Battle Report: Late Republican Romans vs Seleucids
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 2:50 am
This a battle report from a weekend convention I participated in three months ago, which was organised by Peter Dunn. So many members of Wellington Warlord's had signed up for the Beta tests rules there were enough players to have a mini-convention. I fought four battles over two days. I had two losses, a winning draw and win. Enough about the convention, on to the battle!
The Seleucid empire decided that it had had enough of the insulting behaviour of the upset Romans and decided to teach them a lesson. However, Cassius had got wind of the Seleucid's plans and decided to lure the Seleucid army into a trap.
On the left flank he sent the Roman cavalry on a daring flank march, because was confident the Eastern horse archers he had recruited could hold of the Selecuid cavalry until the flank march arrived.
In the centre the Legions and Spanish Scutarii stayed back in rough ground to lure the pikes forward and take advantage of the disordering affect of the uneven ground on the pikes.
On right flank the archers advanced shot at the Seleucid cavalry, while the Roman Light cavalry and Eastern horse archers decided to take advantage of their superior numbers and overwhelm the Seleucid light horse.
On the left flank of the Seleucid Commander had the same idea as the Romans and sent a battlegroup of cavalry and a battlegroup light horse on a flank march, which was driven back by the Roman flank march.
In the centre the Seleucid slingers played a game of 'catch me if you can' with the Roman javelinmen.
On the right flank Eastern Archers panicked at the sight of Seleucid cavalry. Consequently their shooting was ineffective. The Seleucid cavalry promptly charged into the Eastern Archers and routed them, while the Seleucid light horse tenaciously held on against superior numbers.
On the left flank a furious swirling cavalry battle occurred, in which the Roman cavalry was slowly beaten back. Cassius realised he was not as good a cavalry commander he thought he was (I made several silly mistakes in the battle, including failing to declare an intercept that would have resulted in the Seleucid cavalry being charged in the flank).
In the centre Cassius ordered the Legions to advance; while the Javelinmen, having driven off the slingers, threw their javelins at the pikes.
On Right flank the Seleucid light cavalry were finally overwhelmed. The Eastern horse archers raced off in an doomed attempt to assist the Roman cavalry, while the Roman light horse threatened to charge the Seleucid cavalry in the rear. This prevented the Seleucid cavalry pursing the archers, which rallied.
On the left flank the Roman cavalry were finally overwhelmed. The Seleucid cavalry then raced off to assist the pikes. It was too late through.
In centre the heavies fought a vicious hand to hand battle. The combination of the javelinmen breaking up the solid line of pikes, by forcing the some of the battle groups of pikes to charge, and elite Roman legions tipped the balance in favour of the Romans. The only pike block that not routing at the end of battle was the one that faced the Spanish Scutarii.
On the Right flank the Seleucid cavalry was charged in flank by the Roman light cavalry, when it attempted to fill a gap left by a routing pike block.
So, as always, it is the legionaries that win the battle for the Romans.
The Seleucid empire decided that it had had enough of the insulting behaviour of the upset Romans and decided to teach them a lesson. However, Cassius had got wind of the Seleucid's plans and decided to lure the Seleucid army into a trap.
On the left flank he sent the Roman cavalry on a daring flank march, because was confident the Eastern horse archers he had recruited could hold of the Selecuid cavalry until the flank march arrived.
In the centre the Legions and Spanish Scutarii stayed back in rough ground to lure the pikes forward and take advantage of the disordering affect of the uneven ground on the pikes.
On right flank the archers advanced shot at the Seleucid cavalry, while the Roman Light cavalry and Eastern horse archers decided to take advantage of their superior numbers and overwhelm the Seleucid light horse.
On the left flank of the Seleucid Commander had the same idea as the Romans and sent a battlegroup of cavalry and a battlegroup light horse on a flank march, which was driven back by the Roman flank march.
In the centre the Seleucid slingers played a game of 'catch me if you can' with the Roman javelinmen.
On the right flank Eastern Archers panicked at the sight of Seleucid cavalry. Consequently their shooting was ineffective. The Seleucid cavalry promptly charged into the Eastern Archers and routed them, while the Seleucid light horse tenaciously held on against superior numbers.
On the left flank a furious swirling cavalry battle occurred, in which the Roman cavalry was slowly beaten back. Cassius realised he was not as good a cavalry commander he thought he was (I made several silly mistakes in the battle, including failing to declare an intercept that would have resulted in the Seleucid cavalry being charged in the flank).
In the centre Cassius ordered the Legions to advance; while the Javelinmen, having driven off the slingers, threw their javelins at the pikes.
On Right flank the Seleucid light cavalry were finally overwhelmed. The Eastern horse archers raced off in an doomed attempt to assist the Roman cavalry, while the Roman light horse threatened to charge the Seleucid cavalry in the rear. This prevented the Seleucid cavalry pursing the archers, which rallied.
On the left flank the Roman cavalry were finally overwhelmed. The Seleucid cavalry then raced off to assist the pikes. It was too late through.
In centre the heavies fought a vicious hand to hand battle. The combination of the javelinmen breaking up the solid line of pikes, by forcing the some of the battle groups of pikes to charge, and elite Roman legions tipped the balance in favour of the Romans. The only pike block that not routing at the end of battle was the one that faced the Spanish Scutarii.
On the Right flank the Seleucid cavalry was charged in flank by the Roman light cavalry, when it attempted to fill a gap left by a routing pike block.
So, as always, it is the legionaries that win the battle for the Romans.
