Britannia Campaign: Turn 8 - 2nd Legion v The Dobunni

 

Focussing on the south west, the 2nd Legion deals with a rebellion by the Dobunni tribe and is the setting for the next game.

I will be using the L'Art De La Guerre rules again but on this occasion I have balanced the points at around 270 to give a more even game.

The initial setup with the Britons on the left having rolled as the attackers once again. Terrain was determined using the Age of Hannibal rule system modified to reflect the type of terrain to be found in this part of the country. The table size has been reduced to 4'6" x 3' reflecting the smaller size of armies deployed.

Continued -

  Orbats

Initial deployment of the Dobunni tribe.

The Roman 2nd Legion + Auxiliaries.

The Dobunni go for a heavy flanking move with their right supported by the cavalry reserve. In an early clash, Roman cavalry charge up the slope (top right) towards a group of slingers who promptly evaded.

On the opposite flank the Dobunni are a little weak. They hope to hold out long enough before their right flank roll up the Romans. An early melee between two units of light horse and Roman heavy and light cavalry leaves a slight advantage to the latter. 

The Dobunni commander in the centre sends the javelin skirmishers forward to engage with the Romans while holding back the impetuous warbands.

On the Britons right flank their medium cavalry charge the Romans occupying the hill.

The Romans quickly find themselves outflanked with devastating consequences for their cavalry. 2 bases are lost leaving one to hold the onslaught.

The warbands of the right flank now threaten the main Roman line. Having pretty much lost his cavalry, the Roman left flank commander forms up his infantry in an attempt to protect the main legionary formation.

On the Dobunni left flank their light horse fight valiantly but gradually succumb to the superior Roman cavalry.

The light horse are finally destroyed and the first task for the Roman light horse is to clear the Dobunni slingers from the adjacent woods who had been harassing the main Roman line. 

In the centre the impetuous warbands are released who charge into the legionary line with pretty much the same results as in previous games. Maybe a little premature!

Back on the right flank the last of the Roman cavalry is destroyed. The Dobunni cavalry commander now has the job of reforming is dispersed units.

The warbands waste no time in attacking the outnumbered Romans destroying a unit of Batavian auxiliaries. 

In the centre the warbands have been comprehensively defeated but they are not completely out of the game yet.

The main threat to the Romans continues to develop on their left flank. Reformed cavalry units are now approaching the flanking warbands.

A lost legionary base spells serious trouble for the Roman left with marauding warbands chewing them up. Only a tenacious artillery unit prevents Dobunni light horse from attacking the Roman camp.

An overview of the following turn. The whole of the Roman left flank command has been destroyed and unless they can stabilise the situation, defeat of the Romans is looking like a real possibility. The Roman commander begins to move cohorts from the right of his line with the right flank commander hurrying his forces towards the flank of the Dobunni centre.

It is now turn 10 and another legionary base has been destroyed. Incredibly the Roman artillery unit managed to destroy a light horse base but is now in serious trouble with warbands swarming around them. 

The victory point system in ADLG is based on how many units have been lost or disordered through cohesion among other factors. If one side sustains more points lost than the number of bases in their force then they lose. The Dobunni breakpoint is 43 and they have now lost 42 points. The Romans have 24 and lost 21 points. Commanders can rally cohesion so it is possible to reduce those points.

Turn 11 and both sides are getting desperate with commanders joining units in the fight. The legionary base with the red counter is dangerously close to being destroyed.

During the Dobunni turn they succeed in finishing off the badly mauled legionary base taking the Roman point loss to 23. Both sides are now just one point away from losing the battle. The Romans finally succeed by inflicting cohesion hits on three more Dobunni bases taking their total to 45. 

A Roman victory but a costly one.

Needless to say, a rather more exciting game and ADLG will be played again. 

I shall though be taking a break from ancients. ACW beckons with the frequently delayed Gettysburg finally being laid out on the tabletop. More of that in the next post.