Early Imperial Romans vs. Germans (yet again)

[Niceas]

Early Imperial Romans vs Germans. 675pts on a 4x8 table. 1 inch MU's.

Romans:
FC, 2 TCs
2x 6 stand BG's of Legionnaires, the usual, HF, armored, superior, drilled, impact, skilled swordsman
2x 4 stand BG's of Legionnaires, the same
2x 6 stand BG's of Auxlia, MF, armored, avg, drilled, light spear, skilled swordsman (decided to try something different)
1x 6 stand BG of Numidians, LH, Unprot, avg, undrilled, javelin, light spear
1x 4 stand BG of Equites, Cav, armored, avg, drilled, lightspear, swordsman
1x 6 stand BG of archers, LH, protected, avg, drilled, bow
1x 4 stand BG of slingers, LF, unprot, avg, undrilled, sling

Germans
1 FC, 2TCs
2x 4 stand BG's of Noble Cav, Cv, prot, superior, undrilled, Ls, Sw
3x 10 stand BG's of warriors, HF, prot, avg, undrilled, IF, Sw
2x 8 stand BG's of warriors, the same
1x 8 stand BG of warriors, MF, the rest the same.
1x 8 stand BG of archers, LF, Up, avg, Ud, Bw
2x 6 stand BG's of skirmishers, LF, Up, avg, Ud, jav, Ls

Romans lost initiative, the fight took place in woodlands. (Domitian must be trying to grab some glory)

A river covered the German right flank. A small wood lay in the German Left Rear, two small woods were in both Roman flank zones.

A small marsh was in the German right-center zone.

The Romans set up with the two big Legion BGs in the Roman rightcenter, flanked by the auxilia foot on each side. the two smaller legion units provided a support line for the front legion BGs. The Roman left was extended by the Numidians, Ala, archers and slingers in that order.

The Germans set up with 3 big BG's in the first line, 2 smaller in the second, their right covered by cavalry, MF, and one of the javelin armed LF BG's, their right covered by the remaining, achers in the marsh, and the other LF javelins.

The Romans advanced, the Germans advanced, The Numdidans attempted to skirmish against a warband and German cavalry and were chased off. The German right wing cavalry was then charged by the Roman cavalry with a general. the skirmishers on the German right advanced against the Roman skirmishers, the archers getting into a protracted firefight that accomplished nothing, the German LF Javelins eventually chasing the slingers till they caught them and destroyed them. This javelin unit went on to attack and destroy the Roman fortified camp.

The German cavalry and Roman cavalry got into a protracted fight that despite the Germans getting fragmented, just would not end. (this tied up two generals for I don't know how long) The German cavalry eventually broke, and was destroyed in pursuit by the Roman cavalry, which went on to sack the German camp.

In the center, the Legions charged the German foot, and lost the impact phase, one disrupting, and starting a very long scrum that was eventually decided by poor death rolls on the Roman side, both legions being auto-broke.

The left side Roman auxilia, which did not charge, was charged inturn by the right side first line German warband, but stood its ground this time. The German front was extended enough that the Numidian cavalry returned and threw enough javelins to actually cause a CT that the Germans failed. The auxiliaries broke their opponents, which routed and burst through the second line, and was followed up by the Auxilia, the Numidians turning about and attempting to stop the sack of the Roman camp, but not getting there in time, but in time to chase the offending LF off the board.

On the Roman right, the German MF and Roman Auxilia eventually met in the woods, the German MF unit extending enough outside the wood to get charged by a second line Roman legionary BG. The MF was broken, the German LF watching disinterestedly.

By this time, The German center had broke the legionary front line and was engaged by the second line. Here too, the right side legionary unit was auto-broken by casualties, and this put the Romans over their Army rout level.

The Romans losing 3 legion BG's, a slinger BG and their camp. The Germans losing 2 warrior BG's, a LF BG, a cavalry BG and their camp. 1 point difference.

This was a nail biter of a battle. At one point, it looked all over for the Romans, but in one turn, the Germans lost three BG's and Roman cavalry was heading for the German Camp, and the Germans nearly lost heart. And if it hadn't been for those kids sacking the Roman Camp, the Roman might have pulled this out. It was close enough as it was. We discovered that Auxilia as armored skilled swordsmen MF are just as murderous as Legionnaires, although I'll bet that Auxilia won't be able to get that capability when the official list comes out.

Next time the Romans will take more units. The Numidians would have worked better as 2 units of 4 stand instead one of 6, and 3 legionary units of 4 stands instead of 2 of 6 stands seemed to work better in earlier games. (although it could have been the wretched Roman death die rolls too.)

The German warbands have great staying power, especially when led by generals. The German generals were stuck in from the first clash, and were a big factor in getting combat re-rolls for their foot, not to mention bolstering and such. (of which there was quite a bit on each side this game).

I haven't had this much fun (even while losing) with a set of rules in a long time.

[Kineas1]

Now that's a battle!

Good report, Bob. Although in Toronto, we make the winner do the writing...

[stecal]

I only do pictures and painting.... Bob likes to gloat, apparently even when he loses. It really was a close game, but from what I am hearing elsewhere on the forum no one is wining games without breaking a lot of eggs in FOG.

The Big Roman mistake was actually letting the 3 BG of 10 Warband hit the Roman line in an intact line with a TC in each WB. It has never happened before in our games and it obviously made a difference. Next time the Romans need to bait the WB with LF to get some impetous charges to break up their line.

[Okie]

It sound's like the kind of battle that make's it so fun to play, I just love the by the skin of your teeth type battle!!!

[Montagu]

Romans: I am finding deaths to be a big factor in most of my games for the eventual 'auto break' of the units. Which is why I put bigger units where the big fights will be happening. IMO the Roman main line should be upped to 8 rather than reduced.

Guals: Good job on the TC use! Lots of dice and rerolls will sure guarantee those failed deathrolls even if they pass cohesion turn after turn!

[stecal]

I am getting used to the 1" MU in 25mm, but then we played on a 4x8 table so deployments were not that far apart like an 8x5. I dropped down to 3 TCs so command distance was not a factor for me.