ADLG - Game Report 255

Early Imperial Roman (85) vs Early Imperial Roman (85)

Sunday beckoned, and after three possible outcomes, could I manage the fourth possible outcome! First test of that would be against Pete's Romans in our Roman Civil war. I was invited to defend in the Plains. And once more I was true to form in my deployment with heavies front and centre with their flanks protected by the Auxilia; which in this battle really made sense!

Clearly the first and most important question was who would reach the hill first in strength (I had no intention of trying to hold it with light troops! However, for my part I was perhaps less concerned as I was well placed to potentially flank the hill. On the right there was little to oppose the Auxilia other than some massed bowmen.

With the seizure of the hill I had already planned to move the main Auxilia command to the right. In the centre the enemy have advanced from their camp. My lights are moving to attack the artillery. On the right the enemy bowmen have retired to the home bank of the gully.

The enemy are now effectively prisoners on their own hill. I have retired the left flank Equites through the valley to provide flank protection. The Artillery are proving distressingly difficult to overrun. On the right the enemy Bowmen are refusing to fall beside the wayside in front of the Auxilia as should be their duty!

Not only are those Bowmen failing to do their duty, they have the temerity to fight back and cause loss on the Auxilia. The Auxilia have contributed a flank attack which has exposed the enemy line of Legionaries. For their part the enemy have realised that merely standing on a hill is not going to win them the battle and are seeking to push the battle their way. In the rear those enemy Artillery have destroyed one of the light units attacking them so the remaining unit has decided to see if it can do any better on the other battery!

The Bowmen have decided not to play ball at all, and have destroyed one of the Auxilia, decisive steps are required. In the centre the combination of Auxilia and Legionaries are now starting to recapture the hill and remove the enemy centre. However, the enemy Artillery is being stubborn.

And the final answer was that the lights could do no better against the second battery and were destroyed! However, a combination of Auxilia and Legionaries have removed the hill and legionaries as a threat. On the right the Wing Commander with the Equites has decided the battle decisively against the Bowmen.

Outcome

An Early Roman Empire victory, well what else could it be in a Civil War, for my army by inflicting 21 and only receiving 17.

Lessons Learnt

Holding the lights on the top of the hill might have delayed the enemy capturing it. This was because they went long pursuing the light troops.

The simple expedient of leaving a weak Auxilia unit on the corner of the plantation paralysed the enemy cataphracts.