DBM on Grids - Panion 200BC

The Battle of Panion, 200BC - The Set Up

I have always liked the DBx system, but always found the movement mechanics unbearably fiddly, and have already produced my own house-rules to run 15mm DBM games on a hex grid.  But for some time now I have been participating in an Ancient campaign at my local club using a fellow member's heavily modified version of DBA run on a gridded table.  As I have some gridded cloths that will accommodate 25mm troops, I thought it was about time I tried it out with my Hellenistic collection, when some friends come round for a few games next weekend.

I went for a refight of Panion, a Seleucid-Ptolemaic clash in the 5th Syrian War, mainly because it is split into two almost separate fights either side of a river (there are other interpretations available that see it differently).  With no scheduled games in the way I thought I'd set the game up now just to see how it fitted on the table.

And here it is.

View from behind the Ptolemaic Right Wing

Not a great photo, but I just can't get far enough away from the table as space is a bit tight in the cabin, a.k.a. HizHut, so now, a few closer-in shots.

View from the Ptolemaic Left

The Ptolemaic Left Wing ...

... and the opposing Seleucid Right Wing

View from the Ptolemaic Right

The Ptolemaic Right Wing ...

... and the opposing Seleucid Left Wing

Both sides' right wings have an advantage but the Seleucid army is larger overall, and on their right they've taken up an advanced position with their superior cavalry, including large force of cataphracts. 

The Seleucid Advance Guard

I have still to work out how I will classify the river splitting the battlefield in two, such that it is very difficult, but not impossible, to cross.  And also, before the game, I need to review the new gridded play rules to make sure that are no problems hidden in there; especially with the one allowing combined phalanx-elephant units.

How it all works out as a game, will be revealed in a later post.