One from the "Memory Box": A Roman School Project

This was a school project my youngest son did when he was seven (or at most eight), it still amazes me as to how good he got it (see below, two of the most glorious Roman shields I have ever seen): 

Then, on his own initiative, his little inventive mind came up with this game based on the idea of "Escape from Pompeii" (see below, an old Soduku board turned into the streets of Pompeii complete with erupting Volcano in the centre!): 

The volcano action starts and the lava starts flowing, you are a legionnaire who has been tasked by his Centurion to go and rescue his family and take then down to a ship in the harbour to escape. Meanwhile, he (the Centurion) in stoic Roman fashion will steadfastly attend to his duties to the last (see below, the yellow counters are dangerous but passable lava):

Unexpected dangers await, such as escaped armed slaves from Ancient Briton that have to be dealt with in the traditional Roman Army way (see below, 28mm Warlord Games classic figures come to blows as the city disintegrates): 

The hand-to-hand battle continues apace as the lava flows (see below, this could be a classic lose-lose situation as the winner if he took too long would be covered in lava - nice! Note: The yellow lava can be circumnavigated by a "one time use of a shield" as a temporary stepping stone):  

A close up of the fist-i-cuff action (see below, figures two 28mm classics from Warlord Games, the Early Imperial Roman Legionary and an Ancient Briton - don't ask what the Briton is doing in Pompeii): 

Things are getting serious as the red lava (totally unpassable) starts cutting off the escape routes (see below. the legionnaire is about to lose a shield in a desperate attempt to escape):  

Success, the loyal Legionnaire finds his beloved Centurion's family cowering in a house, scared out of their wits. Heart-broken and tear-stained they hear of his fate but they are ushered to safety by the Centurion's trusted man who risked his life for them (see below, one of Rome's finest thanks the gods for favouring him as they board the boat [etched on the cardboard] underneath heading out of the harbour): 

Good family fun!

Command and Colours Board Game: "Better Than Figures?"

The set-up for the first battle, Akragas (see below, me playing against myself):

Not quite a substitute for figures but more satisfying than small counters! I found this in the loft when I was rummaging about and remembered it was my fast start into the Roman period. 

An alternative "quick start" would be: https://wofun-games.com/index.php?route=common/home

As per fellow blogger David Crook's, who recently turned 60 has discovered and started on a new "adventure": http://awargamingodyssey.blogspot.com/2020/10/that-dreadnought-moment.html

DBA Version 3.0: You Tube Video of DBA Battles - Romans v Germans

Another good Tony Aguliar DBA Version 3.0 Rules run through:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyif3W22r9Y

I do have the Early Imperial Roman in 15mm but I will have to get those nasty Germanic Triblesmen (Warbands - with rear support).

Notes: One rule that came apparent is that in DBA Version 3 rear supports do not die if the front element is doubled in combat. A Warband with rear support was doubled (in fact it happened twice) and the rear element lived on to fight another day! Also "you do not have to pursue Psilio" - that was an old DBA 2 trick!

"Nero" Board Game

Over Xmas I picked up a copy of this interesting board game called Nero (or rather post Emperor Nero mess with four warring Roman factions) in "The Works" shop for a tenner. It looks a simple enough game in itself to play but the contents seem to be perfect to set up as a campaign system for a Early Imperial Roman "Civil War" (DBA?) campaign. Not sure if this will be feasible with my 15mm Roman collection or serve as the inspiration I need to paint up my 28mm plastics gathering dust in a box in the loft (see below):

This was the first of two games I saw (and acquired), the other (Latin) has a much wider timescale and looks far more complex (hundreds of counters) - more of that later!

Might even be a case of getting some 6mm Roman armies ;)

Early Imperial Romans WIP Update

Early Imperial Romans don't look Roman until you give them their shields (see below, the first stage):

The plan is to paint up these nine Romans and have them fight a hoard of Ancient Britons who come at them individually. This mini-game can be one of his summer-term school projects. It is quite inspiring to see my youngster get interested in Roman stuff. His preferred shield design is quite complicated so I might just slip on the Warlord Games decals when he is not looking (see below):

Again to me, 28mm Early Imperial Romans (Warlord Games or Wargames Foundry) are one of those iconic wargaming musts that need to be in your collection .. it goes without saying they need Celts, Gauls or Ancient Britons to fight too. It dates to circa 200610 in my wargame diary, so I am only a decade late. I figured I better do this bucket list item before I run out of decades ;)

