tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18417341884312447622024-03-05T22:38:13.244-08:00STRATEGIKON IIMitch Berdinkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17243639892486417817noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841734188431244762.post-17790459303960200712014-06-04T23:48:00.000-07:002014-06-04T23:52:44.352-07:00<span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is a very small Tactica game I played solo in December while recuperating from a mild heart attack I suffered late November while trying to put up some Xmas decorations at the insistence of my spouse. Not being allowed to do much, I was looking for some way to entertain myself and decided, "Why not play some Tactica"! It was done entirely at my computer using Battle Chronicler to do the moves using the Tactica II playtest rules. If you haven't heard of Battle Chronicler, you can check it out here: <a href="http://battlechronicler.com/">http://battlechronicler.com/</a></i> <i>Although a little cumbersome, its a decent program that enables one to make maps of the miniature battles. I apologize for the mountains that look like cow paddies, but that's what Battle Chronicler has to work with. At any rate, I had fun doing it and it allowed Minimus to continue his journey to Germania while Pontic General Mitchradates continued battling the Romans in Cappadocia. </i></span><i>All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead or real events, is purely coincidental.</i><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book I:
Battle of the
Syrian Gates</span></u></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>:</b> </span></h3>
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Minimus Gluteus, Roman General had been
defeated at the Battle of the Narrow Plain on
the Pontic coast road between the town of Amisus
and the Halys river. Trying to flee back to Roman territory, Minimus was
apprehended by a special armed guard from the Roman Senate at the Grecian
Port of Nicopolis and sent north to fight naked barbarians somewhere in
the wilds of Germania. </div>
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The Roman Senate raised new Legions and sent
them East, hoping to finally bring the citizens of Pontus under Roman rule. Although
if the truth be told, it was more the idea of large numbers of population not
paying taxes to Rome that irked them than bringing Roman civilization to the
world. The Roman General decided on a bold plan to attack Pontus from the South, up through Syria and into Cappadocia.
Roman colonies in the near East would provide a convenient base to support his
campaign. </div>
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He advanced on several fronts hoping to out-flank
the Ponts and their numerous allies. Most of the routes were in open terrain
and the armies of Pontus
with abundant cavalry were able to dispute any Roman advance. One route
however, was through a mountainous region of Syria
over the Belen Pass, also known as the Syrian Gates.
Due to its narrowness, it could be defended by a small force. The Roman General
decided to send a single Legion without support troops to take the pass. He
hoped quick and decisive action by the Legion would overcome whatever token
force the Ponts had to defend it. He thought that the Ponts would surely only
defend the pass with light and maneuverable infantry that would be no match for
his tough cohorts.</div>
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The Empire of Pontus had many troops but not
enough generals. All leaders of adequate ability had been briefed and sent to
defend the many avenues of possible Roman advance. Thinking the Romans not
likely to use the Belen Pass because of its narrowness, the Ponts called on
retired General Mitchradates who was on a vacation trip in Cilicia
with his wife at the time. Mitchradates had previously been defeated by Minimus
Gluteus at the battle of Dragonium, but had delayed Minimus sufficiently that
the Ponts were able to raise enough troops in time to defeat Minimus at the Battle of the Narrow
Plain. Tired of being harangued by his wife for not attending to chores around
the household, Mitchradates readily accepted the command and set off to defend
the pass. The only troops the Ponts had available were two infantry phalanxes
and some Armenian archers. Not the best for difficult terrain, but the actual
pass was fairly level clear terrain. So Mitchradates deployed his troops while
the Roman Legion advanced up the pass hoping to find it lightly defended.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deployments:</span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></h3>
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Mitchradates pondered how to best deploy his phalanxes.
They were not very maneuverable and were very easily flanked in open terrain. Side
by side they would completely block the Romans from advancing and in the narrow
part of the Pass they could not be flanked. They could not support each other
though and could easily be worn down if the Romans chose to attack only one and
leave the other un-engaged. So Mitchradates decided to angle the phalanxes so
that they could wheel slightly and advance to support the other if the Romans
attacked on one side only. </div>
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Initial Deployment </div>
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The Roman Legate was surprised to see heavy
infantry occupying the pass when he arrived, but it didn’t delay his attack.
His Legion had fought whole armies with pike phalanxes before and won, so why
should just two units of heavy infantry intimidate him. He decided to engage
the phalanxes with as many units as possible and to maximize his Pila attacks.
This meant deploying the cohorts individually so that they all had opportunity
to throw their pila. In the narrow pass, the only way to get as many cohorts as
possible to engage the phalanxes was to deploy the flank cohorts in line and
the center cohorts in column. This would result in each phalanx having to fight
two cohorts. </div>
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So the Roman cohorts advanced and were soon under
missile fire by the Pontic archers, Mitchradates had sent in front of his
phalanxes. They would get a couple of volleys off before evading behind their
heavy infantry.</div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Battle:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></h3>
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The Roman Legion advanced toward the Pontic
Phalanxes, the leading Cohorts each taking minimal casualties from the Archers.
The inside two cohorts advanced slightly ahead of the outer two in order to all
hit the Pontic line at the same time. The Pontic archers evaded behind the
heavy Infantry, their part in the battle concluded.</div>
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Mitchradates, seeing an opportunity in the
Roman deployment, advanced his Phalanxes slightly to engage the outer Cohorts
before the inner cohorts made contact. This enabled the Ponts to force Cohorts
1 and 4 to each exchange blows with a full Phalanx. The resulting melee was
deadly with both sides taking equal casualties. Unfortunately for the Romans
the deeper Phalanxes were able to withstand more punishment. Cohort 4 was
totally shattered. Some Pontic phalangites after the battle commented it was as
if in their eagerness to attack, they literally hurled themselves at the Ponts
only to be impaled upon the eighteen foot sarissas of the Phalanx. The larger
size of the Elite 1<sup>st</sup> Cohort enabled to stay in the fight, but they
had lost almost half the number in this first round of fighting.</div>
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Initial Contact, 4th
Cohort is broken</div>
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Cohort 5 moved up to take the place the
misfortunate 4<sup>th</sup> as did Cohorts 2 and 3. These did not fair any
better and soon Cohorts 2, 3 and 5 were all routed to be replaced by Cohorts 7,
8 and 9. Eventually the 1<sup>st</sup> Cohort was worn down and when it broke,
the Romans decided to call it a day. They retreated down the hill leaving the
Ponts in control of the Syrian Gates.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Pontic Phalanxes
had suffered heavy casualties but were never in danger of breaking. The depth
of the phalanxes had proved to more than a match for the well trained Roman
legionnaires and their Pila. As he directed the disposition of the dead and
care of the wounded, Mitchradates thought about the cost of the battle. The
armies of Rome
were many and they would come again in an attempt to subdue the Pontic
Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at least on this day and at
this place he thought, they would not do it through him. He smiled as he
considered that fighting Romans was far more enjoyable than being harangued by
his wife. She damned near gave him a heart attack about doing chores around his
estates this past season. He decided to send her a note that it was likely to
be a long campaign.</div>
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1st Cohort finally
Breaks</div>
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<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2">
<b>Turn by Turn</b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The following is a turn by turn log of the
dice rolls and movement. It’s very boring unless one wants to see how the rules
for combat are played. They are almost identical to T1. Where a unit fights more than one opponent, it must divide its melee dice evenly against all opponents. Heavy Infantry are awarded two melee dice extra for every rank deeper they are than their enemy. This is for each melee area, not each unit. Therefore you can see how a Phalanx with protected flanks is very difficult to beat. Romans would have been better off sending in "reinforced cohorts" ( i.e two cohorts combined) instead of piecemeal and concentrated on one Phalanx. To win the Romans must get at least 32 kills on one Phalanx to route it. As it happened they put 17 hits on each phalanx, well below their individual break point. Ponts must route enough Cohorts to get a total of 44 kills which they did.</i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1st Turn:</b> Romans have initiative, they
move first. Romans all advance 8 inches. Pontic Archers back up to stay out of
Roman HI move next turn.Archers shoot getting 2 dice for every three archers
due to Roman armour, so ten dice total. They decide to break it up 3:2:2:3 from
left to right. They roll<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6,5,4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1, 6
:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4,6, :<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1,3,4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so three hits total, 1 ea
on Cohorts 2,3 &4.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turn 2:</b> Ponts get intiative, but let
Romans go first.Ponts divide shooting as before 3;2;2;3. They roll 1,1,1 : 2,2
: 5,3 : 3,4,6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one hit on COH1.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Turn3:</b> Romans get initiative and decide
to go first. They all advance 8 inches except cohorts 1 & 4 which advance 7
inches so as to permit them to all contact on same turn. Pontic SK
evade first behind the PH's. Pontic PH decide to advance to contact. They
contact COH's 1 & 4.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
Melee
direction is Left to right.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
COH
4 throws 8 pilum at HI1, 1 hit. 8 Melee dice results 6 hits. Total 7 hits oh
HI1</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
COH
1 throws 8 Pilum at HI2 2 hits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8 Melee
dice results 4 hits. Total 6 hits on HI2</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
HI1
throws 12 dice minus 1 for the Pilum hit plus 6 for 3 ranks deeper. 17 Melee
dice results 7 hits on COH4. That’s 8 total so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">COH4 is Routed</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
HI2
throws 12 dice minus 2 for the Pilum hit plus 4 for 2 ranks deeper. 14 Melee
dice results<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6 hits</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
COH
3 must take a morale test since rear of their unit is within 4 inches of COH 4.
They roll a 7, passing barely.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
COH
5 is beyond the 4inch rout path so don't have to Test.
