FOG 300 Playtest Gallic vs Ancient Spanish 55 BC - Sep 11, 2017

Hairy Barbarian Week Continues...

Hill Tribe Gauls vs Iberian Ancient Spanish

Ancient Spanish List and Host:

Hill Tribe Gallic List and Host:

The Spanish won the initiative and opted for Hilly terrain.  The Gauls took the compulsory steep hill, a broken and the gully.  The Spanish took a forrest and an impassable.  The Spanish forrest did not fit and was discarded.  Here is the table after camps were deployed:

The Gauls deployed with the three warrior battle groups stretching from left to right across the broken towards the gully.  The Gallic javelin men deployed in front of the cavalry to complete the deployment.

The Spanish deployed with the small shield cavalry in front of the caetrati, then one BG of the scutarii, the superior scutarii across the steep hill and the remaining scutarii in a 4 deep 2 wide column on the right of the steep hill.

For the Spanish 1st turn, the superior scutarii and the right most scutarii conducted a full move forward with a one base shift to the right (7" as they lost 1" due to the steep hill).  The left scutarii conducted a full move forward.  The small shield cavalry moved a full move and shifted 1 base right.  The Spanish light foot moved up behind the cavalry.  As there was no shooting, the turn ended.

For the Gallic 1st turn, the two foot warrior BGs on the right advanced a full move forward.  The left most foot warrior BGs conducted a full move forward and shifted one base left.  The Gallic light foot 

conducted a full move forward and angled to the right to give the Gallic cavalry room to engage.  The Gallic cavalry did a short move up behind the left most foot warrior BG.  Again there was no shooting, so the turn ended.

For the Spanish 2nd turn, the superior scutarii remained stationary and expanded 1 file.  The left flank  scutarii conducted a short move (after passing a CMT) to come even with the other two scutarii.  The other scutarii BG also remained stationary.  The Spanish LF turned 90 and moved 3".  No shooting this turn either, so the turn ended.

There were no charges to begin the Gallic 2nd turn. The right end foot warrior BG attempted a CMT to move short but failed.  It moved a full move instead.  The middle BG passed a CMT and moves short.  The left BG connected a full move and a 1/2 base shift to end up next to the middle BG of foot warriors.  The Gallic lights moved up to shoot at the Spanish light foot.  The Gallic cavalry moved up behind the Gallic lights.  There were no targets for shooting and the Gallic turn ended.  (unfortunately, the Druids were engaged in a tree hugging exercise and forgot to sketch the battlefield at this point).

To start the Spanish 3rd turn, all three Spanish scutarii charged.  The left Spanish scutarii managed 0 hits on the Gallic warriors to their front.  The superior scutarii did 2 hits to the Gallic warriors on the right end of the Gallic line and 2 to the middle BG.  The right scutarii BG did 1 on the middle Gallic foot BG and 1 on the Gallic left BG.  The Gallic BG on the right end of the line scored 3 hits on the left most scutarii and 3 on the superior scutarii.  The middle Gallic warrior BG missed against the superior scutarii and managed only 1 hit on the right most scutarii.  The left Gallic BG missed completely.  The left Spanish scutarii double dropped on its cohesion and lost a base.  The superior scutarii lost a base to its death roll.  The middle Gallic BG passed its cohesion bit lost a base to the death roll.  The left Gallic BG disrupted.  In maneuver, the right Spanish Scutarii shifted right to conform sliding in front of the Spanish cavalry.  The Spanish lights expanded a file to be 2 bases wide and advanced on the Gallic lights.  Shooting for both sides was ineffective with 1 hot scored between both units.  In melee, the left Spanish scutarii managed 1 hit on the right Gallic warriors, the superior scutarii scored 3 hits on the right Gallic warriors and 2 on the middle Gallic warriors, while the right Spanish scutarii hit the middle Gauls once and the left Gauls twice.  In return, the right Gallic warrior BG scored 3 hits on the left most scutarii and 4 hits on the superior scutarii.  The middle Gallic warrior BG scored 2 hits on the superior scutarii and 2 on the right most scutarii.  The left Gallic warrior BG scored 3 hits on the right most scutarii.  All three Spanish scutarii BGs lost this phase.  The right most Gallic warrior BG lost 1 base to a death roll but the other two were unfazed.  The left wing scutarii rolled poorly and broke on its cohesion test.  The superior scutarii passed its cohesion but lost 1 base.  The right end scutarii disrupted on its cohesion and also lost 1 base.  The superior scutarii disrupted on its cohesion test for seeing a friend rout.

