Magnesia 2018

Saturday we gathered for our Annual Magnesia battle. Okay, it's really not suppose to be our only Ancients battle during the year  but somehow it always seems to work out that way. This year Steven joined  the ranks of the Seleucid Empire bringing more pikes and skirmishers. While Charlie and Jonathon helped Andrew to field his quite substantual Republican army.

Our rules of choice are Clash of Empires, which is essentially WArhammer Ancients with some much needed common sense adjustments. Now I know that in this age of ' fast play' rules Clash may seem a bit cumbersome but it really is a delight to work up your army and does give a lot of flavor to the various forces.
No 'my unit is just like yours except I roll 8 dice instead of 7'.

So this year we were up to 6000 points per side,
Which for the Seleucids ment some 6 pikes blocks, a Thracian warband, 3 cataphracts , Skythians, eastern bows, Thoralites, elephant, chariots, etc.
We faced some 3 legions with some beautiful Numidian and Spanish cav by Victrix added just this year, We done Andrew.

What follows is a picture of each end turn on our 12x5 foot table.
It was all a question of whether the Seleucid right would break before the Seleucid left engaged,

Seleucid left

Roman right

Looking down the Roman center

The 'Hinge'

Annual Magnesia battle

Yesterday was our first chance to refight Magnesia in almost a year so I tagged it the annual game.
Republican Romans vs Seleucids. 5000 points per side using Clash of Empires.
As before a very tight battle with the Hellenes just pulling out a win.
More pics to come.

Seleucids

Romans

Andrew Jordans beautiful Roman Cav

A little Neil Thomas rules Ancients today

Knocked out some 98 Romans these past two weeks, so that I could introduce Steven to the Neil Thomas rules. Easy to learn and play rules, helps keep us motivated to paint figs for the next big Clash of Empires game.
Romans Vs Carthage
Romans: 3 Hastati and 3 Princepes, 1 Triari (subbed with Greek Hoplites), 2 Velites , 1 Latin Cav,
Carthage: 3 African Veterans, 2 Gallic foot, 1 Gallic Cav, 1 Elephant, 1 Numidian Cav, 2 Light infantry

It was a very fun game. My Romans  hammered the middle, but the old adage of newly painted troops performing badly their first time out seems to still be true.  Dismal morale failure on the part of a couple of roman units. Steven almost had the game wrapped up for the Carthaginians , but finally some bad rolls on his part handed ma a very very slim Roman victory.

 

Preparing for Magnesia and Clash of Empires

We finally have a date for our Magnesia battle, 190BC Seleucids vs Republican Romans, Oct 17th! I'm to provide a large part of the Seleucid battle line so have been busy. Galatians and an Elephant to add to the pikes. Tonight is the Scythed  Chariot.