A very Pyrrhic War - Securing the Ofanto

Securing the Ofanto
The year was 278 BC, Pyrrhus' army had, the year beore, defeated the roman army at Asculum and now he was heading south. But a roman army under the command of Publius Fabius had positioned itself on the south bank of the river Ofanto standing directly in between Asculum and Taranto and the romans knew that soon Pyrrhus would have to cross by way of the single brdge or ford. Pyrrhus dispatched a small army led by the Samnite king and Hermotenes (also called Hector) of Corinth to break the roman army defending it reasoning that if his men were better than the romans they could shorly break through the bridge or ford.

Pyrrhics

• Hermotenes of Corinth (special character)
• Samnite king (barbarian warlord)
• Dionysus the Honest of Syracause (Roman senior commander)
• Bruttian heir (barbarian chieftain)
• 16 Tarentine hoplites (spartan hoplites)
• 16 Tarentine hoplites (spartan hoplites)
• 14 Samnite hoplites (spartan hoplites)
• 14 Scythian mercenarys (hun horse archers without spears)
• 7 Cataphracts (samnite cavalry)
• 13 Thessalian cavalry (armoured hun horse archers)
• 10 Epiroite peltasts (persian immortals without spears)

Roman army

• Publius fabius (Roman senior commander)
• Augustus Vespasian (Roman junior commander)
• 11 Triarii (Legionnaries)
• 11 Triarii (Legionnaries)
• 9 Triarii (Legionnaries)
• 12 Hastati (un armoured raw recruits)
• 10 Hastati (un armoured raw recruits)
• 10 Hastati (un armoured raw recruits)
• 11 Princepes (drilled raw recruits)
• 9 princepes (drilled raw recruits)
• 9 princepes (drilled raw recruits)
• 12 Velites (legion light infantry)
• 10 Velites (legion light infantry)
• 8 Velites (legion light infantry)
• 16 Equites (Illyrians)
• 18 Po valley celtic cav (celtic cav)
• 48 Po valley celts (celtic warriors)

The Romans to the south (left) and the Pyrrhics to the north (right)

The Roman army deployed their infantry in front of the bridge with the front ranks being made up of Velites and with a flanking force of 48 celtic warriors. Fabius and the cavalry deployed in front of the ford hoping to strike across the river before the pyrrhics did.

The pyrrhics adopted practically the same deployment, their 15 by 4 man Phalanx forming a wall infront of the bridge with peltasts on the flank. Their much stronger cavalry deployed towards the ford preparing to charge across supported by flanking fire from the horse archers.

The game started with the Samnite king and his samnite and Thessalian horsemen charging straight for the ford, Fabius seemed to have had the same idea and his cavalry struck for it as well. allot slower the great blocks of infantry made for the bridge with the hoplites making better ground due to the roman Velites holding back the majority of the roman infantry from marching.

By the next turn the first Blood was spilled as the Samnite king lead his cavalry in a charge across the ford, into Fabius' cavalry who were all killed to a man (including the right honurable Fabius) and straight into the celtic cavalry who turned and bolted. The Pyrrhics had their first men over the river! Over in the east the Pyrrhics started marching their Hoplites across the river, but instead of being charged by the Roman infantry the Roman Velites came to a halt holding the rest of the infantry back and began to plet the Hoplites with javeins and rocks, but they had no effect on the phalanxes.

The Pyrrhics took their oppurtunity and with the Ofanto crossed they charged into the midst of the Roman army like wolves in a flock of sheep. Dionysus charged his Phalanx towards some of the Velites who fled causing panic through the back ranks, skillfully Dionysus managed to redirect his phalanx in mid charge towards some other velites and soon the entire centre of the roman battle lin was in flight and the Tarentines were only stopped from single handedly routing the enemy by a firm unit of Triarii, whom they engaged with. Over in the west the cavalry met with just as much success and they sent a unit of Hastatii running along with the celtic cavalry. When the dust settled we could see that half of the Roman army was running away and with their army general dead it would be hard to rally them.

Dionysus storms across the Ofanto, smashing apart the roman Centre

The Pyrrhics continued to take full advantage of the fleeing Romans cutting down all but one of the units of lone standing Triarii with minot casualties of but 3 men, however it was not all fun and games for the pyrrhics and one of their very powerful (and expensive) Phalanxes was cut down as it fled from Vespasian's Princepes.

Seeing how Vespasian had so easily cut down the Hoplites the Romans start to rally and even manage to force some of the Thessalian cavalry to flee for the ford. However Hermotenes took the initiative and charged his Samnites into Vespasian's flank and he fled (what an example!). The scythian mercenary's took this moment to cross the river by the bridge, leaving just the lone Peltast (all his comrades had been killed in the missile duel that had been going on with the celts) to defend the north bank

Vespasian rallied but to the rear of his army. The allied cavalry stormed off south sending the Princepes scatterling and thundering into the Velites. growing bord with the Peltasts the Po valley celts turned their missile fire on the Samnites taking out their back rank.

