More Colours and even a Few Commands

I have been rather remiss in posting to this blog. Rather than falling off the edge of the world again (this is an ancients blog remember) I have actually done a few relevent things.

Rossius Juniores snapped by a fan with a smartphone while he gives a rousing speech under bright lights.

Firstly I painted up a Garrison Tribune and guard (lovely figures, in different circumstances I would have loved to have an army of these tramping across the table.) some Celtic slingers and a British chariot cobbled together from spare bits. Being just a little devious these are now cluttering up Ron's shelves, not mine.

Lightly converted RAFM scythed chariot with OG crew off to join my nearly 40 yr old converted Garrison scythed chariot. My only actual Celtic chariot, a Minifig S range one,  is missing a wheel and temporarily shelved.

The Romans defend a ridge against an attack expected from Thisaway but which actually arrives from Thataway.

Not only that but we have played 3 more games, all interesting, 2 of them real nail biters.

The Romans redeploy while light troops dash around pelting each other with slings and arrows not to mention javelins. 

We are still experimenting with adapting the Grant scenarios to the system as most involve a lengthy approach march at 1 hex per turn, trying the patience of both sides. Since Ron has, by luck of the draw, ended up with either reinforcements or an approach march in every game, it is almost incomprehensible to me that I as Roman have been able to put aside my celtic rashness and exhibited stern though not faultless discipline in holding my armies together while watching the enemy approach in fits and starts as the cards allow.

In what turns out to be the decisive attack of the day, the barbarian light chariot and light cavalry  swoop into a gap in the Roman line cutting off the retreat of a cohort. Rossius Junores is severely wounded for the 2nd time in his short career  but all 3 barbarian units were destroyed either by battle backs or next turn's counterattack. Surrounding people can be deadly for the enemy when it works and deadly for you if you have to sacrifice your own line of retreat to do it.

During the 2nd of the 3 games, Ron actually managed to maintain his entire army (apart from lights) in a continuous line even when moving it in segments. Fortunately for me it was dark by the time one end of the line hit mine, throwing it back. It was one of those time limited scenarios and we had agreed to play once through the deck with no reshuffling. whew!


The other games had no time limit and each ended with losses almost even, a few die rolls away from a reverse decision.

At the end of the day, after a bloody struggle between warbands and cohorts, the Roman cavalry attacks up the left flank and seals the victory.

Now that there are chariots and slingers, there is talk of a Roman invasion of Britain before October is done.