The Pyrrhic army invaded Sparta in 294BC.
Steve A's Spartan hoplites and cavalry quickly advanced, trying to catch Guy's Pyrrhic invaders getting into formation with their pikeblock, but leaving the Spartan lighter troops sat on a hill on their right flank, far away from the main battle.
The Spartan cavalry tried to get around to the rear of the Pyrrhic pikes, but a Pyrrhic ally force of Psiloi S came on as a flank march and disrupted their advance, whilst a small number of Pyrrhic pikes broke off the main block to hold them in place.
Meanwhile, the Pyrrhic mounted companions raced across the front of their pikes from left to right to try and help, but the rearmost element of knight in wedge was caught by the advancing Spartan Spear S, and turned to give battle. The rest continued into the attack against the Spartan cavalry.
In the centre, 'Spartan hoplite-block' met 'Pyrrhic pike-block' in a clash of dust and thunder, and the battle ebbed to and fro.
Meanwhile, the Spartan cavalry were slowly overwhelmed and whittled down by the Pyrrhic psiloi, pike detachment, and the Pyrrhic cavalry. The Spartan cavalry were eventually all destroyed in the last move of the game.
King Leonidas found himself in the front rank of the battle against the Pyrrhic pikes, and came within ONE PIP of being doubled and killed.
The game ran out of time, and Steve and Guy counted up their losses. Sparta lost 14ME's and the the Pyrrhic army lost 6ME's, so the Pyrrhic army was declared the victor (this time).
That said, if the game had continued, Sparta may well have won as they had a smaller block of hoplites and a lot of psiloi as yet uncommited.
The majority of Pyrrhic losses were psiloi O who tried to slow down advancing Spartan Auxilia S, and were killed off over three or four rounds.
Great game, with some of the usual healthy debate around long-forgotten DBMM rules and clarifications.😁
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