Slitherine

Here is another one of my scenarios. This is the battle of Asculum and it took place in 279 BC. It was a battle between a Roman Army and King Pyrrhus of Epirot. The battle was fought over two days. This scenario starts at the beginning of the battle on the second day. At dawn, Pyrrhus sent light infantry to occupy the wooded hills that caused him so much trouble on the first day and the Romans were forced into an open set piece battle. Four Roman Legions squared off against his phalangites. The battle was only decided when the elephants supported by light infantry broke the Roman battle line. Pyrrhus followed this break through with a fierce charge of his xystophoroi and completed the route of the Roman Army. This battle is high complexity with 156 battlegroups with 20 turns available. It is on a 30 deep and 40 wide playing area. The Romans have 40,800 men (with 80 break points) and King Pyrrhus has 38,770 men (with 76 break points). The Roman army totals up to 650pts and King Pyrrhus army totals up to 699pts (The points were closer to each other prior to this last update from Slitherine, 1.02), but the armies still seem to be fairly matched.

I play with a 30 by 40 playing area because it is the closest surface area in the game that coorisponds to a gaming table (gives me more of that table top game feal), and about twice as many units as what is normally in the PC game, but puts it about right for the table top game (the starter armies range from 40 to 80 stand each). Again, this give me that table top feel. I do not have a place to post the files, but if you want it just send me a private message with your email address. Here is a battle report for this scenario so that you can get a better idea of it. Thanks

Here are the starting positions for the two armies. You cannot expand the view to see the whole battle field, but you come close. It is mainly an open field with some brush, but the main feature is the wooded hills on the right side of the map. These hills are key to this side of the map. Have fun.

The Roman Center

The center has four legions all set up for battle. The lead units are Velites, followed by Hastati (yes they are only protected), followed by the Principes (armoured), and finally you have the Triari. I tried to give the army more of a Mid-Republican feel so that it was different from the Late Republican Romans. Also, all those Rome haters out there will love this one.



The Roman Left Flank

On the left the Romans have their cavalry backed up by Allied medium Infantry. It is good to note here that the cavalry are only protected.



The Roman Right Flank

On the right you have the same as on the left plus a unit of Pedites Extraordinarii. The Pedites will be key to taking those wooded hills.

The Pyrrhic Center

The center consists of skirmishers in front with medium infantry next (allies) and then the main battle line being three distinct units of Phalangites. The center one and the one on the right are Epirot Phalangites while the one on the left are Tarantine Phalangites. Again, it is important to note that the Tarantines are rated as poor. Behind this line are the elephants and a formation of Xystophoroi. The elephants can be fickle, but he Xystohporoi are hard as nails!




The Pyrrhic Left Flank

A large unit of Samnite Light horse covers this flank as well as some Oscan Medium infantry lurking in the wooded hills. These units can be a major thorn in the side of the Romans if utilized well.




The Pyrrhic Right Flank

On this flank we have a unit of Epirot Javelin Armed Heavy Cavalry.

The Romans begin their march.

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The Pyrrhic army moves forward.

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The Romans continue to march forward concentrating their Hastati towards the flanks. The Equites on the right flank hold up waiting for the Pedites to enter the hills to protect their flank. The Velites push away the Pyrrhic skirmishing screen.

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The Pyrrhic army continues the march forward with a big push by it’s Light Horse on their left flank.

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The Romans continue to push forward with the Pedites entering the wooded hills and the Equites keeping pace with medium infantry in support. A couple of the Equite units scatter some skirmishers. The Roman Velites push back the Pyrrhic skirmishers and start harassing the enemy battle line. The Equites on the left flank hold up to let its supporting troops to catch up.

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The Pyrrhics keep advancing scattering skirmishers in their wake.

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The Roman Army continues to move forward in the center. The pedites push into the wooded hills supported by allied medium foot. The Equites on the right flank scatters the Pyrrhic Light Horse while the Equites on the left flank charge the Pyrrhic Cavalry with little effect. The Velites continue the harassment of the Pyrrhic battle line.

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The Pyrrhics continue to advance with fighting raging between opposing Cavalry on his right flank and the medium infantry charging the Romans on his left flank.

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The Romans charge in with the Hastati and have mixed results. The Romans do well on their right flank, but are having a real ruff time on their left flank. Select Principes move forward in the center and the Triarii move towards the flanks.

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The Pyrrhic army is doing great all along the battle line except in the wooded hills - The Pedites are earning their keep for the Romans.

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The Romans are now fully engaged all along the battle line. The Romans are doing great on their right flank, but have had mixed results along the battle line, and are doing rather poorly on their left flank.

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A lot of the same - mixed results along the battle line with the Pyrrhics doing well on their right flank and the Romans doing well against their Left flank. Who will get the upper hand first?

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The Romans held their own all along the battle line and continued to expand their break through on their right flank.

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As the battle rages one the Pyrrhics manage to make a big hole in the Roman battle line. Can the Romans recover?

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The Romans quickly plug the holes in the battle line with Trarii and Velites and continue to expand its break through along its rights flank.

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The Pyrrhic army just blew big hole in the middle of the Roman battle line!

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