BATTLE REPORT
Part 1 of 4
The line is drawn
In the early fall of 1997, Vinny and I just about finished painting up an army each for WAB. He started with an EIR army and me the British Celt one. We bought the Foundry's deal which we later expanded with OG figs. The WAB game was quite new to us and we had tons of fun with it. We wrote a series of battle reports/stories concerning our first few tries as it. Sometimes they are very funny so I thought I'd re-post them so you could look them over. If you are bored to tears then just delete them. The first one Vinny wrote on the eve of our first battle and the tomfoolery began!
Don
Dear Uncivilized one,
Rome has decided to invade your land (we do this when we are bored). There is no use resisting, but it would be more fun if you did.
Anyhow, we will enslave your entire male population, rape all your women (if they're good looking), take your cattle, crops and whatever else we feel like doing. You are powerless, because you are unorganized and don't even have matching shields.
Have a nice day - Gaulish dudes...
If you want to avoid bloodshed please sign below by Friday
This doesn't mean we won't invade anyway though, we just won't kill you (right away at least).
The 1st Battle (The Celt side)
All,
Well, here is the Roman vs. Celt Ancient battle report. It is the one Vinny, Jim and I played on Sunday night. We played with about 1200 points using the WAB rules that came out recently. Both our armies were made up with Foundry figs with a smattering of Old Glory for the Celtic side.
It was basically a pitched battle, just lined up and go get them. In this game we really didn't have any sort of scenario worked up as we were trying the rules out for the first time and were bound to screw something up...and did!
In both games Jim and I split our forces and he added his Germanic archers to the pot. I based my army around the British Celts so I don't have any bowmen.
Actually, my army was a work in progress so the mix isn't what I'd like to go with next time but we made do. In both games we used the slingers and archers as a skirmishing screen and I was pleasantly surprised how pesky they could become. In the WFB they aren't as effective so I really wasn't expecting that much. In both games they annoyed Vinny so it worked out okay.
The first game was an attempt to flank Vinny with my right, which is where the cavalry was posted. In the center we hoped to drive straight ahead and maybe work with the flankers but it didn't really happen that way. Vinny read or misunderstood the rules and re-rolled all the misses with his heavy throwing spears (pilum). In all the combats we got our asses kicked. After the game Vinny said, "Ooooppps. Guess what I did wrong?"
We lined them up again and went at it another time.
In the second game we were better. We had a good handle on things and the battle was smoother. Plus, we now saw how units work with others so the battle was better. He still won but it was close even though the points weren't that close. At one crucial point, I had my main warband attack one of his Roman blocks. The left flank was exposed to another approaching Roman century. Jim and I gambled. We sent the General and Standard in their chariots to attack this new threats to hold them off or get really lucky and break them.
I suppose in retrospect it was foolish but...I try (at times) to keep within the framework of what the 'real' troops would have done. This is why I probably lose too often! I reasoned that the General would 'go in' because it was glorious, reckless, Celtic, and something he had to do. Probably... but it cost us. The warband actually ran down their opponent so the General's charge was useless but how was I to know it would turn out that way?
The General killed a few Legionnaires but they killed the Standard Bearer. I lost the combat and had to make an 'easy' morale roll of seven on a 2d6. Piece of cake! Wrong! I rolled a 'six' and the General couldn't turn around his chariot in time. He was cut down while escaping.
The rest of the army was forced to make a Leadership test once this happened and it wasn't' pretty. Game over.
Hmmm, I was this close... to winning the game. If only the General had won the combat round! Drats. Next time I won't put the General in a chariot. Instead he'll go in with the biggest warband. They need the extra punch to break the Romans. They are too tough with that special rule of being stubborn. That’s a lifesaver for them. (Nice one, Jervis!) The Celts are fun but they need just the little extra pop in combat. If you can defeat the blocks of Legionnaires you'll mop the floor with those pagans. Curses! I'll get them next time!
The Scorpio (or bolt thrower) did NOTHING in both games. I was so afraid of it slicing huge gaps in my ranks but tanked Romans with huge wine hangovers must have manned it. Lucky for me they NEVER hit one Roman! Yeah!
