Cantabrian War - First Soldiers of Rome Game

Armies deployed, view from the Cantabrian side

View from the Roman side

Cantabrian left flank

Cantabrian centre

Cantabrian right flank

Roman left flank 

Roman centre

Roman right flank

Yesterday afternoon out in the shed I played a solo first game of Soldiers of Rome. These rules by Warwick Kinrade are similar to his Soldiers of God rules which covers the Crusades.The scenario was the Cantabrian War, a small field battle (two hundred points) of Cantabri, Astures and Gallaeci taking on the Augustan legions. The Romans deployed first as the Cantabrians had higher initiative. Each side has three battle plan cards which are reused and four random deck cards which are played and then discarded per turn. Cards can be used for actions, events, pass and discard, hold or trade in. Shooting and combat is decided by dice with disorder inflicted for every hit unless a resolve test is passed. At the end of a turn units with more disorder than stands rout and are removed and army morale adjusted. Once this is reduced to zero the game is over.

I found the pace of the game slow, partly because of the movement and partly lack of familiarity with rules, uses of the cards and unit stats. I used the suggested 28mm ground scale of one pace equals one inch but for future games would increase this as legionaries in close order only moved three inches a turn. Skirmishers don't seem to be able to evade in the rules but have some specific cards, Skirmishers Move, Advance, Loose and Retire and Charge, Melee, Retire to use if you have them. After playing many turns both sides morale was reduced but a result was still a long way off. The Romans seemed unstoppable in combat, unless they were caught in difficult terrain or with a flank or rear charge. The rules are well organised with a handy index, beautiful photos and interesting army lists, stratagems and scenarios. I'd like to try the Siege Assault scenario with a Roman attack on a hill fort at some stage.

Roman left flank advances with a Echelon Left Attack battle plan

Roman cards turn two - battle plan cards below, random deck cards above

Cantabrian cards turn two

Cantabrian light cavalry charge the Gallic auxiliary cavalry

Gallic cavalry rout with more disorder than stands at the end of the turn

Cantabrian light cavalry withdraw

They are thrown in to disarray and open order but rally

Cantabrian medium cavalry charge Roman skirmishers

The Romans grind relentlessly forward