</div>
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Turn 4</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Turn 5:</b> Romans get initiative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Only
move is COH8 moves up to support COH3 but beyond 4 inches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Melee
direction is left to right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH
5 gets 3 melee dice, scores 1 hit on HI1</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
gets 6 dice plus 4 for 2 ranks deeper. total 10 dice results 2 Hits on COH 5. COH
3 gets 4 dice, scores no hits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
gets 6 dice plus 4 , total 10 dice. Score 3 Hits on COH 3.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH2
gets 4 melee dice and scores no hits on HI2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI2
gets 6 dice plus 4 for 2 ranks deeper. 10 dice results 1 hit on COH 2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH1
gets 7 dice and scores 2 hits on HI2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI2
gets 6 dice plus 4. Total 10 dice results 3 hits on COH 1</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Turn 6: </b>Melee direction is right to
left. Ponts get intiative.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
is no movement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH1
has 4 figures left. rolls 4 dice. Result 1 hit on HI2.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI2
gets 6 dice plus 4 for 2 ranks deeper. Total 10 dice result 1 Hit on COH1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH3
has 3 dice. Rolls and gets no hits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI2
gets 10 dice against COH2 and gets 3 hits enough to <b>break COH2</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH3
must test morale, but others are safe. It rolls a 7 passing barely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH3
gets 2 dice and gets one hit on HI1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
gets 10 dice and gets 5 hits more than enough to break COH3. Luckily for
Romans, there are no COH's in Rout Path.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH5
gets 1 dice and scores no hits on HI1.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
comes back with 10 dice and scores 4 hits on COH5, more than enough to <b>break
it</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">No
one is in Rout path.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 27.35pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
decides to take no Bonus move and stays put.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.35pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Turn 7</b>:. Romans get initiative.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Melee
direction is Left to right.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Roman
COH's 7,8, 9 all advance to contact.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH9
throws 8 pilum dice and gets one hit.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH9
throws 8 melee dice and gets 2 hits. Total 3 hits on HI1. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
gets 6 dice minus 1 for the pilum hit plus 4 for 2 ranks deeper.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Total
9 dice, results 3 hits on COH9.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH8
throws 4 pilum dice with no hits. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH8
throws 4 melee dice with 2 hits. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI1
gets 6 + 2 dice = 8dice. Results 3 hits on COH8</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH7
throws 4 pilim dice and gets 2 hits.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH7throws
4 melee dice and gets one hit, total of 3 on HI2. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI2
gets 6 minus 2 for the pilum plus 2 for one rank deeper, so total 6 dice.
Scores 2 hits on COH 7.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">COH1
throws 3 dice against HI2 with 2 hits.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">HI2
gets 10 dice against COH1 and scores 3 hits, enough to <b>break COH1</b>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27.35pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Romans
are now at 48 figures routed which is over their Break Point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>If you have any questions about the Tactica Rules, Battle Chronicler or wargaming in general, you can send an email to me at bandrsntch at wavecable dot com</i></span></div>
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Mitch Berdinkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17243639892486417817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841734188431244762.post-45085994017982407252013-10-31T12:26:00.002-07:002013-10-31T15:09:46.032-07:00<i>It's been awhile since I last posted to this Blog. I've had most of the report done. Was just waiting for some Art work I had trouble putting together. For some reason, I tried again and it miraculously came together</i>. <i>So here it is, the next adventure of Minimus Gluteus. We had a lot of fun with this battle which is part due to the simplicity of the T2 rules, but also because it was played amongst a group of easy going gamers</i>. <i>If you're not having fun playing wargames, you must be doing something wrong. I realize this fictional battle report is not for everyone, but if you like it, please let me know. it give me motivation to get the next one done. If you are interested in the Tactica rules, join us on the Tactica Yahoo Group. If you'd like more info on out gaming group, we have a West Sound Warriors Yahoo Group or follow us on our Blog: http://westsoundwarriors.blogspot.com/</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Book VI: Minimus goes back to square one By Mitch Berdinka<br />
<br />
Cast: Roman Genral:Minimus Gluteus- Tom Timmons, Roman Right Flank: Bitchaticus Dinkum-Mitch Berdinka, <br />
Pontic General: Gareas Wilmaneas- Gary Williams, Pontic left Flank: Donnyzovag Timmonuxtani -Donny Timmons <br />
<br />
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. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkGH8auD_NNkKnZ6FE2ODcdVVbz-osXcvGbOHblvs8yeJk36XVDtYctUpZ2QHRLDmrDrNVw0EJZmzl47l33scJMU8wiUBrX6qxTBKVflLKgklchavz52jzOeC9wuPsuEbNIUbMpnGnzvS/s1600/Roster.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkGH8auD_NNkKnZ6FE2ODcdVVbz-osXcvGbOHblvs8yeJk36XVDtYctUpZ2QHRLDmrDrNVw0EJZmzl47l33scJMU8wiUBrX6qxTBKVflLKgklchavz52jzOeC9wuPsuEbNIUbMpnGnzvS/s640/Roster.GIF" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Background: <br />
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.<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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)<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKS-Fz2Cu3hSDjXbGWxFDoHMgtr42fSUowiFP1ZfXU_YlyAJk8VXtRF7cpC_sHMsBXCzm9cC6G4yH6aQ1CHiCqSgM-7LverV4x9utuLHBo2Y9yvcfQT0cEeBHr_YyU6Y6FFaBnDYy6vD_/s1600/Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKS-Fz2Cu3hSDjXbGWxFDoHMgtr42fSUowiFP1ZfXU_YlyAJk8VXtRF7cpC_sHMsBXCzm9cC6G4yH6aQ1CHiCqSgM-7LverV4x9utuLHBo2Y9yvcfQT0cEeBHr_YyU6Y6FFaBnDYy6vD_/s400/Photo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
Photo 1 Overview of the battlefield, Ponts on Left, Romans on Right</h4>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
</h4>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
</h4>
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The Pontic deployment was a bit more complex due to the varied types of
troops available. Gareas placed the Pontic Heavy cavalry with two units
of light infantry on his left flank. The Pontic left flank was only
covered by two light cavalry units, one Skythian, the other Pontic. The
three main pike phalanx units were in the right center with the ex-slave
troops on the right and the Brazen Shields just to the left center with
the hill in front of them. To help out the ex-slave phalangites, Gareas
put the scythed chariots in front to hopefully damage the legions as
they closed. To the right of the ex-slave pikemen were the fearsome
Bastarnae warband infantry and also a unit of light cavalry. On the far
left center, where the Romans could not see, the Imitation Legionnaires
and another unit of Armenian cataphracts were deployed. Between the
cataphracts and the Pontic left flank there was a large unit of Thracian
light Infantry. With their deadly rhomphias, they were to cover the
left of the Pontic main battleline. In front, three skirmisher units
were matched up against their equivalent opponents on the Roman side. So
on a warm mid-summer day, the opposing sides stared at each other
across a short field in what could be the end of the Pontic Empire or
the dismal conclusion to the somewhat less than illustrious career of a
certain Roman General of dubious character. Minimus silently hoped it
would be the former.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJ_hSPwaMufsv4jluTH9hlzljLr94vyRqnttVdjROE8G1LddFaTgikGpyB45oDdS0p2GlD5c1oTzD_XYBAupRO6BChds76UOFu_DWAF6mxgXey8bJXYQXkNnZB5lcQDzoqKLz2gI5B1R4/s1600/Map1.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJ_hSPwaMufsv4jluTH9hlzljLr94vyRqnttVdjROE8G1LddFaTgikGpyB45oDdS0p2GlD5c1oTzD_XYBAupRO6BChds76UOFu_DWAF6mxgXey8bJXYQXkNnZB5lcQDzoqKLz2gI5B1R4/s640/Map1.GIF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map 1: Initial Dispositions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Opening Moves: <br />
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. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF95lFO80L70RYXZ_t4UwzLTDd0T2oEqPlmIeJFqn9hNVAVs_4huoz4ni_GG9LarEl5p1mvbxwEf-06o3ur2LymlfdiCojg6qrX-Zs4AHwbvgcjYH3lM5bUBXg5ymJmX1VmHmnX5JMtWER/s1600/Map2.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF95lFO80L70RYXZ_t4UwzLTDd0T2oEqPlmIeJFqn9hNVAVs_4huoz4ni_GG9LarEl5p1mvbxwEf-06o3ur2LymlfdiCojg6qrX-Zs4AHwbvgcjYH3lM5bUBXg5ymJmX1VmHmnX5JMtWER/s640/Map2.GIF" width="640" /></a></div>
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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. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W_8DVSwL5RnZf_zaUeJZ9K6lqho_Z4SURWe5k6NdHUAGpHMy0c7eZKmS_uR_mvEO2X2FMb2Xlfey_3TtRbLFSZBiUj5-nFdfzqeb6Pn71kqhBVcb0cgRQd74_jHdweQyA9dSeDahPudZ/s1600/Photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W_8DVSwL5RnZf_zaUeJZ9K6lqho_Z4SURWe5k6NdHUAGpHMy0c7eZKmS_uR_mvEO2X2FMb2Xlfey_3TtRbLFSZBiUj5-nFdfzqeb6Pn71kqhBVcb0cgRQd74_jHdweQyA9dSeDahPudZ/s400/Photo2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
Photo 2: Opening moves. Romans doing “Curly Shuffle” at middle Right.</h4>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Minumus advanced the Roman heavy cavalry and light infantry on the flank to occupy the hill there. The Gallic cavalry however were sent on a long circuitous route toward the center for reasons unknown. It was thought that perhaps he wanted to drive off the pesky Pontic archers there or else it was related somehow to his “Curly Shuffle” maneuver. At any rate, he succeeded in driving off the Pontic archers, but some Thracian light cavalry advanced to meet his Gauls and Gareas sent his Scythed Chariots into their flank. Elsewhere the Ponts advanced their whole line to meet the Romans and across the field the continual clash of pike, pilum, javelin and sword could be heard along with cries of pain and shouts of victory.<br />
