Book VI: Minimus goes back to square one By Mitch Berdinka
Cast: Roman Genral:Minimus Gluteus- Tom Timmons, Roman Right Flank: Bitchaticus Dinkum-Mitch Berdinka,
Pontic General: Gareas Wilmaneas- Gary Williams, Pontic left Flank: Donnyzovag Timmonuxtani -Donny Timmons
Rules: Game was conducted Port Orchard, WA in August 2008 using a playtest version of the TACTICA II (T-2) Ancients rules. T-2 has been in development by Art Conliffe and is in the final stages of publication. Hopefully they will be available to all in the very near future.
Minimus Gluteus, Roman General had sailed with the intention of landing on the North coast of Bithynia from which to begin his assault on Pontus through Galatia. A freak storm however had blown his fleet East and he landed in Paphlagonia only a few weeks march away from the Pontic Capitol. The Ponts frantically gather a force together and under General Mitchradates , brought out from retirement, met Minimus at the small town of Dragonium. The hastily assembled Pontic Phalanxes however, were of inferior quality and were no match for the well trained Roman Legions. Mitchradates was defeated but managed to escape with a sizeable portion of his army due to the disappearance of Minimus’s Legion commander, Adamius Gruntus during the late stages of the battle.
Minimus was delayed in pursuing the Ponts. Never one for administrative details, it took him awhile to consolidate his position and reorganize his command structure due to the missing Gruntus. There was much speculation in the army regarding the absent commander and suspicions were raised about Minimus’s part. By arranging for the transfer of certain dissident officers and appropriating the resources of the local Nudus Nectar beverage stands and issuing them to the troops, Adamius Gruntus was soon forgotten. The resulting intoxication of his army however prevented any effective follow up of the Ponts. After a few weeks, a new Legion Commander, Bitchaticus Dinkum arrived from the Northern regions of Dacia and progress was made in getting the campaign started again. Soon the army was on the march toward Pontus and Minimus had high hopes this would be the final campaign in the war. The Paphlagonians were happy to see the Romans leave as there was hardly a decent drink of spirits left within twenty five leagues of Dragonium.
Mitchradates returned to Pontus expecting to be castigated for his defeat. He found instead himself treated as a hero since with inferior troops he had only been expected to delay the Romans. Intelligence reports indicated the Romans were totally disorganized and would take several weeks to reach Pontus. This would allow the Ponts time to reposition their forces and gather good quality phalangites to go up against the Romans. Mitchradates received the thanks of the Pontic king, was paid handsomely for his services and allowed to go back into retirement. The Armenian, Gareas Wilmaneas who had defeated Minimus previously at the Battle of Discordium (See Book IV) would now take command of the Pontic forces. Gareas always a meticulous dresser, had purchased a rather extensive wardrobe from the spoils of his last thrashing of Minimus. He now welcomed the chance to replenish his funds. To assist him, he brought the young Armenian prince, Donnyzovag Timmonuxtani to tutor in the fine art of conquering Romans while not soiling your clothes. Donnyzovag was an eager pupil and paid attention to every word as his mentor explained how to kick Roman butt.
The Ponts marched westward and scouts of the opposing sides contacted at a site on the coast road between the town of Amisus and the Halys river. Bordered by the Pontus Euxinus( present day Black Sea) to the North and a range of steep hills to the South, the field of battle left little room to maneuver and would force the armies to deploy very close to each other. For this reason it became known as the Battle of the Narrow Plain. Deployments:(See Figure 1)
Bitchaticus and Minimus were summoned when the way forward was found blocked by Pontic forces. Together they surveyed the field of battle from where the coast road took a turn inward. There were a couple of low lying hills on each flank. In the center right was a much larger hill that blocked observation across the field. In front of them Minimus could see the usual array of Pontic phalangites, scythed chariots and supporting light cavalry and infantry. Fearing what he could not see, Minimus curtly told Bitchaticus, “Take the right flank. I’ll deal with their main force on the left.” He hoped his tone would dissuade Bitchaticus from questioning his orders. Bitchaticus shrewdly surmised the real reason for Minimus’s command. He merely shrugged, saluted and asked permission to prepare his troops for battle. He knew full well that the hill could have hid much more of the Pontic Army but in all probability it was no worse than what they could see in front of them.
So the Legions deployed in a fairly balanced arrangement using the Acies Duplex/alternate formation with the 1st Cohorts in the center and in the front line. Minimus put his heavy Roman Cavalry with a supporting unit each of light cavalry and light infantry on his left flank. Bitchaticus had two units of Auxilia and a light horse unit on the Roman right flank. The skirmishers were deployed in front of the legions and comprised a unit each of bows, slings and javelins.