Ancient Naval Musings: Academic Trireme Simulation Proposal

This blew my tiny little mind from the Rams Ravens and Wrecks blog:
http://ramsravensandwrecks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/research-proposal-digital-simulation-of.html

A link to an interesting PowerPoint presentation:
https://www.slideshare.net/dcsb/dcsb-jorit-wintjes-university-of-wrzburg-diekplous-understanding-ancient-naval-warfare-through-simulations

Feeling hard-core with my 28mm Metal Romans from Warlord Games

I knew the time would come when the lure of 28mm metal Ancients woudl get me and that time has come. To supplement the eBay (infantry) plastics I purchased the necessary "all arms" (Cavalry - Medium/Light and some Slingers) to complete the Impetus Order of Battle (see below):  

That should see me busy for the rest of the year!

The (Early Imperial) Romans are coming ... in 28mm

For a while now (well it seems to have been about ten years actually) I have continually found myself "humming and 'arring" about moving up to 28mm for certain ranges of figures. My thoughts ...

For ECW and Renaissance is sensible in 25mm/28mm to me (so I have collected some Warlord Games, a pack here and a pack there od Scottish ECW to honour a Scottish connection in the family but .. ahem, sadly without painting them .. er yet - but hang on I did paint up some Wargames Foundry metal Landschneckts, a herd (12) Redoubt Miniatures Mounted Men-At-Arms and some old Games Workshop Warhammer Empire figures to great applause).

Napoleonic's (as in big battles) were traditionally 15mm (but I painted them so, so slowly), but then the likes of Sharp Practice gave an excuse for 28mm and likewise, and I should say recently AWI "skirmish" gave me the excuse to unashamedly buy a box of Perry's AWI British Infantry (of which I have fully painted one out of the thirty odd to date, head hangs in shame) as well as collect a pack here and a pack there of various Napoleonics.

Ancients though were always thought of as safely 15mm for me, particularly because of my painful obsession with collecting DBM armies starting with the Greek City States. Just as that seemed to be going out of fashion Xyston miniatures (perhaps briefly) breathed life back into in and bring it into fashion IMHO. Their hoplites "stole my breath away" Top Gun style but I fear ruined my ageing eyes, I will still paint my Thracian tribes. To be fair this was fun as I did paint a fair few hoplites (and true I still have a fair few still to do). But then the Romans a dilemma ...  but I had time. I had read lots of Greek history and I would naturally have to do the same for Rome. There is a lot to read.

I made a small 15mm DBA army (Early Roman Imperial actually .. that's one of the reasons I still need the Thracians) but stalled, it didn't feel right. I knew it all started with "Foundry" and how their 28mm figures looked so beautiful when well painted. Republican, Caesarian and Early Imperial  .. but the lead was horribly expensive (though Xyston was not cheap for anything beyond DBA into DBM or DBMM territory) .. so I held back for fear of financial ruin and then came the plastic 28mm revolution, so it went back on the list "of wargaming things to do before you die", the Warlord Games Early Roman Imperial starter set became a "must".  I must have passed one by half a dozen times but held back as my attention was on "other matters of import". Then they went "out of stock" ... argh ... then they restocked, but I saw this bargain advertised on eBay and the deed was finally done (see below, 80% percent of the figures already put together [cleanly] but painting not started):  

The "defence" rests its case and I throw myself at the mercy of the court! The Army Painter method (aka dip) will be applied this year methinks. Note: They will also be very useful for my "Roman Fantasy" .. "Lost Legions" from Osprey Wargame Rules and perhaps a run out with "FrostGrave" game nights!

That's my plan or excuse anyway ;)

Footnote: WW2 is 20mm (a huge assortment collected over the past 25 years, lots unpainted) and 1/200 (a sensible early war collection) or 1/300 (a lot of donated and aquired lead in the form suitable for a proto 1944 German Panzer diviusion) anything else is madness .. so don't ask me why I have a large box of unpainted 15mm in the loft and why on earth I have a pack of Perry's 28mm 8th Army and DAK in the "should be a simple Project Box". Naval and Air will have to be dealt with elsewhere dear reader ;)

Fantasy with a twist .. Roman Style

Put this down to the result of one of those two minute "conversations" you have with a friend at a wargame show. Something I was not remotely intending to get into, sounds an interesting project for "K" to do, he likes that sort of stuff ... until after a night of despair Xmas shopping on Amazon I lightened my mood by slipping this into my trolley (see below):

