Spartan army, a Theban army, and a Persian army.  These I thought could be the start of the project.  Each army representing the forces of Argos, Corinthia, Zamora, and Iranistan in Hyperborea but I didn`t want to stop at these alone and so far I have added a force of Picts.  I am not slavishly following the lists, or Robert E Howard`s world, as they are written but adapting them as I see fit.  This is definitely one of the strengths of the rules, the flexibility of designing the army that you want rather than being told what your army should be like.  Another reason to like Hordes of the Things is the small size of each army.  This will allow me to collect many different armies to fight out battles in Hyperborea.  I do fear another long project might be rearing its head, but sometimes you have to just go with your heart rather than your head.

Before embarking on a new project I thought that I should at least play Hordes of the Things to see if I enjoyed them.

Battle one - Argosians vs Picts

In the battle the Argosians commanded by the Strategos Demitris were defending against a Raiding force of Picts led by Ki-eth.

The Forces

I selected the Argosian forces before asking a gaming friend to choose the Pict forces.  This small amount fo fog of war always helps to make a solo game more interesting.  If I didn`t have someone to ask to take on this role I could have randomly determined both sides.

Argos

Strategos Demitris (Spears General)

6x Hoplite Lokhoi (Spears)

2x Psiloi (Shooters)

1x Hippeis (Riders)

The Cyclops (Behemoth)

Picts

Warchief-Ki-eth (Warband General)

5x Braves (Warbands)

4x Hunters (Shooters)

1x Shamans (Magician)

Deployment

The Argosians put their Lokhoi and the Cyclops in the centre of the field in front of the town, while securing their flanks with the Psiloi and Hippeis.  Facing the Lokhoi were the Pictish Braves.  The Shamans and the Hunters were thrown out to protect the flanks from the lighter troops.

Battle narrative

Both Demitris and Ki-eth were able to spur their troops forward at the beginning of the battle.  The two battle lines quickly closing on each other.

As the two sides approached one another the main body of troops became more reluctant to engage with the opposition.  But, on the Argosian left flank the Hippeis charged into the Shamans and after a short struggle the horsemen were able to send the spellcasters fleeing before they could unleash their arcane powers.

The Warchied Ki-eth goaded his men forward with remonstrations of their manhood.  The savage Picts hurled themselves towards the disciplined line of Hoplites.

While on the right flank the Psiloi engaged the Hunters, both sides launching missiles at one another.  The hunters reeled from the weighted javelins hitting them.

The Strategos knew that against the ferocity of Picts his hoplites might break, so he sent forth the Cyclops.  The great beast waded into the ranks of Picts breaking bone, and crushing muscles.  The Lokhoi  surged forward joining the Cyclops in the slaughter.  All too soon the Warchief knew the fight had gone out of his men and ordered the retreat.

Battle two - Argosians vs Picts

In the second battle the Picts commanded by Ki-eths were defending against a raiding force of Argosians led by the Strategos Demitri.  Could the Argosians put an end to the Pictish menance?

The Forces

I decided to use the same forces as the first battle to see how they would perform when the roles were reversed.

Picts

Warchief-Ki-eth (Warband General)

5x Braves (Warbands)

4x Hunters (Shooters)

1x Shamans (Magician)

Argos

Strategos Demitris (Spears General)

6x Hoplite Lokhoi (Spears)

2x Psiloi (Shooters)

1x Hippeis (Riders)

The Cyclops (Behemoth)

Deployment

The battlefield was a more restricted one in terms of terrain, so the Argosians decided to focus their attack on their right flank.  They sent the Cyclops and the Hippeis down the right flank hoping to quickly smash it and reach the Pictish village.  The centre was to be held my a large force of Hoplites with a second group in reserve, while the left flank was to be contested by the Psiloi.

The Picts chose to contest the strong Argosian attack with their Shamans and two groups of their Hunters, delay the Psiloi with another two groups of Hunters and hold the centre with their Braves.

 The Shamans and the Hunters moved forward and quickly elimanted the Hippeis and the Cyclops.  The great beast falling prey to the poisoned arrows of the hunters.

Having secured the flank the Shamans unleashed arcane fury on the reserve Lokhoi.  The stalwart warriors fleeing from forces that they couldn`t understand or combat.

The Stategos Demitris realised that the battle was slipping from his grasp and his only hope for victory was to smash the centre of the Pictish forces. 

As the main body of Hoplites moved towards the centre the reserve force turned their attention towards the Shamans on the flank.

Ki-eth sensed that now was the time to unleash his braves upon these `civilised` soldiers.  The Pictish tide swept away the shield wall burying their stone weapons into the backs of the Hoplites as they broke and fled.

Demitris realised that the battle was lost and signalled the retreat.  The day had not gone his way but the Argosians would return one day and deal with the Pictish threat.

Thoughts

I had forgotten quite how quickly these rules played.  I managed to finish both battles in under an hour as once the break happened the side collapsed.  I think that the rules hit the sweet spot for me.  They give me enough of a tactical challenge coupled with the friction of the command pips to keep me gaming for quite a while.  Do I think that Hordes of the Things is for everyone?  No, I don`t.  If you are looking for a game where each force has its own special abilities then you will be disappointed with Hordes of the Things.  But, if you are looking for a quick game that scratches that fantasy itch then I would say give them a go.  You might find that you enjoy them.  