<br />
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. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wU2PYjdQlI19DnSaQ7dJqf1drt60wglGePLnDb9y09UEKgfy-jVI5xa-4YUc07lzGtyEu2q4rgVgEsd_bicG-N0mSGRC_6fFbdB6h-_PkJjlRqDCGrud2kPsq564JtE2Vd-1XC4cHwu8/s1600/Map3.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wU2PYjdQlI19DnSaQ7dJqf1drt60wglGePLnDb9y09UEKgfy-jVI5xa-4YUc07lzGtyEu2q4rgVgEsd_bicG-N0mSGRC_6fFbdB6h-_PkJjlRqDCGrud2kPsq564JtE2Vd-1XC4cHwu8/s640/Map3.GIF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
Map 3: Roman Wings failing</h4>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bitchaticus, more organized than Minimus, had advanced beyond the center of the field and he had eight of his cohorts engaged with the Pontic Brazen Shields, Imitation Legion and Thracian light infantry. The more highly trained cohorts were making short work of their adversaries. His 9th and 10th cohorts however, were not so fortunate. The sight of heavily armored cavalry thundering straight toward them un-nerved the poor legionnaires and the cataphracts rode over them with hardy a pause. The Roman Auxilia bravely (or stupidly depending on your point of view) advanced to intercept the cataphract juggernaut in a desperate show of defiance while the Pontic and Roman light cavalry annihilated each other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-XVuAo7irWHPiMb4o8cpzH0Y1xi3izssrUNh8FygtkohM7-mYzoAcqkbVy1_DiCEvI6Ya0yRoSViX1-Km0S6WVzjYyUKPgGjNjfHx42yWxey-2HU9V0E1sLV9NgOPYLWf_Mn_s_TYj_o/s1600/Photo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-XVuAo7irWHPiMb4o8cpzH0Y1xi3izssrUNh8FygtkohM7-mYzoAcqkbVy1_DiCEvI6Ya0yRoSViX1-Km0S6WVzjYyUKPgGjNjfHx42yWxey-2HU9V0E1sLV9NgOPYLWf_Mn_s_TYj_o/s400/Photo3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Photo 3: Ponts close in on Roman left Flank</h4>
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Roman left in trouble:<br />
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. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUff_7fonKjkmkp8MtAVXIMF-FuVqT7J7JdImmP97LPRVCAEFaJx-mJ_N5TIA34hgSZG62vGSuJ8pH8wRBm4UJJiQkvL4W6aAoettYw7p1lMe-WGkOuYOEDzOBohfiWGqYaPtrBGiy_CXT/s1600/Map4.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUff_7fonKjkmkp8MtAVXIMF-FuVqT7J7JdImmP97LPRVCAEFaJx-mJ_N5TIA34hgSZG62vGSuJ8pH8wRBm4UJJiQkvL4W6aAoettYw7p1lMe-WGkOuYOEDzOBohfiWGqYaPtrBGiy_CXT/s640/Map4.GIF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Map 4: Minimus in Trouble</h4>
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Meanwhile, on the Roman right flank, the cohorts of Bitchaticus handily routed the Thracian Light Infantry and advanced to almost flank the Imitation Legionaires. The extreme Roman right flank was in trouble however. The Skythian light cavalry pre-melee missile fire had been devastating to the poor Roman Light infantry. It didn’t take much in the subsequent melee for the horse to defeat and pursue the Auxilia to the edge of the field. The Armenian Cataphracts continued their deadly advance and rode over the remaining Auxilia. They and the Skythians recovered from Pursuit before leaving the field and both turned to face the inviting rear of Bitchaticus’ Legion. So both sides now had serious problems and it would be a close race to see which side broke first.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sFnP2VYcoX3Y0GRZdCZ97XS0LYnZieNfYN1S0paVMLQu7pix_CT1P-tvHMtWzQRknJkDkBa5Dc6A9w_1VuZ3WxcvuXP6cwD3SNuLgHfMlNqykOBjL29i0cqFYHIGQuU3BCZoj8Iti7WN/s1600/Photo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sFnP2VYcoX3Y0GRZdCZ97XS0LYnZieNfYN1S0paVMLQu7pix_CT1P-tvHMtWzQRknJkDkBa5Dc6A9w_1VuZ3WxcvuXP6cwD3SNuLgHfMlNqykOBjL29i0cqFYHIGQuU3BCZoj8Iti7WN/s400/Photo4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
Photo 4: Bitchaticus’ Legion winning but Cataphracts in his rear</h4>
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A confused mess on both sides: ( See map 5)<br />
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cTdxgvlGCz1CjomgwgxYnRMtnCskTnGggyx1BMVIWoCaidb_b5XrQGbdMJKPjUepLxjnm3sUUnZLw_iDwJ5N873_7EKg8N_GNIFvsoGm520XHkdsdo5oA5i9qBpj5SYIeiUOpxphUlKy/s1600/Map5.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cTdxgvlGCz1CjomgwgxYnRMtnCskTnGggyx1BMVIWoCaidb_b5XrQGbdMJKPjUepLxjnm3sUUnZLw_iDwJ5N873_7EKg8N_GNIFvsoGm520XHkdsdo5oA5i9qBpj5SYIeiUOpxphUlKy/s640/Map5.GIF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Map 5: A Confused Mess</h4>
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Things turned from bad to worse for Minimus over on the Roman left flank. His 8th and 10th cohorts caught between the Thracian LC and the Bastarnae were disorganized and broke. Their route unsettled the 7th cohort which decided it had had enough and it too broke. The Thracian LC pursed the fleeing Romans, but the Roman 5th and 6th cohorts held firm preventing a complete collapse. A lucky thing, as the Pontic Heavy Horse had slammed into the 6th cohort. On the good side, the Pontic Ex-Slave Phalanx finally gave up the fight and routed off the field. This enabled the 4th cohort to come to the assistance of the 1st and it began to attack the sides of the Phalangites. The 3rd cohort moved to intercept the advancing Bastarnae. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBdJh8XB9HpXUhpm8p0tNiRynupLehuFC20HOpFYj-9mtL083aUs99t4ubBcJsqIXIGJUGL_9lA3-FJkeoGW6hsI95-h_97am19swmIV-bfgh5GF4fWK_mckiv2NEfrq-RoUSS9SUX6tA/s1600/Photo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBdJh8XB9HpXUhpm8p0tNiRynupLehuFC20HOpFYj-9mtL083aUs99t4ubBcJsqIXIGJUGL_9lA3-FJkeoGW6hsI95-h_97am19swmIV-bfgh5GF4fWK_mckiv2NEfrq-RoUSS9SUX6tA/s640/Photo5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Photo 5 Tough Fighting on Roman Left Flank</h3>
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The last moves:(See Map 6) <br />
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. <br />
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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Map : End of the Battle</h3>
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Aftermath:</div>
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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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Notes on the game: <br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
<br />Mitch Berdinkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17243639892486417817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841734188431244762.post-60910607185872407472010-10-11T09:30:00.000-07:002010-10-11T21:20:52.060-07:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">This is a reprint of an episode from the original Courier Magazine series. I had to scan and convert the text from jpg versions and corrected the obvious spelling errors. Remember, these were done before computers were commonly available</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > Hope you like it. They were what got me interested in ancients wargaming a long, long time ago. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />THE CHRONICLE OF MAXIMUS GLUTUS, BOOK IV</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >in which Maximus Glutus finally defeats Sexto Hermaphrocomedie</span><br /><br />Cast: M.Glutus - Dick Bryant; S. Hermaphrocomedie - Arnold Hendrick<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >After his generally dismal record in the previous year, Maximus Glutus resolved to renew the war with the east with fresh vigor and new tactics. Glutus brought over the green XXIV Legion, some of them even lacking metal armor, and a host of auxiliary slingers. These he drilled in rapid-maneuver tactics, including one where the left flank centuries of a cohort ran behind the center and reformed on the right, to allow the cohort to move sideways faster than it could normally march forward. With these and other maneuvers he planned to defeat the previously invincible phalanxes, if his traditional light cavalry - heavy cavalry combination, which he generally led, failed him.<br /><br />The first engagements against the Seleucids, under the greatest general of the east, Ginicles Maglo, were encouraging. The Romans performed well, but Glutus found himself continually carried from the field, and the battle lost. He made too good a target to Maglo's levy archers! Despairing of victory against the champion Ginicles, he took ship, forced the Hellespont, and landed in Bithyania, challenging the Ponts under Sexto Hermaphrocomedie. His inveterate enemy was soon on the march against him.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">At trepza ridge in the Anatolian highlands, the armies of Pontus and Rome finally met. Glutus led elements of his brand new XXI Legion, using the novel tactic of attaching 250 auxiliary slingers to each 500-man cohort, to support them with missile fire, and protect them from enemy missiles. Predictably, he personally led a force of Maximan household heavy cavalry covered by some Numidian light horse. Sexto, short on phalangites, had made up the difference with the best of the Pontic horse, 250-man formations of combination archers and javelinmen.<br /><span style=";font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Auo5ZZRy4p7B0roR1au9NRlKUM3LXDoLRuf-Y1yoaBE8SJMHLp1XAmeCfzJIkpA9Uzn6VXiDlUiahu2x2Db_ZNNN-3K_OuTyBozfqXKHuIlMA7kN1vfjfSFBRsQIipk_lmEl8rZFnePZ/s1600/OrigChroniclesMapCartoon.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Auo5ZZRy4p7B0roR1au9NRlKUM3LXDoLRuf-Y1yoaBE8SJMHLp1XAmeCfzJIkpA9Uzn6VXiDlUiahu2x2Db_ZNNN-3K_OuTyBozfqXKHuIlMA7kN1vfjfSFBRsQIipk_lmEl8rZFnePZ/s400/OrigChroniclesMapCartoon.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527009158994659458" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A cavalry general by disposition, Sexto naturally engaged the Roman horse first. As the Numidian lights galloped onto the ridge, he was not surprised to observe one of his light horse units charge into it, while another on the far flank spun into column and charged their flank. However, he was surprised to see Glutus himself leading his heavy horse forward to support the Numidians, striking the flankers in the flank. The resulting melee eventually caused the center Pontic horse unit to chase the Numidians off the battlefield, and in such an enthusiastic fashion that by best estimates they would not arrive until late afternoon (ed note: the WRG rules require units that leave the battlefield, often a result of winning a melee, to dice for their return). Meanwhile, the heavy horse had naturally defeated the right flank Ponts. As they pursued them, the ever alert Sexto charged into their flank with a paltry 160 javelinmen. Sexto joined the javelinmen himself, since by attaching himself to the infantry, he could avoid being carried away by the pursuit (further note: since the commander is light cavalry, the chances are good that he will follow the routing heavies right off the battlefield, and of course have to dice for return).