WI 50: Magnesia updated

One of the articles in WI 50 is a scenario covering the Battle of Magnesia using the (then new) DBA rules. Back in 1991 the world was still lacking a version of DBA for larger games. In later years we would get various versions of DBM and then DBMM as well as a "Big Battle" version of DBA within the later editions of the rulebook (BBDBA).

In the article M.J.Nichol takes the available DBA set and produces an interesting scenario with a few suggestions for rules amendments.

I present below an version of the scenario, with an updated map. The OOB is taken from the article.


Seleucids

1. (and E) Phalangites and Elephants "E": 10 elements of pikes and 4 of elephants, adding +1 to combat results for each 3rd and 4th rank of pike (similar to what DBM would introduce)
2. Galatians: 2 elements of warband, placed on the flaks of the pikes and ellies
3. Cappadocians and Oriental lights: 5 elements of auxilia, on a 3-element frontage
4. Cataphracts: two elements of knights
5. The Regla ala and Agema: two elements of cavalry with the suggestion of applying a -1 to enemy elements in combat due to the morale differential
6. Galatian cavalry: 3 elements of cavalry
7. Tarantines: a single element of light horse
8. Argyraspids: 6 elements of spears
9. Dahae Light Horse: 2 elements of light horse
10. Skirmishers: 10 elements of psiloi - possibly more but restricted owing to low quality
11. Scythed Charions "C": 2 elements of scythed chariots, replace "destroyed" result in combat with "flee" and any contect with friendly elements resulting in combat - making them something of a liablility

Romans

1. Roman Legions (1b) and Latin allies (1a): 12 elements of psiloi and 12 of blades
2. Pergamene and Achaean Peltasts: 3 elements of auxilia
3. Cavalry: 3 elements of cavalry (2 Roman and 1 Pergamene)
4. Cretans and Trallians: 1 element of bows (could also be used as psiloi
5. Macedonian and Thracian peltasts: 2 elements of auxilia placed to guard the camp (not shown on map)

Each army has its camp placed to its rear. I have marked the position of the 3 generals for each army using stars.

The scenario can be played on a 2 x 4 foot board, the only scenery is the impassable river

I found this to be an interesting article as it makes so few alterations to the basic DBA rules despite handling armies of 3-4 times the usual size. No suggestions are made regaring command and control (unless I missed them somewhere) but the ones from BBDBA would make sense and create some interesting difficulties for the larger Seleucid army.

I am sure as I continue to review the WI issues from this period many more DBA-related articles will appear. I remember a plethora of attempts to conver the rules to other periods - renaissance, napoleonics and ACW spring to mind.

cheers