Second Bedriacum/Cremona Strength and Honour Game

 

Vitellian and Flavian legions deployed with
the Via Postumia in the centre of the table

Opposite side of the table

Opposing legions fight beside the
embankment of the Via Postumia

Vitellian auxiliary cavalry optimistically advance

Last Wednesday night I went over to Rick's place and we played a 2mm Strength and Honour game of Second Bedriacum/Cremona. We diced for sides, Rick and Gary commanded the Flavian forces led by Marcus Antonius Primus. I commanded the Vitellian forces who were leaderless as their general Aulus Caecina Alienus had been arrested for plotting to defect to Vespasian. The two sides had similar armies with the Vitellians possessing a slight advantage with an extra legion and breaking on 18 points, instead of 17. We both rolled well on the auguries and had four points each. The battle was fought at night and there are a number of special rules in the scenario to emphasise the chaos of night time combat.

It certainly was chaotic and from the start of the game the Vitellians were unable to take a trick. In most combats they rolled a one or two and when a four, an advance, (the best result) was rolled it was immediately cancelled. Both units of Vitellian cavalry were pushed back off the table resulting in disaster cards and the set back cards steadily mounted through out the game. No surprises then when in turn six the Flavians called Homunculus Est and the Vitellians were broken on twenty points. It was a frustrating game for the Vitellians but it was good to get the troops out, use the terrain I'd made and play the scenario with an historical result.

A Vitellian legion has the advantage of two supports

But no result!

Chaotic night time combat

Vitellian legions break

2mm Roman Cavalry Bases

 

Here are some 2mm Roman cavalry bases that I've finally finished painting. Figures are by Antonine Miniatures. I still have four skirmisher bases and a marching camp to finish for the army. We have a 2mm Strength and Honour game lined up for next week, the scenario is Second Bedriacium/Cremona. I'm still working on terrain for the game but will post photos and a report of it shortly.

A command base, eight bases of legions,
five auxilia and two cavalry bases.

Another Roman Civil War Strength and Honour Game

 

Armies deployed

Rick's What a Cowboy table

Side view of the deployment

My right flank is all over the place

My left flank is stranded with a Reversal of Fortune

One of my centre legions is
disordered and retiring, soon to rout!

Back on the right flank

My left flank makes some oblique advances

Last Wednesday evening I went over to Rick's place to play another Strength and Honour, Roman civil war game, this time with our 2mm forces that we have painted to date. Rick and Gary commanded one side and I commanded the other. Both sides had 10 units, 102 points and an army break point of 19. We deployed in a long line and Rick and Gary were the attackers. My right flank was soon all over the place and the left flank was then stranded with a quick Reversal of Fortune change over. The first combat of the game saw one of my legions in the centre retiring and disordered which turned to rout in the next turn.

After a bad start I managed to turn things around with some lucky dice rolling and got my left flank, centre and right flank back in some sort of order and started to get some pushbacks happening in combat. I made an early Homunculus Est call and Rick and Gary's Romans passed but the army was fatigued. Soon both sides were fatigued, the game was going to be decided in the centre. In the end I had a number of units here disordered, on the verge of routing, but was able to break their army before mine broke. Thanks to Rick and Gary, it was a really fun and close game.

Support helps on the right

Left flank is finally back in line

The centre will decide the game

Rick and Gary's Romans are fatigued

More action in the centre

Break point is almost reached

Auxilia on the left finally see some action

Ad Castores Strength and Honour Game

 

 Otho's forces on the right, Vitellius' on the left

Vitellius' forces advance around Castores,
the road side shrine to Castor and Pollux

Otho's auxilia alae and Praetorian cohorts advance

Otho's right flank

Vitellius' auxilia on the right are disordered and retreating

Otho's auxilia alae advance on the right flank

Last Thursday afternoon Rick, Garry and Craig came over to my place and we played a 28mm Strength and Honour game, the Battle of Ad Castores 5 April 69 AD, out in the shed. We diced for sides as the Otho's forces had a distinct advantage in numbers and the quality of troops. Garry and I commanded Otho's forces, while Rick and Craig commanded Vitellius' forces, it was a tough scenario for them, they were up against it from the start. Both sides rolled three command points on the auguries table. Below is the scenario that I came up with for the game.

Ad Castores 5 April 69 AD - Strength & Honour Scenario

 

Sources

Tacitus Histories 2.24-26 Translated by Kenneth Wellsesley pp.96-97, Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1964.

Michael Lane, The Roman Empire Order of Battle for the Civil Wars 68-70 AD, Society of Ancients, 2001, pp.24-25.

Otho’s Forces 

Commanders -Suetonius Paulinius (infantry), Publius Marius Celsus (cavalry)

3 Command Points, 1 Generalship Point, Army Break Point 18

Vitellius’ Forces 

Commander - Caecina

3 Command Points, 1 Generalship Point, Army Break Point 15

 

Unit	Mov	Comb	Man	Disc	Character	Points
OTHO
Auxilia Alae	D6 +2	4	2+	7	Cavalry	9
2 Auxilia Cohorts	D6	3	3+	6	Drilled	7
5 Raw Cohorts Legio I Adiutrix	D6	3	4+	7	Battle Trained	6
5 Raw Cohorts Legio I Adiutrix	D6	3	4+	7	Battle Trained	6
2 Praetorian Equites Alae (Reserve)	D6 +2	4	2+	6	Cavalry	12
3 Cohorts of Praetorians	D6	5	2+	5	Battle Trained, Drilled, Stubborn	13
4 Raw Cohorts Legio XIII Gemina	D6	3	4+	7	Battle Trained	6
4 Auxilia Cohorts	D6	3	3+	6	Drilled	7
Auxilia Alae	D6 +2	4	2+	7	Cavalry	6
					TOTAL	72
VITELLIUS
Auxilia Alae	D6 +2	4	2+	7	Cavalry	9
Auxilia Alae	D6 +2	4	2+	7	Cavalry	9
3 Cohorts Veteran Batavian Auxilia	D6	4	2+	6	Drilled	9
3 Cohorts Veteran Auxilia	D6	4	2+	6	Drilled	9
3 Cohorts Auxilia	D6	4	3+	6	Drilled	6
3 Cohorts Auxilia	D6	4	3+	6	Drilled	6
4 Cohorts Auxilia	D6	4	3+	6	Drilled	6
					TOTAL	54

We were a bit rusty with the rules, it was Craig's first game and only Rick had played S&H recently with the Bibracte scenario at the Too Fat Lardies event at Cancon. After a faltering start, with some quick reversal of fortune change overs, Otho's forces got a roll on. Despite some strong resistance from Vitellius's forces, including a very successful flank charge on Otho's auxiliary cavalry, the set back and disaster cards slowly but surely mounted. In the end Vitellius' forces were well and truly broken with 22 army break points, breaking on 15. 

Praetorian and Legio XIII Gemina cohorts charge in to combat

Auxilia alae in combat on Otho's right flank

Vitellius' forces are hard pressed

 Vitellius' auxilia alae charge Otho's alae in the flank

Vitellius' forces are well and truly broken