"Rock the Casbah!" - The Wars in Persia, at Roll Call 2025
Sassanid Persian vs Fatimid Egyptian
Game 1 Sassanid Persian vs Maurikian Byzantine
Game 2 Sassanid Persian vs Sassanid Persian
Game 3 Sassanid Persian vs Konstantinian Byzantine
Game 4 Sassanid Persian vs Maurikian Byzantine
Game 5 Sassanid Persian vs Fatimid Egyptian
The Final round - and the final opportunity for the Lakhmid Arab allied general to start the game unreliable ... an outcome which surely would consign him to the Bits Box of history!
The last battle of the 5-fight campaign would see the Sassanids pitted against an Islamic empire from a few years after the demise of the Sassanids - the Fatimids of Egypt, who had encroached onto formerly Sassanid lands at some point in their military adventures
Having used a Fatimid army to reasonably good effect a few years previously in a one-day event I was relatively confident that it would have a semi-solid core of mixed ability infantry, including the legendary and perhaps apocryphal Al Shira Pikemen, meaning this would probably be a game for the Elephants and Dailami to shine.
The army of Fatimid Egypt (969–1171 CE) was a complex and multi-ethnic force that played a central role in both the rise and maintenance of the Fatimid Caliphate.
At its core, the Fatimid military reflected the diverse nature of the empire, which spanned North Africa, the Levant, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Initially, the army was composed largely of Berber tribesmen from North Africa, particularly the Kutama, who had been instrumental in the Fatimid conquest of Egypt.
These Berbers remained a dominant force in the early years but were gradually supplemented—and in some cases, replaced—by other groups as the caliphate expanded and evolved.
To maintain loyalty and balance internal power dynamics, the Fatimid rulers employed a wide array of ethnic groups within their army, including Turks, Sudanese, Armenians, and even Christian mercenaries. This diversity was both a strength and a challenge: it allowed the caliphs to avoid overreliance on any one faction, but it also led to rivalries and occasional instability within the military ranks.
To further ensure the army's loyalty, the Fatimids created an elite corps of troops known as the ṣibyān al-khāṣṣ, often personally loyal to the Caliph and housed in special barracks in Cairo.
The lists for the Sassanid Persian and Fatimid Egyptian from this game, as well as all the other lists from the games at Roll Call can be seen here in the L'Art de la Guerre Wiki.
And indeed this was the case, with a long line of Fatimid infantry deployed on table, anchoring themselves on what they clearly believed would be an almost impassable Sand Dune on their right hand flank.
This rather worryingly did of course set up the game perfectly for the Lakhmid Arabs to play a decisive role, with their Camelry being almost unaffected by the sandy expanse, rendering the Fatimids entire plan potentially moot at a stroke.
If of course they decided to play this time around.
L'Art de la Guerre hint - Camels are of course happier in Dunes than any other troop type - this wouldn't be a wargames ruleset if not quite frankly - however it's not entirely a cake-walk for them either.
Camels count Dunes as "Rough Going"for movement (not combat!), whereas every other equid-mounted troop type treats Dunes as "Difficult" - meaning Camels move 3MU vs the 1MU for horsemen when deep in the sand, but still less than their usual 4MU in proper open terrain.
They do also treat Dunes as open terrain for the purposes of combat, not being penalised at all for fighting in them - a huge difference to Cavalry who would be on a whopping -2.
But, even though the Camels take no penalty for fighting in Dunes, that does not mean they are de facto fighting "in open terrain" - it means they take no penalty, that's it. So, as the 3rd bullet in the section on Destruction of Light Infantry on p62 says, Light Infantry can still opt to stand if charged by Camelry when in Dunes, and will get to fight - they are not automatically routed on contact.
The upside comes if they are lucky enough to fight LMI Bowmen or Javelinmen in a Dune, as then the Camels can dish out extra hits with Furious Charge in the first round - the "terrain" exclusion for Furious charge only applies if the attacking unit is in "terrain which penalises it in combat".
Yes! Miracles do happen - and at the 6th attempt the Lakhmids finally realised that this entire game was perfectly set up for them to play a leading role.
Keen to hog the limelight they not only started as reliable, but with a hefty pip roll were pretty much as keen as it would be possible to be!
What's Going on Here Then?
This looks very similar to the 3rd battle against the mostly infantry Byzantine army, but with the twin bonuses that here the Fatimid mixed shooters are looser formation Medium Infantry (compared to the Byzantine's more resilient Heavy Foot Skoutatoi), who the Sassanid Asarvan can thus charge down with a high degree of confidence, and - amazingly - because the Lakhmids are finally, at the 6th time of asking, RELIABLE!
In fact, not only are they reliable from the off, they are in a perfect position to have a major influence on the game, with the camels ability to traverse sand dunes catching my opponent totally off guard and rendering an ostensibly secure flank almost totally open.
