L'Art De La Guerre - another double dunter with Romans and Sassanids

Ever the glutton for punishment I had two games again of LADG at Stephens today (just as well this is such an enjoyable set of rules).

First game saw my Early Republican Romans face historical Carthaginian opponents under Hannibal.

This was a very close contest that went to Carthage in the end after my Iberian Ally was crushed on my left.

My Legionaries had pretty poor rolls throughout whilst two lowly units of medium Javelinmen rolled nothing but sixes and fives !! 

"Its a game of skill !!"

Second game my Sassanid Persians faced a contemporary Late Roman force as Stephen wanted to use his newly painted Forged In Battle figures and very nice they are too (think this is 3rd version of figure manufacturers he has painted up for this army !!).

This game was pretty much decided at start by the terrain set up which saw most terrain we have ever had on a Plain (A coast line, 2 fields 2 plantations, a hill and a marsh) and with several centrally placed pieces really cramming my mostly mounted force into middle (I of course failed to move or remove any with my 2 attempts)

This one took much longer than I expected to complete but Sassanids succumbed in the end as the Roman Heavy Infantry just take too long to defeat, I did manage to punch a hole with 2 Cataphracts but not quickly enough as flanks imploded.

L'Art De La Guerre- Sassanid vs Late Roman

Game at Stephens today with LADG as he wanted to try his Late Romans, against which I fielded my Sassanid Persian of same period with Cataphracts, some Heavy Cavalry Bowmen and a Hunnic Ally.

I got to attack on plains and decided to try a flank march with the Huns as being entirely Light Cavalry the arrive with a +1 to their roll (so 5-6 on turn 1 and 4-6 thereafter), added risk being that as an Ally they can go unreliable.

Romans had usual mix of Cavalry and supported (good in LADG) Legionaries and supported Auxilia with a couple of Bowmen and a cart mounted Artillery piece.

The game was an absolute bloodbath !

My Allies arrived fairly sharpish on turn 3 and had Romans redeploying several elements before discovering which flank they would appear (my right).

A ding dong shooting and melee match was occurring right across the table.

Must say my shooting dice were were awesome inflicting several hits on enemy, however my charge with a group of 5 Cataphracts (including a General) was just the opposite being pretty awful.

On this left flank my supporting Light Cavalry were swept away in a single turn (so many 1s in melee) and the Cats were then flanked and decimated.

I did have success against the Auxilia and Bowmen (being medium infantry) with my heavy mounted supported by 2 more Cataphracts and Huns were by now in action.

But losses on left just too quick to accumulate and I reached my army break first.

At finish I had lost the requisite 22 loss points but Romans had reached 19 (23 required to break army) so a pretty close run thing.

We had planned to play two games but too much waffling about other rules and periods and Euro football competition put paid to that.

Only a couple of picks from early stages as too caught up in action (always a good sign)

 

Mortem Et Gloriam - Sassanid Persian vs Early Byzantine

Another outing with MEG today.

Maximus size again with my Sassanids fielded against Stephens Early Byzantines.

We both manoeuvred a tad more than in previous games with mounted units and I managed to get my Elephants into contact with a bit of zig zagging.

I used a unit of 6 Cataphracts which generated the best combat dice I have used yet (Greens and Yellows vs Whites) but who still managed to lose and die !

The Superior Persian Asvaran are tough troops but the Average types proved brittle.

Byzantines prevailed but it was as ever a bloody game.

 

Hurrah ! a game played, in fact two thanks to L'Art De La Guerre

Actually managed a figure game today at Stephens using LADG as we had little preparation time and Dice Demon in the groove with rules after outing at Munster last weekend and to christen a new mat he bought.

I brought two armies (one big plus for LADG is quick set up and playing time) Minoans and Sassanid Persian.
First game was Minoans against Hittites the second Sassanid against Late Roman.

Two quick playing and fun games as ever (despite my losing both as per usual) and good to see that we had pretty much got rules correct which is not always a given when we only play each other.