For All Maccabeus Scenarios Battle of Beth
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entering the defile; the Judean forces issued from surrounding ravines and high ground, ambushing the flank of" the column and routing it. The Judean forces pursued the retreating army back to its base camp, but before the fresh Judean reserve could assault the camp the Seleucid forces hastened back to the coast. This was the most serious Selucid defeat to date due to the presence of a royal viceroy with direct implications for the survivability of the throne. With the Seleucid empire wracked by discontent, Judah felt that he had gained the breathing spell he needed to move for activities when divided into indepen- Judean independence. Consequently, Lysias, the regional viceroy, personally dent commands. Therefore, all Judean he marched on Jerusalem and cleared it led a new and more serious effort to leader units may issue Line Commands of Seleucid forces, except for those in the eliminate the Judean rebels and restore without being in range of the Overall Acra which would remain a thorn in his Seleucid order. Mustering a force of Commander (Judah). side for the remainder of the rebellion. 20,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry, the Seleucid army set out for Jerusalem to Line Eligibility On the twenty fifth day of Kislev in 164 relieve the garrison in the Acra fortress All Judean units constitute a line and BC (December), Judah rededicated the overlooking the Temple complex. The may be separated by one space. Use Temple and declared Jewish religious route taken was initially along the coast Seleucid line eligibility rules from freedom. As related in the Talmud, the through friendly territory to Ashkelon, Magnesia. If you wish, you may use the story of Hanukkah relates how a small then inland through friendly Idumaen "ragged" line rules (from Consul) for quantity of oil used for the ceremony, territory to Hebron, where a major camp the Judeans, but not for the Seleucids. sufficient for one day, burned for eight was established. Judah judged that the until additional supplies could be made. relative strengths of the two sides Battle of Beth Zur This miracle was seen as direct evidence (24,000 versus 10,000) prohibited a Historical Notes: that the rebellion had the blessing of the direct assault on the camp, and once The size of Lysias' army precluded the almighty and added significant political again built a battle plan based on enveloping tactics used earlier in the strength to Judah's position. catching the Seleucid army on the march war, but Judah set up an ambush in a defile. along the Seleucid route of march Player Note: near Beth Zur (modern Hirbet Beth- As in any ambush style scenario, it isn't As the Seleucid army moved north to heiran). The battleground was a defile fun Jerusalem, they once again put their overlooked by high ground and to be the Seleucids. Unless the Lord is collective necks into the Judean noose interspersed with ravines. against the Judean player, this one will be near Beth Zur. over in two turns once the ambush is Judah, utilizing his superior Command sprung. It is intended to be a solo learning Special Rules: Control, once again divided his forces excursion on how a guerrilla attack should For all Maccabeus Scenarios into four groupings (3,000,1,000,1,000, be conducted. and 5,000 respectively) led by Judah, in Band of Brothers control of the 5,000 man reserve, and his Map: Use the Metaurus map. The river All of the Judean leader units are brothers commanding the remainder. is treated as clear terrain, and the brothers (literally!!), and they had an The Seleucids once again cooperated by streams are Wadis which act like Minor uncanny ability to coordinate their Streams except there are no cohesion effects for units in march column; once per game turn until the Judean of their small Jewish populations. Judah otherwise, all other terrain effects are units are placed on the map. Once and his brothers determined that their those stated in the Consul rules. the Judean units are placed on the legitimacy and the future of Jewish map, play reverts to the standard nationalism required a direct response Judean Player Set Up sequence of play. to these atrocities. Consequently, a All Judean units begin the game hidden series of military expeditions were on the map. See the Special rules for Maccabxan Battle Plan launched into the surrounding lands to their placement onto the map. The Judean forces are hidden in ambush rescue the besieged Jewish communites. and therefore do not begin the scenario In a series of lightning campaigns into Judah, Johanan, Jonathan, Simon on the map. Prior to any Seleucid the coastal regions and