Battle of Amphissa, Part 1 - third battle of the Optio campaign

After his last battle Peter had a difficult choice to make. Having suffered two average defeats his loss of kudos meant that the town of Melion slipped from his control and fell under that of Malis. Melion had supplied one Peltast and one Psiloi stand for his army. He could now either fight the next battle two stands short or force one of his towns to supply the necessary troops - but lose more kudos in the process.

He chose the latter option and taxed Gla to the limit, doubling its production of 1 Peltast and 1 Psiloi stand. An army may never have more stands of any troop type than it originally began with.

This means that Peter must win the next battle. If he loses it his shortfall in kudos will mean that one and probably more towns will be lost to Malis and with them probably any hope of final victory.

After a battle, if one player loses a town the assumption is that both sides made a peace treaty, swearing eternal friendship, and retired their armies back to their own territories. Eternal friendship lasts just long enough to re-equip the armies and then both sides go at it again. Here is Malis and Doris on the eve of a new campaign:

Malis was able to deploy a block in Melion (lower right) since it now controlled that town. Melion doesn't supply Malis with any troops but does supply it with provisions, hence the deployment there.

In this campaign my army was the block in Melion. My plan was to march across the plain and engage Peter's army if it met it. If I didn't I would proceed straight to his capital city of Amphissa and besiege it. If I destroyed the city I would win the entire campaign game. Peter would have to come to me and I liked the terrain in that battlefield.

To Amphissa I went and after a long siege (10 moves out of a total of 12 before destruction) Peter's army arrived, in the nick of time.

The battlefield was somewhat in my favour as I had the upslopes. But the city of Amphissa was in my way (it is simply an impassible obstacle to both players). I would have to figure out how to fight around it.

A view of the battlefield. That big slope at the far end is impassible mountain.

And the armies deploy for battle. The women and children of Amphissa, pale and wan from the hunger of a long siege, look hopefully from the city walls. Will their men save them?

Peter wasn't feeling too well either so we called it a night at this point. We fight the battle later this week. Expect a battle report soon.