ADLG - Game Report 88

German-Tencteri (91) vs Patrician Roman (88)

I decided that it was high time I spread my wings and enter a non-UK ADLG event, and decided I would get permission from the travel authorities to visit the US for a week at Historicon in Lancaster PA. With that in mind I needed an Army that would physically travel well, and I decided that the German Tencteri tribe would be the perfect choice. Now, the next step would be to trial a number of orbats.

As a starting point I thought it best to revisit the same troops as their previous battle against Paul’s Patrician Romans. Although there look as if there are a lot of medium troops, it is misleading as they were in fact costed as heavy infantry. With the actual heavy infantry bases being the elite bases. With that minor clarification we went over to the attack!

The German Cavalry has managed to start to work the flank, while the bulk of the troops advance. On my left my light infantry javelins are struggling against the Roman elite light infantry in the wood.

As predicted the javelins more than struggled they were defeated! On the right the Cavalry are having more success.

The left wing has committed two warbands to defend the flank, while their peers close in on the Roman line. The Roman Cavalry has been soundly defeated and the remaining units have been outflanked. Although the German Light cavalry are not doing well in protecting the right flank.

The Light Cavalry on my right have been defeated which is limiting the opportunity for the remaining German cavalry to penetrate deeper into the Roman left flank. Of even greater concern is the unwillingness of a lone Roman Cavalry unit to die despite being assailed on all flanks. The German left flank is not looking very comfortable either with the heavy infantry failing to defeat some light infantry in the marsh.

Once the Roman line engages the warbands it is effectively game over as warband after warband is rapidly overrun. However, the Roman Cavalry unit that was surrounded finally died.

Outcome

A significant defeat for the Germans.

Lessons Learnt

The simple expedient, based on the Roman example, of employing attached commanders, or unreliable commanders might provide more points for more troops.

The current orbat lacks medium troops that could be much more effective in broken terrain.

There is no merit in impetuous troops in holding them back for too long; they need the opportunity to secure the benefit of the furious charge.