Lothar vs Helium

I had a comment that I'd never properly posted a game featuring my Bowmen of Lothar Barsoomian army, so I played a game today. They took on the winners of the previous battle - Helium.

The Bowmen of Lothar are a tricky army, since they are illusionary. When I originally designed them I ran them as hordes, since there are effectively limitless numbers of them, but it didn't really do their deadly archery any justice at all, so I switched them to shooters, but with a couple of hordes to allow them to stave off defeat by bringing back troops. They are also the only Barsoomian army to feature a magician, since they are controlled, indeed summoned, by the mental powers of one or two individuals.

Helium defended, and limited the amount of bad going available. With shooters and beasts (very real banths, or Martian lions) Lothar likes a bit of bad going, whilst Helium's arm is equipped for fighting in the open.

Here they are at the start of the game.

Helium hedged their bets, putting out a long line of blades, and aerials on both ends. The aerials would have to be careful of Lothar's strong missile capabilities. And both they, and John Carter, would have to take care of Lothar's magician general.

Lothar put the banths in the centre, where they were evenly matched with Helium's blades, and bowmen on the flanks to hold off the aerials.

Both armies advanced cautiously, adjusting their lines as they did.

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Lothar's bowmen opened up as soon as they were in range, and Helium's warriors advanced doggedly through a storm of arrows.

Helium charged into contact with the fierce banths.

The attack was successful - one banth killed, one driven back, and some bowmen slain as well.

Lothar countered, and their mentalist tried to confuse John Carter, but failed.

Helium's aerials now entered the fray, attacking the bowmen on Lothar's right.

But they were driven back.

And then destroyed - Helium lost an airboat and their flyers to archery.

However Lothar was doing badly in the centre, where the warriors of Helium were slowly cutting their way through to the Lotharian general.

John Carter rushed into the attack, slaying the last banth. 

And this left the way clear for some blades to attack and slay the Lotharian mentalist, to win the battle. 

Helium won 15g-5

I played a second game (unphotographed) in which Lothar defended. They limited Helium's opening moves with a series of woods, ambushed their advancing blades with banth attacks and before Helium could organise their army properly, ensorcelled John Carter to win the battle.