The Romans at the Arse End

The Greek colony of Saguntum in Iberia was founded as the city of Arse.  I'm not making this up.  Possibly attributed to the god of war Ares, it's probably not pronounced in the Anglo Saxon manner, however the chance to defend the city of Arse cannot be easily passed over.

Saguntum was of course the location of the Sertorian War, 80-73 BC, where the exile Quintus Sertorius, former governor of Hispania, and enemy of the dictator  Sulla, stood against all comers until his murder in 73 BC.   The locals called him a second Hannibal, and he sort of lived up to that, seeing off army after army sent against him. I'm going to mix history up a little and have some fun using Infamy to fight the Hispanics for Arse.

Titus Arsinius and
his Optio  Felix Flaccidus 

The Centurion Titus Arsinius, one of Sertorius' Officers,  has been sent out to garrison a fort on a vital mountain pass West of the main army in the city of Arse.  The local tribes are revolting, and Titus will need his wits about him to ensure the safety of his small command.  

The terrain differs from the main Infamy rules, since this is Hispania.  Rather than trees and marsh we have rocks and scrub.  My Greeks and Samnites will be posing as the Spanish, Marian Romans as Titus' Century.

If the Romans do well they may be able to win over Spanish tribal allies, or recruit among the Arsies for Auxiliaries.  This all rather depends on Titus personal standing, which to be honest hasn't been great so far...

Centurio Titus Arsinius (Notable)
Optio Felix Flaccidus (Pugnacious)

‘Into Action!’ Table 
Titus rolls a 1.  Is this a sign of things to come?

So the first game will be in Martius III

Hispania
Terrain	1-3	4-6
Hills	3	4
Woods	0	1
Scrub	1	2
Rocky	1	2
Habitation	2	3
River Crossing	Ford	Bridge

Scenario Generator 
Roll of 3.  The Romans have a patrol scenario. Titus takes half of his century out to scout out the terrain of the Edetani tribe. 

Scenario Three:  

On Patrol This  scenario  sees  an  attacker’s  patrol  attempting  to  scout  an  area  of  enemy  territory.  The attacker  must  visit  four  distinct  terrain  features  in  four  separate  areas  of  the  table  AND  remove one enemy Ambush or Deployment Point. 

Deployment Zones 

The  attacker  will  enter  the  table  on  a  short  edge.    The  defender  will  have  Deployment  Zones  on two  table  edges.    These  may  be  on  the  short  table  edge  opposite  the  attacking  player,  or  the either  of  the  long  edges.    They  should  choose  the  edges  and  dice  as  normal  for  the  Deployment Zone  location.    The defender’s Deployment Zone may not be in the same area or an area adjacent horizontally or vertically to the attacker. 

Victory Conditions 

The  attacker  may  not  count  any  Ambush  or  Deployment  Points  shut  down  in  the  pre-game Scouting  phase  towards  their  objective.    Each  of  the  four  terrain  features  visited  must  see  a minimum  of  one  Group  moved  into  it  completely.  The  game  ends  when  the  fourth  terrain feature has been visited.  

Iberian troop Types 

Iberian Caetrati  -  Warriors
Strength Armour Weapons Points Aggressive Stepout   Characteristics
    8    Light  Mixed    13    Attack 1      1       Supra Numerum, 
                                                                        Flexible Drill, 
                                                                        Horse Killers, 

                                                                        Foot Cavalry

Iberian Cavalry  -  Skirmish Cavalry
Strength Armour Weapons Points Aggressive Stepout   Characteristics
   6         Light       Javelin       10   Attack 1           1         Foot Cavalry

The Campaign Game:

Triumphant

Invincible, Adored

Heroic, Glorious, Exalted

Ivulnerable, Punative, Famous, Conspicuous

Victorious , Valiant, Vigorous, Prodigious, Wise

Bellicose, Pugnatious, Notabe Diligent, Moderate, Virtuous

Errant, Invidious, Dolorous, Feeble, Puerile

Barbarous, Perfidious, Sinister, Despised

Bestial, Degenerate, Cowardly

Cursed, Ludicrous

Infamous!

Martius III:  The Patrol

A nearby Hispanic village.

Titus leads his men forward.  Three tent groups from his Century

Exploratores clear the first terrain

My second Exploratores clears the village

But the Hispanics turn up in a raging mass.

A volley of Pila as they come in.  Quite why I didn`t throw two is a mystery to me!

The trained Legionaries batter their opponents.  A box of the Warlord games and an extra sprue game me enough figures to muster the three groups. 

The Romans are unbeatable on the dice

The Hispanics come close to breaking

My Super Numerum turns up with a base of recruits.  I`ll be replacing these guys with red tunic Hastati

All the Hispanics have left is some skirmishing to delay the scouting of the four terrain areas.

It`s a valiant try but doomed.  And those throws are rubbish.

Titus captures the rocky area.

The Optio scouts the fields as the Romans close up, but the game is essentially done.

Optio Felix Flaccidus scouts the fourth terrain area.  The Romans have met the victory conditions.

A last chuck from the javelinmen, poor dice again.  Its game over as the Tempus Fugit card comes out.

Campaign turn ends.  Titus is given "Vigorus status.

Flaccidus gets an unlikely "Valiant."  Its unclear what he did to deserve this... 

Next game Aprillus II will be a village raid, to burn crops

And it looks like a difficult job

3 crop areas to burn...