Elves vs Fishmen

Over the weekend I found myself taking a few photos of HOTT elements to use as diagrams for a discussion on the HOTT Facebook group. Since the armies were out on the table, and it was too wet to go for a walk this lunchtime, I set up a game using them

So this is a battle between the Fishmen (left) and the Elves. I randomised both armies and ended up with two two-point terrors - armies made up entirely of the 'vanilla' 2AP elements. The Fishmen fielded six spears, four shooters and two warband, whilst the Elves had four spears, four shooters and four riders. Both armies had a spear general, and the Elves defended.

The Elves put their spears in the centre, the riders on one flank and their archers on the other. The Fishmen lined up their shooters against the enemy cavalry, used the warband to cover the flank opposing the Elven archers and also put their spears in the centre.

The Elves immediately advanced their shooters against the weak left flank of the Fishman army.

As they rained arrows down on the enemy warband, they brought up a rider, which had been held in reserve, in support.

The warband dispersed and were quickly defeated. The Fishmen detached a spear to hold up the enemy and kept pushing their spear-line forward.

On the other flank the Elven riders rushed the Fishman shooters, since otherwise they would simply sit and be shot to pieces. This turned out to be a good plan; the charge destroyed a couple of shooters, and the Fishmen were now in serious trouble on both flanks.

The spears finally contacted. And this is where the Fishman plan - hit four enemy spears with six of your own - fell apart, because even with that level of superiority it's not going to be a quick, decisive fight. And their army was falling apart elsewhere.

Or was it? On the one flank a lone spear was holding out against the Elven rider and shooters, whilst on the other the Fishman shooters were starting to whittle down the Elves' cavalry.

Another push in the centre ...

... and another defeat for the Elven cavalry.

But it wasn't enough. One of the Fishman spears was lost, and finally the spear on the flank succumbed to the constant arrows and cavalry charges. The Fishmen lost 4-12.

Next time they need a better plan.