Romans vs Ancient Britons

Ok it is historical collection but perhaps not quite fleshed out. After receiving the last pieces I needed to create my Ancient Britons, I impulsively went to work scraping, gluing and adding ‘green stuff’ bits to the plastics. I needed to add enough of these ‘cultural’ details to the skeletons to make them Celtic. Shields are an important part. Headdress is another essential aspect; but I was lacking helmets and while I tried to model a few, I changed tack and added characteristic long moustaches and long hair to give some of the skulls ‘the look’.

To stretch the numbers out as I did with the Romans, I made use of terrain pieces on each stand, be it a stone, wicker fence or an emerging body from the ground. Each unit, while theoretically some 12 figures, usual sport only 7 to 9 in number but I think still gives enough impression of masses of warriors. Of course this means large multiple bases but extra skulls provide a convenient and complimentary count markers

Excited by the effort, I played a late night game using Dragon Rampant. While these rules are solidly based upon the wonderful Lion Rampant medieval orientated rules by Dan Mercey from Osprey Publishing, this fantasy version is a great tool box for modifying units to suit specific characteristics one feels certain units require - fantastical or historical. In this case, the mad, impulsive headlong rush we envision the Celtic (and Ancient Germanics included) charge toward the enemy to be, can be simply created by making the warriors “Bellicose” having the ‘Wild Charge’ impulse and adding the ‘Hatred’ characteristic (of the invading Romans) which then bumps to an automatic charge activation. The player need not roll for a possible fail to charge but know that within move distance the charge WILL proceed. These warriors are at their best in the attack.

The Roman Legionaries for their part have the added fantastical aspect of “No Feelings” which as skeletons and hardened professional disciplined soldiers, the ability to shrug off any small losses (except for the poorest of die rolls!) without becoming ‘battered’ and losing combat ability. The penalty for this is the rolling up not down of any extra hits thus creating a few more losses. While potentially crippling, the Roman high hits=losses for their high armour and defensive “Wall of Spears” (the DR equivalent of the Medieval LR ‘Shiltron’) makes this viable and, well, so classic Legionary!

In this initial game, the Ancient Britons lined up and charged the Roman line but failed to make much of an impression. The Roman ballista rolled above average a bit and skewered one of the Warrior units in two turns. The Chariots made much use of their counter-attack capability but had a tough time piercing the attacking Legio units.

Just as the historical Britons led by Boudicca found, The Romans in battle line are very tough. It is pleasing to have the expected results from such a simple set of rules. This is not to say, it will be always a one-sided affair. Just as examples can be found in the historical record, given other circumstances, the Britons could defeat the Romans, but that in a straight up fight, both forces act as we imagine them to have had, gives us a good guideline for their abilities.

The Nateville Campaign - #3 the initial situation

Nate provided the following (very secret....) American Plan: Two columns and one shore party. Shore Party The boats that were gathered have transported the Combined Lights across the river during the night.  They are formed on the central hill on the Canadian side across the river ( kiddycorner ) from the house near the ford. There is also a Line unit on the American side waiting to cross on Turn #1.  (thinking...roll a 2d6 and that is how many stands cross on boats each turn.  The unit can not move on the Canadian side (other than making table space) until the whole unit has crossed as per above.   Objective...to provide support to either of the columns (Bridge and Ford) if those columns are stalled.  If both columns have crossed successfully, they 1) ensure lines of communication to Nateville are not threatened, 2) then move on Brewsterburg then Fort Hammton. Bridge Column An artillery piece is located near the bridge to provide fire support.  The Kentuckians are to rush the bridge followed by the half of the remaining infantry.  Objective..Fort Hammton Ford Column An artillery piece set up to provide fire support.  Rest of the American force is to cross here.  Objective...Brewsterburg....then on to Fort Hammton. Additionally, if the Canadians have an artillery piece, it comes onto the table with the Voltigeurs. The Abenaki remain home and avoid confrontation. ———————— for the ‘boats’ I went ahead and constructed a ‘boat bridge’ for the American assault. It was made from the surrounding fences and would assist in the quicker flow of troops. I really needed to make one anyway. The additional artillery piece along with the Voltigeurs is in fact a rocket troop (its firing should create no end of amusement!)

