Late Roman vs Persian AAR

This weekend we attended "The Barn" Chris Flowers home with large converted garage to game in over in Sunny North Yorkshire and enjoyed a very large Late Romans vs Sassanid Persian game.

The Romans having retreated over the desert and lost many of their mounts needed to defend a small oasis with limited Cavalry and an open flank. Their Strength was the three "divisions" of Legionary foot.

 

 When the Roman commanders returned into the room after Persian set up we had to pause to take in the sheer volume of troops arrayed before us. Georgous in bright colours I never got the chance to count just how many units were about to engulf us, the key troops for the Sassanids were their Cataphract cavalry.

 The Roman Cavalry was hidden behind three hills, but to be honest we didn't feel much better when we brought it on  to fill the gaps in our line. It was going to be a tough game.

 The Roman Cavalry was very pretty but there just wasnt enough to halt the hordes of Persians.

 The Roman artillery at least meant that we could inflict casualties from a range.


We were using Hail Ceaser rules which have used many times before and enjoyed. However we had not played for a while and our familiarity with the similar, but still very different Black Powder rules hindered rather than helped as we got various rules wrong. We had perhaps started the game slightly too far apart, being used to the rapid movement of Black Powder which is pretty much halved in Hail Ceaser.

 The light cavalry on our righ flank quickly got into action with both sides having about equal honours. The left and centre having a respite as the Persians failed to get moving for some time.

 Slowly but surely the Persians advanced and the Roman open right flank withdrew to buy time.

 A flurry of arrows back and forth and then the Elite Cataphracts charged the Elite Legionaries in the centre , leading t a 4 move arm wrestle of a melee with neither side giving an inch. Meanwhile the left flank become generally engaged again with neither side able to gain decisive advantage.

 It couldn't last and after both generals led their personal body guards into the fray and with the Legionaries throwing back one unit of the three Elite Cataphracts eventually the fist unit of the Romans Broke, the Cataphracts swept onto the next unit in line and immediately broke these too, wounding the Imperial commander in the process. At this same time the elephants which had been gently meandering forward had a sudden spurt of energy and found themselves poised to launch straight through the gap in the Roman line.

 On either flank the game was still entirely in the balance and could easily have gone either way.

 However with the gaping hole in the centre and the Roman general being led away by his bodyguard the Persians were able to claim final victory.

Another fun game at the barn but this time a real spectacle with the shear volume of troops on table. I think if we were to paly this again starting closer would be ideal, perhaps changing the seven foot wide table to 6 foot would have given a more decisive result.

A thoroughly enjoyable day with Chris, Chris, Jerry, Andy Richard, Steve and Dave. Thanks for the day out gents.

So that's it for now, I am cracking on with the Swedish Guard Grenadiers and hope to have these completed by the weekend. Thanks for reading.