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Meanwhile, the Pontic infantry climbed the ridge in their heavy armor. The Romans were busy maneuvering on the other side, attempting to get their cohorts in position for a combined attack on the phalanx. The Pontic light horse was doing triple duty, charging various sub-units of slingers in turn, driving them behind the covering Roman heavy foot. The slingers, with their shields, proved more than a match for the Pontic archers, who were deprived of their longer range advantage by the ridge. However, the slingers were unable to stand up to the horse, and evaded behind the legionnaires (who the light horse declined to fight, being unable to stand up to them). Once behind the legionnaires, the slingers were useless, since they had no indirect fire ability. Alas, there were three units of slingers, but only one of light horse. It was only a matter of time before the bolts cut down the horsemen, driving them from the field. </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QkFVYWfEpCQqrU5R7ltAl0FCyGnC9Vr7LeRqpzLamsFgG6cs7CUqU69PXLP0yPdx5HhjHh6quZVrCYqSgJKqUxLxWh-VSE4B5b3uivfhWUnz5jdUnftGc7IkVekhRF4gz0byATRbDz84/s1600/OrigChroniclesHatCartoon.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QkFVYWfEpCQqrU5R7ltAl0FCyGnC9Vr7LeRqpzLamsFgG6cs7CUqU69PXLP0yPdx5HhjHh6quZVrCYqSgJKqUxLxWh-VSE4B5b3uivfhWUnz5jdUnftGc7IkVekhRF4gz0byATRbDz84/s400/OrigChroniclesHatCartoon.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526826882923778962" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Maximus Glutus himself had avoided the disaster that had overtaken his heavy horse. After a considerable pursuit of the Pontic light horse, which much to Sexto's disgust failed to carry him from the battlefield, he turned about. Overweight or not, when Glutus observed the inviting rear of Sexto and javelinmen, he literally flew into battle. Sexto was obliged to flee for his life. Un-fortunately, he was caught among the routing javelinmen, and could not use his superior speed to escape. Glutus and bodyguard spent the rest of the morning in pursuit, and after hacking down most of the javelinmen, and some of Sexto's bodyguard, managed to capture Sexto's hat. Feigning a wound, rolling under a bush, and quickly changing into the clothes of a camp follower, the ever androgynous Sexto managed to effect a timely escape from certain death. Glutus, however, was well pleased with capturing his adversary‘s famous hat.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Deprived of leadership at a crucial moment, their covering cavalry driven away, the</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >phalangites desperately tried to save the situation. To their left the supporting heavy infantry spread out in a long single line frustrating legionaries and slingers alike. To their right, however, the archers were unable to stop more than the slingers. As a result, the phalangites were struck in the front and the flank by legionaries covered by slingers. Disorganized, the phalanx was cut to pieces. The Pontic army disintegrated, and Glutus had won an overwhelming victory.</span></span>Mitch Berdinkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17243639892486417817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841734188431244762.post-11949758688307298982010-10-06T20:29:00.000-07:002010-10-07T20:55:51.979-07:00Book V: a Clean Roman Victory<span style="font-style: italic;">October 7th, 2010 Loaded all the photos and diagrams. Only took two evenings to do. A big improvement on the first book. Am slowly learning how best to do these. It takes awhile to get all the photos and pictures in the right place. If you are interested in doing the cartoons for this blog, please contact me as I am certainly no artist and it takes a lot of effort to draw them. I know what I want to show, just am not very good at it. Looking for something like the style of the original Courier cartoons . Guess I have to go back and upload Book IV or wait until I get done writing Book VI. Mitch</span><br /><br />Cast: Roman Genral:Minimus Gluteus- Chuck Monson, Roman Right Flank: Adamius Gruntus-Adam Workland,<br />Pontic General: Mitchradates- Mitch Berdinka<br />Rules: Game was conducted at the 2008 Dragonflight Game convention in Bellevue Washington using a play test version of the TACTICA II (T-2) Ancients rules. T-2 has been in development by Art Conliffe and it appears they will publish in the very near future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beginnings:</span><br />After his defeat at the Battle of Discordium, it was some time before Minimus was able raise two more Legions for his interminable campaign against the Ponts. The Senate was growing weary of his continuing requests for monetary support and he was advised that in no uncertain terms that he had better produce results this time or he would find himself in one of the penal Legions fighting naked barbarians somewhere in the far northern regions of Gaul. By exaggerating the threat of Pontic terrorists and appealing to public sentiment by freely handing out little yellow ribbons that said, “Support the Troops”, Minimus was finally able to induce the Senate to finance his campaign. It was that or his offering of lucrative army contracts to businesses owned by key Senate member that did the trick. At any rate, nine months after his last fiasco, he was on his way again to the Eastern Empire.<br />Minimus sailed to Ilium in Asia Minor to meet up with one of his Legions being assembled there. Its commander, Adamius Gruntus was a young and upcoming leader. Minimus knowing the Ponts would throw anything and everything at him, wanted a co-commander who was versatile in fighting a variety of opponents. Adamius bragged he could defeat any enemy and then went into a long dissertation on his many victories. By the time Adamius got around mentioning trolls, goblins and orcs Minimums had tuned out the conversation paying more attention to some passing serving girls. It wouldn’t have made any difference as beggars can’t be choosy and with Minimus’s reputation he felt extremely lucky to get any help at all.<br />They next sailed to Byzantium in Thrace to pick up the 2nd Legion. It was Minimus’s intention to then disembark at Diospolis on the North coast of Bithynia to pick up some allied troops before heading inland to Galatia where there was a decent road leading into the Pontic Empire. Unfortunately (or fortunately as it ended up) a storm caught his fleet unawares and carried them eastward. When the weather finally settled down, the Romans found themselves just off shore of Abonuteichos on the north central coast of Paphlagonia. This country was situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Galatia by a prolongation of the Bithynian mountain range. The Paphlagonians, long resentful of Pontic domination, readily received the Romans as liberators and cheered them heartily as Minimus’s troops quickly overcame the local Pontic garrison. Minumus was well pleased with himself for having by-passed the major Pontic armies and arriving only a few weeks march away from the Pontic Capital at Amasia. Although entirely the result of blind luck, Minimus did not hesitate a moment before sending messengers back to Rome to proclaim his great Strategic maneuver and getting his army moving along the coast road toward the Pontic border hoping to catch his nemesis opponents unawares.<br />News of the Romans landing in Paphlagonia, however, quickly reached the Pontic throne. Normally the Ponts with the Cicilian pirate allies would have had plenty of advance notice of the Roman movements. Their slipping by in the storm had caught the Ponts completely unprepared. Having dealt with Minimus previously however, they knew that his usual indecisiveness would give them time to react. Therefore all available troops were organized, levies called up and by appealing to Armenian and Thracian allies, enough troops were raised to confront the Romans before they could approach Pontus proper. To command this impromptu organization of available troops, an old retired General then living in Sinope in the northeastern corner of Paphlagonia was called. Although really an engineer more familiar with sieges and naval battles, Mitchradates was induced into taking command of the Pontic forces by an appeal to his patriotism and the explanation that he needed only to delay the Romans until the more experienced Pontic forces could be brought up. Mitchradates reluctantly agreed somewhat due to his intense hatred of anything Roman, partly due to a subtle threat of massive taxation of his retirement assets, but mostly because he was just plain tired of being bossed around by his wife who had a never ending list of chores for him to do.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo 1 Roman General Minimus giving orders to his subordinate Legion Commander, Adamius Gruntus</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyhL4UFdtpxT1I__rra_13oEgc0OqKShcSEdJRJF1KXTPJY0PdOreg6EgIDAUyEDRMQL8dU_QGACK_Fr6S1bW3uTxYfqxCMK5ycML97bfhWqa3pTAzzlofHw_giqnjYYLiOZ0Uf6A7HGq/s1600/image004.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyhL4UFdtpxT1I__rra_13oEgc0OqKShcSEdJRJF1KXTPJY0PdOreg6EgIDAUyEDRMQL8dU_QGACK_Fr6S1bW3uTxYfqxCMK5ycML97bfhWqa3pTAzzlofHw_giqnjYYLiOZ0Uf6A7HGq/s400/image004.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525510788126779474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So by the time the Romans had gotten themselves organized and moving toward the Pontic border, Mitchradates was on his way west to meet them with a motley array of substandard Pontic troops. Eventually the opposing forces ran into each other just outside a small village known as Dragonium. It was called this not for any history of dragons, but mainly for the scent the local wine tended to give ones breath from drinking it. Fortunately for both sides, the rush to deployment took place so quick there was no time to sample the local brews. That would have to wait until after the battle.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deployments:(See Figure 1)</span><br />The plain of battle outside Dragonium was almost completely level. There was a small hill in the center of the field that lay slightly more toward the Pontic side. On each end of the field were small woods. The one on the Pontic left (South Side of field) was larger and centered exactly between the Pontic and Roman lines. The smaller woods on the North side of the field lay completely on the Pontic side of the field. There was also another small hill and woods a bit further from the Pontic Right, but it would have little effect on the battle other than narrowing the field.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 1: Initial Dispositions</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1d4lCWjG7GsXgrBVgw1jJD94hiUvURbfmlcFLc7eDh5_XQue7fDMxBTSiCliN5Hb1_OYNWTJuKMZujxo7vBM1aOjZ6AHOG0V4chk0nvJfhE50tXcO8dlauACnxxnpNRqe6dDcIQhLIxX/s1600/image006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1d4lCWjG7GsXgrBVgw1jJD94hiUvURbfmlcFLc7eDh5_XQue7fDMxBTSiCliN5Hb1_OYNWTJuKMZujxo7vBM1aOjZ6AHOG0V4chk0nvJfhE50tXcO8dlauACnxxnpNRqe6dDcIQhLIxX/s400/image006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525511484517354562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Mitchradates placed his doubtful phalanxes in the center, hoping to take what advantage the small hill offered there to his substandard troops. On their right he placed the Bastarnae and Galatian warbands. To the left of the pike blocks were the ever useless Scythed Chariots which he backed up with some imitation legionnaires, fully expecting the chariots to live up to their usual ineptness. To the left of the chariots and making up the extreme left of his main battleline, was a unit of Armenian Cataphracts which he hoped would be able to overpower the Roman Cohorts by the force of their charge. Mitchradates placed the bulk of his cavalry on the left flank where there was ample room to maneuver. He had however, only one unit of Pontic Heavy horse, the rest being a mixture of Scythian, Thracian and Pontic Light Cavalry. On his right Flank, he placed his two Light Infantry units to make use of the woods and a lone unit of Scythian Light Horse on the extreme right.