The Fatimids do dish out a lot of shooting, so my Death Stars and Asarvan cavalry will need to close to combat quickly in the centre - this may limit the time available for the Lakhmids to have too great an effect as they emerge from the dunes on the Fatimid flank, but that's frankly a great problem to have.
Instantly the Camelry launched themselves into the sand dunes, exposing an ambush of Fatimid skirmishing infantry
The mix of Arabian cavalry and camelry surrounded the surprised Egyptians, peppering them with javelins as best they could from outside the terrain whilst the Camelry moved up to try and ride down these upstart skirmishers with some alacrity
This was exactly what the Lakhmids had been hired in to do, so no wonder they were keen to actually fight this time around!
The Fatimid military system also relied heavily on the use of Ghulam's (military slaves) and mercenaries. These troops were often well-trained and highly disciplined, forming an effective backbone for the army. Cairo, the Fatimid capital, became a major center of military administration and strategy, with military leaders holding significant influence in both court and provincial governance.
The army was not just a tool of conquest but also a means of projecting Fatimid authority and protecting the Isma'ili Shi'a doctrine at the heart of their state ideology.
Over time, however, internal divisions, economic strain, and the increasing reliance on foreign mercenaries contributed to the weakening of the Fatimid army. By the 12th century, it struggled to withstand the pressures of Crusader incursions and the rise of new regional powers like the Seljuks and later the Ayyubids under Saladin, who would ultimately bring the Fatimid Caliphate to an end in 1171.
The midday heat shimmered across the barren plain, rippling like fire above the sand as the Fatimid infantry stood ready, scarves tight against the dust, spears lowered, shields raised.
As the main part of the Sassanid battle line closed in relentlessly on the Fatimids, the Lakhid camels charged home and made good all of their previous mostly disastrous attempts at contributing to the battle, running down the Fatimid foot with alacrity and style.
At a stroke the Fatimids plan was undone - their line not instantly outflanked, their confidence exposed to the harsh desert winds.
The elephants and Dailami in the Sassanid centre were advancing boldly towards the Fatimid spearmen and Al Shearer Pike phalanxes
The Fatimid foot feinted forward in a fury of frenzied alliteration, frightening away the Sassanid skirmish screen spectacularly, and in the process buying time for their own skirmishers to sneak in a few cheeky shots at the Sassanid elephants. But would this be enough?
As the two battle lines clashed, the Lakhmids were starting to flood out through and past the dunes to threaten the left wing of the Fatimid army
Persian Clibanarii surged forward to connect the Elephants to the Arabs in a solid line of combat, hooves thundering, lances levelled as they charged, their armoured forms a silver tide beneath the sun.
Dust rose in columns as the war host surged into combat, with the relatively open formations of the Fatimid mixed bow/spear infantry a too-tempting target for the well armoured Sassanid horsemen to ignore.
The Fatimid line had braced for impact well, and the initial surge of Persians attacks were in the main checked, apart from a scattering of serious-looking yellow 2-hit markers deployed in a tacit recognition that the morale of the almost-medieval Fatimid forces could best be graded using the Anglophone traffic light system developed in the 1920's in Detroit, Michigan.
What's Going on Here Then?
All of the Sassanid army' hitting power is concentrated on the left wing of the Fatimid army, with Elephants, Dailami and Asarvan Clibanarii all outclassing their opponents in hand to hand combat.
As was the case with the Byzantines in Battle 3, the slower moving Fatimid foot who find themselves unengaged are not fast enough to turn the left flank of the Sassanid attack, although I have tossed up a couple of Levy units into their path anyway just to slow down any aspirations they might have to attacking my de-facto let flank anyway
The Lakhmids have started to emerge from the dunes and soak up attention as well - some of the nimble Arab light horsemen are even able to make a dash for the enemy camp while Fatimid commanders are all concentrating on shoring up a fast-collapsing battle line.
As the battle continued, the quality and armour of the Persians began inexorably to tell.
Dailami swords flashed in the aftermath, Cavalry sabres swung in brutal arcs, and the Fatimid infantry, disoriented and bloodied, started to break even as the Lakhmids flooded around their flanks.
Within minutes the Fatimids cries of defiance turned to panic. Some dropped their weapons and ran; others were trampled as they turned too late.
The Egyptian infantry suddenly collapsed crumpled under the weight of Persian momentum, spears snapping like reeds, men hurled backward by the impossibility of fighting off the armoured horsemen and mighty war elephants. Those behind were swept away in the growing rout, too far away to support, too close to flee.
The rout became a massacre as the Fatimids slumped to defeat. Sassanid banners once again flew high, standards snapping in the wind, carried by victors who had once again proven that no fragile line could hold against the weight of steel, thunder, elephants and camels !
