Kushans vs Suren Indo-Parthians

[HoaryCenturion]

A Considerable Contest of Cavalry



Inspired by:
A typically spectacular scenario/show (albeit some 1,900 years out of period for my particular range of interests) put on by Eric, the owner/operator of ‘The Shed.’ Please see https://shedwars.blogspot.com/2025/04/l ... -28mm.html

I confess that I was somewhat driven by discouragement in the form of a small string of failures stemming from attempts to ‘flip’ the historical battle of Metaurus (207 BC/BCE), as well as attempts to review, revise and refight a Romans vs Galatians battle reported on in the October 1990 issue of Miniature Wargames magazine.

As for the title, I suppose I should nod respectfully in the direction of a gentleman, established blogger, and confirmed ADLG enthusiast by the name of Phil. Please see https://philonancients.blogspot.com/, where one will find more than several examples of alliteration.

Rules: TRIUMPH! [Version 1.1(2019), but with recent official modifications or ‘sticker sheet’] & GRAND TRIUMPH! [Rough Draft - Version 0.2]

Table Size:
10.5 feet by 3.75 feet, or 320 centimeters by 114 centimeters.

Terrain:
A fairly strong resemblance to the generally accepted appearance/description of the battlefield of Pharsalus, 48 BC/BCE. For two references, please see https://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive ... lus_ii.htm and https://www.livius.org/pictures/a/maps/ ... pharsalus/.

Opposing Armies:
Suren Indo-Parthian with some Later Scythians (Skythians) versus the Kushan Empire assisted by some Subject Indian formations. The armies were drafted from the free lists available here: https://meshwesh.wgcwar.com/home

Deployments:
The Indo-Parthians took the position historically occupied by Pompey and his confederates, their legions, and allied troops. The Kushans assumed the role of Caesar’s forces. (There was no fourth line posted behind the right flank, however.) As both armies contained quite a lot of Horse Bow, the battle lines were rather long and thin. The foot elements that were present tended to be placed in supporting roles. The major exception was the formation of Subject Indian units. This ‘throw-away’ command was in the approximate center of the Kushan line, and was reinforced by an impressive number of Cataphracts.

Summary:
This was a sweeping and swirling engagement involving quite a few stands/units of Horse Bow, in addition to rather a lot of Cataphracts and Elephants. The complete lack of any arrow volleys (except as abstracted by combat factors) took some getting used to, but as one turn of melee rolled into the next, this absence became somewhat normal.

It was also a fairly straight-forward battle, with lines of Horse Bow and other types mixing it up and trying to find points of advantage. The Scythian contingent was the first to suffer from mounting losses and “have a poor morale response,” which took them off the tabletop. This situation basically set the tone for the larger battle, as more Indo-Parthian ‘divisions’ followed suit. It appeared that the Kushans enjoyed better command dice and better melee dice. The Kushans did not win a major victory, as three of their commands were demoralized when the contest was called. In a last-minute charge (almost a Hollywood or streaming service production), the line of Indo-Parthian Cataphracts crashed into and very nearly wiped out the collection of Subject Indian troops. A check of accumulated casualties informed that the Indo-Parthian army had lost nearly half its original strength compared to a ‘bloody nose’ and maybe a ‘black eye’ percentage of 30 for the Kushans.

‘Report Card’:
Trying on the footwear of the appreciated and respected follower or accidental visitor, I imagine that it would be possible to mark this effort using an established, figurative, or subjective rubric of a sorts.

I acknowledge and accept that I would probably be marked down for not strictly following the rules for terrain selection, placement, deployment of commands, positioning of camps and so forth. Additional negative marks would likely be given for employing uneven armies, to say nothing of their physical representation, which is directly related to or proportional to their perceived aesthetic appeal. I also suppose that further negative marks might be noted or at least some questions raised regarding the composition of my various commands. The careful follower or accidental reader might wonder why pachyderms were grouped with horse archers, or why horse archers were controlled by cataphracts, when the rules expressly describe these two troop types as at end of the spectrum with regard to movement ability, formation density, and approach to close combat.

Stepping away from the appearance and size of the armies, I also stipulate that the look of the terrain would probably receive poor marks or perhaps even an incomplete.

As I do not often have the chance to slip on another pair of shoes, it is rather difficult to list what aspects of this solo project might receive good marks or simply a passing grade.

Perhaps some recognition will be given for the size of the armies? Along that same line, perhaps fabricating two armies that rarely if ever see time on my tabletop will be noted or even applauded? Arriving too quickly at the point where I am ‘grasping for straws’ in this very rarely assumed role, perhaps decent marks will be given for conducting another test of the ‘official amendments’ to the rules? As a sub-point to this, perhaps some small amount of credit will be given for not tinkering with the rules as written, as I have been known to do in previous projects.

On review, it appears that this particular report card would not be one that I would point to with pride or place on the refrigerator door with a magnet purchased during a road trip some 17 years ago. That much admitted, perhaps there is a piece or pieces of this solo project that struck some kind of chord with a follower or casual reader, and inspired them (maybe) to attempt or simply consider trying something similar.
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For those hardy individuals who may be interested in seeing a few diagrams/maps, reading a little more about this latest project, and perhaps reviewing the orders of battle, a cordial invitation is extended to visit: https://nopaintingrequired.blogspot.com ... orse%20Bow