Germania, 75BC, Tuesday

A Headless Body Production

Venue: Eisenhower Hotel (well, on the property...)
Event: Cold Wars, 2025
Theme: Classic Age, 6 mounted units maximum, Round 1
Players: Phil Gardocki running German, 100BC
              Jim Bisignani running Ancient Spanish
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 200 points per side.
Font: Germania One

The Forces
The Germans, list 91, are commanded by Asterix, the Competent, Obilix, the Competent, and Bastardix, the Ordinary, and somewhat Unreliable.
12 Chatti, "Brave", Warriors, Heavy Swordsmen, Impetuous, 4 are Elite
4 Cherusci, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
6 Light Infantry with sharp, pointy sticks
4 Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, 2 are Elite
2 Tencteri Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint...28
 
The Spanish, list 90, are commanded by the great Sertorius, a Strategist, and two other Competent Commanders.
4 Veteran Legionaries, Heavy Swordsmen, Armor, Impact, Elite
4 Lusitanian Scutarii, Medium Swordsmen, Impact, Elite
6 Lusitanian Scutarii, Medium Swordsmen, Impetuous
5 Light Infantry, Sling or Javelin
2 Spanish Horsemen, Medium Cavalry, 1 Elite
4 Light Cavalry, Javelin
Breakpoint...25

Impetuous on Impetuous, this game is not going the distance.

Display Conventions: When you see a word bubble like "Ouch!" or "Ouh!", or "¡Ai!", this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen. I tend not to point out Light Infantry, as it clutters the pictures for no real value.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

Any vagueness or inaccuracies in the descriptions is to be considered is to be considered Fog of War, and is to be considered part of the fun.

OK, the Germania font 'may' have been humorous, but enough is enough, back to Times New Roman.

Oh my.  Sifting through the email list and noted two addresses are to dead gamers. 

The Board:

The Spanish win the initiative and will attack in the forest!

The Spanish right flank has 4 of their 6 troops of horse, supported by Lusitanian regulars.

Their loonies deploy dead center.

On their left, long term Roman exPat's. 

Bastardix with 6 horse take the German left.

The German center is full of Chatti Tribe.

With more Chatti and Cherusci on the right.

OK, read the room here.  Only some of the Spanish are impetuous.  Most of them are Impact!

The rest of the room...

Turn 1:

With no shortage of command points...

the Spanish rush the field.

No subtlety here.

It is rare I actually have the edge in quantity and quality in cavalry this tournament.

Bastardex was deployed in a column and ready to move elsewhere.  But the situation looks to his advantage, and he has enough command points to extend the main line of horse.

Asterix calls his Cherusci that were hidden in the woods.  His main line advances 3 to within charge reach of the impetuous Lusitanian Scutarii

And in an amazing display of discipline, the main lines of battle advance in perfect sync.

Turn 2:

Choking on what he now sees, the Spanish commander recalls his lights, but advances his Scutarii.

Wait, what turn is this?  Top of the second?  Units are already dropping dead?

Jim rolled poorly on his command rolls.  His fanatical troops are forced to charge.  Winning 3, losing 2, tying 1 on contact.

The Spanish legionaries advance, but were out of charge reach.

Bastardix pushes his advantage

Asterix's Cherusci were just behind the flank of the Spanish line and charge. 

Obilix is in a hurry to get into combat.  His charges win 2, lose 2, tie 2.

Turn 3:

The Spanish cavalry command withdraws their lights, but commit their medium cavalry to combat.  Their Scutarii take up position on the flank.

Asterix's command has just about finished off his opponents.  Having a magic potion will do that.

The legionnaires continue to fight.  But with little gain.  On the other hand, the armor they paid for is paying dividends.

Bastardix is ignoring the Scutarii, and going in for the kill of the Spanish horse.

Their other Scutarii rushes the Cherusci near the wood.

The last fanatical Spanish Scutarii is eliminated.  The equally fanatical Cherusci is now on the flanks of the Roman Legionaries. 

It hasn't occurred to me until now, but that Cherusci is now engaged with it's 6th enemy unit.

The supporting Scutarii for the Romans have been routed. 

A repeat of Cannae is in the works here.

At the bottom of the third, the score is 22 of 25 for the Spanish

to 11 of 28 for the Germans

Turn 4:

The Lusitanians flank the German horse.

Asterix is taking a breather.

The Legionary cohorts hold their position.

And hold their score at 22

Taking the Germans to 13

Bastardix's lights run their Spanish counterparts off the board, for another +1 to the score.  His horse takes out the Spanish mediums for another point.

The Romans have a cohort routed, and two more beginning to crack for +3 towards their demoralization level of 25.

The final moves involve the Germans continuing to flank the Roman cohorts.

This was unusual where everything just worked.  On the German left, there was an actual superiority of cavalry.  If only 4 mediums to 2 with parity of lights, as the Spanish had 2 light horse supporting their infantry directly.  

In the center, a small ambush served to divert any flanking attempts by the Spanish on the main German line.  The German heavies then were pitted against the Spanish mediums.

And on the right, the Germans stood toe-to-toe with Roman cohorts.  And lasted long enough to turn the Roman flanks.  

 

 

Yi Olde Song of Carnage

A Headless Body Production
Venue: A popular Senior Center, across the street from a rowdy bar.
Event: Game Knight
Players: Phil, James and Bruce running Yi Korean, list 282
                Steve, Garth and John running Song, Chinese
Game System: L'Art de la Guerre, 15mm, 300 points per side.