The allied cavalry continued their thunderous charge south getting further and further away from the river, sending the Velites fleeing and clashing with the Celtic cavalry. Hermotenes and his much depleted unit of Sanites took action and the five of the charged into all 42 Celts.

In an amazing turn of events Hermotenes sent the celts fleeing and cut them all down as they ran, the celtic horse was also annihilated and both Phalanxes moved south. Taking the initiative Vespasian dived towards the undefended bridge and sent the Scythians bolting north as he captured the bridge.

It was quick work for the Pyrrhics to finnish off the Romans and the only unit (in the entire battle) to survive was some four or five Velites who fled the field.

The final stand of Vespasian was a dramatic moment as Hermotenes and Dionysus with their hoplites surrounding him ordered his surrender, but instead he drew his sword and lept into battle souting "Death or Glory" after this he was promptley cut down and his head mounted on the tusk of one of Pyrrhus' elephants.

Now Pyrrhus' army was free to head south and onwards to Sicilly

Game review: As Owen called it "The closest run thing you ever saw!". We've come to the conclusion (after many years) that we are equal opponents, we've fought many battles and defeated may opponents together but the battles we fight always end with annihilation and with one of us having only a handfull of men left, "very bloody afairs" as we've now termed them.

Historic review: With the Ofanto crossed Pyrrhus could continue his march and it would be hard work for the Romans to block him again. with stories of rome's defeat flying all over italy and beyond, how they fled at the sight of the Tartentines and how their general was killed within the first few miniutes of the fighting (indeed he was one of the first ten to die), Rome had difficulty maintaining psychological fear and soon many Italians were flocking to Pyrrhus.

day 20 - night attack in achaia

For this game we brought Lloyd into the studio (you may remember him from a previous game where his dwarves and my empire trounsed the skaven), It was the first time that the studio WAB armies had actually been used in a game (it was also only the second game of WAB either of us had played).
Lloyd used the studio's hoplite army and I used the scythian one.

Historically the battle was set in the Corinthian war. The Scythians were a mercenary army hired by the Corinthians for conducting night attacks, ambushes and scouting. The hoplites were from Sparta and had made camp for the night on the road to Corinth, with king Agesipolis I of Sparta camped in the centre. We used the night attack scenario from "Vlad the Impaler" to represent the conditions of the attack. The mercenary Scythians had been sent by the Corinthians to kill Agesipolis and as many of his hoplites as they could, as well as burning or stealing their supplies. a completly mounted army vs a completly non mounted one!

Spartans (1500pts)

King Agesipolis I     
Prince Cleombrotus 
10 Peltasts (persian immortal archers in skirmish)
14 spartan hoplites
16 spartan hoplites
16 spartan hoplites


Corinthians (1000pts)

King Madyes
Lord Paratua
7 Bodyguard (cataphracts)
14 horse archers
13 light horse

My horsemen thundered down on the camp! The light horse crashed into the peltasts taking two casualties from their bows but slaughtering eight of them, mean while my horse archers (i can see the rashness of this now) smashed into the rear of the smaller hoplite unit, failing to kill any of them. over in the south of the camp Madyes and his bodyguard charged into the flank of a hoplite unit, each side taking a casualty. It was not looking up for the men of Scythia when the hoplites on both sides reformed to face them!

In the Spartans turn the casualties came quickly! Madyes and his guard killed two of their opponents taking no casualties, their Kontos' proving their worth.

But on the north side what had started off as a mistake quickly became a disaster when the hoplites lead by the king's son dispatched seven of the horse archers taking just one casualty

In Scythian turn two the remaining horse archers fled, the rest of their comrades cut down by cleombrotus and his hoplites.

Madyes and his bodyguard killed off another two hoplites before they were flank charged by the remaining hoplite unit which inflicted no casualties, after this the remaining light horse charged the rear of the already engaged hoplites, leaving three riders to finish off the last peltast.

The two Scythian lords and their warriors made short work of the hoplites chopping up four of them, altough they did take a casualty from the hoplites on their flank. However the light horse didn't have as much luck against the peltasts taking one casualty and inflicting none!

The remaining seven hoplites were quickly dispatched and the horsemen turned on the hoplites on their flank and Agesipolis, killing three of the hoplites to only one casualty. This luck was not duplicated in the north though and the remaining Peltasts finished off her two mounted opponents.

The Hoplites fight on as the horsemen of Scythia quickly dispatch their men.

Lord Paratua again leaps into Madyes' combat killing two hoplites. Over in the north the remaining horse archers rally and start to pester the slow hoplites with their arrows, knowing they are perfectly safe! the other two horse archers begin taking shots at the remaining peltast, desperate to dispatch her.

