Mount Tifata 83 BC - Strength and Honour Game

 

Sulla's army deployed, on the wrong table side!

Norbanus' Marian army deployed along the Via Apia 

Sulla's forces advance

A veteran legion attacks

Sulla's cavalry attack on the right flank

Last Sunday Gary, Rob, Rick and I met down at the Vikings Club in Lanyon for the monthly meeting of the Canberra Regional Wargame Group. We played a Roman Civil War game of Strength and Honour with our 2mm armies. The scenario was Mount Tifata 83 BC and this is the first of three battles, in a mini campaign for Sulla's second civil war, by Mark Backhouse in Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy 142 magazine. Apparently there's a Medieval version of the rules being play-tested, Chivalry and Honour, and there are some really impressive 3mm 3D printed armies around.

We stuffed up the deployment and set up on the wrong side of the table, by the time we realised both sides had fully deployed, we continued with the game regardless. The 2mm bases of figures are a bit of an acquired taste and a lot of gamers seem to really dislike them, but there are lots of practical advantages with this and other small scales. The Strength and Honour rules are also an excellent set for refighting historical scenarios and deserve to be more widely played. Our game turned out to be very one-sided. Sulla was killed early in the game and the setback and disaster cards quickly mounted. Sulla's army became fatigued and on a second Homunculus Est call they were well and truly broken with 27 points on an army break of 18!

Maintaining a line is often hard to do with
all the push backs in combat

Sulla is killed early in the game,
the setback and disaster cards mount 

Marian cavalry flank charge a legion,
Sulla's army is fatigued

Sulla's army is well and truly broken
with 27 points and an army break of 18!

Parthians versus Late Republican Romans - Age of Caesars Saga Game

 

Parthians deployed

Romans deployed

Forces advance

Roman cavalry shoot at the Parthian cataphracts

Last Friday afternoon Craig came over and we played an Age of Caesars Saga game out in the shed.  My Parthians fighting Craig's Late Republican Romans, six points with the usual Clash of Warlords scenario. I seem to average a Saga game about once every two years, usually when there is a new supplement out. The Romans were the attackers and the two forces advanced to within shooting range. The Roman cavalry shot at the Parthian cataphracts then withdrew repeating this again in a later turn. 

The Roman ballista shooting was effective while the Parthian horse archer shooting was not. A Cataphract charge against a unit of legionaries on the left flank forced them to retreat and on the right flank the Cataphracts managed to destroy the Roman cavalry. The Cataphracts, worn down by shooting and combat, were destroyed. The Romans easily won the game when a legionary unit launched a Pilum attack to destroy a unit of horse archers, who were unable to evade like they would have historically. 

The Age of Caesars is a really attractive supplement with great photos and illustrations. It includes faction rules and battle boards for Caesar's Legions, the Parthians, Imperial Romans, Spartacus Slave Revolt, Germans, Dacians, Sarmatians and Palmyrans. As well as additional rules for Gauls, Britons and mercenaries, so plenty of new and old factions for the Saga enthusiast to game with.

Cataphracts charge the legionaries

Roman cavalry shoot again

Cataphracts are worn down, Romans win easily

Late Republican Roman Civil War ADLG Game

 

Armies deployed

Opposite end

Armies advance

Gallic cavalry take a hit from slingers

Centre and right flank close

Last Monday afternoon Craig came over and we played another ADLG Roman civil war game out in the shed. This time both sides were Late Republican Romans, I was the attacker and Craig the defender. I chose as many legionary units as I could, two scorpions (light artillery), two eastern bowmen and slingers with Gallic and German cavalry on each flank supported by a unit of light cavalry. Craig's army consisted of legionaries, gladiators (heavy swordsmen), Thracians (medium swordsmen 2HW) slingers and all of his cavalry, including quite a few Spanish light cavalry, were deployed in one corps on his right flank.

Our armies advanced and my cavalry charged on both flanks. On the right my Gallic cavalry tried to chase some slingers down, while on the left my German cavalry quickly accounted for the Spanish light cavalry and then moved on to Craig's heavy cavalry. Once the infantry closed the usual legionary slogging match ensued. I was very lucky with my dice initially, throwing quite a few fives (we use average dice for combat in our games), even destroying the disordered Thracians in combat with my bowmen. In the end Craig's legionaries just managed to survive in the centre and on his left flank but my greater number of legionaries had won the day. Craig's army was on the verge of breaking and he conceded the game.