Fantasy ghosts, ghouls and Minotaur monsters with a Roman backdrop, plenty of Roman "Red-shirts" (akin to Star Trek expendables) to take "incoming fire". At the moment it is something to read over the Xmas break,

Think it will be good Beer and Pretzel stuff, akin to Frost Grave :)

DBMM (4 of 4): End Game (Rome v Chinese)

The battle reaches its climatic end-game. The power of the blades is self evident as the Roman Legion blows a hole and a half in the Chinese Center (see below):

The only hope for the Chinese is to pull back victory from the jaws of defeat by being victorious on the flanks (and quickly). To this effect the well placed Chinese (Fast) light horse charge in for their place in glory or infamy on the far Chinese Right Flank. It is do or die time for the Roman cavalry (see below)

At the same time the Chinese Left Flank tries to press home its advantage, however no matter what they try the break through is somewhat elusive, losing two (Fast) light horse in the process (see below):

And quite frankly, it just gets uglier and uglier for the Chinese Center, but they are "just to say" holding it together above their morale breaking point  (see below):

Then the Roman Allied Warband blows away the "archers" and the Center will be clearly lost next turn (see below):

The whole Chinese Army (Left, Middle and Right Commands) are teetering on the brink of collapse. Even the favourable cavalry action on the Chinese Right is a damp wet squib, as the Chinese bounce off dejectedly (see below, the Roman Cavalry will dine well recounting the story of that mini battle):

The Chinese Center morale breaking point is now past and it is game set and match to Rome. It was an enjoyable game and well played to my Roman adversary!

DBMM (3 of 4): Furious Fighting (Rome v Chinese)

The Roman army proved its metal and rebounded into the fray. The Romans showed that they too could hurt at a distance as they had a wonder weapon, the mounted ART(Fast) that could even shoot over friendly troops directly in front of it. The first blow caused a stand of Blade(I) to recoil and thus opening up a very dangerous "gap" that could be exploited as an overlap by the advancing Roman legionaries. The Chinese C-in-C (me) at this point was really regretting choosing the "cheaper" of the blade options. Quantity not really helping when you had a looming gap in the line (see below):

The the Roman wonder weapon went one one further and removed the Blades(I) rather demoralising the Chinese commander. This seems to be the fate for inferior (I) troops. Once they are bested their morale can go down and without the metal of the ordinary (O) troops they can self destruct (see below):

The Chinese were still hoping to win on the wings, although the rough ground seemed to make it a rather messy combat. On the Chinese Right Wing the Chinese lost a Light Horse stand to rather indifferent dice rolling, but still felt confident that their numbers would eventually tell on their Roman adversaries (see below):

In the Center things got very horrid, as the Roman blades made a huge mess of the Chinese "quantity" making the Roman "quality" a clear significant telling factor in the combats (see below):

Over on the Chinese Left Wing things again were looking more positive, though again the terrain was making progress happen much slower than The Chinese C-in-C would have liked. I was regretting moving the center forward, perhaps hanging back would have been the more prudent option (see below and previous the photograph):

Back over on the Chinese Right Flank the situation looked more promising now as a stand of Chinese Light Horse (Fast) had positioned itself in the rear of the Roman position. It was about to make a telling attack, or so the Chinese C-in-C (as in me) hoped (see below):

Note: Those who play DBM/DBMM/DBA on a regular basis more be rather puzzled that fast moving light horse are not "closing the door" or performing devastating "attacks from the rear" more often. Well "if truth be told" there is a "house rule" in play that states that before you can attack from the rear or close the door, you must have started from behind the flank of the attacked stand. I have to say I don't fully endorse the house rule, but at least it is the same for both sides. It tends to make for more ponderous flank attacks.

DBMM (2 of 4): Advance and Action on the Flanks (Rome v Chinese)

The Chinese "long thin line" advances en masse (see below):

An early archery strike killing a warband stand fills the Chinese player with hope and the Roman with a sense of dread (see below):

Likewise a stand of Roman auxilla die hard in face of an arrow storm, these pointy things seem awfully dangerous (see below):

The Roman cavalry facing the Chinese Right Flank line out, but err into the range (24cm) of the Chinese massed bow (see below):

They too fall victim of "the arrow storm from the east" (see below):

The omens are looking good for the Chinese, can their luck hold when the fighting becomes up close and more personal?

