Germania Inferior, The Tungrians at the Red Hill

Dear and Revered Uncle Quintus,

We have relieved the 2nd Batavian Cohort at "Red Hill Fort," an Auxiliary fort between the Rhennus and the Mosa.  Apart from this small area thie country is as flat as one of Quilpius orgies!  The Prefect of the Batavians laughed when I asked why the hill was named "red," but wss told that we would find that out pretty quickly.

A tribune of the "Larks" V Aludae at Ubiorum has informed us that he will be inspecting the fort this morning.  General Titus Piteous Anus has definite ideas about keeping Auxiliaries like mine in check.

Rumours from the Vicus outside the fort are that the tribes across the great rivers intend to attack us at the first opportunity.  Our Decurion from the Petrianna Auxilliary Cavalry and his Turmae have gone out to escort the Tribune in.  

I thank you for the appointment of my First Spear, "One Eyed" Julius.  A solid dependable fellow.  He makes some outrageous claims about his service in the legions.  Apparently he saved Drusus life and was appointed Centurion at twenty five years of age.  All very well except that Drusus died thirty-four years ago.  He claims to have been with Varus in 9AD and survived the massacre of the Legions in the Wald also thirty-four years ago.  He even claims to have crucified a god in Palestine during his last year of service with the Augusta. 

I asked him about his injury, "You are named for your mono-ocularity Centwurion?"
"Naah, after me fekkin trouser snake Sir!"
"Ah you are a swolid but wrough fellow as are all of these wankers," I told him.  

I must finish this letter Uncle.  The Tribune's column has been sighted and we have stood to arms.  

Your favourite Nephew,
Dubious Figulus
Prefect, 1st Tungrian Cohort.

Scenario 1
The Red Hill
Scenario 2
The Purple Haze
Scenario 3
All along the Watchtower
Scenario 4
Ezy Rider
Scenario 5
The Wind cried Marius
Scenario 6
Hey Josephus

Not sure how good the games will be but the soundtrack will be superb.

Scenario One, The Red Hill

The stone Fort at Red Hill was built by Drusus in 9AD, and has been occupied by successive Cohorts, mainly of the Batavii.  The Tungrians first night in residence sees an attack on the walls as a Petriana Cavalry turmae attempts to return from a patrol along the River Mosa.

Meanwhile Pontius Frivolous of the Larks turns up on an inspection tour, accompanied by a weak century of Legionaries under their rather nasty Centurion Rufus Phallus.  The German tribesmen attack the Legionaries, determined to pin them against the walls of the fort, and paint them red.

Character list

Flavius Vespasianus Legionary Legatus II Augusta
Tribune Gnaeus Villainous commanding the Auxiliary Cohorts attached to II Augusta
Titus Piteus Anus,  Legionary Legatus V Aludae, "Larks," later General of the Great Britania Invasion Army
Centurion Rufus Phallus of the Larks
Flavius Sextus (Vespasian's brother)  General Staff Legatus
Tribune Lucius Supercilious broad stripe of the Larks,
Pontius Frivolous,  Tribune commanding the Auxillia attached to the Larks.
Prefect Gaius Julius Draco the Batavian
Centurion Gaius Julius Civilis to the Romans, but named Kivilaz in the tribes.
Veruca, ousted King of the Atrebates

The Tungrian Cohort

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
1st Cohort, 77 Men  Centurion One Eyed Julius
2nd Cohort, 73 Men  Centurion "Longshanks" Cassius
3rd Cohort, 72 Men  Centurion "The Ox" Marcus
4th Cohort 75 Men Centurion  "latrine" Big Felix
5th Cohort 69 Men Centurion Pugio "the Knife" Gaius
6th Cohort 76 Men Centurion "Flavius the Fox" the Exploratores

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.

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

Men of Bronze amended for the Early Empire:

Men of Iron

Auxilia   8 Points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
6 BW	3	2	5	2
Special: Cohort, Counter-Charge, Throw Spears

Veteran Auxilia   10 Points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
6 BW	4	2	5	3
Special: Cohort, Counter-Charge,Throw Spears

Legionaries   10 Points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
6 BW	4	2	5	3
Special: Cohort, Counter-Charge, Pila

Skirmishers 2 points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
8 BW	2	1	4	1
Special: Shoot: 3 (6BW) Evade, Skirmisher

Archer/Slinger 4 points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
8 BW	1	1	4	2
Special:Shoot: 4  (12BW) Evade, Skirmisher

Warband Infantry 6 points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
7 BW	3	1	4	2
Special: Ferocious charge

Fanatic Warband Infantry 8 points
Move	Attack	Armour	Courage	Disciple
7 BW	4	1	5	2
Special: Ferocious charge

Cohort
A looser formation than phalanx.  Emphasis on throwing spears before using sword drill.  May move forward or back, into or out of combat, or pivot moving only one corner, and not into contact.
Spear volley
Units gains an additional d6 dice in combat for a spear volley delivered prior to a charge or counter-charge, cost is one honour point.
Pila
Units gains an additional d6+2 dice in combat for a pilum volley delivered prior to a charge or counter-charge, cost is one honour point.

The Game

March to the battlefield - An omen!  D6 = a 2 good news.  The Vicus warns the Cohort of the attack.  The Tungrians are forewarned and prepare to sally out.

The battlefield under Red Hill fort.

