Conventional Warfare Part II

 

The second day at the Society of Ancient's convention began in bright early morning sunshine with a walk around the grounds before having a large breakfast and returning to the battlefields by way of a talk by Ian Piper on Masinissa and the Numidians.  This was a very lively presentation.  He and his son followed this up with a 28mm scale battle on a Numidian theme but I could not join this as I had signed up for another event - though as it turned out, not the one that I thought I had!  

In the grounds of Maddingley Hall

Intrigued by John Basset's talk the night before, I thought I had signed up for the committee game he was running.  Instead, I found I had signed the sheet for 'Vexillarius'.  Furthermore, Adrian Nayler had kindly signed me up for his 'Wooden Walls' game as well.  I made my regrets to him, and somewhat sadly headed off to find 'Vexillarius' after admiring the elegant simplicity with which a 2013 Italian motoring map had been converted by John Basset into a campaign map for the fall of the Roman Republic for his 'Wolves in the Forum' game.

Any vexation I had felt about my mishaps with the sign in sheets turned quickly to pleasure as David Brown introduced Vexillarius, his new and as yet unpublished ancient warfare rules, then guided four of us through a furious engagement between Romans and Carthaginians.  I found myself paired with Jim Banks of Bathurst Barracks Painting Service, who proved an entertaining and happy warrior as we led our legions against two equally affable and intrepid opponents.  The Carthaginians had only three solid infantry blocks against our four legions, but packed a heavier punch with the cavalry and had a Gallic war band waiting in the wings.  We held back on the left wing where the heavy cavalry and Gauls were lurking and pushed forwards as quickly as we could in the centre and right.  In the deciding clash of the battle, both generals faced off while leading their men from the front and happily for the Romans the dice rolled well for them.  We all found the rules good to play, giving commanders testing decisions to make and creating interesting combats.  While chance has a part, the mechanics allow players to offset some of the slings and arrows of fortune and seize opportunities in a way that Strength and Honour does not.

The modern Italian road map being used to plot the fall of the Roman Republic

The field for Vexilllarius, Romans on the right, Carthaginians to the left

A Roman supply wagon encountering an obstacle to progress in Ian Piper's game set in Hither Spain

Roman oratory flourishes again as assorted Senators and Generals seek to avert or hasten the collapse of the Republic

Fine fleets of triremes face off in Adrian Nayler's 'Wooden Walls' game

A samurai game using Command & Colours found a quite corner

Lancastrians and Yorkists faced off in 'A Test of Resolve'

Crunch time in the Vexillarius battle, the Romans gaining the golden die of victory

After lunch, the final plenary session was a wash-up for the event, led by the Society Chairman, Richard Lockwood.  I joined other newcomers in thanking the members for a warm welcome, the organisers for putting together a varied and enjoyable programme, and various individuals who had been most generous with advice.  Then, back to the battlefield - or in my case back to sea for another trireme battle, this time with Nick Harbud introducing the 'Oi Navarcoi' rules from Alkedo Miniatures.  These gave a fast and furious game that left the sea covered in wreckage within a few sharp clashes.

Four Spartan squadrons approach three Athenian squadrons across sea that will soon become wine dark with blood 

Athenians have won in the centre and are winning on the left, thanks to my gallant fellow general sacrificing his squadron against the enemy on the right.

Elsewhere there were interesting goings on in Saxony

Action reaching a climax in Richard Lockwood's game of revolting Britons ambushing weary Romans who were simply trying to give Britain better drains.

Some of the swag picked up at the convention

And a little more for good measure

As I headed off into the last rays of sun of a late October afternoon to make my way back to Wiltshire, I felt a bit like the small sparrow of Anglo-Saxon story that had flown into the warmth of a winter mead hall and had enjoyed its brief moment in the light of the fire.