Silarus River 71 BC - Strength and Honour Game

 

Crassus' legions and Spartacus' slave revolt army deployed

View from the Roman left flank

The legions and slave revolt army advance

A raw legion with skirmish and reserve line support
attacks a cavalry unit

A raw legion on the right becomes disordered
and loses their skirmish support

Last Wednesday evening I went over to Rick's place and we played a Strength and Honour game. The scenario was Silarus River 71 BC, Spartacus' last stand against Crassus' legions. Gary and Rick commanded Spartacus' slave revolt army and I commanded Crassus' legions. This was another really fun, close Strength and Honour game, a perfect way to start the New Year! Quite a few of slave revolt units had Warband and Battle Trained, Characteristics which made combat interesting with the raw legion units. To boster these I deployed them with supporting skirmish lines and Gary did the same with his untrained slave units.

Both sides advanced and before long the Roman right flank was under pressure. A miraculous rally saw the Romans recover on the right and Crassus' veteran legion was able to exploit a weakness in Spartacus' untrained slave units who became disordered and then routed. Two opposing supporting skirmish lines on the Roman right survived multiple combats, while on the left two cavalry units were at it for most of the game. As the setback and disaster cards mounted I made an early Homunculus Est call and Spartacus' forces were fatigued and then broke a couple of turns later.

The raw legion are now retiring and disordered,
the Roman right flank is under pressure!

The Romans rally and another raw legion
attacks a Trained slave unit

Crassus' Veteran Legion push back Untrained slaves
who become disordered and then rout

Skirmish lines on the right survive multiple combats 

Spartacus' army becomes fatigued and then break

Battle of Carrhae 53 BC - Command and Colors Ancients Game

 

Parthians have the Romans deployed in a hollow square

View from the opposite end

Romans attack on their right flank

Surena's camel supply train

Roman right flank

Parthians attack on their right flank

On Friday afternoon I played a solo Command and Colors Ancients game out in the shed. I'd just received my new Command & Colors Medieval mat with 11 x 13 five inch hexes from Deep Cut Studio, so I was quite keen to try it out in a game. The scenario was the Battle of Carrhae with Crassus taking on the Parthians under Surena.

The Romans deployed in a hollow square and had five command cards to the Parthians' six. I used the Parthian shot rule for light bow cavalry from the Command & Colors Medieval game but reduced it to one dice rather than two when evading. This turned out to be quite a hard fought and close game with the Romans giving a good account of themselves. In the end the Parthians won 7-5 victory points.

Action on the Roman right flank

Parthian cataphracts charge

Parthians momentum advance against allied Roman cavalry

Parthian right flank 

Romans lose 7-5 victory points

Roman left flank and rear in tact