There were no charges to be had for the Gallic 3rd, so in maneuver the Gallic light foot moved into the face of the Spanish lights. The Gallic cavalry move up behind the Gallic lights and turn 90 to angle towards the Spanish cavalry.  In shooting, both sides manage 1 hit between both BGs to no effect.  In melee, the right Gallic warrior BG managed 3 hits on the superior scutarii.  The middle Gallic warriors scored 1 hit on the superior scutarii and 2 on the right scutarii.  The left Gallic warrior BG scored 3 hits on the right scutarii.  The superior scutarii managed 2 hits on both the right Gallic warrior BG and the middle Gallic warrior BG.  The right scutarii scored 2 hits on the middle Gallic BG and 1 on the left BG.  The middle Gallic BG disrupted and lost 1 base.  Both scutarii BGs pass their death rolls.  In the joint action phase, no one passed a cohesion test to rally and the turn ends.

To start the Spanish 4th turn, the Spanish lights charge the Gallic lights who stand for the charge.  In impact, the Spanish score 3 hits to 2 but the Gauls hold.  In maneuver, the Spanish lights expand a file.  With no shooting, the melee phase was next.  The superior scutarii scored 2 hits on the right Gallic BG but 0 on the middle BG.  The right scutarii scored 2 hits on the middle Gallic BG bit 0 on the left Gallic BG.  The Spanish lights score 3 hits on the Gallic lights.  The right Gallic warrior BG scored 4 hits on the superior scutarii.  The middle Gallic warrior BG scored 2 hits on the superior scutarii and 1 on the right scutarii.  The left Gallic warrior BG scored 3 hits on the right scutarii.  Meanwhile, the Gallic lights scored 4 hits on the Spanish lights.  The Gallic light foot pass their death roll.  The superior scutarii failed their cohesion test badly and dropped to fragmented while loosing a base to the death roll.  The right scutarii double dropped on cohesion and lost a base as well.  The Spanish light foot disrupted on their cohesion and slo lost a base.  Even though the game technically over with 5 attrition points suffered, the Spanish rolled the cohesion test for seeing friends break anyway.  The superior scutarii broke and the Spanish lights fragmented.

Another interesting match-up.  I thought both armies had advantages but worried the Gallic cavalry might be too powerful but as it turned out the cavalry for both sides had little effect on the game.  I might try the hill tribe Gauls against the LRR next.  Until next week...

FOG 300 Playtest: Later Republican Roman vs Early German 55 BC

Influenced by Sidebottom and Hughes, I decided to try out two infantry heavy armies today:  LRR vs Early Germans circa 55 BC.

The German List and Host:

 The Roman List and Host:

The Romans won the initiative and opted for Agriculture.  The Early Germans took the compulsory open field, the gentle hill and the gully.  The Roman took the open and the road.  After the camps were placed the field looked like so:

Here is the view of the Roman lines from atop the Sacred Oak with the Roman cavalry on the left followed by the White Legion, the Red Legion and the archers.

Titus Pullo snapped this picture from atop the ramparts of the Roman camp.  The German archers were deployed on the far left with the German cavalry behind them followed by a battle group of Foot Warriors,  the Select Warriors, the 2nd BG of Foot Warriors and then the javelin men deployed in column.  The Scared Grove camp can just been behind the Select Warrior BG.

For the Roman first turn, the legionaries wheeled slightly left and echeloned the line forward.  The archers did a full move to cover the left and the cavalry did the same on the right.  With no one within shooting range, the turn ended.

On the German 1st turn, the German warriors conducted a single move straight ahead.  The Javelinmen, deployed into a 2 wide line and advanced to in front of the left most warrior BG.  The German archers edged over towards the Roman archers while the German cavalry followed dup behind them. There again was no shooting so the turn ended.

