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Monday 20 May 2019

Roma Victrix

Having had a splendid time at Partizan yesterday we were both enthused for our planned Romans v Goths game, using my amended Neil Thomas rules as mentioned in a previous post.
They gave a most enjoyable game with the advantage swinging both ways, however I had altered the Victory Without Quarter firing rules to reflect that we were firing bows and chucking javelins, I had taken this to far and it made shooting way too feeble. We both agreed changes for the next outing, I had also tinkered with morale adding in routs and extra morale tests, these changes really lost the essence of Neil's rules so again these will be stripped back for next time. We also found that some of the close combats lasted way too long, I will look at changes there too, although this was not just due to my changes as they can linger with Neil's rules as written. The main change I wanted was to cut down casualty book keeping, this change did indeed work well, which I was pleased with.
Below are some game pictures with a brief synopsis of how the game played at the bottom.
The Goth Attack Begins

The View From The Roman Infantry Ranks

The Roman Line Braces Itself

A Close Combat Ensues

Baldinus And His Cavalry Look On

Th Fighting Escalates

The Ferocious Moors And Goth Gentry Battle it Out And Out And Out

The Roman Auxiliaries Days Are Numbered

Baldinus Shores Up The Left Flank
  With the Goths right besting the Romans and an impasse on the left and centre Biccagern lead an headlong charge against the Roman cataphracts with his nobles, success would surely turn the battle in the Goths favour. The gods however were not with him this day and he fell victim to a Roman kontos, the Goths lost heart at this and several fled the field, the remnants not being strong enough in number to best the remaining Romans retired in good order from the field. The Romans too exhausted themselves let them go peacefully.

Quia Tunc Vale

20 comments:

  1. fantastic looking game Phil. Love your table.

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  2. Lovely troops and table, really good to see this played within a smaller area. My Ancients and medieval wargaming by Neil Thomas arrived the other day, so a timely post for inspiration. His rules are ideal for the 'tinkerer'.

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    1. Thank you for kind comments, the smaller area certainly presents different challenges. I think you will enjoy the rules, not to everyone's taste, but very adaptable. I think some rules make ancient and medieval warfare a lot more complex than it was.

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  3. Great looking game Phil 🙂 looked like a tight and bloody conflict !

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  4. Thanks Matt, it was indeed. I was let off big time with the loss of the Goth General turning things around for me, allowing being able to divert troops to shore up my left.

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  5. A fine game where the Goths could not quite press their advantage. The daring throw in the end failed gloriously. I'm sure the rules tinkering we discussed will get us where we want to be. See you on Friday!

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    1. I certainly hope so. Yes the Romans were very up for the poor luck of the Goths at the end.

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  6. Monday and a Friday, lucky guys. Two lovely armies but glad the good guys won :)

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    1. Thank you George it was the dice gods who swayed it Rome's favour towards the end.

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  7. Great looking pair of armies and sounds like a fun tussle! Lots of dark age loveliness!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank Iain. It was a fine game, with the changes I have made I hope we will be where we want to be rule wise, it's quite a challenge maintaining Neil's simple complexities.

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  8. So much to be in awe of on this table. The figures, the terrain, the game...

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    1. Thank you for the glowing endorsement Allan.

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  9. Splendid stuff indeed Phil...
    I must pick up a copy of Neil Thomas’s rules myself...

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Thank you Aly. Yes do, they are a fine set IMHO

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  10. That's a superb looking game Phil!

    Christopher

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  11. A feast for the eyes! Never underestimate the favor of the Dice Gods. I can never determine what a suitable sacrifice should be but if I ever do ...

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    1. Thank you William. Next course will be served up next month.

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