ADLG - Game Report 98

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

After a stunning victory against Paul’s Patrician’s I felt confident that we would do well against Richard’s army. First lesson learnt early is that no two people pick the same army from the list! As for terrain it was rather congested in the middle of the table, and I dithered on where to place my Allied command. In the end I decided the right flank – bad decision!

The first impact of this bad decision was that it left my single large command against two third’s of Richard’s army. My allied command of impetuous medium infantry was faced off against his impetuous allied heavy cavalry. With my third command in the centre dithering on whether to go left or right.

Oh and I didn’t say that my allied command had its backs to the wall with an impassable terrain to their rear. As would be expected the Patrician allies came storming through with the bit between their teeth. At this stage I decided to split my third command and commit half to supporting the Allies.

One we were committed to battle on the left the casualties started to mount, with my Cavalry not exactly holding their own!

On the right the fight immediately became very confused and what fighter pilots might call a fur ball, with impetuous troops from both sides hampered by their command dice trying to engage the flanks of exposed enemy units.

Once the infantry hit the legionaries we started to take further cohesion hits. Despite my initial gloom the German cavalry were trying to fight back. On the right the furball continues!

My left wing lacked the strength or supports to survive, while the addition of my centre command to the right had little or no impact!

Outcome

A loss to Richard’s Patricians by 33 to 13

Lessons Learnt

Don’t leave Medium troops with inadequate ground to defend, and at least don’t leave their backs against impassable terrain.

If you commit a command in reserve go for broke not half-and-half.

ADLG - Game Report 97

German-Tencteri (91) vs Nikephorian Byzantines (127)

The final open battle was against the Paul’s Byzantines. For terrain I deployed my coast on the left, and as a consequence the battle lines were predictably drawn up against the coast. We had both placed our cavalry on the4 closed flank against the coast, were seemed to be both hoping to break through and flank from the coats side. My allies were on the right extending my line well beyond the Byzantine left. Would I get sufficiently good command rolls for them to exploit this position, and of course be capable of making the correct command decisions to do so?

I deployed the light cavalry forward to prevent the Byzantines from conducting multiple moves and then withdrew them behind the German cavalry. I have held back ready to come forward to defend the infantry line. I have held back the Allied command as I didn’t like the look of the Byzantine heavy cavalry in front of them.

The light cavalry have been withdrawn as a reserve. The remaining cavalry are poised to come forward to support the infantry line to avoid it being outflanked.

The German Cavalry have now moved forward to close the line, while the infantry have been held until the Cavalry have engaged.

The German cavalry have managed to occupy the Byzantines while the warbands break through the Byzantine infantry line and run amok.

Outcome

A win for the German by 20 to 25, for a total for the open competition of winning 1, lost 1 and drew 1. A reasonable result.

Lessons Learnt

A reminder of how effective warbands can be once they come into contact with enemy infantry lines.

It seems one has to be willing to accept losses with this army!

ADLG - Game Report 96

German-Tencteri (91) vs Sahelian Empire (209)

On to the second battle against Spike’s Sahelian Empire – another unusual army that I haven’t seen fielded at an UK competition. For terrain the Sahelian right was blocked of with difficult and impassable terrain. I decided to adopt a defensive position with the enemy dominating mt in cavalry. My best command was on the right with the Allied command on the left.

My cavalry are in reserve, albeit in a rather cramped position in the centre.

I have brought the Army out to free my Cavalry which I am trying to move to the right.

The warbands sent forward as a delaying tactic have engaged and destroyed some cavalry but having broken through are now in danger of being destroyed themselves.

However the Sahelian left has been brutal in its attack on my right, which is now in tatters. In the centre the included general is now fighting for his life, and it is looking increasingly difficult for me to get to grips with the enemy infantry. Although there is one warband, which broke through, still fighting alone and unsupported!

Outcome

A win for Spike with me going down 31 cohesion points to Spike’s 11 loss.

Lessons Learnt

A better defensive battle plan needed.

It would have been perhaps better to deploy the Allies in the broken terrain on the right?

ADLG - Game Report 95

German-Tencteri (91) vs Numidian (56)

By way of a summer holiday and an opportunity to take an army on campaign I decided to enter Historicon’s ADLG competition. I am glad I did as not only was it a good break, but the event was very interesting. It was the first time for 20 plus years that I had been to a US wargaming event. I have to say it was as great a collegiate event as were the other ADLG tournaments I have taken part in here in UK. I have to say we have a very good community of ADLG players around the world!!! The first day was a round of open battles, and as I was travelling with the one Army of German barbarians it would be interesting to see how they faired.

My first battle was against Brian’s Numidians. An interesting army that I had not encountered before, but the list makes it look quite effective and a good balance. All kudos to Brian, his Numidians were all 3d printed by himself, which all rather convinced me to invest in a 3d printer! Onto the battle, I placed my best command on the left confronting the Numidian strength. My allies were on the left.

I held back the centre ready to move wither left or right as circumstances dictated. Slightly irritating that the Numidians had seized my gully!

My allies went onto the defensive to protect the flank, while my centre command moves up in to support the right.

Rather mixed combat results on the right with the Numidian cavalry besting mine. While in the centre the furiosity of my charge was absent, as I came of second best.

The German cavalry has been reduced to a two units; the infantry don’t look much better. On the left, the right half of the allied line has been broken.

The centre has broken through, and the right is fighting heroically despite the cohesion hits. The German Cavalry are fighting back against the Numidian cavalry.

At the end of the game on the left the allies are fighting to the last, however by securing the gully I have started to provide some protection to the flank of the centre and right. In the centre and right despite multiple cohesion hits my warbands are fighting on to the death.

Outcome

A mutually assured destruction was a very fair and enjoyable result!

Lessons Learnt

Sacrificing the Allied command to tie down the enemy right was a brave decision, perhaps I could have been more aggressive with them – command rolls permitting of course!

The elite heavy infantry were valuable in absorbing cohesion hits and continuing to fight on!