The combat in the south quickly heightened when Cleombrotus joins the frey, slashing out aginst lord Paratua. the horsemen kill three hoplites, taking two casualties. Meanwhile the other hoplites loom ominously near!

With the charge of the last hoplites the combat comes to a sharp end! Partua and Madyes are both knocked to the ground and captured, the last guards are slain (but not before they kill two hoplites) and the last horseman flees, now only three horse archers remain and the spartans are certain of victory

The three remaining do all that they can knowing that if they kill Agesipolis they could still snatch victory from the Spartans, but their arrows are too week and they only wound him once.

The game end with Agesipolis rushing into battle with the horse archers, who flee.

The game ended in a Spartan victory

Game overview: its a great game and the rules really suit historical fighting, having seen my Bodyguard in action i'm always going to take kontos' where possible as they are game winning! Always strikes first and +1 strength, amazing! I believe that my loss was the fault of a failure to coordinate attacks and rash decision making by the men, my horse archers charge was certainly not a good move and I forgot that if i killed Agesipolis I would automatically win. I now think that i should have devoted more to killing him and maybe a more focused attack from just one direction would have worked better, i could have even kept out of combat and just peppered the king with arrows (29 strength three hits a turn is bound to do something)

day 18 - rorke's drift

At my local wargaming club the guys had brought along this fab game of rorke's drift

Its fought on this map with the british in the compound, I found the rules very simple to pick up and i'd definatly recommend it as a game. the shooting was simple movement was simple everything seemd to be... including killing zulus! and they seemed to make little progress only killing one of my stands for the tonnes of theirs. fortunatly zulus can recycle! (not like wombles, but more like tyranids, when you kill them they come back. be ammusing if wombles were like that!) 

day 15 - Immortal miniatures hoplites review

Contents	36 figures
Poses	5 poses
Material	Plastic (Hard Consistency)
Colours	Grey

Average Height

28 mm

Frame: http://www.immortalminiatures.com/page68.html

Review

Ratings (44/50)

Historical Accuracy	10
Pose Quality	9
Pose Number	6
Sculpting	9
Mould	10

day 13 - Dwarves vs Easterlings

 My 600pt easterling army at my local games workshop ready for a wenedesday LOTR gaming night

 The Eastrlings and troll advance up the gulley towards the Dwarves (store army), flankd by the khandish horsemen. on the left the horsemen were un horsed and joind the easterling battleline but their king continued into the dwarves on the hill

The dwarves wrap around the easterling flanks, splitting the king off, while the khandish horsemen charge into the khazad guard.

In the end the Troll and Easterlings wripped apart the vault wardens whilst the king continued battering the dwarves on the hill and did survive till the end. But the easterlings still, lost taking serveer casualties.

day 9 - Killteam shoot out rules

Killteam shoot out is exactly like normal killteam except that you can have up to 300pts and the game is much more brutal and quick.
It represents a gun fight where, for whatever reason (A canyon is in the way, the enemy may have the plague, the air is too thick with bolts etc), niether side can engage.

The first two turns are played using the night fighting rules (this can represent a grudge fight after a midnight murder or the fact that the warriors are muddled and take time to adjust to the enemies positions)

Every model must be deployed with their base touching cover (fearless models and models with feel no pain do not have to). In the player's turn D3 models may move (roll each turn).

In the shoot phase all the models may shoot. Each model may fire their gun off D3 times (example: a splinter cannon that rolled a 5 and did not move may fire 18 shots, but must roll 6 dice three times). If a model kills another before they have run out of shots they may sweep their gun into the nearest enemy model to their last target (If they do this they must subtract 1 from their D3 result, meaning that a model may only do this action if they scored a 3 on the D3).  models count as having line of sight if any part of them is showing from behind cover (including the base). A model that shoots recieves -1 cover save on the D6 roll of a 3+ (automatically if they sweeped)

First you roll to hit, then cover saves are taken, then you roll to wound and finally armour/invulnerable saves are taken

Cover saves:
how much of the enemy is visible?
just base or tip of equipment - 1+ cover save
minimal possible - 2+ cover save
1/4 - 3+
1/2 - 4+
3/4 - 5+
hardly anything - 6+

day 7 - Boudicca's last battle

Brutus Thracus Sagitarus was born in Scythia, he was a Sarmatian who had settled in the roman empire. He had signed up as an Auxiliary, and had risen through the ranks, but now he had just been promoted from Centurion of the Marines stationed in Britain to one of the Decurion's in charge of the Auxiliaries. Under his command were the red shields from Dacia, the Green shields from Thrace, the blue shields from Palmyra and the marines. He drew his men up along the flanks with Centurion Haddius of the XIVth legion in the centre with the XXth.

