Ghorids vs Rajputs Battle Game-play style AAR

[thrashing_mad]

Battle:

- Ghorid Emirate (me - defender) vs Rajput States (AI - attacker)
- map - Indian Jungle
- points - Ghorids 3000, Rajputs 4000

As you can see from points allocation, I`ll be outnumbered 4:3. However, I`ll play against dumb and predictable AI (that`s why MP battles are much cooler ), and defending myself (reacting to moves of the enemy).

Ghorid Emirate is an zealous, Afghani infantry faction, but they`re not relying on defence (spearmen) but on attack (wide range of shock infantry), while Rajputs use superiority of their numbers, and their elephants. I`ve decided to not deploy any archers (there`s too many rajputs out there, and arrows won`t harm those scary elephants), and I`ve chosen mixture of infantry and light cavalry:

I`ve selected Junior Ghulams for my general`s unit. These medium lancers cavalry, are not yet elite Ghulams but they`re still capable warriors. They are medium armoured, their charge is devastating, but they won`t fight for too long in melee, so I have to be careful.

While Junior Ghulams can keep one of my flanks safe, I deployed Pashtun Tribal Cavalry to protect other flank. They are fast, lightly armoured horsemen, but they`re not using lances, thus their charging capabilities are limited to attacking light enemy infantry, or striking from the rear of enemy formation. On the other hand, they are excellent at pursuing broken enemy.

My third cavalry unit - Eastern Turkoman Javelin Cavalry - while cheaper than Pashtuns and Junior Ghulams, would possibly have crucial role in my whole plan - taking enemy elephants. Turkomans are fast, almost unarmoured horsemen, but those several javelins that each of them carry are best anti-elephant weapon in my arsenal. Arrows are poor weapon against those beasts, and even if my infantry won`t panic at their sight, dozens of them would die trampled. Thus, it would be better to take them from the distance isn`t?

While cavalry is important, it`s role was only to support line of my infantry. I`ve deployed total number of 6 inf units. 2 of those were Ghazis - cheap cannon fodder, axe-armed religious fanatics, that would hold my right flank no matter how quick enemy would slaughter them.

Next two inf units were Afghani Hillmen. They are poorly armed, and poorly armoured, undisciplined levies. Thus I deployed them in the centre of my line.

Finally, my two best infantry units - Pashtun warriros. They are good and relaiable medium/heavy shock infantry that hopefully would do great against hordes of Rajput warriors.

And here`s look at my defensive position.



Next post in a few minutes.

[thrashing_mad]

Alright, now lets take a look at the enemy units:

4 Indian Spearmen. They are poorly armoured warriors, and my own axe or sword armed infantry should stand against them easily. However, they can seriously harm my cavalry, especially pashtun cav, and turkomans.

2 Hindu Archers. These poorly trained archers probably won`t have much time to shoot at my ranks. However, should they choose my light units like bare-chested Ghazi as a target, they could kill many of them.

2 Indian Tribal Javelinmen. While they can be easily smashed either by my cavalry, or my infantry, their javelins could kill regardless of armour. Thus I`ll have to keep them far from my Pashtun Infantry, and especially - General`s Junior Ghulams.

1 Indian Swordsmen. These guys came from upper caste, together with better equipment and skills. They can chop my Ghazni or Afghani Hillmen to pieces, and only my Pashtun Infantry would be good against them. It would be perfect if I could charge at them with my Ghulam lancers.

1 Rajput Javelin Cavalry. Light horsemen similar to my Turcoman Javelin cavalry. Their venture into my flanks can be painful, if AI choose to pepper my ranks with those javelins.

And finally, 2 elephant units (with 8 animals in each). Elephants are extremely hard to kill (best to throw javelins at them), they cause fear in my infantry, and could trample dozens of soldiers in a matter of seconds. However, there`s also side effect. Sometimes they can go crazy in the frenzy of battle, and run in amok trampling friend or foe. I`ll try to hit them hard, if possible, to achieve it. First unit with archers on top of that animals is Rajput general`s unit, second unit carry javelinmen.

[thrashing_mad]

Part II.

Since I`ve deployed my force far away from the enemy, and dense jungle obscured my vision, I had to wait a little bit for them to come. First Rajput unit I saw, were Javelin Elephants advancing on their right flank.

There was no enemy infantry between me, and those elephants. Thus I sent my Turkomans to deal with them, moving in wide arc to the right flank of the enemy, to avoid enemy fire.

They approached enemy quite fast..

..began to hurl dozens of javelins..

..and all 8 elephants were killed. Whole 'execution' lasted about 10 seconds, and I killed 900 points worth Elephants with my 400 points worth poor cavalry, good trade isn`t.

But then my Turkomans came under heavy fire of Indian Archers, and AI sent Rajput Light Cavalry against them. I`ve managed to retreat them quickly, leaving enemy pursuit behind.

