I'm Spartacus

As reported in the last blog post, the almost-traditional New Years’ Eve game at Festung Williams was a TTS battle set in the 3rd Servile War. In fact, it was the final battle at the Silarius River in Southern Italy. This pitted Simon’s shiny new Marian/Caesarian Roman army vs Tony and Dave’s scummy slaves and gladiators. With Phil rendered hors de combat due to suspected biological warfare at Duxford last week, Simon joined Chris to lead Crassus’ Romans into battle against the aforementioned Tony and Dave. Greg sat to one side watching the chits being drawn. Enough said on that one!

The terrain was flat albeit interspersed with olive groves and standing wheat fields as this was prime Roman farming land. A few copses of trees and part of a Roman villa also complicated the table. The Romans set up with an infantry-heavy left and centre, and cavalry on the right with the Rebels matching them.

The Romans started their advance

noting that the Rebels on their right hung back. In the centre the Romans started to kill the covering rebel light javelin units, whilst the Roman cavalry soon found itself penned back by the surprisingly tough slave light cavalry. Chris was quite dismayed to find the rebel veterans easily shrugging off several javelin hits.

The inexorable Roman advance continued, with the legionary’s ability to manoeuvre easily proving a massive advantage. With the screen of light troops swept away the massed legionaries and mercenary Spanish Scutarii got to work on the deep warrior units scoring multiple disorders which degrade their fighting ability.

On the rebel right the mobs resorted to merely throwing rocks at the Legions who, realising that they were only up against mobs charged through the wheat fields.

On the Roman right Chris was certainly not having it all his own way, and with his heroic General hit he considered withdrawing him to the rear much to the jeers of Dave and Tony.

Eventually the inevitable happened and several deep units of warriors died, and the rebel victory medal pile was becoming dangerously depleted. Two raw Roman Legionary units died but Simon/Crassus merely observed that now at least he wouldn’t have to pay them, and who cared about wives and orphans.

As Tony’s mobs retired to their camps for a final heroic defence one unit failed to withdraw and succumbed to the Legionaries to its front. Game over. A huge Roman victory.

In retrospect whilst the Rebels may have found it a tough proposition it could have been a lot closer. Chit drawing certainly didn’t favour the rebels, albeit Greg’s influence was over both sides.

With the rebels having 23 victory medals to the Romans 17 their ability to take heavy losses was greater, and a few more Roman losses could have concentrated Roman minds somewhat. The rebels also had no way to capture the camps, Tony’s favourite on-table stratagem. The sole charge by a light cavalry unit was easily snuffed out. I’m also unsure about the cost vs fighting ability of “mobs”. They cost the same as the Spanish Scutarii who have a heavy throwing weapon, better morale and manoeuvrability with the only mob advantage being the ability to take three disorders. Maybe one to take up with Mr Miller!

Simon