Early Germans vs Marian Romans

[HoaryCenturion]

References/Sources/Ideas: Recent blog post about Caesar and Ariovistus.

Opposing Armies: Early Germans and Marian Romans

Approximate Season and Year: Summer of 56 BCE

Rules: TRIUMPH!

Points: Early Germans had 164, Marian Romans had 136.

Description of tabletop: Another adaptation of ‘The Battle of the Mandubian Hills,’ an engaging narrative originally presented in Chapter 5 of WARGAME TACTICS, a marvelous little book written by Charles Grant and published in 1979. As such, several gentle hills of varying sizes and one medium woods, in approximate center of German deployment area. The primitive model battlefield measured 72 by 32 inches (183 by 81 cm).

Germans deployed their more numerous Javelin Cavalry on the wings. These troopers were supported by Rabble. The German right and left also contained some Warriors formed as a second line. The central hill and wooded area were held by more Warriors, Rabble and Skirmishers along with some Raiders. The Romans essentially mirrored this deployment, placing their Bad Horse on the left and their Javelin Cavalry on the right. Their were lots of legionaries (Elite and Heavy Foot) in attendance, along with some Light Foot.

Very brief summary:
By Turn 2, the German right flank was in serious trouble as a series of very bad die rolls saw the piling up of 18 points of damage, which demoralized the command. The German left wing followed in another couple of turns after some back and forth fighting. The Germans in the woods and on the central hill were hardly involved, though a unit of Rabble, a unit of Skirmishers, and a unit of Raiders did taste Roman steel. The Rabble were the only ones to survive the day. With two-thirds of his mustered army demoralized, the German leader gave the order for his command to break off the engagement.

Length of Game: Almost 6 turns of play, which took approximately 90 minutes.

Some take aways:
> For two other adaptations of the Mandubian Hills scenario, please see Slingshots 331 (In the Lab with the Legions) and 344 (The Third Battle of the Mandubian Hills).
> Unit dimensions: universal frontages of 3.5 cm; depth varied depending on troop type.
> MU (movement unit) was 1.75 cm then, which meant that Javelin Cavalry could move 5.5 inches or around 14 cm per turn, while Elite Foot could move 2 inches or about 5 cm per turn.
> In contrast to the original scenario, the woods and the units deployed therein played a very little part in this refight.
> Somewhat surprisingly, the Roman Bad Horse rolled over their German counterparts. There were a few occasions, however, when the demoralized survivors were able to thump a Roman unit or two.
> The Roman legionaries were involved in just a few contests, and none of these were against German Warriors.
> The most recent amendments to the rules worked well.
 

[Philip McBride]

Good AAR. Thanks. And yet another battle where the flanks wrote the script

[HoaryCenturion]

Cheers Philip,
Thanks for the compliment and for taking the time.
The format of my AARs has changed over the years, as I borrow ideas from others while attempting to rein in my tendency to be overly verbose.
Quite so . . . In that regard, a kind of repeat of history. Still, it was unusual to see so few of the legions and warriors come to grips.
Thanks again.