All this time enemy force slowly, but steadily, advanced forward. Sice Turkomans still had few javelins left, I moved them to left flank of the enemy. Hopefully they could somehow enter into Rajput rear, and find enemy general`s Elephants.

While I was busy navigating Turkomans at the enemy rear, AI sent Rajput Light Cavalry at my left flank. They began to throw javelins at my best, Pashtun infantry, killing them regardless of their armour. However, rest of enemy army was still about 1,2 minutes far from my troops, and I had a time to deal with enemy cav. As you can see I moved Pashtun Cav and Junior Ghulams, so that there was no room of escape left to enemy.

Charged from two sides, Rajput Cavalrymen were defeated quickly, however enemy infantry was dangerously close at this point..

[thrashing_mad]

To be continued..

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

An excellent AAR, trashing_mad. Both informative and entertaining - looking forward to your next update! BTW, those screenshots are amazing - I would appreciate any tips to improve my own pics.

[Miraj]

Some of the nicest screenshots and display of battle tactics I've seen. Excellent stuff. +REP

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

This is really cool, well done.

[AvdW]

Wow, that's some beautiful screenshots. Also, love the tactics you used. Battles while starting at a disadvantage are so much cooler. I'd rep you if I had 50 posts...

How'd you make the pretty screenshots by the way?

[Kpt Ortamadami]

Probably the best screenshots I've ever seen in a AAR! If you had used epic words to tell the story this would be a classic!

Looking forward to the next post!

[thrashing_mad]

SeniorBatavianHorse - Thank you. I`m using stylize-diffuse-anisotrhropic for oil pain effect. Then some manipulation with curves and brightness/contrast. And finally old paper layer (with 'multiply' filter) on top.

mirage41, The Fuzz, AvdW - Thank you.I`m glad that you like it

Kpt Ortamadami - Bah, I`ve seen much better. As for epic words - I reserve them for my paradox games AAR (see link in signature), that i`m writing for more than a year now.

[thrashing_mad]

Rajput cavalry, charged from both sides was routed in a few seconds, and my two cav. units began pursuit, killing almost 3/4 of their original number.

Unfortunately, enemy infantry was really close. 2 units of Hindu Tribal Javelinmen were very close to my cavalry units, and began to throw javelins at them. Thus I`ve broken off pursuit, and retreated my cavalry in an instant. Javelins could kill even armoured horsemen with ease.

My General with his Junior Ghulams avoided enemy fire by broking far to my left flank. Unfortunately, my Pashtun Cavalrymen weren`t so lucky..

..and about half of them died with javelins in their backs.

At the same time, Hindu Archers began to rain arrows upon my ranks. Interestingly, AI acted somehow smart by targeting my Pashtun Infantry (my best inf units).

Casaulities caused by arrows weren`t big, but could make a difference once enemy infantry arrives..

and they were close enough to prepare for a charge.

As you can see enemy attack wasn`t coordinated well. Their spearmen unit on the left was moving at my cavalry, making eventual outflanking manoeuvre more difficult. Same thing happened on the right, where my Turkoman cavalry was threatened. Thus I charged that spearmen unit with my Ghazis. With secured route, my Turkomans began to ride at Rajput General on enemy rear. Hopefully those few javelins that left them would be enough to harm his elephants.

Overall, my infantry was outnumbered and my only hope lied in my cavalry.

Ferocious charge of my Ghazis did enemy Spearmen some damage, but my poorly armoured religious fanatics were dying quickly afterwards. At least they would stood their ground against such odds, thanks to their zeal.

At the same time 2 of my Pashtun Infantry units were charged by enemy Spearmen and Swordsmen. While those first were no match for my warriors, latter were equal to them or even better, and because Pashtuns were softened by enemy bowmen things didn`t look so bright..

To be continued...

[Miraj]

AMAZING!

[Ham the Pharoah]

Awesome! When you're done with this, can you make an Ayyubid VS. KoJ one?

Also, love how the blood stands out. If only M2 looked this beautiful......

[Beauchamp]

Awesome man!
I know I have had some crazy battles in the Indian Jungles playing as the
Ghorids. I felt as if I was playing in WWI, given the sheer death around my troops and the endless onslaught of Rajput infantry.

I guess its "All quiet on the Eastern Front" for me

Ma'Salema

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

Thanks for the tips re Photoshop! I appreciate it.

[The Sixth Wizard]

Holy expletive, your computer must be some machine!

This is awesome (although it looks bad for you)!

[AvdW]

This battle AAR is very cool, I wonder what the outcome will be. And yes, the AI sometimes acts in a sensible manner (softening up your best infantry with arrows), which makes it all the more enjoyable.

[Kip]

Nice stuff, really like the looks of your screenies. Reminds me of 300.

[=Vastator=]

Really nice AAR and awesome screens

[Kpt Ortamadami]

I know it has been only a week or so since the last post but I'm really begining to wonder if you have stopped updating this AAR.

At least tell us who won No no don't. Show it with great screenies. Still looking forward to the next part.