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Photo 1 Overview of the battlefield, Ponts on Left, Romans on Right |
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| Map 1: Initial Dispositions |
Opening Moves:
Bitchaticus, a seasoned veteran of many battles ordered his lead cohorts directly forward to seize the high ground of the hill. He knew he would need every advantage available if he had to go up against the dense Pontic pike blocks. As he crested the hill he was relieved to find that he faced only one phalanx, the Chalkaspides (Brazen Shields) opposite his 1st cohort. To their right were only some imitation legionnaires and some Thracian light infantry. He calmly ordered his second line of cohorts to follow up and reinforce the first line in accordance with the standard Roman deployment doctrine. The Light cavalry and infantry on his right advanced to cover the flank of his cohorts. No complicated maneuvers were required. Just straight ahead, engage the enemy and defeat them with superior training and equipment. It was what Roman Legions were known for the world over. While the enemy cataphracts he saw to the right might give him some trouble, Bitchaticus thought this battle should be an easy win for the Romans.
Unfortunately on the other flank, Minimus was having some difficulties in getting his cohorts into position. For some reason he wheeled half his cohorts dramatically one way and then later in the opposite direction. Perhaps he was reacting to some perceived Pontic threat or was in some weird dissociative fugue from an overindulgence of Paphlagonian wine the night before. Whatever the reason, the maneuvers left his Legion in a less than optimum deployment. It later became known as the “Curly Shuffle”. The origins of this term are not clear as most evidence for it comes from Pontic sources, but it was thought to be mainly due to the “Nyuck, Nyuck” sound made from the riveted metal plates of the Sporran clicking against the leather Pteruges straps around the waist of the Roman uniform as the soldiers wheeled violently in one direction and then another. Regardless of the reason, it ended up with none of the cohorts being properly reinforced. This would lead to severe consequences later on. Three cohorts on the left were angled back so as to protect the flank of the Legion as if Minimus had some premonition of things to come.
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Photo 2: Opening moves. Romans doing “Curly Shuffle” at middle Right. |
On the far Roman left the more numerous Pontic Thorakatoi light infantry overcame the Italian lights and moved up to support the Pontic heavy cavalry who were in a slug fest with the Roman heavy horse. The Gallic light cavalry caught in flank by the scythed chariots didn’t have a chance and soon routed off the field with the Thracian light horse in pursuit. The scythed chariots were finished however and dispersed off the field satisfied they had made their contribution. The Thracians pursed the Gallic LC almost to the end of the field, but recovered, turned and charged to take Minimus’s 9th cohort on the flank. The Pontic Bartarnae were the only unengaged heavy unit left on the battle field and they advanced towards the refused left flank of the Romans. Both of Gareas’s phalanxes were engaged with the 6 cohorts of Minimus.
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Map 3: Roman Wings failing |
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Photo 3: Ponts close in on Roman left Flank |
Roman left in trouble:
Minimus’s 8th and 10th cohorts advanced to engage the Bastarnae. Unfortunately for them, the 9th cohort hit in its flank was overwhelmed and routed by the Thracian LC. The Thracian horse then advanced to catch the 10th cohort in the rear. The Roman Heavy Cavalry on the left was finally overwhelmed by the Thorakatoi and Pontic HC and routed off the field. The Ponts showed admirable control and did not pursue the broken Roman HC. Instead they wheeled and advanced toward the Roman rear. Minimus seeing disaster, ordered his 6th cohort to turn and face the Pontic HC and sent his remaining slingers to hopefully support. In the center the six cohorts fighting against the Pontic pike blocks were holding their own except for the 2nd cohort which took heavy casualties form the Phalangites and eventually broke. The 1st cohort held firm however and continued the fight.
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Map 4: Minimus in Trouble |
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Photo 4: Bitchaticus’ Legion winning but Cataphracts in his rear |
The Skythian Horse Archers caught the 7th cohort of Bitchaticus in the rear, but they must have been exhausted as they didn’t manage to do much damage and the Romans killed enough of them to send them packing. The Cataphracts continued their ponderous advance running over some Roman javelinmen in the process. The Imitation Legion was no match for the two Roman cohorts and it broke and fled leaving only the Brazen Shields and some miscellaneous skirmishers defending the Pontic left. The Romans were very close to a victory, if they could only break a few more Pontic units
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Map 5: A Confused Mess |
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Photo 5 Tough Fighting on Roman Left Flank |
It had been a hard fight on both sides. Bitchaticus still had most of his cohorts, but his supporting lights and cavalry were all gone. He finally managed to route the Brazen Shields, but Cataphracts were approaching his rear. He would not have time to turn and face them without becoming disorganized.
