15mm Campaign in Northern Britain.

Before I report on my latest game,  a big "shout-out" to Dave who has the dreaded Virus,and is self-isolating at home-get well soon mate (same to your Mum!) we are all thinking of you!

Last week I had a small game involving all the Auxiliaries foraging/pillaging a small village called Brexitum(I know,I know!) and they got a right old beating from the local Brigantes-Crustinuts was furious and resolved to wipe out the tribe at all costs!(but without the "lost" auxiliaries,who can not be replaced for months to come,)so any future battles will have to be fought without them! 

This is the terrain map for the battle of Brexitum,showing how the Aux. troops got themselves into trouble-they were attacked from all sides and suffered very badly,but managed to escape and report back to Crustinuts.

Crustinuts' next objective is the coastal town of Gabrosentum(Moresby)-the only approach to the town is through the Gabro Pass,and this is where the Brigantes hope to stop the Roman advance!

This is the terrain map for the battle of the Gabro Pass-both flanks were weak,but the plan was for the centre legions to hold back and draw the Brigantes in,then hit them with a Canae-type manoeuvre.

Top photo shows the "plan" being put into operation-both flanks advancing and the centre holding back-bottom photo shows the struggle that the Roman left flank cavalry had against superior(just!) numbers of Brigante cavalry.

Top is the left flank Aux. being hard pressed by Warbands and chariots,bottom photo is the right flank,also being hard pressed,but the chariots have been sent packing by the Cavalry,and are dis-rupting the Warbands behind them-_sound familiar?? At this stage in the game,Crustinuts decided he would have to help out the Aux. troops by sending in a few cohorts from his second line.

Top shows the central legions clashing with a massive attack by the Brigante warbands-the chariots had been very ineffective,and the Roman pila had a very upsetting effect on the Warbands!!-bottm photo shows the 232rd Aux, and cavalry pushing the Brigantes back-has the tide turned??

Top-Left flank Roman cavalry not doing very well and on the point of retiring(it's good being retired!) Bottom-left flank Aux. troops being hard pressed to the point of needing Legionary assistance!!!-oh dear this was not in the script!

This is the Roman right flank,winning and pushing the Brigantes back towards the Pass-at the same time the Brigante centre collapsed,and it decided to retire(it's still good being retired!) but what of the left flank?

Top photo is a general view of the board,on move number 7-the Roman line has stabilised,and with the collapse of the centre and left of the Brigantes,their right also decided to call it a day and go back(notice I resisted the "urge" to say retired!!)-however the bottom photo shows the Roman cavalry being chased from the field!!!

The Romans were declared the winners at this stage-hurrah!!,but at what cost?-they lost 6 cavalry units,1 archer unit,4 Aux. units.-The Brigantes lost 5 chariots,1 cavalry unit and 14 warbands!!-another emphatic win for Crustinuts.

A very merry Christmas to you all-stay well and stay safe-your country need you!!

Battle of Lugalium 15mm.

I have been a bit "quiet" on my 15mm campaign lately,mainly because I don't know if I'm just being self-indulgent,or if anyone is really interested in my solo games-however I played a game today which,I think, is worthy of a mention .

Top photo is the terrain map-Crustinuts has been reinforced by some more auxiliaries(he lost the last lot!) commanded by Antus and Decus,and has moved into the Brigantes territory to "subdue" them-their capital is an old abandoned Roman fort called Lugalium(Carlisle) which is shown in the bottom photo,c/w siege towers etc.etc.-Brigante reinforcements are on their way!!!

Lugalium,stoutly defended by thousands of Brigante warriors-the fort will be attacked on three sides by both aux.infantry and legionaries,whilst the 23rd legion is standing by to repel the Brigante reinforcements.

Top two photo's show the auxiliary attack,bottom photo shows the legionaries,having advanced in testudo formation,attacking by the ladders-not an easy task wearing armour!-The Brigantes are putting up a tremendous defence-this will be tight!!

A general shot of the attack and defence-thrilling stuff,but the Brigantes are taking a lot more casualties than the Romans!-but in the distance the reinforcements are coming.......................

