Optio game at the Durban gaming club last Saturday between fellow clubmember Noel and myself. Mid-republican Roman vs Gallic. The Romans (Noel) had 2 legions plus cavalry (I decided on a smaller game so as not to overburden Noel) for a total of 32 bases. The Gauls (yours truly) had plenty of warband plus a unit of Gaesati and Soldurii, 2 units of chariots and a good dose of cavalry. 48 bases in total.
Gaul deployed on a long slope, putting the infantry in two lines. First line had the Soldurii unit, second the Gaesati. Cavalry and chariots on the flanks. The idea was to weaken the Roman infantry with the first line, forcing them to do line exchanges, and once the first line routed (which was inevitable), finish off the legions with the second line. The cavalry and chariots would take their chances against the Roman cavalry on the flanks.
Rome deployed on a long hill and a round hill. Her plan was simple: sit tight on the high ground and let the Gauls come to the legions, and then outfight them. The cavalry would content themselves with being flank guards for the infantry who would win the battle.
Things went pretty much Rome's way. An attempt to outflank the Roman right cavalry wing with a chariot unit failed, and the Gallic cavalry on the Gallic right were routed in short order, thanks the Roman position on the slope. In the centre the legions outfought the first Gallic line (though one legion unit came close to routing). Gaul had kept her second line well back so as not to get caught up in the rout of the first line, but when the first line routed, it caused the Gallic left flank cavalry to rout (morale test for all units 2 battlefield squares or less away from a routed unit). The routing cavalry were close enough to the second line to cause it to rout in turn. I should have either kept the cavalry back or sent them further forward. Game over. Pretty historical I suppose though a disappointing performance by the Gauls.
Here is the game at the end: the first Gallic line is largely gone and the second (on the right) is about to take early military retirement. The Romans made excellent use of terrain.
On reflection the Gallic morale was a tad fragile. Troops have a 'courage' classification: resolute, average and brittle. The better their courage the more of their units must rout before they themselves fail the morale test. In this game the Gauls were average. Next time I'll make them resolute.
Below, the second Gallic line (on the right) is about to take early military retirement. The first line has largely routed already.
finally paints the first of his Gauls...
