Magnesia, 190 BC
Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:19 pm
This battle was fought on 30th December 2009 by members of Guildford Wargames Club at our annual Xmas wargaming event.
I based the armies on Phil Sabins excellent Lost Battles (Published Continuum Books 2007, ISBN 978 1 84725 187 9).
We used a 10' x 4' table and 25mm figures.
To match the historical numbers the Seleucid army had more points than the Roman - but the play balance is pretty fair.
We played some minor rule changes...
1. Heavy foot in good going move 4” rather than 3”.
2. Mounted troops (except Elephants) completing a charge added 2” to their variable move. They must be within normal distance in order to charge. (Example – light horse charging against skirmishers who evade and throwing a 3 will move 9” not 7”…).
3. Generals fighting in the front rank would not be able to bolster the unit they are fighting with. They could choose to withdraw from fighting in the front rank but the unit will have to take a cohesion test (and can drop two levels if appropriate).
4. Scythed chariots had to deploy between 10” & 15” of the table edge (i.e. ahead of all non-skirmishers). They also would not be able to provide rear support to other troops.
These were intended to speed up play and were partly just to see what effect they would have. In the end they worked well.
The sides were:
Roman Army
Troops Type # bases Pt/base Points Representing
C-in-C IC 1 80 80
Sub-generals FC 2 50 100
Legion 1:
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Legion 2:
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Legion 3:
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Legion 4:
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Additional troops:
Cavalry Cv, Armoured, Average, Undrilled, Light spear, Swordsmen 4 12 48 1,000
Thureophoroi MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Offensive Spearmen 4 8 32 2,000
Pergamene Allies:
Ally general FC 1 40 40
Xystophoroi Cv, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen 4 17 68 1,000
Light Cavalry LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 7 28 1,000
Thureophoroi MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 6 8 48 3,000
Cretan Archers LF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow 4 6 24 1,000
Trallian Slingers LF, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Sling 4 4 16 1,000
Fortified camp CAMP 1 24 24
This makes the army 3,000 mounted and 31,000 infantry.
Troops Type # bases Pt/base Points Representing
C-in-C IC 1 80 80 -
Sub-generals FC 3 50 150 -
105 -
Companions Cv, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen 4 20 80 1,000
Cataphracts Ct, Heavily armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen 4 20 80 1,000
Galatian Cavalry Cv, Armoured, Superior, Undrilled, Light spear, Swordsmen 4 16 64 1,000
Tarentines LH, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 6 7 42 1,500
Scythians LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Bow, Swordsmen 4 10 40 1,000
Scythed Chariots SCh, Average, Undrilled 2 15 30 25
Elephants El, Average, Undrilled 2 25 50 25
Elephants El, Average, Undrilled 2 25 50 25
Agyraspides HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pikemen 8 8 64 4,000
Agyraspides HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pikemen 8 8 64 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Galatians HF, Protected, Superior, Undrilled, Impact Foot, Swordsmen 6 9 54 3,000
Thureophoroi MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 6 8 48 3,000
Thracians MF, Protected, Average, Undrilled, Heavy Weapon 6 7 42 3,000
Cretan Archers LF, Unprotected, Superior, Undrilled, Bow 6 6 36 1,500
Archers LF, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Bow 8 5 40 2,000
Slingers LF, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Sling 6 4 24 1,500
Javelinmen LF, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 8 4 32 2,000
Camelry Cm, Unprotected, Poor, Undrilled, Bow, Swordsmen 4 10 40 1,000
Fortified camp CAMP 1 24 24 -
This makes the army 5,500 mounted and 41,000 infantry plus elephants and scythed chariots. It was assumed that the remainder of the Seleucid army was of such poor quality that it would take no useful part in the battle.
The terrain was largely open with a river on the Seleucid right (Roman left) flank, with the odd patch of uneven and rough going around the flanks (marsh by the riveer). We also added a small gentle hill in the middle on the Roman side - it was to play no part in the battle.
The Seleucid deployed their cavlry with elphants on their left, phalanx and galatians in the centre and some skirmishers and scythed chariots on the right. The Romans deployed their legions opposite the cavalry (but were outflanked), and against the phalanx. The Pergamene force was on their left.
The refight was a cracking game, with the legions demolishing the phalanx, while the Pergamene allies were beaen (despite shoooting away the scythed chariots) and the Seleucid cavalry flank mauled the legion opposite them.
In the end, both sides wlost half their BGs at the same time, mutual destruction.
I based the armies on Phil Sabins excellent Lost Battles (Published Continuum Books 2007, ISBN 978 1 84725 187 9).
