Wargaming Weekend (II) battle of Locus Gnotus-- Hail Caesar

"Senior tribune Marcus Cuniatus was looking to the plain in front of him...

It was a known place for him and his men, here in the middle of Britannia... The roman autorities used to have a good relationship with the local tribes, but now, just after  the Iceni rebellion started, every native was a suspect, and the roman troops had commited some big abuses on the civil population, even if allied like it was the case.. Tension had grown and the locals had also joined the rebellion

The tribune had previously developed a very close relationship with the local prince, Tripates. they used to meet together and even their chidlren had played together..  Now he was in the opposite side of the field, commanding the briton warriors- It is really a pity.. he is somehing similar to a brother to me.. thought the roman offcer . If only things were different.."

This plain was known as "Locus Gnotus" that means " Familiar place" , as near the main village, the native used this plain and his hill to take rest and amusement, often joined by the romans which were not in service,  but today it would be different.. friends became fierce enemies. 


"The junior tribune Aldaius , second in command,ordered to the optio in command of a legionary scorpio emplacements: move that weapons forward, I will need more supprt"
"No, -answered Cuniatus,- there they are fine" The barbarians will run to us soon... You will advance with the cavalry and the auxilieres to the hill to get some advantage there. Then shouted to centurios commandingh the infantry in the main force:- Let them advance! Then, at my signal, Fire and Rage" Fight for Rome! 


At that very moment, prince Tripates gave the order to his men to advance . He was not happy, living near the occuppers was not so bad at all, but they made horrible things recently. He was sorry for Cuniatus, but he had to defend his peple. he send a signal to his seocn chief in command Carnutas in the left flank to advance to the hill, and the shouted to his own force: Warriors, forwad by Lugh!!"


I had really a funny weekend of wargaming,

First I enjoyed a battle against myr Brother in Law who loves a lot about Ancient History and I convinced him to make a friendly play test of "Hail Caesar"

This is a very compact and nice  ruleset, even if extense, and it permits getting ig armies of a lot of figures with a very impressive look of the field,  wich an be used as single units or divisions with more or less easy movement-commands-attack-moral-destruction instructions (although you needti read them more than ince and practice, as we did) One funny thing is that you need t activate every unit by giving them direct and clear orders frm the commanders... AS in real world orders can fail and usually warriors dont move right

Rules are at some point open, but with a friendly player you can solve it easily and with common sense form both sides  (so, very good for battling friends but probably not so suitable for tournaments..) Anyway that is exactly what I like....

 The problem actually was that I have actually (and unforntunately)  not so many models paintedn and ready for historical battles, so I had to search in my old "archives..." again as in some previous ocassion

 I was able to make a good force of around 100  romans and 180 celts/britons , getting my old bad painted figs from airfix and revell, and taking also some used and bad painted figs that another cousin lent me (so it was all a familar issue as the name of ther battle :))

This is how both armies looked, after mounting a good playing table on my brother-in-law living room and taking some lego-parts from my nieces to represent the wood areas





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The Roman punish force deployed , as in the picture:

Battle line-

Secundary Divison  under Junior Tribune Aldaius
Auxiliary Cavalry Ala
Auxiliary infantry Century

Main divison under Tribune Cuniatus
Auxiliary small archer unit
Legionary Century II (blue shields)
legionaryArtillery-2 scorpios

Legionary Century I (red shields) kept in second line

The celts War party:

Also secondary division of chief Carnutas n the left:
1 warband
1 skirmishers small unit


Main division under Prince

3 warbands
Noble cavalry on the far right

The start of the battle

 Firtly there was enthusiastic celtic advance in the left (secondary division)

Go on By Lugh!!

The Main celtic force also advanced forward but more slowly (order dice were not very generous)


Romans preferred to wait and save energies, fring some  missile (with no much success..)

Only the Secondary division (auxiliary cavalry and auxiliary infantrymen) advanced on their right to take control of the hill, not so fast but steadily enough

The major celtic central division kept advancing very slow (dice for orders were quite bad) ... Maybe too much warm bier the night before the battle? Romans easily waited and shot several arrow and bolt volleys.. Some casualties started to be inflicted on the celts

The initial briton advance on the left became also slow when fot two turns the celts did not advance at all . Roman cavalry were faster but also stoped once on the top! Gallic skirmishers coudl also shoot some succesful arrows on them!

