The Battle of Tigranocerta 69BCE

[Note that this has nothing to do with the similarly named fort in eighteenth century North America].

After his last visit ooop t’north, Steve the Architect had offered to run a big Ancients game, so on Saturday we had the pleasure of engaging in battle between the Caesarian Romans, I think, and Late Successor types and Armenians. Apologies if that’s not quite an accurate introduction but I know little about this chunk of history, my Roman preference being the later more degenerate types of the fourth century AD, but who can’t like tough Roman legionaries vs cataphracts, phalanxes, imitation Romans, scythe chariots and similar. An Ancient World version of Charles the Bold’s mash up of the best bits of everything which together were somewhat less than effective.

Anyone interested in the background can find it Here.

Paul, Jim and I were the Romans and John, Nigel and Conrad played the army of Tigranes the Great. We used Hail Caesar 2nd edition, which to the uninitiated are the same as Hail Caesar 1st edition with new photos.  Somehow I got to be the Roman commander in chief, so my contingent began the game being harangued by my character to stop counting their loot and leave the camp to help the rest of the army strung out in column of march as the enemy army appeared on their right flank. I was too engaged in the game to understand what went on at the other end of the table but hopefully the photos will tell the usual story as the game unfolded. Any bias is purely intentional as this account will be read to the Senate.

Gallic observers view the battle from the safety of the encampment.

Tigranes the Great and his loyal lieutenants.

The Romans have turned to face the enemy and my command in the encampment has been convinced to leave and support their comrades. Paul on the far left commanded all our cavalry and did a great job throughout the battle neutralising and keeping the hoards of enemy cavalry off our flank.

My elite legionaries forming up to leave the encampment.

Super hard legionaries advancing rapidly.

Tigranes’ army begins its attack on the strung out Roman army.

Some nasty looking phalanxes advancing towards a gap in our centre.

To the right of the phalanx we’re several units of imitation legionaries. They may look the part but can they fight?

These next two are of general aspects of the battle, in the centre of the table, but in reverse order. It was a bit of a this way and that way affair, with the legionaries being more than a match for everything that was thrown against them. Good Generalship of course Jim.

My command marching as fast as their legs could carry them as they moved to roll up the enemy left.

Some of Jim’s legionaries 

Now in action against Iranian cavalry.

Our centre.

The phalanx attacked our flank but the Romans were able to turn to face and hold them off.

More of the grinding match in the centre. The legionaries held their own against the enemy cataphracts.

Caught in the flank? The legionaries just shrugged it off.

The end of the battle with my hard marching legionaries about to roll up the enemy flank and attack their rear. Apart from that my command didn’t even unsheathe their swords! 

Well, that was a tense few hours. I thought we were for it when the phalanxes turned up on the flank of our central legions, but they were held and beaten off, as were the cataphracts and other nasty Iranian and Armenian cavalry, who were driven back by the legionaries and ultimately broken. Paul did his job of keeping the enemy cavalry off our left flank, who were worn down and unable to engage effectively, or even ineffectively. Of course my command won the battle by threatening the enemy rear, and with one or two of their commands broken Tigranes the Great fled and a Roman victory was proclaimed.

A tremendous game. In truth my command did nothing as the real fighting was over by the time they were in position to strike at the enemy rear. A hard fought game, great company, lovely figures and an all round great way to spend a Saturday. Thanks to Steve for trekking up from Trentland and putting the game on. I’d forgotten how much I liked Hail Caesar, certainly the better than Pike and Shot and maybe even Black Powder. I do like the break test concept every time a unit has a ‘6’ scored against it rather than an automatic disorder. I have tried that in BP and it worked well so may give it another go sometime.

Next week there’s a big ACW game at the club but I can’t go, so John the Red is coming over for another game. Napoleonic probably……

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The first of my Goths

 Fresh off the production line we have these five units of Visigothic or Ostrogothic infantry.

The miniatures are a right old mix of manufacturers, including Gripping Beast, Footsore and A and A IIRC. I painted the three skirmish units myself, using mainly contrast paints, and the close order war bands were bought off eBay and tidied up then based along with the skirmish stands. I’d better get some cavalry done soon.

More Late Romans

This is almost the last of my Late Roman infantry units. I finished basing them last night. They were painted by my mate Barry, and they do the trick nicely. I now have 14 units of close order infantry like the ones pictured here and one more to complete,  some but not all have an integral rank of archers in the rear,  together with fair number of skirmish infantry and more than enough cavalry of all denominations.  I will do a photo shoot for the blog this week if I can, then it’s on to the Goths!

Does ANYONE have any info on what unit carried this shield design? Please let me know if you do. I’ve looked on line but without success. 

First of the new 2021 project finished - Late Romans

 

It’s over 30 years since I owned an Ancient army. There was a time when that was all I had, be they Carthaginians, Byzantines or Crusaders.  I’ve played a few Ancients games over the past couple of years, mostly remotely thanks to the lockdown and quite enjoyed them. I have a penchant for Late Romans, so when I saw Gripping Beast’s Christmas multiple box offer I went for it. I plan to do enough Roman units for a good-sized civil war type game, plus some Goths.