<br /><br />Minimus dithered trying to figure out a plan of attack while the Ponts deployed. Finally, not liking the looks of the ferocious looking cataphracts there, he told Adamius Gruntus to take the right flank, admonishing him to not let himself get flanked. He gave Gruntus most of the cavalry while keeping two units of Light Horse and two Auxilia units for his left flank. Even Minimus with his limited intellect, could see the woods on his left would not be beneficial for cavalry. So the Romans deployed in the usual fashion, infantry in the middle and lights and cavalry on the flanks. Minimus took the left of the Roman Line and Gruntus the right.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening Moves:</span><br />Mitchradates, never one to hesitate, got his Ponts moving first, hoping to take and hold what terrain features there were to his front. The Ponts advanced quickly and were soon halfway across the field of battle before Minimus took notice. The Pontic lights seized the woods on the right and advanced to within javelin range on the left. The Scythians on the left flank advanced to take on the Gaulic lights while the Scythian horse archers on the right attempted to get around the woods. Minimus finally aware of the Ponts bearing down upon his troops, ordered his Auxilia forward to meet the enemy in the woods and he sent a unit of Paeonian light horse to counter the Scythians. The Roman Infantry line did not advance, but the rear cohorts marched up to reinforce the forward ones as they deployed into line. Gruntus meanwhile dispatched the Gaulic light horse to melee the Scythians, but was very cautious about moving up the rest of his troops.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo 2 The Roman Generals, deep in thought</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt0QfQrT6vOwG2YtzqmxbdG0C3j4wCC1y-4VCNzd4HDbGt0iw-WWp7xgfdOPgoBlBtMvE3IvmUaPkhJgGFxqwhpD1BZyQeCiXHOQ3ntjCo9IfrADHQxSlgG8-Z1Qaed-r8bSDJNlpoLuR/s1600/image008.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt0QfQrT6vOwG2YtzqmxbdG0C3j4wCC1y-4VCNzd4HDbGt0iw-WWp7xgfdOPgoBlBtMvE3IvmUaPkhJgGFxqwhpD1BZyQeCiXHOQ3ntjCo9IfrADHQxSlgG8-Z1Qaed-r8bSDJNlpoLuR/s400/image008.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525512267885335538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The entire Roman right was soon fully engaged by the aggressive Mitchradates. The Cataphracts crashed into the reinforced 1st Cohort but failed to make any impression with their impetuous charge. Likewise the scythed chariots plunged into two reinforced Cohorts, but failed to intimidate the Romans in any fashion with their flashing blades. The Pontic Ex-Slave and Brazen Shield Phalanxes advanced into a line of three reinforced Cohorts while the remaining Phalanx occupied the crest of the hill and vainly tried to coax the Romans to advance up the hill by making obscene gestures and taunts at them. Mitchradates held his warbands back in and echelon formation knowing their effectiveness against the well trained Cohorts was doubtful. Minumus however, seeing easy targets for his trained legionnaires advanced his left flank Cohorts to engage the warbands. And so with the exception of the phalanx on the hill and the Roman Cohorts taking insults from them below, both armies were now fully engaged.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman Right Victorious but leaderless: ( See Figure 2)</span><br />On the South side of the field, the Roman cavalry and light infantry proved more than a match for the Pontic horse. The Scythian light horse archers could not stand up to the ferociousness of the Gaulic horsemen and soon routed. A unit a Thracian light horse sent to support the Scythians was met by a unit of Roman Heavy cavalry and also soon routed. The Gauls pursued and were met by the Pontic light horse who wheeled into them. Now Adamius who seemed distracted during this whole affair, for some reason sent the victorious Roman Heavy horse wheeling up to support the Gauls but became they entangled behind the Gauls allowing the Pontic Heavy cavalry to wheel into their flank. Meanwhile the remaining Thracian Light horse advanced to charge some Roman Auxilia who had moved up past their skirmishers. The Auxilia readily beat off the Thracians who routed off the field. They then moved up to assist the Roman heavy horse who were having a hard time with the Ponts. It was too late however, as the Roman Cavalry not liking being attacked on the side, broke and fled to the rear. The Pontic horse found itself being attacked from the side and due to mounting casualties soon broke. The Gauls ignoring the loss of the Roman heavies, finally overcame the Pontic Light horse. During this whole time the Pontic Cataphracts had been deeply engaged with two cohorts. The Romans eventually proved too much for them and they broke just as the Pontic lights ran, leaving the Romans in sole possession of this end of the battlefield.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 2: Demise of the Pontic Left in 8 turns. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfxop8SxyZln409rgEZ1EC58oKIRKDuWcChP9SHLph1XqGew2KCrP8zbzcwgeNi5HePmWIgwxtJlHdamT5QqT_JCgvq3U0ZBIaIeKNZ7HJ27q2hHWzfFZwourI1vq4LfovENAfpTivGuP/s1600/image010.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfxop8SxyZln409rgEZ1EC58oKIRKDuWcChP9SHLph1XqGew2KCrP8zbzcwgeNi5HePmWIgwxtJlHdamT5QqT_JCgvq3U0ZBIaIeKNZ7HJ27q2hHWzfFZwourI1vq4LfovENAfpTivGuP/s400/image010.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525513216167580530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately at this time Adamius Gruntus was no where to be found. The Romans sat idly around relishing their victory until Minimus noticing the apparent lack of movement, road over to investigate. Locating Adamius' headquarters, he inquired into the whereabouts of the young leader, but they could only shake their heads and stated that he was shouting something about the Call of Cthulhu and then rode off to the South not to be seen again. Minimus quickly gave them orders to attack the open Pontic left flank and then rode off to deal with his own legion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo 3 Cavalry Melee on Pontic Left Flank</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAOm6xd6ivjiXU8K95JYWoTrNjVteMlU9zKj_cwsUl359cyvpG1n7_unsTZ5KZaU4TFUYvsodepOzKCuq_kn8BwwnuiN1z0IMv7jqS1lM2FAFRkbqIBU7itmTtDnLVUNmJR4rNN5bV8Jq/s1600/image012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAOm6xd6ivjiXU8K95JYWoTrNjVteMlU9zKj_cwsUl359cyvpG1n7_unsTZ5KZaU4TFUYvsodepOzKCuq_kn8BwwnuiN1z0IMv7jqS1lM2FAFRkbqIBU7itmTtDnLVUNmJR4rNN5bV8Jq/s400/image012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525513790047999362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Roman Left disintegrates:(See Figure 3)</span><br /><br />The Ponts had better luck on their right flank. The two light infantry units quickly seized the woods while the Scythians circled around them to the right. Minimus sent his two Auxilia units forward to contest the woods but after a long fight the Ponts were victorious. The larger Pontic light infantry not having full cover advantage of the woods, suffered more casualties and decided they had had enough at the same time the Roman Auxilia broke. One unit of Paeonian Light cavalry sent against the Scythians has no stomach for the fight and quickly broke. The Scythians pursued and the remaining Paeonian horse unit wheeled and charged them. After a fairly short fight they exhausted each other and retreated off the field leaving Mitchradates' Thurephoroi in sole possession of this side of the battlefield. They started to advance to help the main battleline but by now it was too late. Events had reached a critical stage there and the battle was soon over.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 3 Roman Left disintegrates in 8 turns</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJW5k0PaeeqRnhdbFEIzT6VZB0VH0pXQfNqD60qpkOcejp6uzifpVgW0-DJLDuoq_CtWbBtr1FWNDKxkUVXa-LMvUDFF0sTXoo_rASiyft-_SMI2JpN770AbiuscT7s9hYcDeETsEfRlK/s1600/image014.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJW5k0PaeeqRnhdbFEIzT6VZB0VH0pXQfNqD60qpkOcejp6uzifpVgW0-DJLDuoq_CtWbBtr1FWNDKxkUVXa-LMvUDFF0sTXoo_rASiyft-_SMI2JpN770AbiuscT7s9hYcDeETsEfRlK/s400/image014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525514281976186562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo 4 View from Roman Left.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJD2NhlxoBE50MMnhX9vLqrtVD9zKpdY32yT-q0vObzYg11AHYDGUIh2StuzXW22KU9NUByMjlgjuxjUo-LJ5Is_MdxIHmx2TmM1MeMzjnVW7tO4z935FavQ_Qinpyb03q2nKKpKEmPH5/s1600/image016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJD2NhlxoBE50MMnhX9vLqrtVD9zKpdY32yT-q0vObzYg11AHYDGUIh2StuzXW22KU9NUByMjlgjuxjUo-LJ5Is_MdxIHmx2TmM1MeMzjnVW7tO4z935FavQ_Qinpyb03q2nKKpKEmPH5/s400/image016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525515952098450850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resolution in the middle: (See Figure 4)</span><br />Mitchradates had doubts about his hastily gathered army being able to contend with the well trained Romans. These doubts would prove to be correct however the usual ineptness of the Roman leadership would allow him to survive. As stated previously, the Ponts had aggressively advanced to the center of the battlefield. The Romans deployed and reinforced the forward line of cohorts with those of the second and met the Ponts in the middle. Only on Minimus’s side of the field did the cohorts not advance preferring instead to endure the unending tirade of insults from the pikemen on the hill.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure4 : Resolution in the middle</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQhjhvRDAIEy9VHXMKaz3kSizhf3YVYVmpegjyTyWYQtclTEhbnYW41e0PYAti6T58yB_8q0rWrpUPbO6tz6cciBPKeE9GbGrc4tu3URSF6id80Ep2Vq12Xdtn64ouYNgfQPWy2B82jDe/s1600/image018.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQhjhvRDAIEy9VHXMKaz3kSizhf3YVYVmpegjyTyWYQtclTEhbnYW41e0PYAti6T58yB_8q0rWrpUPbO6tz6cciBPKeE9GbGrc4tu3URSF6id80Ep2Vq12Xdtn64ouYNgfQPWy2B82jDe/s400/image018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525516434514000850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Minimus’s thinking was that a terrain advantage is of no advantage to the enemy if you refuse to fight him there. At any rate, after the usual skirmishing was done, the whole Roman battle line was engaged except for 4 cohorts of the 1st Legion sitting at the bottom of the hill.