The following shows the American forces ready to assault Brewsterburg

The British forces and the half-completed fieldworks protected by abattis (sharpened tree branches)

the following are the American forces lead by the Kentuckians moving along the road to the bridge.

The boat bridge recently made.

Empire is Good! (Celtic buildings)

Built another - not so complete - Celtic house for the Ancient Briton/Roman skeleton collections. Digging in my terrain supplies bin I discovered a half-destroyed tape roll and thought, yeah, why not. These will be scenario objectives or simply scatter terrain.

Before the coming of Roman Civilization (left), after the coming of Roman Civilization (right)

The "Nateville Campaign" #2 - the battle

The initial scenario set up can be found at the previous post.

 

The food stuffs and pork on the hoof and escorted to the fort as the Fencibles march to reinforce the defences of Brewsterburg.

The Abernaki before going back their village, had warned the Canadians of the impending attack.  Not that the Americans made that activity unknown as they formed a long narrow column snaking to the ford.  

Hardly was the column moving quickly as the ford limited the lead element, the Combined Lights crossed the creek to come under immediate fire from Brewsterburg by the SEM and the half troop of Sedentary militia. To this they bolted and ran back into the now blocked ford as the US 30th Regiment tried to cross.  In the “Rebel and Patriots” rules, those retreating units unable to retreat further must reduce their numbers by the number of inches not traveled!  This and the failure to rally had the American Combined Lights evaporate. 

Due to the slow movement of the American column, the Kentucky unit, destined to be at the rear of the column, impulsively decided to move through the town towards the bridge. Along the way they picked up a small unit of locals who had recently formed up (another of my “dramatically improbable” die rolls) but this force was later met with accurate cannon fire from the fort losing half their number and quickly losing heart about the venture.

435

At the ford, the next unit in the column, the US 30th, moved slowly over the ford and into close order formation.  They were blasted by the Canadian 3rd SEM and militia causing 4 casualties at one time but the sergeants held them firm. (my usual wide swings in dice rolls, this time with two sixes, allowed them to stay for more punishment.) The advantage of large formations is demonstrated as another blast from the Canadian troops in the town has them now with 8 casualties but not yet at the dreaded half way point insuring them a permanent disorder marker. 

The US 30th holding firm despite huge casualties.

But unable to retreat as the following artillery is now slowly trying to cross, yet might not stand any further fire,  the Americans in close order charged at the Sedentary militia, some of whom were literally protecting their homes. An exclaim of “Remember Your Homes!  Remember Your Homes!” (and a really high dice roll of course!)  had the militia hold thus forcing the Americans back.  While their rolls were good, the SEM unit had an ignominious retreat with a poor action.  However, the Fencibles travelling from the fort arrived to stabilize the defences.

The skittish 3rd SEM [on the left], the surprisingly edept Sedentary militia positioned in the sty, [top centre], and the arriving Fencibles, [right]

The American CO seeing the Canadian retreat from the village but not the arrival of reinforcements believes the time has come for a final push and rushes back to the artillery struggling across the stream to move and set up to fire.  “They are retreating! They are retreating!” but to no avail as more musket fire from the small militia unit proved again devastating and with 50% casualties the American artillerists run away.  The second American gun while set up on the far side of the creek could not manage any effective fire and they too, retreated.

Soon the struggling American artillery in the creek ford will be receiving deadly musket fire

 The American attack faltered at this point with no units willing to move (yup. no successful activations by ANY unit!)

The American commander reports that the Combined Lights have been eliminated as a combat unit, the US 30th also at 75% casualties. One battery was destroyed having lost all their equipment and half their numbers. The Kentucky Mounted Rifles had sustained almost 50% loss while the Canadian losses were very light and Brewsterburg saved from the ravages of the American raid.