Following Carnutas order, The warband 1 tried to reach the roman cavalry but they couldn´t  ...In response Aldaius, the young tribune in command of the division joined the unit to use a FOLLOW ME order and so bravely led,  the cavalrymen charged and made several caslties on the barbarian warriors! But the britons attacked in turn and made also several wound on the romans...
Both commanders got involved trying to get the best of their troops and adding more attack dice to the fight... Fortune was in briton side and the roman riders were disbanded... Tribune Aldaius survived but was taken prisoner..

In the center the Legionary cohort II took suddenly initiative in the slow briton advance, as charged and broke the central celtic warband in one single stroke, with roman martial efficiency helped by their Pila and gladii..  Only 2 roman casualties taken in account of crushing the main celtic attack..

The auxiliry cohort who was supposed to support their cavalry comrades, could however not stand the chance of charging another celtic warband into the flank after getting encouraged by the previous legionary success .. However these celts were fresh and casualties by both sides.. Auxiliaries lost the combat and had to fall back...

Celts had received a hard punch on the very center of this line...  Prince Tripates made all infantry units of the major division to go back and recover a bit..
The noble celtic cavalrymen however advanced on their own trying to expoit the exposed roman left flank! They had to change to open order to get into the woods trying to surprise the romans in a wild charge!

This surprise attack from the woods was a little disordered, and at the beginning was a succes against poor unarmed scopios crew on their flank (totally killed and destroyed in one single charge), the celtic nobles still went forward to hit on the Leginary century II, hoping to have also an easy victory..
However their open order was a disadvantge against the formed romans, and the infantry just two casualties agianst one..
In turn, the romans counterstroke with also help formt he remianing Cohort II which entered in fight for the firts time, tooking the celts riders  in their right flank. A new strong rain of Pila fell on the britons

It was a carnage, and the cavalry was totallty destroyed

Both armies were quite exhausted after these previous violent engagements .. No side seemed to prevail


The britons made a soft movement forward just trying to harrash some romans with arrows and javelins and not risking again a frontal impact... Auxiliaries were already shaken after retiring and taking more caalties

Romans just kept their position. The auxiliaries on the right who were already "shaken"  had more acasusalties and had to maske a break tests.. They failed and the unit fled!

So the roman general saw his right quite weakaned and decided to retreat in good order to their camp.. Britons were prudent and not move towards the enemy.. The day was over, field remained in briton hands and one roman commander had been taken prisoner, but it was not a decisive victory at all..
The legionary units were still quite operative as well as their general and their archer support.. They could stand long waiting for reinforcements from imperial Governor

 Peace in the region  was still far away...

"Mons Sanguinus" Hail Caesar complete Battle report

Well, I promised I worte the entire rpeort.. I hope not to be so long, but I enjoyed much, I hope you too:

TURN I BRITONS 

Celts had the intiative, so firts Ventomarus ordered all his army to go attack with a pretty good esful division order, so all warriors moved 2 steps forward. I identifed all unjits so that the Action can be clearly followed by you..

Sadly, Chariots were not close enoguh to reach the roman cavalry, they had need anothe rmovmeent step. (The picture shows the immediate situation when the roman cavalry charged them!)

TURN 1 ROMANS

Tribune Audax was aware, he was in inferiority.. The soldiers were ordered to keep in position, excpet the auxiliary cavalry which received order to attack the incoming chariots

 The scorpions shot  at long range to the attacking warband, making some casualty of them.. first blood of the day...

The  tiny skirmishing unit could not hit anything

The romans had charegd, but the celtic chariot had the option also to countercharge, so everypne attacked with an extra +1 in the dice !!!  It was a big crash! The romand had the worst part taking 3 causalties; britons took 1.
Roman had lost by 2 but they bravely passed the break test with "Hold the ground /no penalty"

As barbarians were approaching, Centurio Quintus Aelius on the right (Centuria I) relaized they were positioned closer to h attackers than Centuria II..
That meant , they were to hold the attack first.. Was it a plan of the Tribune?