<br /><br />On Gruntus’s side of the fields the scythed chariots went charging into four cohorts but failed to make any serious impact. The legionnaires simply stepped aside and pelted the chariots with pilum. What was left of them turned around and fled. Mitchradates, expecting just such an event had backed them up with Imitation Legionnaires which he had kept a safe distance back so they wouldn’t be affected by the route. The Romans reformed ranks and quickly advanced upon their imitation opponents. There was now a period of time in which both sides slugged it out while the resolution of the flanks was going on. In general, the Ponts seemed to take the worst of it, the Gods favoring the Romans today. Mitchradates knew he had to break several Roman cohorts in order to survive and one of his best fighting units was sitting idly on the hill. He therefore ordered them forward and with a ferocious cry they slammed into Minimus’s cohorts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQL0rQyX7m6xr4H0tI70B7VwkRw3HG2s5zuDrSZwV-71gzMEGE371STcMpyxl6QCyZTawlnp9ouRjTvubDOdl3lx5v25VsArEhayhDOR8I2pKDTCY2ExUyAHeg1TppcLHy4oFH0gJwYpU/s1600/image020.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQL0rQyX7m6xr4H0tI70B7VwkRw3HG2s5zuDrSZwV-71gzMEGE371STcMpyxl6QCyZTawlnp9ouRjTvubDOdl3lx5v25VsArEhayhDOR8I2pKDTCY2ExUyAHeg1TppcLHy4oFH0gJwYpU/s400/image020.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525517331184709538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Brazen Shields, the best Pontic Phalanx unit eventually routed the two cohorts in front of them. They advanced and wheeled into Minimus’s lead cohort already engaged with the other phalanx that had come down the hill. Mitchradates hoped the combined attack would overwhelm the Romans but it was too late. On the Pontic left, the cataphracts finally broke after a long fight with two cohorts. The Imitation Legionaries and the Ex-Slave Phalanx soon followed. Before his phalanxes could do any serious damage the Basternae on the Pontic right also broke. Mitchradates saw that with his whole left gone and a hole on his right, further struggle was useless. He sounded the retreat hoping to save what he could of his remaining troops.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo 5: End of the Battle</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NXYuvnGvD4FebMxpVLER19ATrP8cEtfViJ0MxmiLEb1fOIVkKSt68JPNoz2_x6GmN2o2JyM4muw6w1egdfJP1TCZ9H3jObx3eFIPRcRellXKk30zpIflJSaPB9sIHndmux8J98qd0jqY/s1600/image022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NXYuvnGvD4FebMxpVLER19ATrP8cEtfViJ0MxmiLEb1fOIVkKSt68JPNoz2_x6GmN2o2JyM4muw6w1egdfJP1TCZ9H3jObx3eFIPRcRellXKk30zpIflJSaPB9sIHndmux8J98qd0jqY/s400/image022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525517790941673058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fortunately for the Ponts, Gruntus was no where to be found and Minumus seeing an apparent victory, was too dumbfounded to order a pursuit. It was not something he was used to, winning that is. So as the Romans reorganized and looted the dead and wounded, Mitchradates was able to extract most of his best troops and with the rest of the retreating rabble, made his way back into Pontus. Gruntus’s cavalry who could have easily wiped out the survivors decided that without their leader to motivate them, that they had done enough for the day and headed back to camp to enjoy some of that fine Paphlagonian “dragon” wine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aftermath:</span><br />Mitchradates fully expected the worst from the Pontic high command, but was surprised to find himself treated as a hero. Seems he had never been expected to win, just delay the Romans. In the time it took for him to return to Pontus, intelligence reports indicated the Romans were totally disorganized and hadn’t moved much beyond the site of the battle. The Pontic armies had now been repositioned to counter any Roman move into Pontus and the next battle would see good quality phalangites go up against the Romans. Mitchradates was thanked for his efforts and paid handsomely for saving the empire. He decided to go back into retirement rather than accept another command, but at least now he could afford to pay someone to do the wife’s “honey do” list of chores for him.<br />Minimus spent some time reorganizing his troops, gathering reinforcements and filling out endless paperwork. A thorough report of the battle was required by the Roman Senate before they would authorize any more funds or troops. Most of the victory had been due to the Legion of the missing Gruntus who had managed to destroy the whole Pontic left flank. After giving it some thought, Minimus decided to do the only thing a Roman could do in such a situation. He took all the credit himself emphasizing the extra effort he made once his subordinate commander disappeared. He again however, found himself in somewhat of a pickle despite the victory. Gruntus had important friends in Rome and some suspicions were raised regarding the cause of his unusual disappearance. By being careful to not disparage the missing commander in his reports and forwarding the remains of Gruntus' back pay to his high ranking family members in Rome, Minimus was able to alleviate the accusations. After a few weeks, it was all sorted out and Minimus marched toward Pontus for what he hoped would be the final battle in the war.<br />The Paphlagonians soon found Roman taxes to be as onerous as Pontic ones with the exception that with the Ponts, at least they didn’t have to learn to speak Latin. In memory of his victory they erected a small monument which summed up their attitude toward Minimus. It was engraved with the words "Veni, vidi, cessī". (“He came, He saw, He left.”)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Notes on the game: </span><br />This game was unusual in that it wasn’t even close. Most of our TACTICA II games are a lot more even where the game could go either way and is decided in the outcome of a final melee. In our last game, the Romans were one point over breakpoint, the Ponts just two short. In another game, both sides went over breakpoint, but the Romans had the higher percentage of losses, so were declared the losers. In the Battle of Dragonium, it came down to the Romans just rolling better dice. The Gods evidently favored the Romans this day. Of the four Pontic units that had a chance of getting “Impetus” against the opponents they charged, not one Roman unit failed to make their morale roll. Impetus would have given the Ponts extra dice in the first round of melee. Although several Roman cohorts were close to breaking at the end, only two Roman cohorts routed in the whole game. Roman Legions are always tough to break, and they were played well by Minimus (aka. Chuck Monson) but this game was out of the ordinary.<br />To break the Roman legions the Ponts had to use their best troops (the Phalanxes) to knock off as many cohorts as possible. Cohorts are tough. Unlike other units which normally break at two third casualties, for cohorts you must kill every one of the SOBs. A single cohort is only eight figures but they can reinforce one another so now you have to kill 16 of the buggers. In the case of the enlarged 1st Cohort, it’s 24 figures if it is reinforced. Offsetting this to some extent is the Legion Breakpoint rule which says the whole Legion breaks when about two thirds of its figures are killed. This includes figures killed in unbroken cohorts that are still on the table. So the Legions are tough, but not unbeatable. The phalanxes will usually get depth bonus against them, but that doesn’t help much if you roll bad with the extra dice.<br />Mitchradates realized his mistake too late in leaving one of his best units idle on the hill while the Roman Cohorts were piecemeal routing the rest of his army around him. By the time he got it into action, the Ponts were already near breakpoint. The disappearance of Adamius Gruntus (aka. Adam Workland) during the last part of the game, allowed poetic license to let Mitchradates survive and perhaps come back in a later game. Minimus however, will continue to have a difficult time regardless of whether he wins or loses.Mitch Berdinkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17243639892486417817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1841734188431244762.post-60902508146898182782010-09-01T20:36:00.000-07:002010-10-03T17:39:52.160-07:00Book IV: from the Jaws of VictoryCast: From the West Sound Warriors Club: Minimus Gluteus-Mitch Berdinka; Stevinius Abernathius - Steve Abernathy; Greghikos Philpatakos-Greg Philpot; Gareas Wilmaneas- Gary Williams; Bradakos Philpatakos- Brad Philpot<br /><br />Rules: Game was conducted at Discordia Games in Bremerton, WA in November 2007 using a play test version of the TACTICA II (T-2) Ancients rules. T-2 has been in development by Art Conliffe and it appears they will publish in the very near future<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beginnings:</span><br />Encouraged by his last victory over the indomitable Ponts at the battle of Metropolitron, Roman General Minimus Gluteus decides to advance into the heart of his nemesis’ territory in order to bring the campaign to a quick close and extend Roman rule to the far reaches of the eastern empire. News of his latest victory has resulted in an influx of new recruits all eager to join in on what they see as a chance for loot and plunder of the rich Pontic Empire. Gluteus now enjoyed an abundance of light and skirmish infantry although he would still be outnumbered in mounted troops. He acquired the services of a seasoned Roman Legate, one Stevinius Abernathius, who was returning to Rome on leave from fighting Getae barbarians in the northern regions of Thrace. As he was highly recommended by members of the Roman Senate, Minimus felt himself fortunate to have acquired such worthy commander who being from out of the country, had no knowledge of Minimus’s own dismal reputation.<br /><br />To handle the abundance of his newly recruited light infantry, Minimus looked for a reputable leader with experience in handling irregular troops. As luck would have it, he ran into a young Thracian soldier looking for employment while relaxing at the local tavern. Seems they had both ducked under the same table to avoid becoming embroiled in a bar fight when the Centurions of Gluteus’ two Legions came to blows over which was the better outfit. Minimus, who always believed discretion was the better part of valor, thought he had found a kindred soul. In actuality the Thracian, Greghikos Philpatakos had left Thrace after a disagreement with his father about use of the family horse and had decided to leave home to make his own fortune. Greghikos had no trouble convincing Minimus of his abilities with light troops, although the several rounds of beer Minimus consumed played no small part in the deal. So Minimus with his two new commanders set off with his Legions to find the Pontic army.