I am planning on doing a short campaign in the not too distant future once I have a couple more armies and strongholds completed.

 No Honour Among Thieves

An Open Combat Battle report

Scenario

Having succesfully raided the  post office on Biggin street Mastermind and his firm were heading back to their getaway vehicles.  Unknown to them the Sorceress Margaret Fuchs had over heard them discussing their plans in the Malvern Inn the night before and decided to rob them of their ill-gotten gains.

Goals

Mastermind and his firm - Half of the gang must reach their getaway vehicles, including Mastermind and Cobra to claim a major victory.  If half of the gang and one of the leaders escape they can clain a minor victory.  If half of the gang escape but neither of the leaders then the game is a draw.

The Sorceress Margaret Fuchs- Can claim a major victory if she stops half of the gang including both of the leaders from reaching their vehicles.  A minor victory if she stops half of the gang including one of the leaders.  And, a draw if they stop half of the gang from getting away with their swag. 

The gangs were built to 150 points.

Initial deployment

Battle narrative

Margaret Fuchs had called upon all of her skills in the dark arts to summon a formidable group of demons, but Mastermind and his men were not easily intimidate even from the very denizens of hell.

The firm didn`t wait around and moved towards their getaway vehicles.

Gazza pushed too far forward and the Sorceress engulfed him with a fireball.  The lag was made of stern stuff, and shrugged the flames off.

Mastermind stretched out with his psychic powers and filled Dazza`s mind with thoughts of bloodshed.  The geezer sped towards his enemies, the axe handle firmly gripped in his hands, as the red mist overtook him.

The Lord of Skulls spread out his wings and flew towards his enemy.  This fearsome beast from the underworld was met by the fire from two sawn-off shotguns, much to his surprise.

Cobra didn`t want to hang around and engaged the Servant of Charon.  He struck out with his formbidable martial arts skills, but the demon couldn`t be some easily dispatched.

The demons smelt the blood of Cobra and they thronged to feast upon his blood and soul.  A Seeker of Decadence tried to trap him with her succubus ways.  The mental fortitude of the martialist easy resisted her temptations.

Dazza rushed to the aid of Cobra his axe handle whirling trying to make some space for the martialist to deal with the monstrosities.  The Scythe of Lament caught Dazza in the ribs, a chilling laugh slipped from the mouth of the demon as he tasted Dazza`s life essence.

Cobra lashed out with a flurry of blows striking the demon in  several vital points. The Seeker of Decadence scuttled away.  A wounded look of pain and then a smile of pleasue crossed her face.

Margaret Fuchs realised that her minions may need some aid in stopping Mastermind from escaping with the loot and sent some pyrotechnics at Dazza.  The berserk lag didn`t even seem to realise that he was on fire.

The way looked open for Mastermind and Cobra to get to the Capri, if only their men could distract the demons for long enough.

Dazza and Baz showed the Horned one what Cockney`s could do.  Their wepons knocking chucks out of fabric of the demon and forcing it back.

On the other side of the ruins Gazza and Bazza were locked in a deadly combat with the Lord of Skulls.  As hard as they tried to kill the creature their weapons barely made a dent on it

The preternatural speed of the demons closed the escape route for Cobra and Mastermind.  Both of these gangland leaders were able to fend off the demons` blows.  Escaped looked less likely for these likely lads.

 Margaret Fuchs sighed with pleasure as she saw how well her plan was working.  She turned her damned gaze towards Dazza and Baz and unleashed more balls of flame at them.

Mastermind realised that now was the time for his esacpe and used his psychic powers to cloud the mind of the Horned one and fled to his Capri.  The seconds turned into hours as he struggled to unlock the car.

Cobra was not far behind his boss.  Dodging the blows of the demons, Cobra jumped into the car as it sped away. 

Dazza and Baz had brought enough time for their bosses to get away but at the cost of themselves.

Baz was finally cut down by the Seeker of Decadence as he tried to flee.

Gazza and Bazza were fairing no better against the Lord of Skulls.  The demon`s whip wrapped around Gazza`s neck and with an audible crack Gazza`s head was wrenched from his neck.  The sight of the sudden decapitation was too much for Bazza and he fled screaming into the night.

The Sorceress Margaret Fuchs was victorious.  She had acquired the resources that she would need to further her arcane studies.  Her only regret was that both Mastermind and Cobra had escaped, but their time would come.

Afterthoughts

The battle narrative may give a somewhat one sided view of the skirmish, but it was a close run thing.  The Lord of Skulls was on his last legs, as was the Seeker of Decadence and the Horned one.  I took a more character driven choice for the leaders to flee.  I could not imagine them staying around to help their lags.  

Open combat is a nice open set of rules that let you play many types of games with any figure that you have.  I think that they deserve to be better known in the gaming world.  

On a rules note and to not confuse anyone with what is in the rules themselves, to give Margaret  Fuchs some attack spells, and weapons for the criminals I just renamed the missile weapons in the rulebook. I realise that this may not please people looking for more crunch in their game but it works for me.