Pompus Maximus Imperator domitorem Baldinus

Well, at least that's how it comes out on Google Translate! Sadly for me my schooldays are far, far behind me and my four year dalliance with Latin is lost in the mists of time, so this will perforce have to do. As I mentioned in the previous post, "Double Header", Phil and I played two games on Monday recently. As you will know, I came a poor second in the afternoon's Vietnam game, despite some heroic efforts by my little chaps, but in the morning it was an altogether different story...
We used our 'home adjusted' variant of Neil Thomas's Ancient and Medieval rules, which allow us to deploy many more units than they were meant for when originally written. Our modifications work really well we've found, so much so that I am expanding the collection by several new units slowly but surely. Our adjustments also include rules for Army commanders and the generals who command each Division of the army, even allowing for characteristics which modify their effectiveness and influence. They may even die in combat, as you shall see...

As ever, the rightful ruler of the late C4th Roman world, Pompus Maximus, takes the field in person commanding his ever victorious army. Opposite his veritable host was the bedraggled assortment of second rate troops mustered by the pretender, Baldinus, who despite numerous reverses clings to the misguided belief that it is he who will assume the purple in good time! The two armies faced each other across the table ~

One edge of the battlefield is bordered by a thick and impenetrable forest, the only sign of civilization being the ruins of a once prosperous villa estate, long plundered by the armies fighting to control the Empire. Both armies have deployed with their infantry in the centre and their heavy cavalry on their open flank. On the flank nearest to the forest, both generals deployed their Light Cavalry: Pompus his Horse Archers, the pretender his hordes of Huns!

The order is given, the horns sound their melancholy notes, and Pompus' heavy cavalry surges forward to meet their foe. Baldinus' infantry seem to have adopted a defensive posture very early in the battle, relying on their artillery and archer units to hurt the advancing Legions and Auxiliaries of Pompus' force.

Men and horses fall to their deaths as the epic struggle ebbs and flows as each force struggles to assert its supremacy over the enemy and sweep his army from the field. {The dice were very mixed for both of us over several turns!}

Despite suffering heavy losses from Baldinus' artillery and archer units, the infantry of Pompus' army steadily closed with the enemy, pinning his forces and preventing any redeployment to mitigate the unfolding disaster overwhelming his cavalry on the flank. Meanwhile, Baldinus' Huns are unable to dislodge Pompus' Horse Archers protecting the left flank of his army ~

Finally, the cavalry hordes of the 'pretender to the purple' are beaten and either flee or are destroyed where they stand. The infantry finds its flanks threatened by overwhelming cavalry force, while its front is pinned by the infantry of Pompus' Legions and is forced to withdraw in the face of overwhelming odds.

The battle is over as Baldinus' infantry cannot hope to hold their position with so much cavalry threatening their flank and rear. Baldinus quits the field, leaving two of his generals to feed the birds, and his army to fend for itself as best it can...

Postscript:- Jon and I had played a variant of this game the week before using the Warlord Games' Hail Caesar rules. Despite over three hours of intense fighting we could not force a result and called the game a draw when we ran out of time. Using Neil Thomas' Ancient and Medieval rules, Phil and I had a clear resolution in a smidgen under three hours. As they say, you pays your money and you takes your choice...
The figures are all from my own collection: Foundry miniatures originally painted for me by Andy Dumelow and then added to by my own hand as the years rolled by in GHQ. I got the ruin on the Flea Market at either Carronade or Claymore this year for £4.00 as it is, nothing to be done but plop it on the table. I call that a bargain! No game fixed as yet for next week as Dan from Wargames Illustrated is coming over to photograph Phil's outstanding collection of Great War Miniatures World War One figures for a future issue of the magazine. My role in this? Holding up the back boards I expect! About my level I guess...