DBMM (1 of 4): Three Kingdoms versus Middle Imperial Romans

The battlefield was set with the Three Kingdom Chinese determined as the aggressors, the Romans therefore have the advantage of a small defensive hill and rough ground offering some protection to their flanks (see below, Romans top of picture, Chinese bottom):

Looking from the perspective of the Chinese Army, scanning the Roman lines from left to right, facing the Chinese Left is a small band of light horse and auxillia, seven stands in total (see bellow):

The Legion(s) dominate the Center. Nobody in their right mind would run up the hill at them. Eight stands of blades (four of them superior), four psilloi, sixteen warband (the versatility of the Roman Army is on show here to pick and chose a variety of allies, massed on the right hand side of their centre as the Chinese looked at them)  with the "talking point" of the Roman "order of battle" a Scorpion on a cart (Artillery[Fast] in DBMM terms). This gives it the ability for it to shoot from the rear over friendly troops (see below):

The Roman force facing the Chinese Right is another small band of cavalry and auxillia, again just seven stands, held back in a slightly 'refused position' (see below):

The Romans (like the Chinese) have paid for three commanders, one result of which is the two small Roman flank commands will need to be virtually annihilated (unless they lose their General) before becoming demoralised.

The Chinese left is a massed bow (seven stands) and cavalry force (three cavalry and two Fast light horse stands), with a token element of blade (one stand) and auxillia (one stand). Its function is to envelope the Roman flank before the legions can inflict telling damage (see below):

The Chinese Center is a massed blade (though notably of "inferior" status) and auxillia (again of "inferior" status). The Chinese have gone for the concept of quantity over quality, thinking that troops overlapping do the killing better than more expensive stand-to-stand match-ups. Will this strategy produce the goods though? (see below):

The Chinese Right Flank is a mirror of their Left Flank, bar the fact they have an additional extra "one stand" of Fast light horse. Again a swift enveloping action is hoped for (see below):

The hard part of DBMM seems to be 'building the army'. Some would say this is the curse of the 'points based army battles' as opposed historical re-fights, based on actual orders of battles.

I see it as a mini-Sudoku brain teaser myself. You never seem to 'get it right' the first time and there is always changes to be made based on battlefield experiences.It will be interesting to see how right or wrong I have got the above.

Spectator Sport: Romans v Seleucid "Grim Reaper" (2) End Game

The clash of cavalry goes the way of the Romans. As seems to be the way with DBMM, DBM and DBA rules sets, an initial +1 overlap tends to ripple across the battle line to deadly effect. By a subtle selection of where to start fighting the Romans skillfully edge the cavalry battle, with a little help from an adventurous Auxilla overlapping the Seleucid cavalry wing. The Seleucid General is left looking very exposed and is about to be surrounded (see below):

Meanwhile the Seleucid left wing of Pike and Horse is finally (after two additional turns of movement) almost getting to grips with the Roman extreme right of infantry (ie the foot troops unable to march away quick enough). An opportunistic Roman Fast Knight took the opportunity to slay a Seleucid Auxilla (how could he resist from trampling underfoot weak infantry) but now finds itself contesting the centre with a bigger Seleucid General to its front and a Seleucid Pike Block to its flank (see below):

The Roman Fast Knight dies but in so doing offers the Romans a fleeting opportunity to "bag" a Seleucid General. The victorious General being himself a knight is obliged to follow up and thus exposes himself to a second line of Roman Fast Knights. The Romans get their man (see below):

That about does it for the Seleucids as "player morale" broke just ahead of the Army morale. An old wargaming friend and Grognard once said of Ancient wargames, "Fight with your best and don't fight where you don't have to!" The Seleucid Pike Blocks and columns of Fast Seleucid Knights roamed the battlefield, searching in vain for a combat. Whereas the Seleucid Warband and Auxillia found more than the bargained for. The complete reverse of my old friends axiom. The Seleucid Army Morale broke as these latter forces were decimated by the deadly Legionnaires (see below):

In summary this was an impressive Roman performance and left me with many, many questions regarding how to fight this versatile Middle Imperial Roman Army with my chosen Ancient Chinese (Army 63 from Book 2: Three Kingdoms and Western Ts'In 189AD-316AD). 

Any helpful thoughts and hints greatly appreciated ;)

Spectator Sport: Duelling the Middle Imperial Romans DBMM Style (1)

A wargaming friend has recently completed a spectacular "wargaming project" in 25/28mm, painting a small/medium sized Middle Imperial Romans DBMM army.

