I tried today Tanagra, the smallest scenario of Great battles of history episode 15 : hoplite.
It is a quick phalanx to phalanx battle. Hoplite works as a chit pull, with a momentum chit to be able to re activate a formation. Here each side have only one formation, and the momentum can be used to activate the 2 Athenian light cavalry for Athens, and to roll to take control of them for Sparta. In the scenario book it is said they change side, the last thing I read is that they charge the wrong side in the battle confusion.
Both side ready to fight. The distance and order of the units is free. I made it the closest possible without thinking.
First activation first mistake, the first chit was Athenian momentum, which I rolled and passed the test to activate them… but it is supposed to be Sparta initiative, and the side with initiative choose the first formation to activate. So they should have gone first
Sparta counter marches and engages, everyone holds.
They draw their momentum but fail the roll to take control of the cavalry
Last chit is Athens real activation, they make their last unit reach the combat but have some catastrophic rolls and fail all their phalanx saves.
And that was it… enough for their army to give up.
Once the placement decisions were made, not much choice in game, just heavy armored men running to one another. With the distance I randomly picked between the armies, it gave clearly an advantage to play second. The distance was not enough to reach on first activation. But whatever the speed, the second was closing the distance. They get bonus to die roll for running units and get to choose where to attack. They can go 2 to 1 against the most advanced enemy units wherever possible. Would have been closer if the 2d Athens activation came before the Spartan one.
Anyway one turn. 2 hours : installation, go through the rules, play most steps following slowly on the book. It is a lot lighter than Alexander.