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Hi Companions -Just watched BBC television show "Time Commanders", a computer re-enactment of Gaugamela 331 BC on the 8th of December 2003. A team of four volunteers played Alexander, while the computer commanded Darius' forces.Well, Alexander's team won. Not because the modern volunteers had such a good battle plan, but obviously because the Macedonian arms showed much more flexibility than the Persian masses. More opportunities to adjust during the engagement.However, it was very funny.Alexander died (!!!) roughly halfway during the engagement. As his Companion cavalry dived into Persian lines, the modern volunteers failed to send enough back-up. The king of the world was isolated and killed.The Macs did not flee, but reassembled their ranks and launched a second wave of attacks. This time Darius died. Then the computer ordered the entire mass of Persians to rout. Game over.Nice outcome. I wonder what would ever had happened if indeed both Alexander and Darius died together at Gaugamela. Fascinating thought, isn't it?I didn't like the BBC's final reconstruction of Gaugamela. This was meant as an "how it really happened". It included Alexander's shift to assist Parmenion. It also included a premature flight of Darius, even earlier than our sources suggest.Regards -
Nick

I thought it was odd they assumed completely the Macedonians would have fought on after Alexander was killed, and I don't know how likely this would be. Would they, as they were in a foreign land? Or would it have been because they were "professional", as the programme implied.Also, the presenters got very excited at the orgies held after the victory. I must have missed that bit.Linda

Hi Linda,I seem to recall Alexander once saying that if he fell in battle the macedonians would be poorer by one man, whilst if Darius fell it would be like a head being severed from it's body (something like that anyway!).I think the Macedonians would have held it together, especially if ole Parmenion was still alive. As for the Persians; well they ran when Darius did so it's a safe bet they would have run faster if he were dead!regards,Kit

Hey Nick,Have you paid you're license fee to get BBC!!!?regards,Kit.

BBC is for 'free' on cable television here in Holland.

HiUnfortunately I missed the programme. It sounds a hoot. I'm surprised the BBC didn't have a couple of ladies in the background telling everyone what dreadful clothes they were wearing, and another suggesting how the room could be better decorated. Oh, and Jamie Oliver cooking dinner.Chris

Are you sure you haven't seen it? I'm pretty sure Trinny and Susannah *are* there in the background, and as for Jamie...

Hi comrades how are you all today, the comments about the programe are good, but can any one tell me where dariuses 200 scythed chariots were, and Darius was actually in the royal chariot.If the chariots were there maybe the contestants would have been a little more afraid.It just shows the bravery of Alexander and his Macedonians were, the shear numbers intimidated the contestants and they were only playig and the didnt have to deal with the chariots, which was also a masterly tactic and inovation of ATG.I believe had ATG died the troops would have lost heart they were afraid to come back from India without him, its oftoen said ! man dont make an army but in this case it did.Those troops loved and needed ATG, it is evident by the amount of success they didnt have following his murder.They loved him because he was one of them and led from the front, he never expected of his troops what he wouldnt do himself.The idea of time commanders would be good if some of us Alexander Followers could challenge the experts as Caesar or Hannibal even Ghengis Khan and see how we would do against them with ATG army.Its as close as we would ever get to testing him against Rome, Carthage,Monguls even the Hunn.None of us would measure up to ATG but I think we would do him proud against the Experts what do you think guys.The only problem would be, we would all want to be Alexander.Chears GuysAlexes Desciple

Hi Disciple,Yes, I had totally forgotten that point. The chariots were not there. Probably no computer graphics available. But what a shame! In Persian style they we used as an instrument to inspire fear, rather than as a genuine battle force.And the elephants!I recall Darius had about fiftheen. Though there is no account of the use of elephants in the progress of battle, they should have been mentioned or have been visible at least!Regards -Nick

The problem is, without the chariots the battle of Gaugamela isn't the battle of Gaugamela. So it was really quite a pointless exercise, by the sound of it.It is a battle that I think is extremely difficult to simulate, anyway. I have a computer game of Alexander's battles - it has a number of faults, which they improved when they did the follow ups on Hannibal and then Caesar, but basically Gaugamela is all but unwinnable (which, on the face of it, the real battle was). I have succeeded once, but only by the skin of my teeth.All the bestMarcus

Hi Marcus,If that game is the 'Great Battles of Alexander' then I have it too, and you are showing your age!The Time Commanders program is based on the 'Total War:Rome' game due to be released next year on the PC. Hopefully it will either include from the outset, or by a later expansion pack, Alexander's battles. The Total War games are very good, I've got them all, and I look forward to an Alexander option. I have one or two ideas to improve on Alexander's performance (only kidding!!!).regards,Kit.

GÇ£The only problem would be, we would all want to be AlexanderGÇ¥Very true. We would probably end up cutting our throats out like the Diadochi (I want to be Ptolemy Soter!;-)
RegardsAlejandro

Hi Marcus, hi Kit -Men are just boys who never grow up. Well, I am talking about myself here. Ian Mont still has a nice great battles-support site.Marcus, do you think Gaugamela unwinnable in the game? I am still in possession on the best win-score ever on this scenario: 288 to nil win for Alexander! See:http://www.ianm.clara.net/html/body_alexander.htmlMy strategy in the game was totally different from the real thing. Alexander moves his entire right wing cavalry behind the phalanx line to Parmenion's side. So Bessus' cataphracts have no direct opponent and have to face the phalanx and the hypaspists - an impenetrable wall. Meanwhile, the combined cavalry forces of both Parmenion and Alexander destroy the entire Persian right wing. It worked out brilliantly.I am also very happy with the five Diadochi scenario's I have created:http://www.ianm.clara.net/html/body_dia ... ames.htmlI like the Ipsus 301 BC scenario. 200,000 combatants in the field. Massive herds of elephants.The victory of Darius I over the Indians in 518 BC is probably still the most creative scenario I ever came up with. Challenging gameplay.http://www.ianm.clara.net/html/body_dar ... y.htmlWell, sorry to annoy you. Just boys talk.Regards -
Nick

Hi Nick,That is an impressive score indeed! I think my trouble is that I've always tried to play it as Alexander played it - just to see if it can be done. The only time I won it resulted in such a Pyrrhic victory that, had it been the real battle, I would have marched into Babylon with little more than a gang of mates! :-)I shall have to try it at some point using different tactics, and see what happens. (To Kit: Yes, it is the "Great Battles" game, as you might have guessed - couldn't be bothered to write two responses where one would do!)All the bestMarcus

Hi Marcus -Thank you for the interest.But: wasn't it Alexander's style NOT to do it like is supposed to be done?If Alexander played a computer game, he would have found a way to beat the game, not the opponent. Isn't that true?So, trying to win a computer simulation by copying Alexander's style of warfare can not be the Alexandrian answer. Look for new possibilities, focus on the rules of gameplay, try to find a way around them, try to let them work to your advantage. But never exclusively focus on your opponent.Best regards -
Nick