The results was quite simply glorious and quite rightly he wanted to play with it as soon and as much as possible. Hence he devised a quick round-robin competition to fight all comers "against a valid time span army" (ie DBMM Army Book 2), though not necessarily an historical opponent. First to beat the Roman Army twice wins or the Romans can claim victory. The flexibility of the Romans versus the cunning nature of the Barbarians. A classic match-up.

Knowing that "Deadly Dennis" the Roman would have done as meticulous a job at  "army spotting" (the troops v opponent killer 'rock, scissor or stone' combinations of DBMM) as his brilliant paint work, I took the opportunity to sit back and watch his Roman war machine at work against the Seleucids. Intelligence wins wars as much as muscle after all.

Note: Both armies were smallish at 200 points with the idea of getting things over with in a night.

The Romans deployed first so suffered from the fact the Seleucid could "line up against his weaknesses" as per the Seleucid troop type (DBMM 'rock, scissors and stone' again) but took it in stoic fashion. The Roman's 'inferior' organic Roman Cavalry [Left] wing is set-up in column presumably for added flexibility, followed by a line of Auxillia, backed with Legion, along to the strange "club-men" (murderous against Knights apparently) [Centre] to the far wing of elite Fast Knights (allies, not organic Roman), Light Horse and Auxilla/Skirmish Psilio [Left] (see below, left wing at the bottom of picture):

The Seleucid effectively nuetralised the Roman Right by placing his elite Pike and wedged Fast Knights against them (two thirds of his Cavalry hitting power) [on the Seleucid Left/Roman Right], a weak Auxillia Warband, Auxillia infantry block[Centre] and a made-do Cavalry [on the Selucid Right/Roman Left] designed as more of a holding force (see below):

Both armies seem to have bulked up with cheaper infantry options (with only 200 points to play with this is as expected) and only two commanders, so command and control could well turn out to be a problem. The Seleucid wants to win on his left so the Roman Commander cleverly realises that his only chance is to refuse that fight and try win on his left (even though it is with his poorer cavalry). So all depends on the balance of the secondary Cavalry wings of both armies. The Roman happily sees the Seleucid come to him as he sees the chance of perhaps using his Auxillia in support, he therefore also sallies forth (see below):

The Seleucid is somewhat irked at seeing the Roman retreating away from where he wanted to it fight (a good sign methinks of the Roman astuteness), as the Roman calculated that the troop match-ups were a "no-brainer win for the Seleucid" do he should form column and "get out of dodge" with what he can save (see below):

The Seleucid's problem now is that he is trying to catch horse with Pike (four legs good and two legs bad in this race). The Seleucid faster elements being drawn up on the outer left of his army (with the intention of outflanking the enemy that has suddenly bolted). The Seleucid has a lot of ground, too much perhaps, to make up. Cleverly the Roman lights and Auxillia seek cover in rough and watch the powerful formations that once formed the backbone of Alexander the Great's Army harmlessly match by bypassing them.

Next: The Fighting Tooth and Claw

Greeks and Romans ... tell me who were these Romans?

Whenever one reads about the Greeks (lumping Alexander and the Successors all in as one) there always seems to be a few chapters "comparing and contrasting" the Greeks to the Romans. "Soldiers and Ghosts" is no exception and gives a fascinating recount of the cultural as well as military forces that guided the Roman legionary war machine development (see below):

All these books seem to be drawing me away from WWII modelling intentions (see New Year's Resolutions) but heck "variety is the spice of life". My DBA+ armies of 15mm ancient painting projects 'frozen in time' are now calling me:

• Republican Romans
• Hoplite Greeks
• Early Achaemenid Persia
• Alexandria Macedonian

But which to start first? The Romans seen to be a bit of a front runner as I already have a Later Carthaginian army in need of the Roman Republican opponent to fight

;)

 

Early Xmas present for Santa's list ... Perhaps

Psst ... Under the guise of a 'garden ornament' I want one of these ...

"It's a bit like a Roman 'bird table' dear" he said, stretching the bounds of credulity ...

Except until you see a Gaul or Celt ... when you can "unleash hell" ...

Boy can those things fly when they cranked up the torsion (originally a Greek idea that the Romans copied) and they only showed us a third of its potential power... Just think 54/55/56 of these (depending on who you talked to on the day) to a Legion. I think the Romans defined the concept of what "hard rain" really is ...

Somehow even if I am very, very good boy I don't think I'll get one ( but I really enjoyed the "Roman Weekend" at Hardwick Park, near Sedgefield [UK] this year :) A++, fun for all the family!