Then they saw the Britons. And a hail of sling shots came whizzing towards them, taking a few Auxiliaries down. "I'm sorry Gaius, but I must get to my Marines", and with that Brutus rushed  from Gaius Governor of Britain and the Bearer of the Eagle to the Right flank.

The battle was fought at Verulamium Museum. It was a participation event but there was only one busy point the rest of the time it was just a few of us. I was joined by the guys from Black wolf wargaming and a couple of re-enactors from the XIVth legion. Myself and the Re-enactors fought on the side of the Romans and the Guys from Black wolf gaming were shared equally between.

Rules: Warhammer Ancient battles, 1^st edition

Models: 1^st corps and Gripping beast (and some that must have been warlord)

Objectives: the Romans won if they were still holding the line in 4 hrs, the Celts won if the Romans weren’t 

The Roman army was made up of: Gaius Sutonius Paulinus Governor of Britain, The eagle bearer, The XIVth legion (3 units of 15 Legionaries, 8 Auxiliary archers), The XXth legion (15 Veteran Legionaries, 15 Legionaries, 4 Auxiliary archers),  Right flank Auxila (2 units of 15 Auxiliaries, 15 Marines, 10 auxiliary cavalry), Left flank Auxila (2 units of 18 auxiliaries, 10 Auxiliary cavalry) and the Praetorian guard (20 Praetorian guard) 

The British Army was made up of:  Boudicca in Chariot, 2 Chieftains, 2 Druids, 18 warbands of 32 warriors, 18 slingers, 5 units of 10 cavalry and 8 chariots

A Celtic warband of 32 warriors and a chieftain crashes into the Blue shield Auxiliaries and XXth legionaries, watched over by Boudicca. They suffer five Casualties Killing only two auxiliaries, and as expected they bolt.

The Green shields and Red shields on the left flank hurl their Pilum's at the advancing Celts killing four, and they too bolt into their own ranks

The Britons cause carnage in their ranks as many push through others who in tern start to run, soon Boudicca stand defiantly looking at the Romans surrounded by fleeing warriors.

The Roman Battle line waits for the next assault.

The Britons on the right flank advance towards the marines (blue shield with white triremes on top) closely watched by Boudicca at their rear.

A fresh Celtic Warband hurtles into the Marines and green shields on the Right flank, taking three casualties from a hail of Roman Pilums. They then kill three of the Marines before taking another three casualties in Return, but surprisingly they hold.

The depleted Celtic Warbands rally in the front ranks, not what the Britons were hoping for as, this kept fresh warbands out of the fight.

The First unit that charges continues to flee, there chieftain at the head. On the Right flank (roman) the Legionaries prepare to attack the Celtic warband if it breaks through the Auxiliaries (the Celts would have to pursue and would be left vulnerable and behind roman lines in the open!)

The Celts continue to smash Brutus' (my) Auxiliaries killing 2 more whilst taking the same number of Casualties.

Brutus' (my) Marines take a battering but keep the Celts at bay with only one rank, neither unit retreats and the slaughter continues.

The Legionaries and red shields find themselves embroiled in combat with  three British warbands and a chieftain, the largest (chieftain's) warband directed at the XXth legion.

The cavalry join the Legionaries in waiting for the Britons to break through.

Gaius Sutonius Paulinus positions himself and the Eagle near the breaking line, to insure they don't fall.

The Celts continue their battering, killing a green shield Auxiliary and taking two casualties.

The Auxiliaries and Marines Break and the Celts Pursue cutting them all down but exposing themselves to the XXth Legionaries and Cavalry.

 The Chieftain and his warband prove to be no match for the veterans of the XXth, and suffering just two casualties they flee, the disapproving Charioteer looking onwards

After that round of combat a lone warband stands definitely facing the roman line, as their comrades bolt for the hills behind them

 The XXth Legionaries rush towards the Britons that broke through the line. The Celts flee but the Romans catch up with them, and brake the unit sending men and limbs in every direction.

 One of the Druids at the back of the Celtic army with the carts.

 The Roman Battle line charges forwards engaging the lone standing Warband.

Many of the Warbands bolt, broken and fleeing as the Romans move their battle line closer engaging those not yet fleeing.

 The last standing warband flees, broken by the Roman might. Roman victory seems almost certain

Boudicca's horses confront the roman Battle line

The Britons flee in terror, leaving the Romans in command of the field

Boudicca looks on in despair.

Roman Victory!

Gaming Overview: many of you may have heard me go on about how great warhammer ancient battles is, but this was in fact my first battle using the rules, and i must say they make for extremely realistic (in some cases) gaming (the fact that a roman emperor could receive 3 attacks is a bit crazy but include 2-3 models as a bodyguard and it makes perfect sense).