HMGS' Fall In was canceled. The virus and Prince Wolfe doing their best to keep us down and poor. Can't stop me. I got a player base to develop, games to play, and a home table. This is the second game for one new player and a second dude came by to watch. The second dude Bill, wants in next game!
It is WM Ancients this time around. We are building on Torro's demo. Kal and Jeremy are coming over for a 2v2 big game. The plan is for Kal and me to be on opposite sides and play a minor role. As Torro and Jeremy have limit exposure to the rules and their fun level is directly proportional to player base building.
Initially I thought about Rome after Jugurtha. While driving for work I came more into a Pyrrhus Vs Rome. Nothing bring ancients to mind than elephants, phalanx, legio. Everyone wonders what system Macedonian or Triplex Acies was superior. History only tells us it was a total meat grind at the first battle.
280 BC Battle of Heraclea
It was fought on open ground chosen for the Phalanx to function properly. North of the river is flat land and south a few miles away some hills. The Siris or Sinni river plays an opening roll. Rome is on the southern side and Pyrrhus on the north then.
Roman has maybe 45,000 troops and Pyrrhus around 35,500. The sources a few and incomplete and contradicting. We will go with these numbers.
Rome's 45,000
4 Legions (4-5k each)
4 Allied legions (They are record as under strength >4k total each)
2,400 Cavalry
Pyrrhus's 35,500
20,000 Macedonian Phalanx
6,000 Hopilites
4,000 Hypaspists
4,000 Archers
1,000 Slingers
4,000 Cavalry
20 Elephants
How will I break these numbers into Warmaster units? I think I have enough Romans to do 1000 dudes per base. I don't have enough phalangists do to it. Any way I cut it I won't have enough miniatures for Phalangists. 20 units would be 60 stands at 16 dudes a stand is 960 miniatures. What will happen then? I will be using blank bases to back fill the missing stands.
Roman
Pyrrhus
The game started as per historical record. Pyrrhus' archers and slingers were guarding the river's fording places. We had 3, the sources state more than one. The Roman Cavalry is 30cm away.
The rest of the Roman army will come on two two with a free, no leadership check, move. Pyrrhus attached to the Cavalry will appear 45cm behind the slingers and archers initial position. The rest of the Pyrrhic army will arrive turn 3 with a free move on. The elephants will only get that free move. Turn 4 they can be ordered.
 |
| Pyrrhus blunders and runs |
The battle went as history said it did. The Roman Cavalry charged the skirmishers, pushing them back. Pyrrhus' Cavalry engages, stops the roman cavalry, but failes to prevent the Legions from crossing the river. Pyrrhus in epic fashion blunders the order to his attached unit and runs away. Pretty much what actual happened.
The legions come on and push the Pyrrhic army back. The Phalanx slams home, driving back the legions. The legions push back. And then both armies break. Again pretty close to what was said to happen.
 |
| Legions cross the river |
No comments:
Post a Comment