Skirmish at Isentium

Today I decided I needed a game come what may so I decided to give a solo game a try. I've not done much of this in the past but I think this may be the way forward for me. I've missed a lot of games with the Rejects this year due to unfortunate timing and illness and while I'm determined to rectify this I think a few home games on my day off work wont do me any harm. So today I decided to have a small solo game of To the Strongest!

I made up two small cavalry only forces from my Greek/Epirots and Polybian Roman armies. The scenario is that both sides are sending out small cavalry forces to scout a crossing point along a river for the main army. Both forces approach each other unawares on opposite sides of the bank of the river. The game starts as both sides spot each other. There are several fords in this area and lots of woods and small hills. Not ideal country for a major battle but certainly suitable ground for two scouting forces to have a go at each other. 

Order of Battle

Greek/Epirot Forces - General (Pyrrhus) Mounted

  Greek Allied Cavalry + Hero

  Greek Allied Cavalry + Hero

  Thessalian Cavalry + Hero

  Greek Light Cavalry + Hero

  Tarantine Light Cavalry (Veteran) + Hero

  Tarantine Light Cavalry (Veteran)

  (Total 60 Points)

Polybian Roman Cavalry Command - General Mounted, Detached, Senior, Brilliant

  Equites Romani + Hero

  Equites Romani

  Equites Latini

  Equites Latini

  Equites Extraordinarii (Veteran) + Hero

  (Total 60 Points)

Action

Opening Deployment with both sides approaching each other on opposite sides of the river. The game begins as both forces become aware of each other. 

The Roman commander decides to keep his forces together and heads immediately for a strategic crossing point. Meanwhile the Epirot commander, knowing he is numerically inferior, decides for a more risky strategy. He send his light cavalry in a wide flanking move to harass the Romans from behind as his veteran cavalry force the crossing. 

The Romans move fast but find some of their troops hemmed in by the river. This pauses the crossing as they try to reform

Meanwhile the Epirot leader has a terrible time just crossing the first ford. He looses valuable time getting hi forces across the river and only the Roman delay stops him from loosing the second crossing without a fight. 

The Romans have reformed and decide to let the Greeks have a go at crossing the ford.Roman Javelins are raised in readiness. 

The Greeks do not disappoint and charge across the Ford. Javelins darken the sky and...not a single hit results! 

Thessalian Cavalry battles it out in Melee with the Veteran Extrodinarii but it is the Romans that come off worse. For a moment it seems this crazy plan of Pyrrhus may actually work! But melee and an further exchange of Missiles wipes out the Thessalians before they have time to react. 

Now the Greek Allied Cavalry sweep in to attack the Ford and at their head is Pyrrhus himself. He knows that he needs to keep the Romans occupied at the ford while his flanking force gets into position. 

The Greek Light Cavalry make the upper ford and are now working behind the Romans. One good turn of luck and the Greeks plan will have worked. 

The Greek Cavalry at the Ford are forced back and their is a pause...giving the Romans a chance to turn a couple of their rearward units around to deal with the Greek Light Cavalry that are coming up behind them. 

Now its the Turn of the Romans to cross the Ford. In one very successful round of melee they sweep away another Greek Unit and it looks like the door is finally open for them to cross and finish Pyrrhus. 

Meanwhile the Greek Light Cavalry try to use their speed and agility to hit-and-run the Romans but they fail to hit a thing with their Javelins (a recurring theme in this game!)

Its starting to look like a clear Roman victory as they pin down the flanking force and cross the ford. Pyrrhus should have thrown in the towel at this point!

The end. A combination of Latin Cavalry attacks and javelins destroys the last serious Greek Cavalry unit. Pyrrhus escapes with his life but leaves the best of his cavalry to be buried in Roman soil. 

The final positions. The Greeks have lost three heavy cavalry units while the Romans remain largely unscathed. 

Analysis

Well that was fun. I honestly didn't know which way this was going for most of the battle but when the end came it happened in just a couple of turns.