<br /><br />Meanwhile the Ponts in desperation after their last defeat, moved to replace the injured Bythian General, Chuckmunsae with an upstart from neighboring Armenia. Gareas Wilmaneas, of Greek descent volunteered his services to lead the phalanxes albeit at quite a monetary advantage to himself. Always a fastidious dresser, he saw opportunity to increase the size of his wardrobe and with little risk, as he was quite familiar with the reputation of the Roman General. With him he brought a Thracian leader who was an old friend and had some experience fighting Romans. This was Bradakos Philpatakos, none other than the father of young Greghikos on the Roman side. So both sides advanced cautiously and found each other just outside the small village of Discordium on the evening of a late fall day. Both sides set up camp determined to be victorious in tomorrow’s battle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-d5M8Ivn-DWAS4U-AWDn4OD70F-DJq-JjB0Skw19yn2uua52eiD-8xcHjF8TOTMAv2bmkIjRnEeAKuWb5Go-x3MPIOjUra2MUKnB7-_EXSgtu4LJpSxBpcODT_8pxd77RkgggEuOEIZS/s1600/BremerGame1.GIF"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-d5M8Ivn-DWAS4U-AWDn4OD70F-DJq-JjB0Skw19yn2uua52eiD-8xcHjF8TOTMAv2bmkIjRnEeAKuWb5Go-x3MPIOjUra2MUKnB7-_EXSgtu4LJpSxBpcODT_8pxd77RkgggEuOEIZS/s320/BremerGame1.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512156445378339570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Deployments: (Map 1)</span><br /><br />Minimus rose early in the morning after a bad night of sleep interspersed with volatile bouts of flatulence, no doubt due to an over abundant intake of Galatian wine the night before. After a quick stop at the latrines, he donned his best armor, mounted his trusty steed and rode off to survey the field of battle. The Ponts were already deployed and Minimus thanked the Gods for allowing him to see the enemy dispositions before he made his deployments.<br />Before him he found an open plain with a small patch of rough ground at the center on the right flank. On the left he was pleased to find a large wooded area completely covering his side of the field. Seeing the advantage it held, he dispatched young Greghikos with almost all of his light infantry to deploy there and hold it against all costs. Thinking the boyish Thracian would not likely get into trouble within the protecting woods, Minimus advised him to protect the left flank of his legions and to strike the flank of the Ponts if an opportunity presented itself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUAYQnqPVnK2wRjz2PffwzAFRvkhmqBR4nzsI-HjBvilwzS4Kf5J66ARQQ_SW6F9KyfJZD0s7UBEKY0AUk234AlxpAHePUJuPbn81dwS6b1Xi7qt5lSsF-RWaFHC6btVI9Kp1dySIV_TV/s1600/Photo1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUAYQnqPVnK2wRjz2PffwzAFRvkhmqBR4nzsI-HjBvilwzS4Kf5J66ARQQ_SW6F9KyfJZD0s7UBEKY0AUk234AlxpAHePUJuPbn81dwS6b1Xi7qt5lSsF-RWaFHC6btVI9Kp1dySIV_TV/s400/Photo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512160263618094610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 1: Initial dispositions</span><br /><br />In the left center, he discussed with Stevinius the need to quickly close with the Pontic Phalanxes and flank them. He pointed out that his 2nd Legion should be able to make short work of the Pontic Light Infantry enabling him to devastate the pike formations with flank attacks. He directed Stevinius to deploy his troops in the usual Roman “Acies Duplex” formation but neglected to clarify that what he desired was the “Acies Duplex/alternate” formation. The “alternate Duplex” requires the cohorts to line up behind each other rather than in the checkerboard formation the Romans more commonly used when fighting barbarians in the woods that Stevinius was familiar with. This would ultimately have a serious effect on the outcome of the battle.<br /><br />Minimus took command of the entire right Roman wing to ensure he would receive full credit for his soon to be victory. Of course it did not occur to him that in case of a defeat he would not be able to easily put the blame elsewhere as was his usual custom. All of the Roman cavalry was on the right flank with the one light infantry unit remaining as a reserve.<br />Gareas had deployed his heavy Phalanx units in the center. On ether side of them were light infantry units to protect the Pike flanks and then the heavier warbands to provide some muscle. As normal, the Pontic light cavalry were on the extreme flanks. On his left flank, just outboard of the Bastarnae warband, Gareas placed his unit of Armenian Cataphracts, hopefully to punch through the Roman right flank. Behind the cataphracts he placed the Pontic Heavy cavalry and a unit of light horse as a reserve. On the left of the Phalanxes and behind in line with the heavy cavalry, he placed the scythed chariots as another reserve, not wanting them to be wasted against the Roman skirmishers. Gareas took command of the Pontic left flank, trusting Bradakos, an experienced commander to handle the right. His plan was to crush the Roman right flank with his more numerous cavalry and then roll them up onto the points of the Pontic pikes. He knew the light infantry and the warbands were his weakest links, but he estimated the Phalanxes would be able to hold out until his cavalry advantage would take effect.<br />So after sending out orders, making some quick prayers to their gods and forming up, both sides began advancing toward each other, the skirmishers leading the way.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZlTLfBHhQQxuO4pCdWB0SQWXDw-F8ZN-DBOCw2vgrXXDAF53SwkDjqbZ0_4lbbIW5ru7wWhnmTDCjfVCEbJcrvCbAsqFVCXUf8KnZ0xp4e1dY-IHur3AGDkBHq6emV_yZK7USpFo3wve/s1600/BremerGame2.GIF"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZlTLfBHhQQxuO4pCdWB0SQWXDw-F8ZN-DBOCw2vgrXXDAF53SwkDjqbZ0_4lbbIW5ru7wWhnmTDCjfVCEbJcrvCbAsqFVCXUf8KnZ0xp4e1dY-IHur3AGDkBHq6emV_yZK7USpFo3wve/s400/BremerGame2.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514393338886740962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Opening Moves :( Map 2)</span><br /><br />In the center the Ponts moved first, advancing the two 48 man Phalanxes in a sort of wedge formation with the 32 man Phalanx, light infantry and warbands angling back. On the Pontic right, the Thracian Light Cav wheeled their left flank towards the forest opposite with the Armenian Archers wheeling back to line up parallel and ahead of them. On the opposite flank, the Skythian horse started to advance around the rough ground to their front. The Cataphracts advanced cautiously forward. The Pontic javelinmen, to protect the horse unit from the Roman slingers placed themselves in front and parallel to the cataphracts and just on the edge of the rough ground.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 2: Bradakos deploys the Thracians</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIcJB5kHOHtiPTtlUrjE96Oll_hP28gKcZZy0NZxG0FAydYh2JWqRDmortqnGwX8m3JT493JmKzT2IW8d16DNoJgHaZn-48I3UVLm3yfqD9u4Xz4KIBHApDw_mvQaTo0rHJg5aRYOcfVg/s1600/Photo2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIcJB5kHOHtiPTtlUrjE96Oll_hP28gKcZZy0NZxG0FAydYh2JWqRDmortqnGwX8m3JT493JmKzT2IW8d16DNoJgHaZn-48I3UVLm3yfqD9u4Xz4KIBHApDw_mvQaTo0rHJg5aRYOcfVg/s400/Photo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512165413951544498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The young Greghikos with the Roman left flank advanced his lights to the edge of the woods passing through his archers which moved up behind in support. Stevinius with the 2nd Legion advanced his cohorts as fast as possible. The left half of his second rank of the Cohorts moved up into line with the fist rank of cohorts, both still formed in double ranks. The right half of his Legion cohorts moved up deploying into single ranks, with the rear cohorts reinforcing the front cohorts. Minimus advanced his Legion also, reinforcing the front Cohorts with the second line as they deployed. On the right flank, he directed one of the Roman heavy cavalry units and his light Gaulic horse to counter the Skythian horse that appeared to be trying to get around his flank. He dispatched his one Light Infantry unit on that side to cover the flank of his cohorts in case the cataphracts were to attack there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 3: Pontic Catapracts & javelinmen</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutY58Exy7P1m1YqdcEM09goe9pKFU_phFB_XdjLiPYjaQj51ckZiobLOcbNyezy58m7VUNzyGtdvqlavyS2zMJRRpckuLlifRWqTu9h9haGjUo747ldj2ElHqiadUG2RMbTYEXC8pxpI1/s1600/Photo3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutY58Exy7P1m1YqdcEM09goe9pKFU_phFB_XdjLiPYjaQj51ckZiobLOcbNyezy58m7VUNzyGtdvqlavyS2zMJRRpckuLlifRWqTu9h9haGjUo747ldj2ElHqiadUG2RMbTYEXC8pxpI1/s400/Photo3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512514006098068594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Seeing the Pontic javelinmen form up in front of the cataphracts, Minimus yelled insults at them as to why they would be so stupid to form up in open ground while the rough terrain immediately adjacent offered safety from his cavalry. While Minimus’s aides muttered, “why doesn’t he shut the #&*@ up”, the Pontic javelinmen promptly moved into the rough terrain where indeed, the Roman cavalry could not reach them. They then began pelting the advancing Roman heavy cavalry as they moved up to support the Gaulic Lights. The other Roman Heavy Cavalry unit moved up to contend with the Cataphracts. Minimus dispatched his one LI on that side to support the Cavalry .Both side’s skirmishers then began firing at each other with minimal effect. Eventually as the heavy infantry came up into range, the missile troops began firing over the opposing skirmishers to try to weaken the massed units behind.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPqi5QOFcjZdVkceccnxTly6ZzxbtJss9KR5m5H1PpD8P1hxuKB33_W8PHmhElHBqO2qHXXt_10Xe4Qg-kk2FXAR6e2pW1QglpSsA0JMnJ-LaD4wvtEEjQmI2R2CdsThB0kxQAryDU9R7/s1600/untitled.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPqi5QOFcjZdVkceccnxTly6ZzxbtJss9KR5m5H1PpD8P1hxuKB33_W8PHmhElHBqO2qHXXt_10Xe4Qg-kk2FXAR6e2pW1QglpSsA0JMnJ-LaD4wvtEEjQmI2R2CdsThB0kxQAryDU9R7/s400/untitled.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523981490808630770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Real Battle Begins: (Map 3 and 4)</span><br />On the Roman left, young Greghikos, seeing he was opposed only by some Armenian archers and a unit of Thracian Light cavalry, decided to become aggressive and quickly advanced his Light Infantry out of the woods and towards the elder Philpatakos’s light horse. He made short work of the archers, routing them, while his light infantry moved up to contact the Thracian Light horse. In the left center, Stevinius’s 1st Legion came to grips with the Pontic Phalanxes and began to slug it out after first tossing their pilum. Seeing that the Light Infantry of Bradakos would be hard pressed by the cohorts, the Pontic General Bradakos , dispatched his reserve Scythed Chariots there to block the Romans in anticipation of the light infantry eventually routing. The echelon formation of the Ponts prevented the left two cohorts of Stevinius from coming to grips with the Galatian warband, so they continued to advance causing the Skythian archers to evade back.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lYPdNtkGUxGbAvjfSqqSy0bpj0Lyippo7GEm1-NAovtIuP1C3chCCa8dcJuXKvxnmCdNQkqCrAJByslWdlPD8mIYVzoDYMp-UfD5RFr47ltITDC8cyNz1Okt7q5nP0BJb83P-teWTt2W/s1600/BremerGame3.GIF"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3lYPdNtkGUxGbAvjfSqqSy0bpj0Lyippo7GEm1-NAovtIuP1C3chCCa8dcJuXKvxnmCdNQkqCrAJByslWdlPD8mIYVzoDYMp-UfD5RFr47ltITDC8cyNz1Okt7q5nP0BJb83P-teWTt2W/s400/BremerGame3.