Alexander's World Tour

[Marathon]

My far left is being severely pressured by the Egyptian chariots around the oasis. Calis charges into the flank of Anemo's infantry but his weakened lancers do not inflict the damage I had hoped. My slingers kill 300 of Seini's men. They have been harassing the Egyptians for most of the battle but had been ineffective up to now. Asclepiades tramples 300 more of Shushu's men without losing any of his cavalry. Kallias continues to rain destruction from on top of the city walls. He adds Oba to the growing list of eliminated units.

[Marathon]

The Egyptians try to assault my right flank again. Mune's cavalry charges straight into Craterus and is halted but Craterus is dangerously depleted. In the center, Meleager and Kallias combine to destroy Bui. Hegelochus pushes back Seini as the Egyptian loses 300 more soldiers. On my left, the chariots are reforming while my men fall back into better positions. The Egyptians defense must now rely on its remaining cavalry and chariot units.

[Marathon]

Mune charges Craterus again and my men remain firm in their resolve to hold. Antoichus's archers support Craterus' defense and they both combine to kill the rest of his men. Acacius continues to use his mens' newfound good aim to pelt the last of Anemo's axemen into dust. I can see Kallias' men climbing down ladders into the city. There must not be any Egyptians in rage of his bows. I lead my bodyguards into Shushu's exposed rear and his few remaining men rout. Stopping to view the rest of the battle, I witness Arrabaeus maneuvering his men around the threat of Panuhasi's chariots. I also see Hegelochus overrunning Seini's command, further strengthening my hold on the city.

[Marathon]

I can sense the Egyptians are about to break even though their chariots remain. I order my weaker units to withdrawal from the fighting and I play Health cards on Calis, Arrabaeus and Demetrius bringing them all back to two stacks. Antiochus continues my missile domination of the battlefield with 300 more Egyptian cavalry killed. Gaza will suffer for their stubbornness.

[Marathon]

To my shock, Gaza continues to resist me. Although, I had been a slight bit more aggressive, the city might be mine by now. It is due to my over cautiousness and protecting my men from heavy casualties that is allowing the defenders to remain standing. On my left flank, Andromenes gets trapped by Shai's chariots and loses 400 men before he could escape. Acacius has better luck and avoids two separate chariot charges. Kallias gets his archers back into the fight, killing 400 of Remmeo's charioteers. The first significant losses for them. On the far right, the enemy cavalry tries to outflank Coenus and succeeds.

[Marathon]

I outnumber the Egyptians but their remaining units have more offensive striking power except for my archers. Some sacrifices must be made so I order Ptolemy's men to hold fast as Remmeo's chariots race towards him. My infantry holds and all of the charioteers are killed. Agathon spots an opportunity and strikes Mdjai from the rear, inflicting a good number of casualties. Asclepiades and his cavalry pounce upon the routed men of Mkhai.

[Marathon]

Because Kemnibi cavalry has galloped around Coenus, Antiochus is threatened and has to find a safer spot. Protomachus successfully defends against a charge by Mdjai's cavalry. He stood firm because I need to quickly engage and defeat the remnants of Gaza's defenders. Asclepiades forces Mkhai's shattered unit to surrender. Acacius' slingers get caught, in the open, by Shai's chariots.

[Marathon]

Acacius' try to run for their lives but not before they lose 400 more men. Mdjai charges Protomachus again in a last gasp of futility and he is cut down amongst the remainder of his men. Coenus takes a risk and charges Kemnibi before the cavalry further put my rear area in danger. His heavy spearmen inflict 700 losses at the cost of less than half of that total. In front of Parmenio is the last remaining Egyptian infantry unit so I order a front assault. I play my last Poison card on him and it pays off with 600 more Egyptian dead.

[Marathon]

A bloody game that ends near the turn limit. My hoplites and Companion Cavarly took a beating. Gaza pays as entire population is sold into slavery and the city razed.

