Test game 1- Roman (Steve C) v Byzantine (Dan I)
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:00 pm
Battle report 1
Palatine Roman (Early) vs Thematic Byzantine
It was my first and Dan??™s second game.
First point of note in this game, was the terrain or rather the lack of it. Although the invader chose an option where there was plenty of terrain available, the dice seemed to deny its placement in any areas other than either base lines or side edges- Advantage to the mostly mounted Byzantines
The Byzantines deployed in 2 separated groups og BG??™s on both flanks, with no troops in the centre, and their only foot sat in front of the baggage on their right flank. They were also flank marching 2 BG of cavalry with an FC
The Romans deployed their Infantry in battle lines on with the Legionaries and one with the medium foot auxillaries in the centre, and supporting cavalry on their wings
Major turning points
Byzantine flank march got lost for 4 turns and then only one of the groups, bothered to arrive, fortunately by this time their compatriots had almost won the battle on their own??¦??¦..
The Romans instead of either marching across the open centre, or sit and await the 2 enemy forces to converge on them- skirmish one away and attack the other with the heavy foot, decided to split the battle-line in 2 and pivot to face the 2 mounted forces on the wings head on. They were then defeated in detail, with one of the Romans generals (FC), commanding a group of Legionary cavalry being killed in a head on fight with Byzantine lancers, before the flank march arrived. All caused my lack of experience, and poor decision making, it??™s a good jog there are plenty more of them where they came from!
Problems.
The lack of terrain in an area where there should have been more- possibly too many open areas available in this terrain area.
Lack of experience with the rules, and army composition lead to poor deployment.
Also both players kept forgetting the turn sequence- esp. in declaring charges; again a lack of experience.
Occasionally difficult for players to find rule references etc.
Not clear in main body of the rules, which bases of a multi-base type BG are removed, but we were informed by Hammy how this worked.
Issues with what were flank charges, and how contact after charges happened, again clarified by Hammy.
Impression to the result of the battle
Given what happened in deployment and decisions made by the players, there was nothing to indicate that the result was unexpected or extraordinary.
Palatine Roman (Early) vs Thematic Byzantine
It was my first and Dan??™s second game.
First point of note in this game, was the terrain or rather the lack of it. Although the invader chose an option where there was plenty of terrain available, the dice seemed to deny its placement in any areas other than either base lines or side edges- Advantage to the mostly mounted Byzantines
The Byzantines deployed in 2 separated groups og BG??™s on both flanks, with no troops in the centre, and their only foot sat in front of the baggage on their right flank. They were also flank marching 2 BG of cavalry with an FC
The Romans deployed their Infantry in battle lines on with the Legionaries and one with the medium foot auxillaries in the centre, and supporting cavalry on their wings
Major turning points
Byzantine flank march got lost for 4 turns and then only one of the groups, bothered to arrive, fortunately by this time their compatriots had almost won the battle on their own??¦??¦..
The Romans instead of either marching across the open centre, or sit and await the 2 enemy forces to converge on them- skirmish one away and attack the other with the heavy foot, decided to split the battle-line in 2 and pivot to face the 2 mounted forces on the wings head on. They were then defeated in detail, with one of the Romans generals (FC), commanding a group of Legionary cavalry being killed in a head on fight with Byzantine lancers, before the flank march arrived. All caused my lack of experience, and poor decision making, it??™s a good jog there are plenty more of them where they came from!
Problems.
The lack of terrain in an area where there should have been more- possibly too many open areas available in this terrain area.
Lack of experience with the rules, and army composition lead to poor deployment.
Also both players kept forgetting the turn sequence- esp. in declaring charges; again a lack of experience.
Occasionally difficult for players to find rule references etc.
Not clear in main body of the rules, which bases of a multi-base type BG are removed, but we were informed by Hammy how this worked.
Issues with what were flank charges, and how contact after charges happened, again clarified by Hammy.
Impression to the result of the battle
Given what happened in deployment and decisions made by the players, there was nothing to indicate that the result was unexpected or extraordinary.