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514770699360234194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p> </p><br /><p> </p><br /><p> </p><br /><p> </p><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 4: Miimus's Cohorts advance</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxOCI8O5OrijKnAkRG0ZOhXWu6M1G31l02-fLVKsroMtazPYmA6gOOr2WlmsIw9Acr6ga1w1_Gi57KfiH6GqmBGOzQ4Gg8v2GipPJT2fI2zuxtI6iG_BQfBnmGI54lhNS8A74c25vfw6G/s1600/DSC04704.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxOCI8O5OrijKnAkRG0ZOhXWu6M1G31l02-fLVKsroMtazPYmA6gOOr2WlmsIw9Acr6ga1w1_Gi57KfiH6GqmBGOzQ4Gg8v2GipPJT2fI2zuxtI6iG_BQfBnmGI54lhNS8A74c25vfw6G/s400/DSC04704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514766262202374802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Minimus’s 1st Legion left most cohorts also contacted the Phalanxes. Unfortunately, he had misjudged the pikes advance and did not fully deploy his cohorts there. This resulted in a lesser number bodies in the front line, putting them somewhat at a disadvantage with the dense pike blocks.<br /><br />The Pontic Thurephoroi LI and Bastarnae warband being held back, he had more time there and quickly had his cohorts deploy there and reinforced the front line with his rear cohorts. Fearing disaster should the enemy cataphracts attack his open flanks, he dispatched his lead cohort to assist his heavy cavalry and sent another to a blocking position just in case. He directed his one light infantry on that side to deal with the Pontic javelinmen who had so rudely taken his advice to occupy the rough terrain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7OjAmunRXMHrSgmWV9L-GUiDoF5CRA0ZF-8DIs13bH-3qNS7Gvbso6jnNoGUZQa8IhP1DpD3kJVQbnJXt9WKeTGP5azPcjjerOBLT_7IfuadAR5ZykQnB-wPYSeI4VEg5MKhX_wyLjTt/s1600/BremerGame4.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7OjAmunRXMHrSgmWV9L-GUiDoF5CRA0ZF-8DIs13bH-3qNS7Gvbso6jnNoGUZQa8IhP1DpD3kJVQbnJXt9WKeTGP5azPcjjerOBLT_7IfuadAR5ZykQnB-wPYSeI4VEg5MKhX_wyLjTt/s400/BremerGame4.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516611839154182098" border="0" /></a><br />Almost all of the forces were now engaged in melee from one side of the battlefield to the other. Greghikos’s light infantry were thrashing his father’s Thracian cavalry on the Roman left. The Galation warband’s charge however, had intimidated some of the cohorts there, giving the warband an advantage. On the Roman right, the Gaulic and Skythian light cavalry fought hard, but eventually they reached a point where both sides had had enough and each routed back. The Roman heavy cavalry quickly advanced upon the one remaining Skythian horse unit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Romans gain the upper hand :( Map 5)</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6uTEoubmsYeGem9jl9jmzHEXErl_e33fqZLeY3P2KNrtTXPACQxQEv8I25ieVrZRJ9QeY1Yh7o_FozzEpuTMW9H1NIiR8broMSZVqdHbI268IIaP9TyOyE8e20ZN0A_jOJhtTYty5m8j/s1600/BremerGame5.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6uTEoubmsYeGem9jl9jmzHEXErl_e33fqZLeY3P2KNrtTXPACQxQEv8I25ieVrZRJ9QeY1Yh7o_FozzEpuTMW9H1NIiR8broMSZVqdHbI268IIaP9TyOyE8e20ZN0A_jOJhtTYty5m8j/s400/BremerGame5.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521792874737532130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the center the Ponts struggled hard against the invincible cohorts. The Thracian Light Infantry gave way and two cohorts advanced to flank the Pontic Line. Luckily, the scythed chariots arrived in time to plug the gap, but Pontic Sub-Commander, Bradokos worried they would not hold. Surprisingly, the chariots did quite well against the cohorts for a change. As they dove into the ranks of Romans, legs and torsos were separated from each other with body parts flying everywhere. A grim Stevinius urged his men forward. On the other flank, Minimus’s 3rd & 8th cohorts crashed through the Threphoroi Lights with hardly a pause. They also, were now in a position behind the Pontic phalanxes. On the far Roman left, Greghikos’s light infantry had made short work of the Thracian light horse, one unit pursuing them off the field. They now turned and advanced to assist the cohorts with only the Skythian archers to try and delay them. On the Roman right, the Bastarnae warband were finally engaged by a reinforced cohort, however the cohort was heavily damaged by the impetuous charge of the barbarians. Minimus could smell victory. With the Ponts outflanked, the phalanxes could not last long. He called his Praefectus Castrorum over and began to dictate a message to Rome proclaiming his victory.<br /><br /><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 5:Pontic left in trouble</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXfOBO7qdh50CxJBZzThzZfYw0nVAEsvNy-6inHAdrrAJehk22Zd_qxaonVxYhZZQwTgj04Buk8xyC7pVpdY6hYSetr5zEaLBg3uro5JpVZjaCA5GF4McLcKb7c9WB71gI3uTkJGDck07/s1600/DSC04710.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXfOBO7qdh50CxJBZzThzZfYw0nVAEsvNy-6inHAdrrAJehk22Zd_qxaonVxYhZZQwTgj04Buk8xyC7pVpdY6hYSetr5zEaLBg3uro5JpVZjaCA5GF4McLcKb7c9WB71gI3uTkJGDck07/s320/DSC04710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521433138219258530" border="0" /></a><p></p><br /><br />Things indeed, did seem bad for the Ponts, but the cohorts had been sorely weakened by skirmisher fire, warband charges and the depth advantage of the phalanxes. Many of the cohorts were reaching close to the breaking point. As Minimus wrote, he hoped the next few moments would bring a great victory.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disaster Strikes:(Map 6)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtaPPdLX7h9JMCZcofhWNM5apWELj9lXH6Oj5Wh31Ek8nByEZU7dAqx-SrtQ8-1a7eYsgQMZAj-rVxhRqwNKFAAqFNC2sMHg9Ev0Nfoe1hVnY1uPNvzzmlhcme96KJjCZSdCgMF_ixJcF/s1600/BremerGame6.GIF"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtaPPdLX7h9JMCZcofhWNM5apWELj9lXH6Oj5Wh31Ek8nByEZU7dAqx-SrtQ8-1a7eYsgQMZAj-rVxhRqwNKFAAqFNC2sMHg9Ev0Nfoe1hVnY1uPNvzzmlhcme96KJjCZSdCgMF_ixJcF/s400/BremerGame6.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521794481002873874" border="0" /></a><br />Minimus, was partly correct. The great victory was on the other side however. It started on the Roman left when one of the Roman cohorts reached its breaking point. The next cohort’s reaction left it disordered, in melee. Receiving more casualties, it to broke. And so it went down the line. The cohorts who were on the verge of victory found themselves at break point or disordered. Eventually the entire Legion of Stevinius became disheartened and began to rout off the field.<a style="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1841734188431244762&postID=6090250814689818278#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""></a><a style="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1841734188431244762&postID=6090250814689818278#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""></a><br /><br />Even some of Minimus’s cohorts gave way against the pikes and the Bastarnae due to the toll of casualties fighting the deeper formations of the Ponts.<br /><br /><a style="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1841734188431244762&postID=6090250814689818278#_edn3" name="_ednref3" title=""></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Figure 6</span>:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aftermath,Ponts victorious</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETshpTmcUSrxg61j0G4kJEcPqj1ZHZWEYzQcr27iYybsnwbk0fb2NUR9ebUtRrcvpREcg7UKjgtGbh6Mi5Vi_ZEQ-8TtujsKyBrSO07CRc3bv4oFHMgd8c4xXkcyGKEE_l0OfkxwjQSm3/s1600/DSC04714.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETshpTmcUSrxg61j0G4kJEcPqj1ZHZWEYzQcr27iYybsnwbk0fb2NUR9ebUtRrcvpREcg7UKjgtGbh6Mi5Vi_ZEQ-8TtujsKyBrSO07CRc3bv4oFHMgd8c4xXkcyGKEE_l0OfkxwjQSm3/s400/DSC04714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521802216429435730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the Right, the cataphracts finally routed the Roman heavy cavalry after a hard fight.<span style=""> </span>The result was that over half of the Roman troops were broken and fleeing the field.<span style=""> </span>Minimus quickly dropped his communiqué in the dirt and headed to the rear. With no Pontic cavalry on the Roman left and center, both he and a shocked Stevinius made good their escape. The premature missive was later found and the Ponts had a good laugh when Gareas shared the contents with his staff.<br /><br />Aftermath: Gareas Wilmaneas after rounding up the prisoners and selling them into slavery made a tidy profit. Along with his payment from the Pontic Empire he had enough to buy a villa in a kingdom then known as the Kartoonian Circle.<br /><br />There he began raising his own army, dressing them in glossy colored uniforms. Bradakos Philpatakos also made a nice profit from his exertions in the battle. Although his right flank had disintegrated, Bradakos’s calm and steady resolve had encouraged his phalanxes to outlast the Roman cohorts. As thanks for his courage, Gareas rewarded him handsomely with wagon loads of captured Roman loot.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPqi5QOFcjZdVkceccnxTly6ZzxbtJss9KR5m5H1PpD8P1hxuKB33_W8PHmhElHBqO2qHXXt_10Xe4Qg-kk2FXAR6e2pW1QglpSsA0JMnJ-LaD4wvtEEjQmI2R2CdsThB0kxQAryDU9R7/s1600/untitled.GIF"></a> <p class="MsoBodyTextFirstIndent2">Young Greghikos although on the loosing side, actually came out quite well from the Roman disaster. He was the only one on the Roman side to earn any glory. As he had pretty much free reign over his portion of the battlefield, he had no trouble evading the pursuing Ponts as all their cavalry was on the other side of the field. He even managed to grab a significant portion of goods from the Roman camp. He returned home to Thrace where the dispute over the family horse was long forgotten. He now had with him a significant herd of captured Thracian and Roman horse. All was well in the Philpatakos household as father and son vowed that if they ever again fought on opposing sides, at least they would do so on opposite flanks of the battlefield.<br /></p>Stevinius never quite recovered from the shock of seeing his Legion crushed from what appeared to be an imminent Roman victory. He was last seen in the northern regions of Macedon mumbling incoherently about men with long pointy things.<br />Minimus was in a pickle as to how to explain this latest debacle. After giving it some thought, he decided to do the only thing a Roman could do in such a situation. He placed the blame on the absent Stevinius. Returning to Rome, he raised the threat of Pontic terrorists who would soon be raiding and pillaging Roman territories. The Roman Senate hastily voted to provide funds for another Pontic adventure feeling guilty over their original recommendation of Stevinius which Minimus dutifully brought to their attention. With Stevinius absent and Gluteus having paid some Bythnian pirates to slit the throat of anyone saying different, there was no one advise the Senate of the true facts. So as Minimus planned his next campaign, there came to be known in all reaches of the Empire at that time, what was called the Maximum Minimus tax as the Senate raised revenue collections to pay for the Pontic wars.Mitch Berdinkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17243639892486417817noreply@blogger.com2