To start the Roman 2nd turn, The Roman cavalry launch into the German javelin men.  The javelin men evade 3 " straight back while the cavalry roll short and move only 3".  The Roman Legionaires move up to stay on line with the Roman cavalry while the Roman archers move to keep their relative position just in front of the Red Legion.  In the shooting phase the Roman fire was ineffectual while the Germans scored 2 hits in return.  The Roman archers passed their cohesion so the turn ended.

The German 2nd Turn saw the German javelin men advance again to be in front of the Roman cavalry.  The warrior line remained stationary after the left most warrior BG failed a CMT to move short.  The German archers moved to within 1" of the Roman archers and the German cavalry moved up behind them.  In the shooting phase the javelin men only scored 1 hit as did the German archers.  To compliment the ineffective German missile fire, the Romans failed to hit at all.  With the end of the shooting phase, the turn ended.

The Roman 3rd turn started with the Romans deciding to hold in place (the German foot was just outside of 3").  In the shooting phase, the Roman archers again failed to hit and the German fire was once more futile.

To start the German 3rd turn, the German left warrior BG moved short to behind the javelin men while the Select Warriors moved short to cover their right.  The right end warrior BG failed their CMT so opted to do a full move which served to cover the right of the select warriors.  The German archers and cavalry hold.  In the shooting phase, the German archers scored two hits and took two hits in return.  Both sides' archer BGs passed their cohesion tests.  The javelin men only managed 1 hit on the Roman cavalry.  With the end of the shooting phase, the turn ended.

The Romans decided to start Turn 4 with a charge with the cavalry and Legionaires.  The german javelin men evaded once more so the Roman cavalry barreled into the left end warrior BG. The angled line Legionaires ensured that all three BGs of German warriors were in the maelstrom.

In impact, the Roman cavalry managed 2 hits but took 4 in return from the left wing warriors.  The Roman general joined the White Legion who scored 2 hits on the left wing warriors and 3 on the Select Warriors in the German center.  The German left wing warrior only scored 1 hit to the White Legion.  The Select Warriors scored 1 hit on the White Legion and 3 to the Red Legion.  The Red Legion scored 3 hits on the Select Warriors but only 1 on the right flank warriors who did 1 in return. The Roman cavalry lost the impact, disrupted and lost 1 base.  The White Legion only took 2 hits so where unfazed in impact.  The left wing warriors took 4 hits total and lost a base to the death roll.  The Select Warriors passed their cohesion test but lost a base to the death roll.  The Red Legion were unfazed in impact.

In the shooting phase, the Germans archers scored 2 hits on the Roman archers whose now fire was again ineffectual.  The Roman archers passed their cohesion test.  

In melee, the Roman cavalry suffered 3 hits from the left wing warriors giving only 1 in return.  The White Legion scored 2 hits to the left wing warriors and 3 to the Select Warriors.  The Red Legion scored 2 hits to the Select Warriors and 1 to the right wing warriors.  The left wing warriors scored 1 hit to the White Legion.  The Select Warriors scored only 1 hit in this phase and this to the White Legion.  The right wing warriors managed no hits.  The Roman cavalry rolled a modified "0" for their cohesion test and double dropped.   A second base was also lost to the death roll.  The White and Red Legions were unfazed in the melee phase.  The left wing warriors lost a base to their death roll while the Select Warriors disrupted and lost a base.  The White Legion thumbed their nose at the routing Roman cavalry who routed a full 6" in their initial route.

In the German 4th turn, the javelin men moved a full 5" forward towards the Roman baseline.  The German archers withdrew behind the German cavalry.  The only shooting to be had was by the Roman archers, which was ineffective.  In melee, the White Legion scored 2 hits on the left warriors and 4 on the Select Warriors.  The Red Legion scored 3 on the Select Warriors and 2 on the right wing warriors.  The left wing warriors scored 2 hits on the White Legion.  The Select Warriors managed only 1 hit in total and that against the White Legion.  The right wing warriors scored only 1 hit to the Red Legion.  The White Legion won their melee and passed their death roll.  The Select Warriors passed their cohesion test but lost another base to the death roll.  The right wing warriors survived their cohesion test and death roll unfazed.  In the JAP, the Select Warriors rally back from disrupted.

