Warfare at Reading looked interesting, it was the chariot era with a maximum of four heavy chariots and a minimum of one “wheeled” unit. Some interpreted the wheeled unit as a scythed chariot, a warwagon or even a siege tower but yours truly chose light chariots and the results weren’t pretty……

The Vedic period of course is controversial because of the implied superiority of the Aryan invaders from the North West. Could it really be that the Aryans were just the upper classes of the Dark skinned Brahmins? Colin pondered this question and replied that if you find a tortoise on a fence post, you can guess that it didn’t get there by itself. Rob J passed me the spraycan to finish the charioteers and elephant riders in a definate, non-politically correct, shade of light flesh. 

The army comprised a commander in Chiefs command of two elephants, warriors and three mediocre bows. To support this  array, I had two commands of four light chariots with either more bow or medium swordsmen. Twenty six units of not very hard troops but mobility was my watchword.

If you are going to travel from Navarre to Reading, you are likely to know how to play. If you weren’t a complete klutz like me, you might go for a serious army choice like Sargonid Assyrians.Senor Juan Gomez lined up his hard as nails army and looked confident. My only hope was to reduce his chariots/knights and accompanying heavy cavalry with chariot bow fire.

Behind my chariots were my massed ranks of bowmen but I was about to learn the true meaning of “mediocre”

Aetius advises; The true translation of mediocre, from the Indo- Aryan  Rigveda- samhiti Veda, is of course “crap at shooting in a crisis!” It was my elephants that should have gone up against the heavier chariots. Light chariots are a factor down in combat and don’t get ” armour” in event of a loss.

Anyhow, the dilemma was soon solved as my whole line combusted. Game two would be against more heavy chariots, from Kushite Egypt. But keen eyed viewers will see the ploy that Jesse was about to pull.

Gone were the heavy chariots and in their place stood elite spearmen. 

Aetius added; shut up Mr Ferres, you dismount your knights all the time. You only have to see a handcart and your brave caballeros are trudging through the mud on foot.

My brilliant tactic was to withdraw my left wing before Jesse and attack through the rough ground with my medium foot. That might have been a winner but the proto- Numidians slaughtered my chariots with thrown javelins! Jesse’s eight units of Egyptian bow cut down my other chariots and I even had to sacrifice one of my elephants to save the camp from the lusty spearmen.

Constantine the typical Roman centurion adds;

What a plan! Withdraw in front of troops that can’t reply to chariot bow shots. Bring your out numbered chariots in front of his bowmen. Really? Those poor elephants were your last, best chance and they got left behind. Boo!

Now Simon had brought an army I myself considered, Early Persians. Lovely uniforms and mobile shooty cavalry, plus scythed chariots to frighten my opponent. The scythed chariots were a damp squib, falling to my infantry bow fire. I advanced on the advice of Senor Gomez to attack with my elephants. The Iranians scattered and my maiden guard were slaughtering their way forward

But, and there always is a “but”, the Armoured Persian horse were more than a match for my nimble chariots. Elite shield-bearers tore through my warriors, avoiding the more martial elephants and lady fighting machines. I decided to re-organise………

Oh dear, what was meant to be a reorganisation led to all my manouvre dice being used up and my attack faltering. In the last bound of the game, Simon was able to claim a victory. Three losses and two more tomorrow……

Aetius added; I fxxking give up. I’m going to work for the Madtaxman blog.