Was tossing up between Beja and Christian Nubian (CN). The CNs won out by a freckle. Wasn't till later when I was reviewing the battle and previous battles using this list that I realise I run these boys quite a bit. Not sure what it is about the list that calls to me. I mean it doesn't have any longbows for a start!
The bad guys. Supported foot is not what a mad camel wants to see. Heavy foot command impact support, medium foot command impact support, cavalry/cataphract command impact. That is a lot of impact! Not sure I would include a strategist in the heavy sword command, though I suppose the bonus to initiative and terrain control is nice.
Nothing in this list tops 8 points, and its a big list! Two commands of mad camels and mad foot. Nothing particularly clever here, except for the inclusion of the one NOT mad medium. Have found that having one dude you can reliable give orders to to come in handy. Command and control is a huge issue and a part of running this list is knowing that sometimes you are just not going to be in control.
There was another reason I took the CNs, they happened to be boxed up and ready to go. Except for ambush markers. Made two quickly out of high tech cardboard and am good to go!
I think one of the biggest issues with the CNs is the low initiative combined with their terrain choices. The opponent can attack you in the plains. So no dunes and no brush, eliminating one of the cool camel features. Romans win the initiative and attack the CN in the plains... what a surprise. We have three fields on the field, a plantation and a plantation covering a hill. The CN army seems to be almost completely mounted? Where on where could the rest of their forces be?
There they are! Waiting cunningly in ambush. Look four impetuous medium sword almost unassible on top of that hill!
Romans advance. Horse command setting off to the East to round the plantation. This is the inherent problem with the Roman deployment. There are gaps. One between the two fields in the West and one if the CN cavalry command rounds the plantation in the East. The Romans have elected to block the plantation route off. Means there are four camels with nothing to slow them down in the centre West.
So I took a smidgeon of a risk here. I could hold the impetuous guys on the hill and do little else. Or move my command into a much more scary position. As long as the medium foot didn't run long I would have some time to bring up more support... little anger feckers charged off the hill, out of the plantation and into the waiting arms of impact Auxilia. The round of combats did not go swimmingly and one the CNs routs on contact. Wasn't all bad news, a CN light camel caught and evading roman and made short work of him. Elsewhere the CNs moved forward, or formed a long line in the East.
Roman horse command decides that the hole they are trying to block is not the right hole and redeploy with a triple move. I should have anticipated this and had CN light horse within four UD. From memory was trying to be too clever.
The fight in the West takes a turn for the better. With out heros winning two out of the three combats! I mean there is now a Roman IN their lines, but that is a problem for next turn. Heavy foot Romans advance. I think this was a mistake. There is not enough time for the Roman horse command to get into a position to protect the flanks, and while the clock is ticking a little, it is going to take the CN cavalry command a few turns to get round that plantation.
Fight in the West and are the tables a turning? A Roman unit is cut down by a mob of half naked angry men! In the centre a mediure camel, even with two friends, is routed by a Roman light horse. Camels are sent to get ready to punish the flank of the nasty Roman heavy foot in the centre.
The battle of the hill continues, but the pendulum has swung back again and the Romans rout another CN. Its now three onto two and not looking good for our heroes. The Centre, well the centre is going a lot better. The Romans, about to get out flanked decide to take a chance. They charge the camels and cavalry ! Hoping they can punch through the lower cohesion camels before their flank gets rolled up. Its actually a lot of even fights. Except when one of the legionaries puts his pinky toe into the plantation... SURPRISE! Four more units of angry men that have been patiently waiting for their moment! Still, the centre fights are all even and a big swing on the dice could see magic happen.
That is two one-six combats in a row. Combined with furious charge and two units in the legion rout on contact with these angry camels. So magic did happen, just not for the Romans. Four even fights, the Romans lost three (including two 6-1s) and drew the third.
It was at this point I started to wonder, has the Roman general done something to deserve this? Did he run over a kitten on the way here? Forgot to tithe?
Full kudos to the Roman general here, who kept on playing the game as opposed to flipping the table and going back to the bar.
In the West the Romans continue to mop up the CNs. Has taken way longer than it should of and even cost them a unit. From the CNs point of view this has been a win (CN army much bigger).
The centre is a wash of Roman bodies as it looks like the CNs are going to take out six Roman heavies without taking a hit. [edit] I believe the medium foot in the plantation actually has a marker on him... so the CNs have taken a single hit.
Just not a lot of Romans around really. Not sure you can describe it as 'gaps in a line', more like 'no line.'
Far West and the Romans are so close to declaring a total victory in the Battle for the Hill. Elsewhere two heavy cavalry charge into a field to beat up on a medium sword... wait...what? Turns out the Roman General didn't realise that he lost his impact and furious charge. Even with friend he is one down in this fight. He is elite and armoured however.
Of course now they are elite, armoured and swarmed by camels and lights. The Battle for the Hill is finished and the Roman Axilla gaze across the battlefield that is somewhat lacking in other Romans. As the flanks are charged the Romans give up the battlefield and flee!
Victory to the CN!
So what did I learn from this battle, apart from the dice loving me to bits. Have to wonder just how much of a different game it would have been if we reverse those dice and two camels rout on impact and you suddenly have some Romans free to exploit the gaps. The CN is a large army and can absorb some losses, but I think I need to plan to have something to fill in the gaps as the uncontrollable troops do silly things. Am not concerned with the battle in the West. More than happy for an entire core to be held up by some angry half naked men while the rest of the army floods round the flanks of the other cores. I think that the Romans should have gone for a coast and attempted to shrink the battlefield. The whole charging into the field with cavalry was suicidal, but looks like that was more a rules stuff up.
I really need to get a better camp for the CNs too.
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