Biblical Dry Run - Adding The Armies

BOTH players made a sketch map of where their forces - shown below - will be deployed.

My Egyptians

Chariots (Light, Bow, Elite) x 3

Bows (Close-Order Archers, Light Armour, Average) x 2

Spearmen (Biblical Infantry, Light Armour, Average) x 1

Marine Spearmen (Biblical Infantry, Medium Armour, Average) x 1

Sherden (Auxiliary Infantry, Medium Armour, Elite) x 1

Reg's Hebrews

Simeonites and Ephraimites (Auxiliary Infantry, Light Armour, Elite) x 2

Benjaminites (Open-order Infantry, Sling, Light Armour, Average) x 2

Gadites and Issacharites (Open-Order Infantry, Javelin, Light Armour, Average) x 1

Other Tribes (Auxiliary Infantry, Light Armour, Average) x 3

It is at this point that the ambush part of the Early Hebrews' guerrilla-warfare rule comes into effect.

This allows the Hebrew commander to place two units of open-order infantry anywhere on the battlefield after all enemy troops have been deployed.

There is no guidance in Ancient & Medieval Wargaming as to how armies should be deployed, so we agreed a rule that all but open-order troops must be placed in the four central sectors making up each player's half of the battlefield.

That leaves a sector each side that can only have open-order troops at the start of the battle, and you may recall a sector measures 30.5cm across.

We also agreed units must start within 20cm of their side's long edge of the table.

Egyptian Setup

I decided both my units of archers would be well-placed on the hill, but with one facing right in case of an ambush being launched from that direction.

To their left I placed the ordinary spearmen, then the marine spears, the Sherden and finally the three units of chariots, with the Royal Squadron slightly pulled back, again to guard against a quick flank attack from ambush.

Looking at my Egyptians from the Hebrew side of the battlefield

Hebrew Setup

Reg placed his javelinmen in the rough going on the Hebrew left.

He also created two columns of auxiliaries, each behind one of the patches of rocky ground, with elite Simeonites/Ephraimites in the lead, followed by a unit of ordinary auxiliaries, with the other unit of ordinary auxiliaries connecting the columns.

My Egyptian view of the Hebrews, but there is no sign of the Benjaminite slingers

With the main deployment complete, Reg now placed his two units of Benjaminites on the edge of the areas of rocky ground.

Battlefield with both armies deployed

Close-up of where the action is likely to be

We diced to see who would go first, and Reg won 4-3.

As usual I will write up the battle turn by turn.