Dave becomes the new Greg

For the third week in a row our reporter stared across a sandy battlefield. This time he had returned to Eastern Syria in the 3rd century AD, to witness a re-run of the battle from two weeks ago as the Sassanids once more took on the Romans. Would the Romans, now led by Dave assisted by Chris once again crush the Sassanids headed by Phil, aided by Tony and Fred.

The Sassanids set up with “heavy” cavalry heavy flanks, the infantry in the centre strengthened by the elephants ,cataphracts and notably some light cavalry. The Romans went “traditional”. The Legionary core in the centre with cavalry and lighter troops holding the flanks.

The Sassanids went first and took attack to the Romans. Even their spearmen, who normally hang back moved forward quite aggressively. The Romans moved forward albeit not quite so quickly. Turn two saw the first problem for the Romans when a unit of veteran Legionaries died under a blizzard of arrows from the light cavalry. Good chit-pulling for the Sassanids matched by abysmal saves for the Romans. The General was also wounded and had to move units. Dave’s groans were loud, and the Roman collective morale plummeted. Desultory combat on the flanks brought little result, and so it seemed the centre would be the decisive combat zone.

Turn two saw a Sassanid light cavalry unit charge through the gap in the Roman line and take the camp. Three coins changed hands. Sassanids 5, Romans 0. The Roman catapult artillery on their left “unleashed hell” but to little effect, and then died themselves. 7-0. On the Sassanid left the massed archers took up a defensive position behind the marsh from where they could pour fire into the Roman right flank. At first they made no impact but eventually did kill a light javelin unit. 8-0.

Back in the centre Chris, the Roman commander decided caution was the best approach. Legionaries pulled back to defend the second camp and another unit turned to try and re-take the captured camp. Disaster. Phil’s elephants caught them from the rear, and destroyed them with their three attacks. 10-0.

On the Roman right Dave charged his veteran cavalry into the Sassanids, but only succeeded in disordering his own unit. Events took an even worse turn when his bow-armed light cavalry were destroyed. 11-0.

In the centre the Sassanid infantry trudged forward through the huge hole in the virtually non-existent Roman central command. Would theirs’ be a rare moment of victory?

All eyes turned to the Roman left. Tony had pinned the Roman cavalry, and now the light cavalry and cataphracts simultaneously attacked one of the Roman units from flank and rear. This was going to hurt.

Cue one dead Roman unit. 13-0 and complete victory for the Sassanids. The Sassanid spear had been denied their “moment in the Sun"...well at least figuratively if not literally!

Our regular reporter will be taking a well-earned break next week. With the club re-opening we will see if this heralds a new dawn for a gaming. Or maybe a mini COVID outbreak amongst the wargaming community. At least Dave will be safe!

Simon