In the Roman 5th turn, their were no charges.  The Roman archers wheeled toward the German cavalry but stayed outside of 2 " of the right wing warriors.  In the shooting phase, the Roman archers managed only 1 hit to no effect.  In the melee phase, the White Legion scored 2 hits to the right wing warriors and 2 hits to the Select Warriors.  The Red Legion scored 1 hit to the Select Warriors and 0 to the right wing warriors.  The left wing warriors scored 2 on the White Legion while the Select Warriors scored 1 on the White Legion and 1 on the Red Legion.  The right wing warriors scored none.  Only the Select Warriors lost melee this phase.  They passed their cohesion but lost yet another base.

To start the German 5th turn, the German cavalry charges the Roman archers.  The archers evade 5" and the cavalry pursue 4".  In the movement phase, the javelin men turn 3" and move towards the center.  The German archers moved up behind their cavalry.  There was not shooting to be had in this turn.  In melee, the White Legion scored 2 hits on the left wing warriors and 3 hits on the Select Warriors.  The Red Legion scored 2 hits on the Select Warriors and 2 on the right wing warriors.  The right wing warriors scored 2 hits on the White Legion.  The Select Warriors scored 1 hit on the White Legion and none on the Red.  The right wing warriors managed 2 hits on the Red Legion.  The White Legion passed its death roll while the Red Legion was unfazed.  The left wing warriors suffered no ill effects from the melee nor did the right wing warriors.  The Select Warriors, however, passed their cohesion test but broke when they lost another stand to the death roll.  Bot remaining warrior battlegroups passed their cohesion for seeing a friend break.  In the joint action phase, Select Warriors routed to in front of their camp.  The German chief moved to the right wing warriors.

In the Roman 6th, there were no charges to be had.  The two legions conformed to their adversaries and the Roman archers advanced on the German cavalry.  In the shooting phase, the Roman archers scored 3 hits on the German cavalry who shrugged the hits off as a nuisance.  In melee, the White Legion scored 5 hits on the left wing warriors while the Red Legion also scored 5 hits to the right wing warriors.   The left wing warriors scored 4 hits to the White Legion while the right wing warriors managed only 3 hits (even with the German chieftain fighting in the front rank) to the Red Legion.  Both legions passed their death rolls.  The left wing warriors lost a base and double dropped to fragmented.  The right wing warriors lost a base and disrupted.  The Select Warriors finished routing off the table.

Unbeknownst to the Germans, their 6th turn would be the last one.  The German cavalry charged the Roman archers and both chargers and evaders moved 4".   The German javelin men moved towards the Roman archers while the German archers moved to in front of the German cavalry.  In the shooting phase, the German archers managed only 1 hit to no effect.  In melee, the White Legion scored 6 hits on the left wing warriors who manage none in return.  The Red Legion managed 4 hits on the right wing warriors who managed 2 in return.  The left wing warriors managed to roll a 4 on two dice which brought them to 0 after modifiers.  This broke the left wing warriors who also lost a base to hits.  The right wing warriors lost a base to their death roll and fragmented.  To add insult to injury the German Chieftain was killed in melee this phase causing the right wing warriors to break as well ending the game.

There was a moment when it looked a bit harry for the Romans but they rolled out of it.  The small number of BGs the Romans can field at 300 points creates potential issues but their superior quality helps significantly.

Blame it on Sidebottom and Hughes

After a marathon summer working on the Crusades, Harry Sidebottom and Ian Hughes brought about a change of pace for a while.  Harry has a new Warrior of Rome book (The Last Hour) coming out in 2018 and available for pre-order from Amazon UK (unfortunately not in the US yet) that stoked my interest in Imperial Rome.  So what happened, I looked on my shelf and found these two lovelies:

Im reading both of these at once at the moment and you can guess you will see a Roman play test or two in the near future.  Both are quite good.  I have read all of Sidebottom's Warrior of Rome books and the first in the Throne of the Caesars trilogy.  I've read Hughes' books on Stilicho and Belisarius and suspect I will end up with Aetius on my shelf soon.  All are well worth the price.

Sep 3 Update

No time for play tests this weekend as work is kicking it.  The War Like No Other non-fiction reference list has been updated.  So check out the campaign page for the link.