For our first game of 2020 we staged a Carthaginian vs Romans game last night.Brian is still poorly(get well soon matey!) and Dave is being kept captive by a Japanese Warlord somewhere in Sunderland! so it was up to Paul,Graham and I to have what turned out to be a real classic!
Top photo is the scenario,bottom is the table before any movement.-Paul was Hannibal,Graham and I were the Roman generals.Paul had two "hidden" Numidian light cavalry units,which he placed (although we didn't know it!) one behind the temple and the other in the woods to the right.When he "exposed" them(now,now!) they did devastating work.
It has to be said that Graham was a bit "tardy" moving his legion forward of the protecting hill on his right flank-no amount of cajoling or attacks by Paul's Spanish javelinmen could make him move forward,MEANWHILE........................................
On my flank,all hell has broken loose!-as I was forming my lines,Paul launched his Celts against me,so to "blunt" the attack I threw (unwisely!) my cavalry at him,only to be beaten-woe is me!!!-never mind my three lines are formed and raring to go.
Getting tired of waiting for Graham to advance,Paul is marching his heavy Africans and Spanish troops through his Elephant line-oh dear,Graham will have to react now-hurrah!!
Spurred(sorry about the pun!) into action,Graham's heavy cavalry are taking on the Celtic cavalry,in the central pass-this was thrilling stuff,and the melee swirled this way and that for a couple of moves before the Celts were victorious.In the background you can see that Graham's legion is now engaged,and he is winning-another hurrah!!
This shot shows the state of play at around move number 7-all action!-Graham is looking pensive!
On my flank,the Hastati have been replaced by the Princepes,and my Triarii are marching into the central pass to try and stem the Carthaginian flow-this is tense stuff!!-Where are the Elephants??
My Triarii are now in position,holding the gap like heroes!-Paul is facing them off with his Carthaginian Heavy cavalry-these charged in and messed my troops about something rotten!!!
That line of Elephants looks ominous-he wouldn't,would he??
YES!!-I suppose there are worse ways to die than being trampled by 3 tons of pachiderm,but at the moment I can't think of one!!
In the background Graham is making real headway against Paul's troops,but the Elephant "tsunami" has made his flank insecure-woe is us!
A general view of the table at about move number 10,just before Paul let his Elephant line loose against my triarii-the whole table is alight with fighting-marvelous stuff.
Back in "sync" now,my legion has "shot it's bolt" and the Carthaginians have control of the central pass,and Graham's legion has been stopped in it's tracks-so we can't get to the table edge and claim a victory-this was on move number 14!!
What a great start to 2020,well done to us all,and roll on next week!
Last night the "Fab Four"(Brian,Graham,Paul and I) found ourselves in Ancient Greece!
A very simple scenario,but with a bit of a twist!!........................................
This note was attached to the Megaran's clip board(Graham was in charge of them!)
I was in charge of the Spartans,Paul and Brian shared the Athenian command-so none of us knew who Graham would side with!!
The opening moves were taken up with skirmishing,and I am moving my left hand Corinthians,to guard my flank and rear,just in case Graham decided he would assist the Athenians-never trust a Greek in your rear!!!-Paul was also very wary,and hesitant to use his Thebans to attack my Spartan line-who will Graham support????
My centre and right have attacked Brian's Athenians,with varying degrees of success,meanwhile Paul has attacked my static Spartans on the left-Graham now appeared on the board,but we still didn't know who he would help-the tension is killing me(and Paul and Brian!!)
A big "Hurrah" and a sigh of relief-Graham is siding with the Spartans!!-this released my Corinthians from flank guarding duties,and they began to move to thwart Paul's winning(!!!) Athenians-great stuff!
The Spartans and their "lovely" allies(Megarans) are winning in all sectors,and driving the Athenians backwards-another hurrah!
Graham's Megarans giving the Thebans a right old "kicking"-final shot of a good,colourful and exciting game-well done "boys".
Roll on next Sunday-Paul suggested another Ancients game,of Romans vs Dacians and Germans-but who knows????
Last night,Graham,Brian,Paul and I had a good old fashioned "set-to" involving a mixed Carthaginian army against a republican Roman army.
Paul and I were Romans,Brian and Graham were Carthaginians.........................
Graham has sent his Elephants,skirmishers and cavalry against my legion on my right flank.
Meanwhile,Brian is moving his Celtic contingent against Paul's flank-this is going to get messy!!!
I have managed to get rid of Graham's Elephants,who have rampaged off to the right of the photo,but I am still struggling with his Spaniards.Paul has sent his centre legion forward but they have run into huge things with trunks!-no,not American holidaymakers,Elephants!!!-it's definitely getting messy!
Brian's Celts have attacked across the stream,and are giving Paul's legion a bit of a hard time,and he is piling more warbands forward-are we in trouble???
No!! Paul has driven the Elephant threat away to my flank!!-thanks Paul, but this has relieved the pressure,allowing him to concentrate his forces against Brian-hurrah!!(unless you're Brian!!)
My Triarii are waiting patiently until the rampaging Elephants have passed then they will launch an attack,supported by my heavy cavalry against Graham's flank-piece of cake!!!
The depleted,defeated and disintegrating Carthaginian centre!!But what of Brian's Celts?
They're knackered too-Graham's face says it all-victory to the Romans!!
Well,roll on Thursday!!
I am seriously considering knocking Sunday games on the head,and maybe playing them every other week,but still continuing with the Thursday night games on a weekly basis.