I actually didn’t mind having to stick the figures together, and even though it was reminiscent of when I was in my Warhammer Fantasy phase, I have yet to loose either any fingers or the will to live. 

Anyway here they are. I’ve put them on a single base for effect rather than for any specific rules requirements ,as it looks good and is easier to move around the table and store. I’ve left the archers separate so they can operate separately if indeed that’s what they did.  

I’m well though a unit of cataphracts and another of light cavalry, and expect to get them finished by the end of the weekend. 

No games for me this week or on Saturday for various reasons but I am hoping to put something on during next week sometime.

Asculum by Skype game

I was invited to take part in a game using Skype by friend Steve near Newark. As well as me in 'The Boro', we had Conrad and Paul from Tyneside and Wearside respectively and Shaun and Dave from Co. Durham.

The game was the battle of Asculum  between Republican Romans and the army of Phyrus, using Hail Caesar. Conrad and Dave were the Greeks. The rest of us were the Romans. I was volunteered to be the CinC. Paul was on the left as a sacrificial speed bump as his cavalry were facing lots of nasty elite blokes. Shaun on the left was facing the Galatian nutcases. It was going to be fun......

Here are a few pictures of the game. I've not captioned them but I think you can get an idea as to what's going on.

The game went really well, both from the enjoyment and the technical points of view. There were only  one or two odd technical  issues experienced by a couple players but nothing that stopped a really enjoyable game. Steve did a great job setting the game up, organising the technology, corralling the players and acting as umpire and figure mover. We Romans are a hard nut to crack and we pulled off a victory after half the enemy army was broken and their CinC killed. It was very close however. We barely touched their Phalanx but most of their supporting commands had run away so they were pretty much left on their own at the end. Absolutely more important than anything it was good to have a bit of interaction with some of my mates during The Great Confinement!

I think I shall try Skype for a future FRW campaign game if I can get the people and the technology organised.

The Battle of Magnesia refought

On Saturday the lads come over for a big 28mm Ancient battle, courtesy of Steve who's figures they all were. Steve had set the game up on Friday evening after which we had a Persian takeaway which seemed appropriate. We used Hail Caesar, which was a first for us all although we were all familiar to a greater or lesser degree with the mechanics given the amount of Black Powder and Pike and Shot games played at The Burrow. I can't remember the last time I played a 28mm ancient game; probably in the 1980s when WRG 5th and 6th Editions were around when I owned  Carthaginian and Basilian Byzantine armies. Long gone now.

Back to the game. I claimed host’s privilege (I made that up as I had a plan) to chose which side to play, and elected to be Roman as there was likely to be more of a challenge (and my aforesaid plan). Paul and John (Eumenes of Pegamum) joined me on the left and right wings respectively, while Shaun, Richard and Dave were the Seleucids. (Shaun commanded the centre and assumed CinC responsibilities but Dave's figure on the right was actually Antiochus. Confused? So was I).

The Romans were going to be up against it as they were outnumered and the bulk of the Seleucid army were Phalangites or nasty Cataphracts. Our legionaries were good however and we had a couple of house rules that allowed the maniples a fair bit of freedom of manoeuvrability. For example they were allowed to withdrawn from melee unless shaken and be replaced by a supporting and hopefully fresh maniple, and this worked a treat.

The photos were all taken by Richard and may be slightly out of sequence which is my fault if anyone notices. The game was so intense that I don't really know what happened on the two flanks, except that Paul pretty much destroyed the Seleucid right, even the Cataphracts, killing Antiochus as well, while John drove off most of the enemy left before getting himself wounded, killing the Seleucid commander opposing him in the process. As Scipio I managed two blunders, thankfully in the right direction. First my velites charged forward three moves and drove off the enemy skirmishers, then both my legions did likewise, hitting several of the phalanxes. After some very hard-fought melees, some very fortunate saving rolls and some nifty switching of maniples half of the phalanxes were finally destroyed although not without heavy losses among the Romans as many of my maniples were on carrying several casualties and were shaken.

Gimmicky scythed chariots.

The Pergamene troops advancing on our right.

The legions close with the Seleucid centre.

The Seleucid cataphracts were slowly worn down and broken by concerted and repeated attacks by Paul.

Losses can be seen mounting up among the phalanxes.

Antiochus with a unit of nasty Galatians. We eventually stopped them and killed Antiochus.

The death of the Seleucid left wing commander.

The death of a phalanx.

Saturday was of course a very hot day, even in Middlesbrough, perhaps fitting for a battle originally fought in the near east.  Steve's troops are fantastic looking and all involved had a great day gaming. Its a shame someone had to loose, but I'm glad it was the Seleucids. Thanks to Steve for bringing his toys and setting up on Friday and for the players who played like the gentlemen they are. (Especially poor Shaun and Dave who seemed doomed to throw high when low was needed and vice versa).

Back to gunpowder weapons in a week or two.