[Marathon]

Darius offers of half the Persian Empire if I cease hostilities. Why would I settle for the half I already own when I can have the entire thing? After spending six months consolidating my conquest of Egypt, it was time claim what was left of the glorious Persian Empire. I march my troops towards the heart of the empire and Babylon. My scouts inform me that Darius has concentrated the all the troops he could find at Gaugamela. He has even transformed the terrain to better suit his chariots.

Two units of Thessalian cavalry commanded by Sitalkes and Sitalies, and Socrates Hetairoi re-enforcement my army. I buy 3 Health, 3 Shield Wall, 3 Poison, 3 Berserk and 3 Rally to with my two remaining Fire Arrow strategy cards.

[Marathon]

I deploy my forces into two separate wings with a small reserve in between them. The left wing, under the command of Philotas, has the overall goal of protecting my baggage train and when that is not threatened, support the attack of the right wing. The right wing is under my direct command and my goal is the second objective located in the center of the Persian army. The right wing is composed of my elite lancers and heavy infantry for maximum offensive potential. The infantry includes the best hoplites and asthentairoi; Coenus, Craterus and Ptolemy.

Philotas: My left wing has been given orders to protect Alexander's baggage. The troops are a mixture of veterans and newcomers who are fighting in their first battle. My one advantage is the baggage has been placed on top of a large hill and I can use the higher elevation to offset the inexperience of my newer soldiers. Also, Kallias has been assigned to my wing. His elite archers definitely make me less nervous.

Amyntas: Alexander has given me command of the reserve component. Although it contains only four units, it is a diverse mixture of my own hoplites, slingers, hypaspistai and agriani. I have been given orders to first support the left wing with defense of the baggage train then switch to offense as soon as the first object has been secured.

[Marathon]

I push the right wing forward and maintain an unbroken line by slowing the pace of the cavalry.

Philotas: Some minor adjustments are made.

Amyntas: The reserve moves to its assigned position.

[Marathon]

I shift my second line of cavalry farther south to exploit any penetrations in the Persians when we meet.

Philotas: The reserve arrives on my right.

Amyntas: My troops are halted on a hill slope, lengthening the defensive line guarding the baggage.

[Marathon]

I halt the right wing at the top of a plateau before proceeding on the plains. Experience tells me this is where Darius might be waiting with his chariots. I will hear what my scouts have to say before moving any farther.

The Persians are predictable. Scythed Chariots, cavalry and infantry units appear to my front. I will use the terrain to my advantage.

[Marathon]

I order my infantry to defend while my cavalry goes on the offensive. Antiochus kills the first of many Persians that will die this day. Beerju charges Craterus uphill. The Persians make some headway until Beerju is pulled from his chariot and hacked to pieces. In a counter-attack, Craterus' men eliminate the rest of his shattered unit. Keekoboo drives his chariots into Demetrius with no success either. My bodyguards and I bloodlessly push back Abadan's cavalry.

Philotas: The Persians appear before me including two units of Indian War Elephants and Indian cavalry. I steady the men in anticipation of our first encounter with elephants in combat. The mere site of them has a detrimental effect on my troops.

Amyntas: I wait to see what the Persians will do before making my move.

[Marathon]

The last of Keekoboo's men fall before Demetrius' lancers. The bad news is he is now at half strength and the battle has just begun. Calis hits Ballengee's chariots in the flank, killing almost all of the enemy.

Philotas: Quickly play Shield Wall on Asclepiades and Sitalies because they are each in danger of being attacked by two units. Protomachus defends against the charge of Utana and the Persians lose 700 men. Xshathrita assaults Asclepiades uphill and still manages to lose only a few more men that my men. On the other hand, Vindafarnah loses four times more men then Asclepiades making me happy that I played the card on him. Kallias' arrows add to Vindafarnah's misery. Rheomithres fails to dislodge Sitalies and his men fall back towards their Persian friends. Hitan has about the same lack of success against Agathon. Although I have blunted the initial Persian attacks, I have lost quite a few men myself.

Amyntas: I can see that Philotas has his hands full. They do not seem to care about me. I will make them pay by hitting their open left flank. Acacius' slingers punctuates my resolve with 300 Persian deaths.

