Planning ahead with my 28mm Ancients

Planning ahead with 28mm Ancients

Last year I collected a hoplite army.  It`s a pretty big one in modern terms, 80 hoplites, 12 Cavalry, 12 Peltasts,  6 slingers.  I wouldn`t be ashamed to field that as a DBM or WRG 6th sized force.  The Warlord Hoplites I used come with shield transfers and are easy to paint.  Nice models, with smaller heads (and more realistic) than the Victrix figures I originally planned to go with. 

When I discovered that hoplite warfare isn`t really floating the boat (who knew?  everyone but me probably)I decided for a sideways trip to Italy.  The Early Roman Latin Allies from Victrix would be my answer to boring hoplite phalanx warfare.   The figures are great, and I`'m coming around to the bigger heads.  They can pose as Samnites, or any Italian hill tribes, as well as Latins. 

Presuming  that the Toofatlardies would extend the Infamy rules to cover the Macedonian and Punic wars in a supplement at some time, the longer term plan is to build on this with one force at a time to cover the Rise of Rome in Italy.  Hopefully, and this is probably wishful thinking but bear with, this means adding a box of figures at a time to add in different opponents.

One Force is already here, those Hoplites are now the Southern Italian Greek city states of Magna Grecia.  They will also be my "Etruscans."  The Latins are now being painted up and are the Inland and hill tribes, borrowing some Greek cavalry as needed.

Next then I have these forces in mind.

• ·         Republican Romans (in chainmail)
• ·         Gauls for the Po Valley Cisalpina tribes.  (Infantry and Cavalry)
• ·         Macedonians for the visit of Pyrrhus of Epirus (I have the pikes already 40 of them in a Warlord Games Box)  I will however need at least a unit of heavy cavalry for these.
• ·         Carthaginian Infantry for a Sicilian adventure

That actually isn't much outlay for a lot of gaming, and the fact is I have some time to get collecting with this before any anticipated supplement appears anyway.  Even if the often experienced Lardy wait for rules then occurs I could either adapt Infamy myself, or use the men of Bronze supplement for the rise of Rome.

There remains an ulterior motive behind the next two forces in this list.  The Victrix Repuplican Roman Infantry in Chainmail are not far removed from the appearance of the Infantry of the Late Republic, and I would certainly be happy using these as the forces of Sulla or Marius, leaving the Triari in the box.  The Gauls would then be used for the wars to subdue Cisalpina and Transalpina even down to the campaigns of the Divine Julius.

So that's a plan.  I better get on with painting those Latins.

Scenario 3 All along the Watchtower

Scenario Three,  All along the Watchtower. 

The third Century of the Tungrians have today's task of visiting the chain of watchtowers on the north bank of the Rhine.  Centurion Marcus Bovi "the ox" has never been the brightest of the Cohorts centurions, but as his name suggests, he is a mountain of a man. 

Third Cohort have crossed at Watchtower 6, and have relieved the tent party at Watchtowers three and four.  The last task will be to relieve Watchtower five in Tencteri territory, and cross back at Watchtower seven after a visit to a Tencteri village.
What could go wrong?


Plot complications

The broad stripe Tribune Lucius Supercilious with two Legionary tent parties of the Larks as his guard are already at Watchtower five when the Tungrian's arrive.  The Larks are missing a narrow stripe Tribune and it is suspected that he is in the German village.  The Tungrian Century are ordered to assist the Legion in recovering the missing "young gentleman."

The Game

March to the battlefield - An omen!  D6  6. Rain.  Spirits are lowered.

The battlefield.  

The Legionaries on the left, and six tent parties of Tungrian Auxilia on the right.   My slingers from the Tungrians,  six figures, leading the way. 

The Legionary Centurion and his Optio.

The German ambush is revealed behind the village.

As the warbands target the Legionaries the Auxilia close in.

The Auxilia batter the warbands, as their Optio foils the ambush. 

In fact the Optio with two tent parties routs the ambush, captures the village and rescues the "young gentleman" Tribune.

Broad stripe Tribune Lucius Supercilious is wounded.  Doubtless the credit will all be claimed by this snide "hero."  

These three games amply demonstrated that this systemfor Men of Bronze works well, although I'm expecting Infamy to be better.
I also demonstrated a need to replace those plastic HaT Germans with metal Newlines.  Fortunately the next Campaign for the Tungrian's will be the invasion of Britannia, where my Britons are a mix of metal and really good Italeri plastics.

The Tungrians in the Purple Haze

My good and dear friend Young Quilpius,

I have been sent over the Rhennus and into the territory of the Bructeri.  Our fourth Watchtower outpost reported suspicious activity overnight. 

Julius, our one eyed First Spear Centurion insisted I get out of bed before dawn go tramping through the mist in the woods.  The Tungrians call this mist the "purple haze," believing it  He is a beastly man, but he keeps the whole cohort disciplined in terror of him, myself included.

"Primus," I asked, "why does it need the Pwefect to be out here in this purple mist at such an ungodly hwour? "

"The lads need to see the fekkin' officers up and about sir, killin' these blue arsed savage hoors before breakfast..."

He is a rough fellow who spits a great deal.I often wonder if he actually was cursed with immortality by by a god as he claims.  He seems unkillable as well as unlikable. 

Directly across the great river from us is the Bructeri chieftain Marbod the Bod.  He known for his impressive barbarian thews and leopard skin posing outfit, but is a violently small man.  His own tribe call him "Mini-Marbod."  A serious enemy!

My revered uncle, General Quintus has told me in no uncertain terms that the Tungrian's need to make a mark here.  Traditionally the Red Hill is a Batavian post.  The General made it clear he does not like or trust "German born savages."  Of course I myself was born in Tungrorum, so that probably includes me.