Read on for the post match summaries from the Generals involved, as well as another episode of legendary expert analysis from Hannibal
Post Match Summary from the Sassanid Persian Commander
The storm has broken. The sun shines once more upon the throne of Eranshahr, and its radiance is mine!
Let it be shouted from Ctesiphon to the corners of the earth: the Fatimid hosts, with their gold-plated dreams and desert-born arrogance, lie crushed beneath the hooves of my camels and the feet of my elephants!
It was not a battle — it was a demonstration. I saw their hearts before I saw their spears. I knew they would not stand. I struck their center with my elephants and my mountain-souled Dailami, not in hope, but in certainty. Their lines were fragile reeds waiting for wind — and I am the wind!
Now some will mutter that the Lakhmids played a part. That they, of all people, were eager, that they found in the dunes a path unknown. Let this be known: the patch of sand they claimed to ‘discover’ was marked on my map before the battle began. I had already foreseen their movement, measured the grain of each dune, timed the wind that would cover their approach
When the enemy dismissed that ground as impassable, they were playing into my hands. The fools—thinking the desert obeys their fear. They were not the first to be outflanked in arrogance.
Indeed, I predict that many centuries hence, generals in far-off lands — men with names like Rommel or Guderian — will study my manoeuvre here. They too will drive their forces through what others deem impassable, as I did through the dunes of Cranfield, as they shall through the forests of the Ardennes. But remember this: before the tanks, there were camels—and before the Germans, there was Khosrow Dastan.
Let the Lakhmids enjoy their part, of course. Their spears were sharp this day. But do not be mistaken: it was not initiative, it was instruction. It was my will that moved them, as the moon moves the tides
“The Fatimids are broken. Their banners burn. Their army lies scattered like date-pits in the sand. This campaign is ended, and it ends as it must: with my name on every tongue, with my enemies in ruin, and with the empire secure beneath the shadow of my crown.
Now let the scribes write, let the poets sing, let the cowards whisper in awe: this was not a battle won. It was a battle designed.
Hannibal's Post Match Analysis
O Khosrow Dastan, Shah of Stumbles, Sultan of Sandless Strategy, Prince of Predictable Plans
So, you are victorious again. Congratulations. You have finally achieved what even the dullest hammer can manage when swung hard enough: you’ve struck something soft and watched it collapse.
Let us consider this tactical marvel you now trumpet across Persia: you attacked. Straight ahead. With elephants. Into bad infantry. They broke. You won. How magnificent! Tell me, did you also invent the concept of walking upright? Or perhaps the idea that fire is hot?
This was not a plan. This was a shove
You dress it in silk and silver, but at its core it was simple: apply weight to weakness and hope for the best. A fattened goat could have drawn this on a date-stone. And yet you spin tales of genius, as though Caesar himself had whispered the idea into your turban.
Now, the real miracle of the battle—if we may call it that—is not your charge, but the Lakhmids. Behold! After five battles of foot-dragging, excuse-making, and sulking in the dunes, they sprang to life like scorpions in a sandstorm.
And what changed, exactly? Was it your leadership, finally matured? Your persuasive speeches, polished after so many scrolls of self-praise? No, Shah. The battlefield had dunes. Sand. The very ground your camel-riding allies need to be effective.
You had Bedouin cavalry. You had camels. You fought five battles in open plains, rocky ridges, and riverbeds. And only now—now—you choose a dune-filled field?
Is this oversight or sabotage? Were you trying to win, or just hoping the Lakhmids would leave? I must ask, do you pick your battlefields by throwing dates at a map? Or do you simply avoid sand on principle, lest your polished slippers get gritty?
And yet, now that the Lakhmids have contributed, you swiftly claim it was your brilliance. That their flanking move was somehow predicted by your far-seeing mind. That your ‘strategy’ resembles—by your own words, no less—the Wehrmacht’s manoeuvre through the Ardennes! Sir, please. The Germans had tanks. You had camels. The Ardennes had trees. You had dunes. This is not history — it’s hallucination with a gold-embroidered border.
So once again, you bungle your way into victory, and history must suffer your scribes turning farce into epic
I salute your triumph, such as it is. But let it be known: the camels won this battle, not the crown.
You are again blessed with my undying scepticism — I, Hannibal Barca, Master of Real Strategy, Commander of Respectable Victories, And Tireless Archivist of Your Inflated Blunders.
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Game 1 Sassanid Persian vs Maurikian Byzantine
Game 2 Sassanid Persian vs Sassanid Persian
Game 3 Sassanid Persian vs Konstantinian Byzantine
Game 4 Sassanid Persian vs Maurikian Byzantine
Game 5 Sassanid Persian vs Fatimid Egyptian
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