On the Roman left, the Pontic heavy cavalry were finally routed by the 6th cohort, but it was too late. The Legion of Minimus had taken too many casualties. They had reached their breaking point and began to route off the field. The Pontic light infantry massacred them as they tried to evade the press of the Pontic pikes and the advance of the ferocious Bastarnae. Minimus who had done little to inspire his troops during the battle decided now to take action. He promptly turned and fled as fast as he could go, back to Paphlagonia running over some of his fleeing legionaires in the process.
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Map : End of the Battle |
Aftermath:
Bitchaticus cursed Minimus and prepared to die with his Legion. To his surprise the Cataphracts held off from charging into the rear of his cohorts. An envoy from the Pontic side soon appeared and offered to discuss terms with Bitchaticus. The young Armenian commander, Donnyzovag, impressed by the disciplined Romans wished to raise more imitation legionaires, thinking they were the weapon of the future. To do so, he needed more Roman weapons and equipment and it was easier to do so if one didn’t have to clean all the blood and gore off those from captured troops. He offered to spare the lives of Bitchaticus and his Legion as long as they freely gave up all their armour and weapons. They could keep their treasured Eagle and for a small ransom, he would give them transport to the nearest Roman port. Bitchaticus readily accepted the generous offer and he and his Legion would live to fight another day.Minimus did not stop until he reached Abonuteichos in Paphlagonia, where he first landed at the start of this campaign. There he commandeered the first ship he found available and immediately set sail. He hoped to get to Roman territory and send a message to Rome to detailing how Bitchaticus and his Legion had failed him. Raising the threat of a Pontic invasion had worked in the past and as long as he had someone to put the blame on, he was sure the Roman Senate would see it his way. He fully expected that Bitchaticus and his troops were either dead or sold as slaves.
Unfortunately for Minimus, the boat he had selected was a “mail boat” and it made several stops on the way to Roman territory. News of his defeat reached Rome before Minimus had even cleared the Aegean Sea. In the Greecian Port of Nicopolis a special armed guard from the Roman Senate caught up with Minimus and before he could utter a single word, he was apprehended and locked up in chains. He was delivered to a rather derelict merchant vessel which transported him to northern Italy where he was unceremoniously loaded into a prison cart and sent north. In a few weeks he found himself somewhere in the wilds of Germania. At the start of his campaign, the Senate weary of his continuing requests for monetary support advised Minimus in no uncertain terms that he had better produce results or he would find himself in one of the penal Legions fighting naked barbarians in the far northern regions of Gaul. True to their word, the Roman Senate had arranged for Minimus to be placed in command of one of the worst Legions in the Empire in the hopes the barbarians would do away with him once and for all. This allowed them to adroitly hide the embarrassment while not offending some of Minimus’s rich family and friends back in Rome. Minimus had many adventures in Germania and managed to survive, but that is a tale for another time.
Back in Paphlagonia, the inhabitants debated about changing the monument they had erected to Minimus after his initial victory there at Dragonium. It had been engraved with the words "Veni, vidi, discessi". (“He came, He saw, He left.”). After a very short debate, they decided to just leave it as it was.
Notes on the game:
This game was closer than it looked. The Pontic phalanxes had fought hard and had taken a beating. When the Brazen Shields broke, we figured the Ponts had lost, but in adding up the points both sides were over breakpoint. The Romans had the higher percentage loss however, so per the rules, they were the losers.
The Roman deployment was faulty on their left. In all fairness to Tom Timmons, this was his first Tactica game and although I had explained the Roman reinforcement rules to him, he got it wrong. I should have paid more attention but as Bitchaticus, was busy on the Roman right. In order for the reinforcement rules to apply, a cohort must first deploy into line and then be reinforced. Tom mistakenly deployed most of his cohorts in column, side by side. Hence they only counted as eight man units and reached breakpoint faster than if they deployed reinforced counting as sixteen man units. As far as the “Curly Shuffle” is concerned, I don’t know what he was attempting to do, but like I said, he was new to the rules. As it was, he lost some time with the maneuver that might have been better spent in forming a solid line. Before he could get organized, he was just overwhelmed.
The Ponts usually have much more cavalry than the Romans, but its often hard for them to make a difference before things are decided in the center. For example the Pontic Cataphracts took out he Roman right flank, but it took them a long tome before they could turn around and get back into position to threaten the Roman right flank cohorts. Gary did admirable work as Gareas in using his mounted and foot troops together to wear down the Romans. With most of the Pontic pike phalanxes against him, Tom would have had a hard time even with a better deployment. But if he could have held out for just one more turn, victory would have gone to the Romans.
