Happy Gaugamela to me.

 'Twas my birthday on Saturday. 65 years on the third rock from the Sun. As is sort of a tradition I ran a large AMW ancient game with as many 20mm plastic figures as possible. As we haven't played Gaugamela for a while, I thought we'd give it another go.

Briefly I thought I had enough figures to do it without substitutes, then I realised I'd only put out two bases per cavalry unit instead of four. Consequently there are Indians and Neo-Assyrians masquerading as Persians if you know where to look. From a historical point of view it is easier to justify the Indians than the Assyrians.

I had Chris K, Phil & Tim from the MNG regulars, and Vincent and Noah (who is now 10). Phil and Noah took the Persians, Chris, Vince & Tim the Macedonians.

For this game I used inches instead of centimetres for movement rates to get everyone into contact more quickly. I made a number of measuring sticks so people didn't play silly devils with my tape measures. Of course I then had to ensure people didn't poke each other with them. Sometimes you just can't win

Chris, near camera on the left was Alexander. He ordered his generals to advance at full speed whilst also fighting a delaying action. Tim looked confused, then did his best.

Even so, Chris was pushing forwards ahead of his colleagues.

Phil, ever happy to be given a large amount of cavalry was delighted to be given the opportunity to take on a slightly weaker opponent. He wasn't happy that there wasn't much room to manoeuvre as the units were cheek by jowl. intentionally.

Early exchanges show Tim has the upper hand.

Meanwhile, Vincent's phalanx marches steadily across the table. Will he get into contact before he has to leave for Sunday dinner with Nan?

Noah sends his scythe chariots into his father's phalanx. Devastating. Out of 8 dice rolled he inflicts 7 hits, rolling 4-6s. The hoplites fail a morale roll, so he loses two bases in total. The scythe chariots, of course, are removed completely.

Alexander leads his Companions into some Persian heavy cavalry. The Podromoi are having a hard time of it. We are now in a phase of the game where Levy units pass all their morale tests whilst Veterans fail them.

Chris has a unit of Companions lined up to charge through a gap in the Persian line, should the opportunity arise.

Chris is pressing Noah hard, but the young fellow is holding on. He has been trapped in the corner a bit, so Chris is able to contact his light horse with some hoplites. To make matters worse, Noah is receiving tactical advice from me.

The Persians are stoutly defending their base line. Vincent is closing the gap and has contacted one unit.

It's all kicking off down Phil & Tim's end of the table. The Thracians, top left, are hanging on grimly, whilst Vincent lends a hand with some hoplites in the centre.

Chris has opened the hole, and shifting Alexander from one unit to another is able to lead a unit of Companions into the gap.

Oh no! An anonymous Persian commander is killed in combat as his unit is destroyed.

In the very centre some Persian horse has succeeded in punching a hole in the phalanx through the combination of good dice rolling by Noah and poor dice rolling by Vincent. Can Noah exploit this opportunity to the full?

Alexander's loyal general Parmenio dies in mortal combat, as his wing clings on.

Noah's left flank is in a bit of a pickle, and he really has nowhere to go. This situation would have taxed an experienced wargamer.

Darius goes off and hides behind his Apple Bearers (cue argument as to whether they are pseudo hoplites of standard heavy infantry), as Alexander thumps into his cavalry bodyguard.

Alexander trades blows with the Persian heavies, as the phalanx grinds into the Apple Bearers.

On Phil's wing Parmenio's forces are all but gone. Alexander's wing has nearly finished trashing the Persian left and the phalanx is pressing home. Narrow Macedonian win.

Vincent and Noah had to leave us then. We'd had 2 1/2 hours of game time (including a break for tea, coffee and birthday cake) with 20+ units a side so that was satisfactory. Chris had brought along a bottle of Gewürztraminer, so we pulled the cork on that and mulled over the game.

That'll do.