We used a 10' x 4' table and 25mm figures.
To match the historical numbers the Seleucid army had more points than the Roman - but the play balance is pretty fair.
We played some minor rule changes...
1. Heavy foot in good going move 4” rather than 3”.
2. Mounted troops (except Elephants) completing a charge added 2” to their variable move. They must be within normal distance in order to charge. (Example – light horse charging against skirmishers who evade and throwing a 3 will move 9” not 7”…).
3. Generals fighting in the front rank would not be able to bolster the unit they are fighting with. They could choose to withdraw from fighting in the front rank but the unit will have to take a cohesion test (and can drop two levels if appropriate).
4. Scythed chariots had to deploy between 10” & 15” of the table edge (i.e. ahead of all non-skirmishers). They also would not be able to provide rear support to other troops.
These were intended to speed up play and were partly just to see what effect they would have. In the end they worked well.
The sides were:
Roman Army
Troops Type # bases Pt/base Points Representing
C-in-C IC 1 80 80
Sub-generals FC 2 50 100
Legion 1:
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Legion 2:
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Roman Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Legion 3:
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Legion 4:
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Legionaries HF, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Skilled Swordsmen 4 14 56 2,000
Allied Triarii HF, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 2 16 32 1,000
Velites LF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 5 20 1,000
Additional troops:
Cavalry Cv, Armoured, Average, Undrilled, Light spear, Swordsmen 4 12 48 1,000
Thureophoroi MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Offensive Spearmen 4 8 32 2,000
Pergamene Allies:
Ally general FC 1 40 40
Xystophoroi Cv, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen 4 17 68 1,000
Light Cavalry LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Javelins, Light spear 4 7 28 1,000
Thureophoroi MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 6 8 48 3,000
Cretan Archers LF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow 4 6 24 1,000
Trallian Slingers LF, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Sling 4 4 16 1,000
Fortified camp CAMP 1 24 24
This makes the army 3,000 mounted and 31,000 infantry.
Troops Type # bases Pt/base Points Representing
C-in-C IC 1 80 80 -
Sub-generals FC 3 50 150 -
105 -
Companions Cv, Armoured, Elite, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen 4 20 80 1,000
Cataphracts Ct, Heavily armoured, Superior, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen 4 20 80 1,000
Galatian Cavalry Cv, Armoured, Superior, Undrilled, Light spear, Swordsmen 4 16 64 1,000
Tarentines LH, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 6 7 42 1,500
Scythians LH, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Bow, Swordsmen 4 10 40 1,000
Scythed Chariots SCh, Average, Undrilled 2 15 30 25
Elephants El, Average, Undrilled 2 25 50 25
Elephants El, Average, Undrilled 2 25 50 25
Agyraspides HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pikemen 8 8 64 4,000
Agyraspides HF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Pikemen 8 8 64 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Phalangites HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Pikemen 8 6 48 4,000
Galatians HF, Protected, Superior, Undrilled, Impact Foot, Swordsmen 6 9 54 3,000
Thureophoroi MF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Offensive spearmen 6 8 48 3,000
Thracians MF, Protected, Average, Undrilled, Heavy Weapon 6 7 42 3,000
Cretan Archers LF, Unprotected, Superior, Undrilled, Bow 6 6 36 1,500
Archers LF, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Bow 8 5 40 2,000
Slingers LF, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Sling 6 4 24 1,500
Javelinmen LF, Unprotected, Average, Drilled, Javelins, Light spear 8 4 32 2,000
Camelry Cm, Unprotected, Poor, Undrilled, Bow, Swordsmen 4 10 40 1,000
Fortified camp CAMP 1 24 24 -
This makes the army 5,500 mounted and 41,000 infantry plus elephants and scythed chariots. It was assumed that the remainder of the Seleucid army was of such poor quality that it would take no useful part in the battle.
The terrain was largely open with a river on the Seleucid right (Roman left) flank, with the odd patch of uneven and rough going around the flanks (marsh by the riveer). We also added a small gentle hill in the middle on the Roman side - it was to play no part in the battle.
The Seleucid deployed their cavlry with elphants on their left, phalanx and galatians in the centre and some skirmishers and scythed chariots on the right. The Romans deployed their legions opposite the cavalry (but were outflanked), and against the phalanx. The Pergamene force was on their left.
The refight was a cracking game, with the legions demolishing the phalanx, while the Pergamene allies were beaen (despite shoooting away the scythed chariots) and the Seleucid cavalry flank mauled the legion opposite them.
In the end, both sides wlost half their BGs at the same time, mutual destruction.
Good time had by all.