My son-in-law and I played two games of Triumph! using my 15mm Scythian and Early Medes armies.
Army Composition
The Scythian army had ten stands of Horsebow and two stands of Elite Cavalry, one of which was the General. The Medes had six Javelin Cavalry, five Light Foot, and one Skirmisher. The Light Foot were able to use the “Supporting Bowmen” battle card, which proved to be very useful against the Scythians.
Situation
The first battle was a Scythian invasion, but the Medes had the tactical advantage and were able to influence the terrain. I commanded the Medes and opted for as much terrain as possible in order to limit Scythian mobility. We ended up with a village, plowed field, and a stream. All these were towards the edges of the board.
The Scythian base edge is at the top of the photo. The Medes are at the bottom edge.
The Scythians set up with their main body in front of the Scythian camp. A column of two Horsebow was on the far side of the stream. The Medes set up with Javelin Cavalry on their left flank and infantry in the center.
The Plans
The Scythian plan was to advance in the center and try to break through the Median infantry while the column crossed the stream and attacked the enemy camp. The Median plan was to overwhelm the Scythian right flank using superior numbers of Javelin Cavalry.
The Battle
View from the Median left flank.
The Scythian main line.
Overview of the Median position showing the Fire Temple and atendant priest. And a LED-light fire in a brazier in the courtyard.
Scythian column on the far side of the stream.
View from behind the Scythian left flank.
The Scythian column with the blue walls of their objective in the distance.
The Scythian line; my son-in-law is always careful to keep a reserve, a habit which I should emulate more often.
The Elite Cavalry are in the center.
These figures are mostly Forged in Battle brand, with some conversions.
The Medes prepare to advance. The deployment photo at the beginning shows almost all the Mede cavalry on the left flank, but since the disadvantaged player gets to set up half his troops after the advantaged player, I actually had two stands (including the general) in reserve to deal with the Scythians who I knew would be crossing the stream.
The Scythian female archer beside the general is a conversion. The top half is from Lurkio and the rest is from Forged in Battle. I added two heads handing from the horse harness using Green Stuff and heads from Peter Pig.
The Scythians crosss the stream.
Both sides advance.
The Median reserve moves to counter the threat crosing the stream.
This is where the Medes plan to win the battle.
First contact, but no breakthrough thanks to the "Supporting Bowmen" battle card which gives the Light Foot and extra +1 versus mounted. At the cost of removing two Skirmisher stands at the beginning.
The stream crossing was uncontested. It would have been better to try to catch them crossing the stream.
Both figures on the Scythian stand on the right were converted to have severed heads in one hand.
The Mede infantry fight well againt the Horsebow, but I then realized the best they can hope for is to make the Scythians evade.
A fatal error is made; the Median general turns to help the infantry by moving to flank the isolated Horsebow.
The Median main effort fails to make headway.
The Scythians can't escape now, but unfortunately for the Medes the Scythians are facing Skirmishers and not the more capable Light Foot.
The Scythians chase away the Median Javelin cavalry and have a clear path to the camp.
The Scythians keep up the pressure in the center.
The Median camp is attacked by Scythian horsemen and quickly taken.
The priest flees the battlefield, closely pursued by the victorious Scythians. The priest is a converted Crom's Anvil figure (now sold by CP Models)
Conclusion
A very good game with plenty of action. I was unfamiliar with how Horsebow operate and was surpised to learn they evaded when "doubled" by Light Foot. I turned my general aside to assist the infantry, which cleared the path for the Scythians to take the camp. My son-in-law made good use of his troops and had a solid and well-executed plan.