Gilead (modern movement, the Judean player may begin Jordan), thousands of Jewish refugees Maccabaean MI (1-6), Maccabaean his ambush. This is done by the Judean were rescued from local military forces LI (1-10), Maccabsean SK (1-6) player placing his forces anywhere on and escorted into Judea. Judah also the map in any level 5 or higher level determined that the Idumeans needed to Seleucid Player Set Up hex or in any Wadi hex regardless of be punished for their aid to the various All Seleucid forces begin the game off level. One Judean leader immediately Seleucid armies that had moved through map; see Special rules for their entry conducts an orders phase and the game their territory, and a punitive expedition onto the map. continues until completion with the was successfully launched to the South. normal order of activations continuing Note on Seleucid leaders: Except for after the Judean unit placement. At the height of these maneuvers, Lysias, I have no idea who the second- Antiochus IV died and appointed Phillip ary commanders were, so I will use the Retreat Edges as regent over his empire until his son, three stooges as a reasonable representa- Seleucid retreat hexes are 4236, 37,38, 39. Antiochus Eupator, came of age. Lysias, tion of the Seleucid command structure. The Judean retreat edge is the Northern who had previously been the regent, mapedge. launched an effort to maintain his power Lysias, Nicanor, Ptolemy, Gorgias over the throne by maintaining his Seleucid PH (1-10), Tarentines LC (1-2), Victory Conditions control over the young king at Antioch. Galatian LC (1-5), Lydia SK (1-3), The Judean player wins by routing Exploiting this instability, Judah deter- Crete SK (1), Arab LI (1-6) [represents the Seleucid Forces off the map. The mined to conquer the Acra and the last Idumaens] Seleucid player wins by routing the vestige of Seleucid power in Judea. His Judean Army OR by exiting more than assault on the fortress in 162 BC failed Special Rules 25% of his army's TQ value (33 TQ pts) and he continued the siege, but the March To Jerusalem off the the map through hexes 2200, 01, garrison was able to get messages to The Seleucid forces are on the march to 02, 03. Lysias, who decided to attempt another Jerusalem to relieve their garrison in the expedition to destroy the fledgling Acra. Basically, the Seleucid forces will Army Rout Levels nation. Lysias gambled that Phillip be in single file, front to rear orientation The Judean Army Rout Level is 81, would not descend on Antioch before he with no breaks in the line until the whereas the Seleucid Army Rout could complete his operation and he set off with young Antiochus V Eupator in ambush is sprung. The only real choice Level is 46. tow. the Seleucids have is the order of the units and leaders in the march column. An interesting historical note is that after Antiochus III was defeated at The Seleucids enter from hexes 4236, 37, Magnesia (See War Elephant module), 38, 39 and are moving to exit the map at hexes 2200, 01, 02, 03, 04. They must the Seleucids were forbidden from using pass through hexes 3106 or 3107 in the war elephants. Technically they process. Additionally, no Seleucid unit renounced their use but, when you have may enter a level 6 or higher hex prior a Roman sword at your neck, you tend to the Judean force deployment on the to go with the flow. Anyway, Lysias map. The Seleucid player has 30 turns gambled that the Romans wouldn't care to get his entire army exited off the map. enough to do anything serious, while This restriction is lifted once the Judean the tuskers might be the edge the player deploys his units on the map, in Seleucids needed to put down the rebellion once and for all. Lysias, on the which case they must exit the map whenever they can prior to the Seleucid other hand, really wasn't fooling around army routing. Battle of Beth-Zechariah this time. How do we know? He took Historical Note: the ancient equivalent of the kitchen While the Seleucid army is in march The emergence of Jewish nationalism sink, yes, you guessed it, Chariots. column, there are no Orders Phases. caused the surrounding Hellenistic Each Seleucid unit/leader may move regions to conduct a series of massacres This time Judah made his first military army properly deployed Crete SK (1-4), Arab LI (1-10), in its element. Seeing that Argyraspides HI (1-8), the day was going against Elephants (Indian 1-6), Chariots (1-3) him, Judah withdrew in good order to fight Note: It is important that you use the another day. units with the numbers indicated. The SK units, such as the Cretans, have Lysias took advantage of varying ratings and the ones indicated his victory by relieving are the ones to be used.