I`m not cut out for this life.  How is old Rome?  Oh I do miss a good Orgy and a glass of Falernian Rose.   Pink wine and prostitutes eh?

Your good friend,Dubious Figulous. 

Prefect 1st Tungrians

Scenario 2
The Purple Haze

In the pre dawn mist the Tungrians land four centuries on the north Bank of the Rhennus, their main strength, at the outpost 6 boat crossing.  The Prefect sends the sixth cohort, his Exploratores, under Centurion Flavius "Vulpes," into the forest to lead the march.

Primus Julius "One-Eye" leads the main body, the intention being to show the Eagle as far as Watchtower four, with the Prefect safely to the rear and on a horse.

Dice roll 4.  Enemy in the trees, they are forewarned!  It's an ambush by the Bructeri, possibly warned by the Batavians, who want the Red Hill fort posting back from these Tungrian interlopers.  Certainly the Bructeri chief Marbod (the Bod) has a bag of Roman gold, and if captured will reveal the name of the traitor. 

I diced for the traitor and discovered that our old friend the cowardly narrow stripe Tribune Pontius Frivolous of the "Larks" V Aludae is actually the culprit, seeking to give the Tungrian's a setback to excuse his own failure in the previous skirmish.
To add to the stakes involved the Bructeri have outpost 4 surrounded.  Optio Cassius Occisor "the killer" and two tent parties are at risk.

Solo mechanisms for the Tungrian Cohort

Generating a core force for a game:1  Prefect Dubious Figulous  Force = D6 +2 Centuries
2  Primus Julius "One Eye" Longinus 1-3 Centuries
3  Centurion Marcus Bovi (the Ox) 1 Century (the 3rd)
4  Centurion Flavius Suspicious (Vulpes - the Fox)
1 Century (the 6th "Exploratores")
5  Optio Casca Iratus (Angry) D6+2 tent parties
6  Optio Cassius Occisor (the Killer) D6 tent parties

The Tungrian Order of battle
Logistics game:

1st Cohort, 77 Men  Centurion "One Eyed" Julius
2nd Cohort, 73 Men Centurion "Longshanks" Cassius
3rd Cohort, 72 Men  Centurion "The Ox" Marcus Bovi
4th Cohort 75 Men  Centurion  "the Brick" Fictilis
5th Cohort 69 Men  Centurion Pugio "the Knife" Gaius
6th Cohort 76 Men  Centurion Flavius "Vulpes" the Fox" the Exploratores
Optio Sirius aka "Suspicious Susan" Senior Optio.

Titus Actuarius, the Tungrian's military scribe.
Lucas Calidas "Lukewarm" Cohort Medicus.
Little Paulo Tesserarius, the Tungrian's Guard Sergeant
Tall Marcellus Signifer.  The biggest man in the Cohort.

Support Character list

1  Tribune Gnaeus Villainous commanding the Auxiliary Cohorts attached to "Larks" V Aludae    Force - D6 +4 Auxilia Centuries
2  Centurion Rufus Phallus of the II Augusta  Force - D6 +2 Legion Centuries
3  Tribune Lucius Supercilious broad stripe of the "Larks" V Aludae.  Force - D6 +2 Legion Centuries
4  Pontius Frivolous,  Tribune commanding a Legionary Cohort.  Force - D6 +2 Legion Centuries.  
5  Prefect Gaius Julius Draco the Batavian  Force - D6 +2 Batavian Centuries
6  Centurion Gaius Julius Civilis to the Romans, but named Kivilaz in the tribes.Force - D6 +2 Batavian tent parties, the Exploratores
7  Veruca, ousted King of the Atrebates + His Warband of retainers
8  Optio Felix Cattus.  A Ballista specialist with his toys.
9  Optio Zubiya Quadir (the Syrian) and two groups of his archers.
10.  Decurion Asinus of the Petriana. Known affectionately as the "donkey botherer," but actually respected by the Tungrian's. (And possibly the only non Tungrian to have that honour)

The March to the tabletop

6. Rain.  Spirits are lowered. 

5. A spontaneous marching song.  Spirits are raised

4. Enemy among the trees.  They are forewarned!

3. An omen!  D6 odds bad Evens good.  Are they forewarned?

2. Locals add more information to the narrative.

1. A deep stream that must be crossed slows progress roll again

The Game


Fought in the dawn mist from the Rhine, called the "purple haze" by the Auxiliaries.  The Outpost is under siege, with a garrison of two tent parties under an Optio.  
D6 each turn.  5-6 Roman arrival.
1st  a century of the Exploratores
2nd The main body, the Prefect with three more centuries.

The Bructeri of Marbod the Bod, known for his impressive barbarian thews have six warbands and a cavalry group, as well as a group of skirmisher youths.

Prefect Dubious gets his column off the deployment point as the morning mist begins to burn off.

The Bructeri seem likely to take the watchtower any minute.

The hero shot of Marbod the bod.  No great figures those HaT Germans.  Marbod need a few good square meals in him.

The Tungrians go in, gaining complete surprise.

The Primus Centurion is a monster in battle 

Optio Suspicious sallies out with his tent party.  These six tent parties on table are my full strength Century/Cohort.

Hero shot of the Optio

The second wave are seen off

Our brave Optio chases off the enemy slingers.

And with the rescue of the tent party the game is done.

20mm was a cheap scale to do this game in, but where the figures are good its really worth it.  The Newline metals and some of the italeri plastics are excellent, as are the Zvezda Auxilia.  Those Germans however...