Post by diades on Oct 24, 2020 19:18:59 GMT
So, no musical references this time. Much as I love Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, it benefitted from a decent script; his Spartacus does nothing for me. “Jugular, jugular” indeed. Let us instead imagine some Khachaturian heightening the ebb and flow of battle.
Whilst there were fears that the start could be slow, much like the longest twin pregnancy ever, ended after forty years in Olde England by Caesarian, to find two bearded babies politely alternating “After you.” “No, after you, dear chap.” ...
“So, who will you be?”
“I will be Spartacus!”
“No, I am Spartacus...”
Anyway, on with the report...I was Spartacus!
Imagine a diagonal across the board. On that diagonal from far left corner, all in one quarter, a large deciduous wood, a large steep hill, a small coniferous wood nestling in the centre of the board. Then two and a half base widths on...another steep hill. The Appian way runs to the right of that last hill.
On my right, on the near slopes of the near right hand hill, two units of shepherds and herdsmen (Ps). With their right secure against the flank of the same hill, four units of ex slaves (5Hd) backed by four units of equipped ex slaves and gladiators (4Bd). Behind the right hand end, Spartacus and his crew (4Bd gen) and to his right, Crixus and the Gauls (3Wb).
Opposite us, Crassus and his legions. Level with the back of the small central wood, the Roman battle line. From the wood towards their left flank, four units of legionaries (4Bd), javelinmen (3Ax) on the road, backed by slingers (Ps), the cavalry and light horse. Behind the right of the line: Crassus, mounted and flanked by more legionaries. Two units of auxilia stand atop the far hill.
Manoeuvres were clearly preparing for a clash on the terrain diagonal.
The rustics crested the hill and watched the road, whilst Crixus also advanced over the summit.
Two units of ex slaves squared up to two units of legionaries between central wood and near hill, with, at a distance behind, two units of armoured ex slaves. The remaining legionaries covered Crixus, whilst the professional Roman light troops went for the shepherds, and the mounted Roman left wing headed wide to circumnavigate the hill.
On Spartacus’ left flank, two units of ex slaves went wide to occupy the auxilia on the hill, but one slipped forwards into the woods beforehand, whilst two armoured units headed for the woods and the gap behind, but met the legionary reserve coming the other way.
The legionaries advanced to contact the slaves, who valiantly stood their ground early on, but succumbed eventually. The armoured reserve could not make overlaps tell. Meanwhile the Roman light troops polished off both units of amateur herdsmen.
The main battle occurred between the two hills at the front of the wood. It was very messy in every way (and some interesting rule questions were raised and may soon feature in another thread). Could the ex slaves win through before the Roman light troops came over the hill into the flank and the mounted wing came into the rear?
Fighting was protracted. Eventually the legionaries between the wood and far hill were massacred. Crassus had had to throw himself into the fray and, once backed into the woods, his unit was destroyed, but by now Crixus was fighting uphill against Roman javelinmen, with slingers in his flank. Whilst he fought hard initially, he went down fighting...and then the cavalry hit the rear of the rebel army and the slingers now flanked Spartacus. Spartacus went down fighting and soon crucified slaves decorated the Appian way. One assumes the previously unconscious Crassus, having fallen from his horse in the woods was not in a lenient mood!
Great fun! 5G (and 2 Hd) to 2G.
Whilst there were fears that the start could be slow, much like the longest twin pregnancy ever, ended after forty years in Olde England by Caesarian, to find two bearded babies politely alternating “After you.” “No, after you, dear chap.” ...
“So, who will you be?”
“I will be Spartacus!”
“No, I am Spartacus...”
Anyway, on with the report...I was Spartacus!
Imagine a diagonal across the board. On that diagonal from far left corner, all in one quarter, a large deciduous wood, a large steep hill, a small coniferous wood nestling in the centre of the board. Then two and a half base widths on...another steep hill. The Appian way runs to the right of that last hill.
On my right, on the near slopes of the near right hand hill, two units of shepherds and herdsmen (Ps). With their right secure against the flank of the same hill, four units of ex slaves (5Hd) backed by four units of equipped ex slaves and gladiators (4Bd). Behind the right hand end, Spartacus and his crew (4Bd gen) and to his right, Crixus and the Gauls (3Wb).
Opposite us, Crassus and his legions. Level with the back of the small central wood, the Roman battle line. From the wood towards their left flank, four units of legionaries (4Bd), javelinmen (3Ax) on the road, backed by slingers (Ps), the cavalry and light horse. Behind the right of the line: Crassus, mounted and flanked by more legionaries. Two units of auxilia stand atop the far hill.
Manoeuvres were clearly preparing for a clash on the terrain diagonal.
The rustics crested the hill and watched the road, whilst Crixus also advanced over the summit.
Two units of ex slaves squared up to two units of legionaries between central wood and near hill, with, at a distance behind, two units of armoured ex slaves. The remaining legionaries covered Crixus, whilst the professional Roman light troops went for the shepherds, and the mounted Roman left wing headed wide to circumnavigate the hill.
On Spartacus’ left flank, two units of ex slaves went wide to occupy the auxilia on the hill, but one slipped forwards into the woods beforehand, whilst two armoured units headed for the woods and the gap behind, but met the legionary reserve coming the other way.
The legionaries advanced to contact the slaves, who valiantly stood their ground early on, but succumbed eventually. The armoured reserve could not make overlaps tell. Meanwhile the Roman light troops polished off both units of amateur herdsmen.
The main battle occurred between the two hills at the front of the wood. It was very messy in every way (and some interesting rule questions were raised and may soon feature in another thread). Could the ex slaves win through before the Roman light troops came over the hill into the flank and the mounted wing came into the rear?
Fighting was protracted. Eventually the legionaries between the wood and far hill were massacred. Crassus had had to throw himself into the fray and, once backed into the woods, his unit was destroyed, but by now Crixus was fighting uphill against Roman javelinmen, with slingers in his flank. Whilst he fought hard initially, he went down fighting...and then the cavalry hit the rear of the rebel army and the slingers now flanked Spartacus. Spartacus went down fighting and soon crucified slaves decorated the Appian way. One assumes the previously unconscious Crassus, having fallen from his horse in the woods was not in a lenient mood!
Great fun! 5G (and 2 Hd) to 2G.