Steve has been out to sea for most of 2024, and while out, he printed and painted a new army.

The Forces:
Song Chinese
Two Brilliant Commanders, and two Ordinary, Included commanders, one of which is also Allied.
3 Heavy Cavalry, Impact, Elite
1 Heavy Cavalry, Bow, Elite
4 Medium Cavalry, Bow
4 Light Cavalry, Bow
6 Medium Sword, Impetuous
4 Heavy Sword, Polearm
3 Heavy Sword, 2HW
4 Medium Sword, Polearm
3 Bowmen
4 Crossbowmen
1 Heavy Catapult
Breakpoint of 37

Korean 
The Koreans are commanded by the Brilliant Kim-Larry, his Competent brother Kim-Darryl, his his other Competent brother Kim-Darryl, somewhat Competent Cousin, Kim-Darryl.
10 Heavy Cavalry, Impact, 4 Elite
6 Light Cavalry, Bow, 3 Elite
8 Pikemen, Mediocre
2 Guardsmen, Heavy Sword, Polearm, Elite
6 Integrated Artillery
Breakpoint of 32

Display Conventions: When you see a jagged word bubble like "Ouch!" or "哎哟!" or "아야!",  this implies a disorder from missiles. Letters in parenthesis represent some value change for the specific unit. For commanders it is s for strategist, b for Brilliant, c for Competent and o for Ordinary, u for unreliable. For troops it is e for Elite, and m for Mediocre. Other abbreviations, Hvy Heavy, XB Crossbow, LB, Longbow, Jav Javelin, 2HW 2 Handed Weapons, B Bow, Kn Knight, HKn Heavy Knight, HC Heavy Cavalry, Md Medium, Sgt Sergeants, LC Light Cavalry, Chr Chariot, Cat Cataphract, Pa Pavise, LI, Light Infantry, HG Hand Gun, FKn Foot Knight, Hvy Spear, Heavy Spearmen.

Inappropriately capitalized words are used to highlight terms that are specific to the game. For example Brilliant, Competent and Ordinary have specific game values for the commanders.

"XX" implies a unit killed in that location on that turn.

The Board:

The Song deploy their "Tribal Auxiliaries" on their right, supported by a goodly number of missile armed troops.

A very impressive mangonel in the center right.

A solid force of swordsmen take the center.  A large force of horse on the left.

So the Song are set up foot heavy on the right and center, with most of their cavalry on their left.

The Yi deploy in a symmetrical pattern.  With equal sized horse commands on the right and left.

And the center with two commands of Pike and Artillery.

Cousin Kim-Darryl is somewhat out numbered, but has a quality advantage.

All of his horse is heavy cavalry, whereas most of the Song is mediums.

Turn 1:

Kim-Larry charges forward.  The Song have the hill, but they are all medium foot.  Also, if he can get close enough to the Mangonel, he can effectively shut it down.

From 4.1-8 UD's the Heavy Artillery has a wider arc of fire, and can pick it's targets.  At .1 to 4, it has to follow normal targeting rules.  Like light horse in it's face.

The line of Korean foot march at the double.

Only one of the Korean artillery is true.  The Hwacha, which fired rocket arrows by the hundreds.

The others represented here are Roman Ballista on mule carts, and a couple of Gallic chariots.

Cousin Kim-Darryl advances just far enough to keep in alignment with the pike.

The first of 300 pound rocks is hurled down range.  

The horde of Tribal Auxiliaries rush over the hill.

The professional foot troops march at the double.

Along with the shooting formations of Song horse and foot.

A view from the other side of the table.

Sometimes it is good to see what your opponent is seeing.

Turn 2:

Yi heavy horse charge up the hill.  One troop plows straight on through, but the others are held.

The Yi artillery score multiple hits on the Song infantry

Like on the right, the Yi heavy horse charge, one with great success.

Things are not looking good for Kim-Larry.  The Song cavalry in the hill serving as a reserve is a full bore Heavy Cavalry, Impact, with a commander.  Just the thing to fill the gaps.

In the center, the Song commander offers smooth words of comfort.  But to no avail as ballista bolts continue to harry the lines.

Another Song horse is routed.  But their numbers are beginning to show.  They bring up their swordsmen, and turn the flank with an unengaged troop.

Turn 3:

Kim-Larry orders a disengage.  But due to command restraints, leaves one troop behind.

The brothers Kim-Darryl order a massive charge down the line.  Mostly winning against the disordered Song swordsmen.

With the help of pike and guardsmen, Cousin Kim-Darryl has a good run.  Routing 4 troops of Song horse.

At the middle of the third, the Song have 23 points towards their break point of 37

To the Yi's 14 of 32.

At the crest of the hill, the Yi Horse is flanked, and destroyed.

The Song pour in their reserve horse and impetuous foot into the main line of battle.  The Yi horse are giving way.  But the Song heavy foot are beginning to fail as well.

The last of the Song cavalry charge the flank of the Yi line.  The Yi manage to avoid being swept away.

Turn 4:

Kim-Larry orders his lights forward to run interference.

The Korean pike push forward into the gaps

On the right, The Yi horse take out a unit of bowmen, turning the Song line.

Taking the Song to 31.

To the Yi's 21

Song tribal auxiliaries flood off the hill

In the main battle, both sides take losses.

The Song manage to take out another Yi horse.

At this point we called it.  The Song were at 34, and the Yi needed only 3 points to win.  Which was considered a given with 4 flank charges and 3 battles where the Song units were just one away from breaking.

All this in just under 3 hours!