Tribune M. Audax was realizing the same at the same time.. actually he had not noticed that...It could be a bad new but also an opportunity..

TURN 2 BRITONS

Ventomarus gave orders and again 2 movements for anyone,
The Warband on the right went for the skirmishers, they were bloodthirsty.. The poor auxiliary archers tried to make closing shots but they ere totally shattered and detroyed...

The other warband ran to get in contact with the romans... But as the roman offcers had noticed, only left warband had enough movement to charge againdt Centuria I on the roman right...

So there was a clas on the roman right, whole the central warband and the II cneturia woroked as supports adding their short range attacks to tehe main fight

Although the britons had a super clash attack of 9 dice with possibility of three  re-roll, the results were quite goot for the romans (specially because they had an advantage to be on uphill defensive position, they used the pila and they had better loricae and scutum than the celts) so britons took 3 casualties and romans only 1.. Roman Warfare was succesfull ....

The britons had to test for Brak and they had to "retreat disrodered togehter with supports", that meaning, the first heavy briton attack wave was resisted...
Audax gave orders to the legionaries not to follow the retrrating enemy and keep defensive upper positions.. it had helped certainly a lot...

The Warbands left an central resulted disorderedm so they could not make moves next turn...chief Ventomarus lookd angry to his druids.. What was happening there????

At the briton left flank, the romans took 3 further causalties by none of the chariots... so the cavalry got shaken...

..And got a "break" result in the Test.. So they fled form the filed after wearing more battle load than expected

The celtic champions on the chariots were exultant and eager for more Glory!!!

So at the end of briton turn, things were still not critical for romans but they had both flanks exposed...

ROMAN TURN 2

Marcus Audax was in delicate position,,,,

Tje legionaries had fought well in the center (or had they just luck?), but the fast chariots were threatening this right and a buig warband flanking form the left--.
He had to think anything.. and time was running!!

Then he took a critical decision for the battle.. As the central attack was temporarily contained, he ordered centurio Sextus Vorenus on the left to turn furthe rleft to wait the warband attack...

At the same time, Centuria I of Aelius on the right was also ware of the danger.. So the unit made one "initiative move" (allowed if close to enemy as they were after engagement) without risking a failure,
Centurio said to his men "Form a deffensive Square"

Then they could have a defensive bonus for any upcoming attack in any direction, but too less offensive capacity.. Aelius was really an old war  surviving fox from battles in Britania, Judea, Germania and even against other romans in Italia as well...

All shots from the scorpions were missed.. At least they made the clets to keep the heads low... No further roman action this turn...

TURN 3 BRITONS

Chief Ventomarus was dissapointed for the previuos central poor clash, but  also at the same point anxious because of having  a good bet on the flanks, even if roman invaders were trying to face the new attackers there with their ridicule and coward maneouvers...

The center could not work as two warbands were trying to reorganise again during the turn, but he put faith on flanks.. Orders were dispatched (3 movement steps!) and Chariots turned and rode fast to reach and attack the roman square in the left

..He was again very overconfident, as uphill position, roman closing ranks and the arrow of pila made 2 Casualties on the chariots agains 1 on the romans...

Previously winnning Chariots now become defated and broken, riding away from the battlefield..

.

Ventomraus started to get full with anger, while Druids told them to be patient and wait for the result on the right... The fresh warriors form the right charged uphill to clash against the also fresh legionaries of Vorenus...

And once again good dice and  the strategy and training advantage gave the victory to the roman legion: 2 celtic cadsualties to 1 roman

The warband had a result of "Retreat in disorder"..

So the third turn was actually bad fot the celts: charits had fled and the last warband was also retreting disordered and out of combat next round.. At least the left and centralwarband recovered for next turn
Ventomarus was furious and started to ay blasphewmies against all gods, druid could not answer this time-...

Both roman infantry units remained in position and started to feel a boost of Morale.
They had resisted  already three briton attacks.. God Mars was helping them!!!!!!!

