Another lengthy hiatus. Regrettably I dare not explain what happened this time as nobody would believe me if I did. 😟 So hi. Long time. 😀
We used a small map for the pre-battle terrain game and both armies ended up in this terrain square:
A template was centered over terrain square and then moved one square in any direction to give the final battlefield. I think it was me who did it since I was the defender (Peter's army - green block - entered the terrain square already occupied by my army). A bit of forest, some scrub, a stream and a few hills.
The Frankish army is straightforward - some MC (agile), elite household warriors of the Frankish chieftains who were experienced and well-equipped but unwieldy, and lots of regular Warriors, also unwieldy. But a few words about the Romans. They are a mixed bunch:
Legions: these are the legacy formations from the Empire that would survive well into the sixth century. They are professional soldiers and Syagrius' best troops. Drilled.
Buccelarii: the private troops of the landed Gallo-Roman aristocracy. Many are former legionaries. Good fighters but they lack the experience of fighting in formation. Unwieldy.
Garrison Troops: pulled from towns and what's left of the Saxon Shore forts. Basically degraded Limitanei. Unwieldy.
Archers: clear enough. Unwieldy.
Levy: raw recruits given basic weaponry and training. Largely useless but can serve as reserve in extremis. Unwieldy.
Breton Light Horse: Brittany was semi-independent at this point but had a relationship with Syagrius. Their LH would become famous later on. Agile.
Medium Cavalry: Syagrius' bodyguard. Syagrius was weak in cavalry - I took that from the fact that the Western Empire seems to have lacked cavalry at least from the time of Aetius onwards, relying on Barbarian mercenaries. Agile.
Turn 1. Syagrius.
Having anchored his right flank on the woods, Syagrius pushed his centre and sent his cavalry up to outflank the Frankish right. As good a plan as any.
Turn 1. Clovis.
Eh? The Frankish cavalry leaves the Frankish right in midair and heads for the other flank whilst the Frankish foot advance. What is Clovis up to?
Turn 2. Syagrius.
Syagrius isn't complaining. The Roman cavalry get on the Frankish flank whilst the infantry move up to assault to Frankish right.
Turn 2. Clovis.
Ignoring the Roman cav, the Frankish infantry continue to advance - to their right! A lot of middle fingers are flashed at the Roman horse. Let's see how it turns out. Meantime the Frankish horse reach the left of the Frankish line. What will they do now?
Turn 3. Syagrius.
The Roman horse move to the rear of the Franks and start donating to their javelin fund, whilst the infantry move up to supply donations from the other side. The archers are already able to give free gifts of arrows. Ouch!
Turn 3. Clovis.
Yeah....maybe the cavalry abandoning the Frankish right wasn't such a good idea. The Frankish MC come back at full speed whilst the warriors keep advancing and can now send a lot of franciscas to help the Romans' firewood fund.
Turn 4. Rome.
Syagrius pulls back his MC, ready to receive the Frankish cav later on. The Breton LH however keep up the pressure as do the legions and archers - they must get in as many missiles as possible before the Franks charge.
Turn 4. Clovis.
But the Franks do not charge, yet. The Frankish left advances towards Legions on the Roman right whilst the MC heads towards Syagrius himself. Could this have been a trap?
Turn 5. Syagrius.
Syagrius decides on the better part of valour and pulls back his LH. His MC however stay where they are: the LH can come up to support him if necessary.
Turn 5. Clovis.
Chaaarge! The Franks finally do what they do best. But have they left it too late? Clovis with his MC comes to spar with Syagrius' MC whilst keeping an eye on those Breton LH.
Turn 5. Melee.
Routs on both sides. Roman archers go down as does a Frankish Warrior unit.
The victorious units occupy the squares vacated by the routers.
Turn 6. Syagrius.
The Breton LH come up in support of Syagrius MC bodyguard. Meanwhile the Legions prepare to roll up the Frankish line.
Turn 6. Clovis.
When in doubt, scrag 'em! The Warriors go in as does the Frankish MC; the Roman MC receiving the charge and the Bretons evading.
Turn 6. Melee.
Nobody routs this time.
Turn 7. Syagrius.
Breton LH get around the rear of Frankish cavalry whilst a Legion unit charges the Frankish line in the flank. Things are getting hot for the Franks.
Turn 7. Clovis.
The Frankish MC charges the Breton LH in front of it, partly to get away from the LH in its rear.
Turn 7. Melee.
Frankish MC and Warrior units go down. Things are turning from hot to sticky.
The victorious Gallo-Romans occupy the vacated squares.
Turn 8. Syagrius.
The great general goes after the surviving Frankish MC unit whilst the LH and Legion units move up to engage the Warrior units.
Turn 8. Clovis.
Nothing much the Franks can do, so....
Turn 8. Melee.
Two Warrior units rout!
Odin is not happy. Especially as these routs tip the Frankish army over the edge, provoking a general rout and reversal of history. Rome survives to fight another day!
After this battle I concluded the Franks needed some buffing up. Their Warriors were good in the charge but the Romans had better cavalry and better missile firepower, plus their legions were tough. I added an extra 8 Warrior bases to the Frankish army for the following games and made all warriors resolute rather than average. We'll see how that turns out....