The Twilight of Pompus Maximus?

It was quite possible that this would be the last time the rump of my Late Roman collection saw action here in GHQ as I had very tentatively opened negotiations to sell them on. Paul has been having a difficult time of late and has not been able to get here for a game for a while, so for this month's resumption of 'friendly hostility' I thought the small Late Roman game using a cut down version of Hail Caesar would be best, a kind of gentle reintroduction to gaming with the emphasis firmly on fun.

The two opposing forces ~

The much reduced Imperial army of the rightful Emperor, Pompus Maximus.

The army of the usurper, Gornalus.

Now though it's on to the action on the tabletop battlefield at the onset of hostilities with the expected annotated photomontage ~

Pomp.Max.Imp directs his reluctant infantry to advance across the river.

No such hesitation on the part of the Equites! They sweep forward to engage their opposition on Gornalus' left, while the Cataphractarii trot forward intending to ride down the enemy infantry holding the centre.

Gornalus takes up a position behind his strong centre ready to direct the counter blow when the opportunity presents itself.

The crew manning the Onager readies the infernal machine to wreak havoc on Pompus' infantry struggling to make headway along the road. No Roman Road apparently here!!! 

Saxon Foderatii hold the right flank of Gornalus' centre safely out of range of the enemy's bows and seemingly impervious to their Ballista fire!

On Gornalus' right his cavalry are put to flight! The 'Dice gods' are fickle as ever and desert Gornalus at just the wrong moment. His armies left flank is in the air and disaster becons!

At last Pompus sees his infantry across the bridge, though progress remains painfully slow! Clearly the 'Dice gods' are enjoying their impartial and capricious behaviour!

It looks grim for Gornalus' cause by this time, though his cavalry remnants avoid destruction while Pompus' fail to achieve their orders in most respects. The army fights on with courage and stubborn determination!

Finally his cavalry remnants break as do his courageous Medium Infantry! Amazingly though Pompus' cavalry finds itself Shaken and/or Disordered and cannot influence the unfolding events.

Only one cavalry unit can manoeuvre freely, so of course it fails to do so at a crucial juncture. Thank you so much 'Dice gods'!!!

The Cataphractarii are halted by fire from Gornalus' Legion, supported by the Ballista and the javelins of the Saxon Foderatii! Pompus fears victory is slipping away from him...

Indeed it is! With his cavalry arm broken and one infantry unit fleeing it's all up for the aging Emperor...

Distraught by the turn of events turning certain victory to ignominious defeat, Pomp.Max.Imp falls on his sword and so passes to join the Shades of Immortal Memory...

It was great fun, unpredictable as ever and our fiddling with the rules for victory and defeat worked really far better than I'd hoped, despite the end result! Gornalus will assume the purple, though who can tell how long he will maintain his grip on it? 

As an added bonus to end with, some close-up pictures taken by Paul during the game ~

Clearly not a Roman Road...

Cart modelled by longtime chum Ian Bottrill.

Gornalus' infantry formed up for the coming battle.

What was that about roads?

Pompus' cavalry amongst the ruins...not long after they were ruined themselves!

Cataphractarii prior to coming off second to Gornalus' combined infantry and ballista!

A legionary's eye view of the action?

At least these Equites looked the part before the action unfolded!

As to the potential sale, well circumstances have moved on for now and the collection remains here in GHQ for the present at least pending developments. Perhaps the Shade of Pompus Maximus will rise once more one day...