TURN 3 ROMANS

Audax was happy, the briton attacks were resited again, but enemy units were still strong and if they won time they could organise a better coordinated attack and finish the brave but small roman remaining army..

So this time it wa sbetter to exploit the previous sucess.. He gave orders..but he failed with a 6+5!! fortunately he could re -roll as he was the army general... So The units got 3 movemements...
And then came the second an  last critical (and as we will see, also polemic) decision of the battle..

He ordered the left centuria of Vorenus to turn again to better face a quite probable attack from the briton centre,  and then to the right centuria or Aelius... to disfrom quickly the defensive square t adopt battl eline, and then charge down the hill to take the recently re-ordered warband in a violent attack!!

Centurio Aelio could not believe that "the tribune is mad! We aren´t able to do that "

NOTE-(Actually old veteran Aelio was right as the rules do not allow that!! I did not relaize while thinking the movmeent, i just knew it after watching the rules again afer the battle,,but  for the narrative, at the very moment this unexpected roman counter attack was quite Epic to me!!!! )
But well, in that moment, the Gods were with Rome and the legionaries were incredibly fast to remake the battle line and charge the britons!!

And wthat a violent clash!!! Both units got shaken.... But romand had inflcited 7 casualties against 4 !! So they won the fight and make the left warband break!!

With divine help, Rome gave a heavy stroke to the enemy army!!!

Aelius could not believe what whad happened..they had won, but they had supported many causalties.. The century stopped to take care of wounded and reorganise the line,, they could not attack again  for the rest of the battle..And still many barbarians in front of them...

 llllll

 TURN 4 BRITONS

Chief Ventemarus was losign the faith in the victory and was totallty nervous,,
No thinking much clearly after losing one third of his infantry, he made the central warband attack again uphill!!!! Poor warriors had lost once against the roman defsnese, but they obbeyed with loyalty,

The right warband was disordered but they made and effort and they could anyway support their brothers of centre bthanks to faith on celtic Gods

NOTE. (I believe I did also something wrong here, if disodered, they were suppsoed not to support? Ok another olemic situation here but for the narrative it was extremely good all the time)

The poor skirmishers wich had not made a hit during the whole game were also forced to attack the shaken Centuria I.. t hey could have maybe and advatange becasue of that

It was the last briton offensive effort

And once again the attack was repelled!!  Both warbands retreated again disordered
Romans got only 1 casualty!!

Auelius last shaken  men could also  still destroy the poor skirmishers ,even as weak as they were

Things were aready bad for the celts...

TURN 4 ROMANS

After the incredible suicide  fourth celcit attack on the hill, Audax was decided to finish with the game..
They were fighting for hours and the Hill was covered with blood of fallen warriors and corpses...

He succesfully ordered the almost fresh II centuria of Vorenus to charge donw the hill to hit what was remaining of the britons..

Ventomarus saw that he could not longer trust the Gods and that on that day, he could  be only victotious or dead together with his brave warrior,s, so he jumped to the middle of the fight to earn his final Glory and adding 3 dice to the last briton battle..

Roman general saw that, and dobuted for a second.. It could still change the fate of the battle!!!!.. he musted encourage their men!! Audax also rode fast to meet the enemy in the last engagement, he did not want to risk 3 dice but only 2...

..Last battle started with even generals fighting

There were again a lot of causalties.. And both generals failed the test of "hitting oficilas"" (the more attacks they make, th emore poribble is they get wounded or dead!)

BOTH GENERALS DIED AT THE SAME TIME IN THAT FIGHT, HAVING WON SUPREME HONOURS FOREVER IN THAT BLOODY HILL (MONS SANGUINUS"!)

It was so much for the remianing fighter... The britons definetely broke and fked from the battleflield..

Both roman strongly weakened legionary units (and the supporting scoprio ) remained as masters of the field... Many dead comrades and a lot of new battle scars for the men of both centurios  Quintus Aelius and Sixrtus Vorenus  ..
But by Jupiter that briton land was still under Roman Rule!!!

-We have to write a report of this to Governor in Londinium, Sixtus,,,
-Yes  Quintus you are right.. but let´ss rest and have a drink first!