German cavalry line up a charge on the left flank

German cavalry charge

Combat along the line

Opposite end with casualties mounting

Late Republican Roman versus Mithridatic Pontic ADLG Game

 

View of the table from the Pontic side

Side view

Roman attackers advance

Light cavalry skirmish on the Pontic right flank

Roman centre with fortified camp

Pontic left flank

Last Friday afternoon Craig and Garry came over and we played a Late Republican Roman versus Mithridatic Pontic ADLG game out in the shed. The Pontic right flank was in trouble early in the game and the situation only deteriorated from there. The Pontic left flank was more successful and managed to survive and even win several messy combats with their cataphracts. In the centre the Roman legionaries gradually ground down the Pontic imitation legionaries and Galatians. It was a straightforward and convincing victory for the Romans once the Pontic left flank and centre were destroyed.

Light cavalry combat

Centre closes

Pontic right flank already under pressure

Pontic left flank is looking better

Pontic centre has gaps

Messy combat on the Pontic left

Ruspina 46 BC - Command and Colors Ancients Game

 

Initial deployment from the Roman side

Initial deployment from the Numidian side

Numidian cavalry advance

Romans advance in the centre

Numidians play a mounted charge card

Romans advance on their left

Labienus attacks with his cavalry in the centre

Last Sunday afternoon I played a solo Command and Colors Ancients game out in the shed. The scenario was Ruspina 46 BC with Julius Caesar's foraging party fighting a Numidian army commanded by his former lieutenant Labienus. I used Roman cavalry for Labienus' Gallic and German cavalry and for Caesar's cavalry as I thought they may well have been armed with Roman equipment. I was a bit short of painted Numidian javelinmen so I used Libyan javelinmen instead. Labienus' Numidians have five command cards and move first while Caesar's Romans have six command cards but are heavily outnumbered.

This proved to be quite an absorbing and close game. The unknown author of the African War describes the battle:

Caesar was confronted with a new type of battle tactics. He realized that his men's ranks were thrown into disorder whenever they made a charge: when his infantry ran forward too far from their standards in pursuing the enemy cavalry, they exposed their unprotected side and were wounded by the javelins thrown by nearby Numidians. By contrast, the enemy horsemen with their speed easily avoided the soldiers' throwing-spears. So Caesar sent an order through the ranks that no soldier was to move more than four feet ahead of his standard. Meanwhile, Labienus' cavalry, relying on their large numbers, were trying to surround Caesar's small force. As a result, the few Julian cavalry-worn out by the enemy's huge numbers, and their horses covered with wounds-started to give ground little by little while the enemy pursued harder and harder. So, in just a moment, all the legionnaires were surrounded by the enemy's cavalry, and Caesar's forces were driven into a ring formation. Penned up in this way, they were all forced to fight in a very confined space.

The Landmark Julius Caesar The Complete Works, African War 13.15, edited and translated by Kurt A Raaflaub, p.553. Anchor Books, New York, 2019.

In my game the Romans were hampered by rubbish cards and at one stage had three right sector cards and a mounted charge card, none of which they were able to use! The Numidians were able to wear the Romans down by shooting and Labienus' cavalry were able to finish off the job. The Romans counter attacked and destroyed some Numidian cavalry, killing their leader Petreius. The Numidians attacked on their left flank and also targeted the lone Roman light infantry bow unit. The Roman archers were able to evade and survive for a time but eventually ran out of space and were forced to retreat off the board and were destroyed as a result. It was a hard fought win for Labienus' Numidians, 5-4 victory banners.

Romans have rubbish cards!

Labienus' cavalry destroy legionary
cohorts in the centre

Labienus' cavalry destroy legionary 
cohorts on the Roman left flank

Romans destroy Numidian cavalry,
killing their leader Petreius

Numidians attack on their left flank

Roman light bow infantry are their other target

They evade successfully but are running out of space

Roman light bow infantry retreat of the board and are destroyed,
Numidians win a hard fought game 5-4 victory banners