Tuesday 3 April 2018

Ambush at The Coille - A Roman v Ancient British batrep


The Rejects got together for a Rome v British bash last month. Myself and Surj picked out the Romans, who were in march column looking for a good site to make camp. Unbeknownst to us and our rather usesless scouts, a massive bringing together of British tribes commanded by Richard, James and Lee, have converged and surrounded the unsuspecting Roman colomn.
We used Posties own "Let the Gods Decide" rules, which worked very well indeed!!
See Lee's report here.


Order of Battle
Romans c/o General (Ray) and Standard Bearer
1st Command - c/o Legate Ray
   1st Cohort (Eagle) 24 Figures
   2nd Cohort - 16 Figures
   3rd Cohort - 16 Figures
   4th Cohort - 16 Figures
   5th Cohort - 16 Figures
   6th Cohort - 16 Figures
   Legion Cavalry - 6 Mounted Figures
2nd Command - c/o Tribune Surjit
   1st Auxilia - 12 Figures
   2nd Auxilia - 12 Figures
   5th Auxilia - 12 Figures
   6th Auxilia - 12 Figures
   1st Auxulia Archers - 12 Figures
   8th Auxulia Archers - 12 Figures
   Auxilia Cavalry - 6 Mounted Figures

Celtic Britons c/o Warlord Richard and Standard Bearer
1st Command - c/oWarlord Richard in Chariot
   Warband - 24 Figures
   Warband - 24 Figures   
   Warband - 24 Figures   
   Fanatics Warband - 24 Figures (with Attached Druid)
   Slingers -12 Figures
   Nobel Chariots - 4 Chariots   
   Nobel Chariots - 4 Chariots
   Light Cavalry - 12 Mounted Figures
2nd Command - 2ic Champion Chieftain Lee
   Warband - 24 Figures
   Warband - 24 Figures   
   Warband - 24 Figures   
   Warband - 24 Figures
   Slingers -12 Figures
   Javelinmen - 12 Figures
   Nobel Chariots - 4 Chariots
3rd Command - 3ic Horse Chieftain James
   Warband - 24 Figures
   Warband - 24 Figures   
   Warband - 24 Figures   
   Warband - 24 Figures
   Javelinmen - 12 Figures
   Nobel Chariots - 4 Chariots
   Light Cavalry - 12 Mounted Figures


Richard's Brits are very close to Surj's coloumn.


Surj was in command of the Roman Auxilia


Our useless Scouts


The Roman Cohorts under my command


The first turn we were all surprised at just how fast the Romans could change formation
and set up against the enemy. But I guess that's why the ruled most of the then known world!!


Due to the Fog of War, we didn't know how fast the Brits moved.
Fast was the answer!!


Me and Surj had a simple plan. He would move back asap, to the woodline and try and not
 get caught out, we knew we would have to sacrifice one unit to halt the British move forward.


Surj did his normal and got into a right muddle!


Richard moves his Noble Chariots into charge range, while the rest of the Roman army run back.


 Lee's fast moving Chariots move toward my Legion Cavalry who were retreating back towards their lines. But turn and face their charging foe.


Which way are Surj's Auxillia facing?
Nobody knows????


Our first mistake, was moving forward with my Cohorts, it left a rather large hole for 
their Chariots to exploit. 
But surly I could fire my Bolt throwers?


James won first move and had a big decision to make, head straight down the line and attack my
Bolt Throwers or turn and attack my Cohort in the flank. I guess you can see his choice


Richard moves a Cavalry unit around the woods


The Roman's just about hold their own against the Chariots and win the melee, but were severly mauled in doing so,


Richard's Chariots bounce off of Surj's Auxillia too!
This is going to be hard for the British.


Even though they hit in the flank it was still going to be hard for the British to win this fight.
James threw well, but I threw better!!


The Chariots fled the field!!!


We were winning, but it looked like there were just too many of them?


The Roman Bolt Throwers



It seemed Surj was having trouble moving back to me, so I better move up to him.



I charged in my 24 man 1st Cohort!! 
For Gods sake don't lose the Eagle!!!!


Richard closed in ans Charged the Auxillia.
"Where are your Fanatics?" I asked
I got a blank look from Richard, he wasn't going to tell us.
Then his son James piped up, my Dad's got them over there (pointing to Richards troops)
"Bloody Hell James, don't tell them!" he replied.....rather loudly I might add!
he he!


Surj finally gets a nice straight line.
But has he moved back too far?


While by now, I'm all over the place!


James had a poxy little slinger unit, that kept nicking casualties. 
So I thought I'd try and take them out.


My 1st Cohort's flank look depressingly vulnerable?


I move up to try and protect the 1st's flank, surprisingly Lee pushes his slingers 
forward, putting them in the way of his warbands.


Its certainly a very bruising encounter for both sides.


James & Lee


Richard & Surj


Surj moves into the wood.


COME ON ROME!!!


Can we hold out?


 In a change of fortune the British actually win a melee


As they have fought 2 rounds of melee, my remaining troops all have no move markers.
Fortunately so do most of the close British.
But they still have the giant bloody mob on the right!!


It was here I took the decision to retreat in good order, I couldn't take the chance on
 losing the Eagle, I'd never live it down!!!

In the end it was attrition that lost us the game. We were outnumbered 2:1, but that was really the only way the British would have a chance in winning a battle against the Romans, in melee we were throwing 4's and up to their 6's, so it was hard to lose a melee. But they kept plugging away, with each melee they lost, they knocked our numbers down, to the point where we just couldn't go on. Surj was all for fighting on, we could possibly have won, but a good general knows when to retreat.
It may have helped us if Surj got back quicker, but its all if's and but's.
It'd be interesting playing a all out battle, but I think the British may need a 3:1 advantage for that.

So that's 2 games so far this year won 1 lost 1.

39 comments:

  1. Great ancient Roman and Celtic battle, General Raus Augustus Ruselium.

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  2. very cool, love a good ambush

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  3. A great looking game and a very enjoyable BatRep - thanks Ray!

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  4. A fine looking game Ray and as always very colorful on fun commentary!

    Christopher

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  5. That is a big, beautiful game!

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  6. Looks intense and fabulous, wonderful armies and units, such as the Noble Chariots or the bolt throwers, very impressive!

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  7. Great BatRep...Go British! Lol.

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  8. Looking good! Very impressive, as always, Ray.

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  9. Wonderful looking game Ray - love seeing home grown sets of rules in play.

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  10. An epic game Ray, it looks superb!

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  11. Fab looking game, Ray! As another has mentioned, all highlighted by your colorful, color commentary.
    Well done even in loss!

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  12. Definate mistake moving the cohorts Forward. I reckon Holding the line, aux archers to the centre rear, the rest of the auxillaries to the right(use the Woods as a hinge Point) the cav to the left. move the scorpians Forward as a third line to Support the front line...then a slow move and fire, move and fire.

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    Replies
    1. That was kinda the plan with the woods until we found out all their troops could enter unimpeded, unlike the Romans. Sure should have pelted back towards the cohorts and join the better troops.

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  13. Cracking looking game as always Ray!

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  14. What a wonderful battle and a funny and exciting report! Poor Romans, i thought, the river protects them in the beginning a little bit more. Thank you for this wonderful story!
    Peter

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  15. Great game report and pictures, Old Man Ray! Thanks for shariing!

    Greetings
    Peter

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