The Century from the Larks come on table lead by the Auxiliary cavalry

Rufus Phallus forms up his men. Skirmishers appear on the hill above them.

Gallic cavalry pretending to be German

Panic in the vicus.  That is two packs of Newline Celtic civilians

German warbands on the hill.  Some of these HaT figures are really bad! 

The German slingers pillage the legionary baggage

The Auxiliary cavalry face off the German horse.

Rufus Phallus waves his vine stick

Tribune Pontius Frivolous commands the right flank of the century... poorly.  Those blue dice are terrible, he fails to volley his Pila and stands to receive.

Half the formation rocks back.

But the Centurion stands firm and sees off the opposition in front of his tent parties.

Pontius Frivolous flees.

The centurion does some major shouting

A view of the half way point.

The German Shaman sharpens his sacrificial knives

The Auxiliary Cavalry break the German horse.

Finally Optio Flavius Suspicious of the Tungrians arrived from the fort having called out the guard.  The Tungrians break the first Warband and the game is won.

Worth noting that the Romans had twice the points of the Germans on table and struggled.  

The reputation of Young Flavius the Optio is enhanced.  The reputation of Tribune Frivolous is cast even lower

HMS Ariel 20 vs Savannah18

Lieutenant Examination

Gosport June 1776

Candidate Mr Midshipman "Jack" Quilp

"You're close-hauled on the port tack, beating up the channel with a north-easterly wind blowing strong, with Dover bearing north two miles. The wind veers four points, taking you flat aback. What do you do, sir?"

"Err,  well sir, well... well... haul the main and mizzen braces back, and ease the spanker sheet, leaving the foresails and headsails backwinded. Once the wind is quartering and the ship is well before the wind, square the fore braces to to return steerageway to the helm. Wear ship and bring her up to the wind close hauled on a port tack, heading roughly south and as close to the wind as possible and a porter in the Dover Arms before nightfall, Sirs..."

To our Well Respected Servant Mr Jack Quilp RN.

Sir,

You are hereby promoted Lieutenant, and appointed as third into HM Post Ship Ariel of 20 guns.

Report back aboard to Captain Farthingdale and deliver him these sealed orders.  Good luck in the Bahamas Mr Quilp.

Yours etc...

Sir Portly B'Stard

Rear Admiral of the White

Sealed Order Missions

1.  Guns to Georgetown Carolina

2.  The Georgia coast 

3.  The Carolinas blockade

4.  The Capes of Delaware

5.  The Brig gone aground on a key

6.  The missing sloop

7.  Marsh Harbour.  The traitor to the crown

8.  Nassau and the Yankee trader

9.  Treason at Governors Harbour.

10. Blue mountain coffee Plantation 

11. The King's Agent at Georgetown

12. The Governor's Niece is missing

13. Bring me the head of Diego Maradonna

14. Checking on the Trade at Clarencetown

15. Patrol the Windward passage

16. Visit Georgetown harbour

17. Anti Privateer cruise

18. Convoy to the Windward Passage.

19  Convoy from the Windward passage

20  Convoy to Boston

Encounter Missions

The escaped slave

Spanish pirates in canoes

The Slave Trader

A pirate anchored

Rumour of a Privateer off West End

Black Jack Starling and the rum smugglers

The Rum Town Militia

Up Standard Creek with a paddle

The Plantation Owner at Old Bight

The dismasted Slave Trader

A Spanish ship inshore at Matthew town

Encounter off the Matamilla reef.  A Privateer from the Carolinas in the Florida Passage.  

The waters north of Matamilla were long considered to be an extension of the rocky outcrop due to the extensive breakers north of the reef.  By the time of the revolutionary war it had been recognised that this was due to colliding currents between the Florida passage and the Atlantic proper over the edge of the Bahamas Banks.   

Where de Mayne's contemporary French chart shows submerged rocks there are actually "severe" breakers and currents that pull a ship into the Maelstrom.  Ariel has a SE force five blowing straight into this. 

An American Privateer Savannah of eighteen guns,

Otis during his
"Opera" days.

Captain Qtis B Driftwood of the Privateer Company of Charlestown.  Otis is reckless, driven by profits and has had a poor cruise, mainly because Savannah has bilge weed reducing her speed to a crawl.

The sight of a British ship and possible prize overcomes his caution, until he realises that this enemy is a 20 gun 6th rate, and she is a sprinter...

It sets up an interesting tactical problem for Otis, and an enemy with a similar number of guns for Ariel

Battle 2 Easy 5 Full 7

On table 1:700 Warlord ships.  Ariel is my own scratch build.

Ariel opens the game, bow chaser hit, but it's negligible.

Otis turns and manages a broadside.  The advantage of a large crew.  A hit to Ariel's rigging.

A hammering duel.  Ariel gets a critical on Savannah's rudder and she turns to windward drifting into those breakers...  the repair parties are busy...

But a second critical 9 on the up roll and a fire breaks out.  Otis refuses to strike.

The end, with Savannah on fire among the breakers.  

I roll a d12, giving Otis and his crew a chance for a miraculous escape.  A 10, close enough.  Savannah drifts over the reef and grounds on sand.  Otis swears revenge on the Ariel, but it will be weeks (d6 - 3) until he can get repairs made.
Captain Farthingdale meanwhile resumes his patrol confident he has destroyed the Savannah.