Huns versus Foederate Romans Pacto MeG Game

 

Romans are out scouted and deploy first

Opposite end

Romans and Hun cavalry advance

Horse archers shoot on the Roman left flank

Last Thursday afternoon Robert, Garry and Craig came over to my place and we played a MeG Pacto game out in the shed, with the Huns taking on the Foederate Romans. We diced for sides. I commanded the Romans, while Garry commanded the Huns. Robert generously offered to advise and talk us through the latest changes made to the Pacto version of the rules. This was really handy as we both haven’t played a game since last year. Craig watched the game, providing moral support, as well as some fresh duck and chicken eggs straight from his farm. Andrew also dropped in and said hello and had a quick chat.

The Roman cavalry advanced and then charged on both the flanks, while the infantry advanced in the centre. The Hun cavalry fell back shooting, their Frank and Burgundian infantry movements were limited by a mediocre commander and poor command discs. The Roman left flank was quickly whittled away by the Huns’ shooting, combat and a flank charge. The Roman right flank had slightly more success but overall the Romans were toast and while they hadn’t reach break point it was only a matter of time before further flank charges achieved this.

Roman cavalry charge

Cavalry combat with Hun horse
archers threatening the flank

Roman left flank is whittled down

Romans are toast

Lion Rampant 2nd Edition - Late Romans versus Huns Game

 

Huns and Goth infantry deployed in the SW corner

Late Roman infantry deployed in the NW corner

The race is on

Late Roman cavalry are in charge range

Late Roman cavalry retreat after charging

On Monday Craig came over and we played another Lion Rampant 2nd Edition game out in the shed. Craig was the attacker with his Late Romans and I was the defender with my Huns. The scenario was a Gentle Stroll with the defenders, on a forced march, aiming to exit the opposite table corner with at least half of their war band's total points value. I rolled a 12 for the leader's skills and had a great commander,  so the leader's unit automatically passed every activation. Very handy, possibly Attila himself, had joined the warband!

The Romans moved first and the race was on. The Romans after a couple of turns were able to charge a Hun heavy cavalry unit who countercharged and were able to beat off successive attacks before succumbing to their wounds. The Romans failed several movement and charge activations but tried again attacking with light infantry this time. Two attacks were beaten off by the Hun leader's unit and another failed Roman charge activation allowed them to escape. The Goth infantry were the sacrificial lambs in the game allowing the faster Hun cavalry to escape.

Roman cavalry charge again

Will the Huns escape?

The net is closing

Huns escape!

Lion Rampant Second Edition - Late Romans vs Sassanids

 

Warband champions fight a duel

Warbands advance

Late Roman light cavalry with javelins

Late Roman heavy cavalry

Late Roman light infantry with javelins

Light infantry with javelins, heavy cavalry and archers

Sassanid elite  cavalry

Sassanid heavy cavalry with bows

On Monday Craig came over to my place and we played another Lion Rampant Second Edition game out in the shed. This time it was his Late Romans versus my Sassanids and we played Scenario 2: Gladiators Ready! which is a variant on the usual Bloodbath scenario. After deployment each player chooses a champion from the Leader’s unit and they fight a duel rolling six dice each. The two sides gains bonus dice for combat or shooting for every hit scored. The Romans killed the Sassanid champion and gained two bonus dice and the Sassanids gained one.

Combat quickly developed in the centre as the Sassanid elite cavalry all have Wild Charge but the results were mixed. The Romans had three units armed with javelins and were able to whittle away at the Sassanid cavalry wearing them down. Once the cavalry units were down to half strength the Sassanids were done for. A better mixed Sassanid force with more fire power would have been handy. Next time I’ll try a single unit of elite cavalry (cataphracts), two units of heavy cavalry with bow, a unit of light infantry with javelins and a unit of archers.

Sassanid light infantry and archers

Sassanid elite cavalry

Sassanid elite cavalry threaten the Roman centre

Mixed results from combat

Sassanid elite cavalry are battered and at half strength

Sassanid heavy cavalry are in strife and at half strength

Sassanids are done for

Romans win, five warbands remain on the table

Galatians versus Late Romans Mortem et Gloriam Game

 

Late Romans left and Galatians right deployed

Forces advance

Roman equites sagittarii get some shooting practice

Last Wednesday afternoon Garry came over to my place and we played another MeG Pacto practice game for the Classical comp at Third Con this month, with my Galatians and Late Romans. The Roman list was more Middle Imperial, 3rd century, than Late Roman. I was the defender and outscouted by 100% so had to deploy my entire force first. Garry hadn't used the Late Romans before and opted for three not four commanders, so his command discs options were a bit limited at times, during the game. 

The forces advanced slowly at half normal movement for Pacto and cavalry combat on both flanks saw the Romans eventually break two Galatian units to one Roman. Fortunately for the Galatians, their impetuous feared warriors charged in and made short work of the Roman legionaries/auxilia, but I forgot to take photos! A series of bad Kill a Base tests, a type of morale test in MeG, saw the Roman commands in the centre and on their left flank collapse. Some lucky dice rolling saw the Galatians win easily 15-5.

Galatian chariots break

Cavalry combat on Galatian right flank

Late Romans break 15-5 Galatian victory 

Sassanids versus Late Romans Saga Game

 

Late Romans left, Sassanids right

Sassanids advance

Sassanid shooting proves effective

Late Roman hearthguards

Late Roman warlord and warriors

Late Roman cataphracts

Last Saturday afternoon I drove over to Craig's new country estate in Wamboin, for a game of Saga. I haven't played a game for about a year but did pick up the Age of Invasions supplement when it came out last year and was keen to give my Sassanids a run. We played a standard six point game with the usual Clash of the Warlords scenario. 

The game started well for the Sassanids, a handy combination of Volley Fire, Ahriman's Curse and a Shadow in the East on the battle board made for some effective shooting. Further casualties and fatigue mounted with an attack on the Sassanid elephant and mounted warriors. The Sassanid cataphracts attacked on the flanks but a Late Roman counterattack was successful. The final turn of the game saw the Sassanids pull back to avoid further losses. In the end it was a 21-16 result for the Sassanids.

Side view of the Sassanid force

Casualties and fatigue mount

Sassanids cataphracts attack on the flanks

Late Romans counterattack with success

Final turn - Sassanids pull back to avoid further losses