"Nateville" Campaign #2 - initial situation

  Nate, my "campaign narrator" provided that Brewsterburg will be the focus of the next campaign action. The Native Abernaki were pleased with my visit and only if a roll a 1 will I lose some of their support (and yes, of course I roll the 1 and rolling again lost much of their support. Later that of activation rolls would convince me - and them - they were not willing to help…) Not asking the boss for more support and rolling a 1 means I will lose a unit to his greater command. ( and yes, once again I roll a bleeping 1!!) So I lost the services of the Voltigeurs. The final condition that rolling 2d6 and either boxcars or snake-eyes would have consequences for my troops morale ( and, well, this time I did not roll wrongly….)

The Americans are to capture Brewsterburg and were given two cannon, have “native” support of one unit of Kentucky Mounted Riflemen, but, due to the earlier Canadian raid destroying their ammunitions, the American units fire poorly and will need to make charges when possible.

The Canadians are “alert and ready”

To that end, the bee-hives were moved into the woods and out of harms way, the pigs and other food stuffs were shuffled off to the fort by half the Sedentary militia, and the Fencibles  already moving at break of dawn while the fort garrison were at the walls and ready.

Canadian Fencibles exiting "Fort Hammton" A unit of SEM mans the north perimeter.

The local militia escort the food supplies from Brewsterville to the safety of the fort. 

In Brewsterville, the SEM (left) and part of the local Sedentary Militia prepare to defend the village.

The long column of the Americans lead from Nateville to the objective of Brewsterville and its food supplies.

The Kentucky Mounted Rifles are impatiently waiting their turn to file into the column. The wagons are ready and empty to receive the bounty of the excursion.

Stay tuned to the second part of this exciting battle!

the Tower still stands

The first game of the year was a small medieval ‘Lion Rampant’ game with WillB and his young son going against each other defending or attacking the siege cannon firing against my newly painted Tower.  (see my previous post link for its construction)  Hey, I just painted it so OF COURSE it has to be part of the scenario!

I addition to the painting, I added a separate rocky base of insulation foam sheet 

Quickly inventing some quick rules for the guns damage firing at the tower, I thought I had cleverly hidden a small unit of foot knights under the roof but WillB, noticing the slight tilt in the roof ( he is a civil engineer and I never claim to be a precise builder!) adjusted the model only to discover my ruse.  Luckily I made my several activations to have the knights climb down the ladder, over the rocks, and into action but only to have them fail their courage after only one combat and run off into the distance!  

The enemy had already retreated away and then I careless rolled this for their courage!

One of the medieval siege cannon firing on my new tower.  This is a scratch-built affair made from a plastic tube, balsa wood, and brackets of strips of paper.  The barrel, wheel-barrow and chest form the rest of the 6-man crew!

Archers form the main component of my Battle of Crecy era collection

The Dunkurque knights chop into one of the English archer units. A rather unequal affair.

However, Arthur’s steady arrow barrages wore down the Dunkurque Militia of his father and the final cannon’s crew were slaughtered by Arthur’s men-at-arms before the tower could be felled by the cannon shot. 

a Waterloo Square

I don’t usually start the new year with the traditional pledges to one-self regarding the hobby. These promises often (never?) come true and, like so often seen in military history, generals, as we wargamers, are often fighting/collecting the last war/our last impulse, only to be met with unexpected new weapons/toys to fight/paint.   Well, I have enough weapons/figures to keep me going without even thinking of what other wars/projects I might do!

So just trying to ‘clean-up’ those already in the to-do tray, including the many Napoleonic era Highlanders that friends have so kindly given me.  Decided to paint up two large formations of them, the 93rd and 42nd and mount them on 20mm rounds going them an individualistic look for a large square formation. Finally finished the second lot (the 42nd) on the first day of this year. This 97 miniature strength formation will form an interesting eye-candy ‘terrain’ piece for any large Napoleonic Waterloo all-cavalry affair our group might come up with after this Covid thing subsides.

Victrix plastic Highlanders.  To facilitate the easier painting of the kilts (ha!) I attached the arms with the interfering musket after doing the torso and the and painted them last.