David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Wednesday 29 September 2021

"Iberia Victus Est"

 Finally back in action here in GHQ, after a four week hiatus caused by a number of contributory factors, featuring an Ancient game between a Republican Roman army and a Celtiberian army, using our in house version of Neil Thomas' Ancient and Medieval Wargames rules. Phil and I have been discussing off and on how we might represent the Republican Roman army's style of warfare on the table top and I'd given it a good deal of thought, coming up with what I hoped would be a reasonable solution, more of which in due course.

The Celtiberian army drawn up for battle under the command of Forlornus Byka
The Republican Romans under the eye of Coronus Cunctator himself, or Phil as he's more readily known.
As the Romans advance steadily Forlornus sends his Spanish light cavalry out on the flank to see off the slingers and threaten the Roman left.
The rest of the Celtiberian army advances steadily to meet the Romans on the open plain. Big mistake perhaps?
Forlornus' eye view of the coming action. The Celtiberians are relying heavily on their three warbands and heavy cavalry to shatter the Romans.
The battle is joined as both sides' Skirmishers exchange volleys of javelins to little initial effect.
The Spanish Heavy Cavalry smash into the Roman Velites, who fail to evade in time, while more Celtiberian Heavies clash with their Roman counterparts on the left.
On the right the Spanish Light Cavalry drive off the slingers but fail to charge home on the Roman's exposed flank!
The Roman cavalry drive back the Celtiberians who have already lost one base in the melee while the Spanish Heavy Cavalry fail to destroy the Velites!
The Roman Levy who have rushed from their camp engage the Spanish Light Cavalry and soon get the upper hand!
The Celtiberians' Heavy Cavalry on their left are struggling to contain the Romans. New Dice Please!
The remnants of the Spanish Heavy Cavalry, having finally destroyed the Velites, crash into the Hastatii of the Legion's first line. The Celtiberian warbands are coming up fast to their support.
The Levy drive off the remnants of the Spanish Light Cavalry, securing the Romans' left flank and leaving the Legion to do it's bloody work in the centre.
The Heavy Cavalry are struggling against the Hastatii in the centre while on the left the Celtiberian Heavies are faring little better 
The Levy, fresh from their victory, are assailed by Spanish skirmishers but are little troubled by it!
The cavalry action on the left is now intense, with all available elements engaged in the bloody struggling masses.
In the Centre the Hastatii have destroyed the Spanish Heavy Cavalry only to find the first of the warbands closing into the fight before they can gather their breath.
On the left the Romans have destroyed one Celtiberian Heavy Cavalry unit so Forlornus turns his final warband to meet the threat.
At this point in the game it's now appropriate to return to my efforts to depict the Roman style of refreshed combat by the Legion's elements. The Hastatii, having lost a base in combat, can take a Morale Test. If passed then they can retire behind the supporting Principes who then face the Warband in a fresh combat. To facilitate this action the Legion must always have at least one base depth open between the lines of each element. If the Principes choose later to also retire then that may be either behind the Hastatii or both may retire behind the Triarii. 
As it happens though, the Roman Heavy Cavalry sweep forward and capture the Celtiberian camp ending the game in a resounding win for Coronus!






21 comments:

  1. A good looking game and win for Rome. That whole three line thing is a worry for wargamers. Oh for that invisible, armoured, silent, never run out of power, flying time machine.

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    1. Thanks George! Pretty much all of Ancient warfare I'd think myself is a mystery.

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  2. That's a great looking game David. I like your idea on the three line thing which is nice and simple but to my mind, appears to reflect things rather well.

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    1. Glad to have an endorsement SteveJ, thanks.

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  3. The mechanism seemed to work well, the Roman would say that though wouldn't he🙂.
    The maniple thing is quite an enigma, but if it worked that well why was it abandoned?
    A good game was had that is the main thing.

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  4. A great looking game, splendid armies...and Celtiberian camp!

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    1. Thank you Phil, though the Celtiberians' camp was on loan from the Romans.

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  5. Lovely looking game, splendid figures and a nice sized action. Having played a bit of SPQR (boardgame) lately, the question of maniples is something that currently interests me ….. you have me reaching for my Thomas ‘Ancient and Medieval Wargames’ copy now with a view to their wars of the Roses section :-)

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    1. Thomas' efforts make a good basis for tweaking we've found both in Punic Wars, Late Romans, Early Medievals and Italian Wars.

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  6. It seems of late Blogs, or at least mine, are suffering in terms of visits/comments. 260 so called Followers producing the same dozen or so faithful commentators seems pretty strange to me.

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  7. Hello David, I like your idea of the exchange of units to retire and fresh units take up the fight. Your thoughts show some understanding of what most probably occurred and you have demonstrated this through this particular game. Lovely looking game by the way. Lovely miniatures and terrain. Look forward to reading more on this period as and when you get the chance for additional games.

    Cheers,
    Helen

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  8. Splendid Mr.B. Btw I think you'll find most people view blogs like shop windows. They'll stop and look at nice pics and then move onto the next one without ever commenting. So don't take it to too much to heart.

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    1. Many thanks Jon! On passersby I think you could be right, but it's a bit sad not to say something if you're able

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    2. They're probably ..well...busy ;D

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    3. I used to know somebody just like that.😉

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  9. Hi Dave,
    You’re right about too fewer replies or comments, it seems a lot of people enjoy reading and following progress, but rarely take the time to comment as much as they might. I would count myself amongst the latter, but be assured; your efforts are well appreciated and without doubt have inspired like minded people to investigate more into the hobby.
    I myself admit to having a cautious approach to public comments on any form of social media, and normally tend to keep it to a minimum, but I always read your blogs and wi articles with great interest.
    So, with that, congratulations on providing us with so much interesting and thought provoking material and long may it continue my friend….
    And to the game…. Looks fantastic!! Great approach on the Roman tactical side, seeing the various elements being properly represented. Looks great fun.
    I’ve spent the last 18 months collecting and painting a 28mm Carthaginian collection, it would be great to be able to get together again sometime and try one or two things out…. Just like old times eh?
    Keep up the good work pal, and keep gaming!!

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    1. Thank you for taking the plunge and leaving a comment Paul, they are all appreciated. As Jon says, folk are busy,a fact I often forget having been so long retired...

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  10. Top looking game and a bit of a knife edge. Was it somewhat of a let-down to have the result decided by a 'tricksy' attack on the camp?! :)
    Your rule seemed quite sensible and to work well for the possible exchange of lines; as you note, whatever that meant. Was it about merely feeding in fresh troops as perhaps later legionary tactics involved. I like Conn Iggulden's description of that version in the first of his Caesar series.
    Regards, James
    p.s. Comments vs views? I'd stick to wondering about the exchange of lines in the Republican Roman army, haha!!

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    1. Thanks James, on all counts! Who knows about the exchange of lines really? It will do for us, til something better occurs to someone...

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