[Marathon]

My guards drive into Iraj and push his men backwards. Arrabaeus charges Kevina but each suffer about the same number of losses. To break the stalemate, I play a Poison card on Arrabaeus. His men then kill 400 more of Kevina's men without incurring a single loss. My bodyguards are then sent into Abadan again. Calis again proves his worth by eliminating the remaining charioteers of Ballengee.

Philotas: Protomachus is ordered to withdraw as he is about to get flanked. Vivana charges Sitalies and the Persians only lose a few men but are still retreat. Hitan tries to assault Agathon but he incurs sever casualties and the same happens to Vaumissa when he tries to dislodge Asclepiades from the ridge. I play Fire Arrow on Kallias with high hopes that he can relieve some of the pressure on my left flank. His archers do not disapoint as Arsites command is withered to nothingness under a hail of fiery death. My men are holding but the war elephants are still approaching.

Amyntas: Acacius continues his bombardment and Orathythes' cavalry is reduced to half strength before they can even engage. I send Hegelochus' infantry into the Persians and Oranthyes is down to his last 200 men. My men try to move up to Philotas' right but the Persians are not cooperating.

[Marathon]

Good news. Not only does Calis destroy the remainder of Kevina's men, but I and my bodyguards exterminated Abadon and his men. To end this skirmish quicker, I play Poison cards on Calis and Arrabaeus who are position to use their positive momentum on more Persians soldiers. It seems the Philotas is under a sever amount of pressure and I need to free some troops to go to his aid. Arrabaeus lancers slice through Iraj's men, killing them all (700 men) including Iraj himself. Calis kills 800 of Myrander's infantry and they rout. Antiochus' archers eliminated the rest of Fariboz's chariots. The Persian left is collapsing so I send word to Amyntas that he has the authority to use some of troops if he needs them.

Philotas: Sitalies retreats instead of being charged by Sanul's elephants. Also, I play Shield Wall on Asclepiades and Rally on Agathon in anticipation of the Persian attacks. Utana dares to charge my unit and gets pushed back with a good number of dead at my feet. Erdog then tries his luck but my men hold off his attack, as well. As expected, Shecanth charges Asclepiades and 400 Persian dead are added to the pile in front of the baggage. Agathon's new found courage pays off as Hitan's Indian cavalry is eliminated in another attack. The last gasp of Vindafarnah is heard as his command is eliminated again (Does that make it three battles now?).

In the confusion of battle, Kallias' archers are exposed to Purgav's regular infantry. Instead of moving him, I play Fire Arrow on him again and order him to target Sanul. Kallias does kill some of Sanul's war elephants before Purgav charges him. In a shocker, Purgav is routed by the ferocity of Kallias' defense (I did not know Fire Arrow also helps in melee).

Amyntas: I call upon some of Alexander's right wing infantry to support me and advance towards the rear of Persians.

[Marathon]

I witness Calis' men run down more of Myrander's routed command but then breaks off to assault Hadr's unbroken infantry. In the swirling melee, Hadr loses almost a thousand men while Calis is barely damaged at all. I send my own unit into a frontal charge against Jambo's Indian cavalry. I do kill 400 of his soldiers but my own unit is now below half strength.

[Marathon]

Philotas: The Indian elephants are pushing back my left flank and are threatening to penetrate the center of my lines. I play Berserk on Agathon and Sitalies to add to their defense. Sitalies is successful and Rhoemithries has to fall back and Agathon also forces Vivana to disengage. Utana tries to attack me again and his unit is destroyed because of his rashness. Then, I have to fight off another attempt by Erdog which reduces my tired command to half strength.

Kallias could not withdrawal his men in time so Jorah's elephants trampled 400 of his archers but the do not falter. I also receive word that Sanul has eliminated Agathon's unit. Curses on those damn elephants! I send a messenger to Amyntas telling him that those fiends must be slaughtered at all cost.

Amyntas: Meleager's men salivated as Purgav's routed men come into their sights and more Persians die. Hegelochus crushes the remaining men of Orathythes and then I order Hegelochus' to attack Jorah's elephants . He is to pay whatever the price to eliminate them.