The reinforcements have arrived and immediately attacked the Roman cavalry,who just about managed to hold their own-note the Brigante infantry "sneaking" down the Roman left flank!!

The Brigante infantry have sneaked past the cavalry "brawl" and have attacked the Roman line-a foolish thing to do!!-Bottom photo shows the Romans breaking into the Fort-the defenders are in real trouble now.

Top photo shows the Roman occupation of the Capital,bottom shows the rout of the Brigante reinforcements-they had nothing to fight for once the fort was taken,so retired(it's good being retired!) to the coast,to regroup,but that's another battle!

One final shot showing the whole playing area-another great game,which took just over 2 hours to play and involved 8 moves.

The Battle for Greece 480BC.

This morning,observing social distancing and wearing masks, Paul and I had this "cracking" ancients game,which we had both been looking forward to for such a long time!

 Top photo is the scenario etc,bottom photo shows Paul moving the Persians(we diced to se who commanded what-I got the Greeks!) The first couple of moves saw the Persians attacking the wall,centre and Greek left(Spartans!) whilst the Greeks countered by advancing the Spartans and Athenians,in the centre-wonderful stuff!

Top shows the Spartans giving the Immortals a good "going over" the bottom photo shows the Athenians in the centre giving the Axemen a good "going over" too...........................

HOWEVER-there's always an however!-the Corinthians,defending the wall, were being given a "going over" by the Cardaces and axemen on the Persian left-oh dear!!-luckily I had reserves,and they were put into the fray extra quick.

Top photo shows my Corinthians losing the wall!!!Bottom photo shows the Spartans have exchanged lines and are holding their own(steady!) against Paul's second line of Immortals.

In this shot the Athenians,holding the centre, are being assailed by a combination of axemen,scythed chariots,cataphracts and mercenary hoplites-and were doing quite well until one unit looked as though it could break,so I put in their CinC,and guess what??-YES Paul killed him,resulting in the whole centre collapsing and fleeing for their lives......................

This is the sad picture of the Greek centre(or not!)-with the Cataphracts and mercenary hoplites now free to attack both flanks,the Persians were declared the winners!!

This was great game,and we hope to have more soon-it was good to get back into the routine of gaming,we had a break at half time and enjoyed an OXO and a packet of crisps-oh heaven!

Preview game for Thursday.

Paul and I are having a game(at long,long last!) on Thursday morning  and I can't wait!

I have decided(Paul said he wanted an Ancients game) on a Persian vs Greek game based on the year 480BC,and thought a couple of photographs might whet your appetite................

Top photo is the scenario and troop dispositions, bottom photo is the table as Paul will see it on arrival Persians on the left,Greeks on the right.

Three photo's-who's a clever boy then??-Top shows the Persian left,attacking the wall,manned by Corinthians,middle shows the Persian centre against the Athenians,and bottom shows the Persian right against the dreaded Spartans!!

Let's hope that the day will be as good as it gets-when I was talking to Paul on the 'phone he mentioned that we've probably forgotten some of our rules-hope not matey,you're in for a "clobbering!"

Viking Shieldwall.

Next year,2021,I intend doing a Viking campaign based in Spain (the Vikings,not me!) and as part of my meticulous(ridiculous?) planning I decided I would need a "shieldwall" for a couple of the battles-but I don't have a "shieldwall"-so what to do?-well,make one of course!

 These two photo's show the first stage-ie. sticking existing shields onto a card base,the base is lined ready to fold when the second stage is reached.

Second stage-shields painted(roughly!) and ready to be photo-copied!

Shields photo-copied "umpteen" times,and ready for the next stage.

Card cut to size,the photo-copied shields will be stuck onto the card,for the final stage.

Top photo shows the card and photo-copied sheet ready to be stuck(with good old UHU!) Bottom photo shows the result that I wanted to achieve-crude,I must admit, but this is representational and won't be used in every Viking game that I have.

A couple of shots showing the finished article-as you can see I have made enough for 4 units(which is one ship-full!) and will serve my purpose,so roll on next year!