CLASH OF SPEARS... FORCE PROJECTION!

 

Turmoil continues to reign on the Isle of Sicily, as Romans, Carthaginians, Syracusans and Mamertine mercenary warbands rampage and pillage far and wide. The armies of Rome and Syracuse face each other across the Pelagonian Plain and both generals have identified a low hill out on the flank, which could give the enemy a significant advantage, should it fall under their control. Heiro the Hero has been despatched to seize the hill to protect the Syracusan left flank, however, Titus Arellius, commanding a small but powerful warband of Romans has been sent against him to deny the hill to army of Syracuse! Possession of the hill will make the enemy's position untenable and, most probably, result in them marching away to leave the plain to the mercy of the victor... for the time being at least!

Arellius' warband consisted of just four units; two of Velites and one each of Hastati and Principes, a total of 26 figures with a break point every 4 figures. Arellius was the sole commander, being a Level 5 Leader.

Heiro, a Level 4 character had Theodotus, a Level 3 character as his second in command. Their warband consisted of two units of Peltasts, one of Psiloi, one of Archers and one of Raw Citizen Hoplites. The whole force totalled 34 figures with a break point every 5 figures. Although the Syracusans outnumbered the Romans, the Roman warband was 21 points greater than the Greeks.

Although the Syracusans had the initiative in Turn One, it was the Roman Velites who secured the hill, using all three actions to do so, leaving them no options to react should they need to do so.

To their left, the Syracusan Psiloi advanced and hurled their javelins at the Roman Velites, causing the first casualty of the encounter.

Meanwhile, Heiro pushed his Archers and Peltasts forward on the other side of the hill.

The Greek Archers eagerly awaited the order to open fire as the Roman Principes began to advance towards them.

Even though they were firing at long range, the Archers were able to bring down one of the fully armoured Principes.

Encouraged by the success of their comrades, the Syracusan Peltasts began to approach the Principes, with the intention of unleashing their deadly javelins into the ranks of the invading Romans.

The Roman Velites on the hill turned their attention to the Syracusan Psiloi and used a 'throw' action to bring down three of their number. Although the two units are both javelin armed skirmishers, the Romans are definitely superior to their Greek counterparts.

As the turn progressed, the Velites on the hill continued to decimate the Psiloi and Arellius pushed forward his Principes intending to engage the Syracusan Peltasts. The Roman Velites on the right flank had taken up a position in the ruins and prepared to hurl their javelins into the enemy before them. In response, Heiro pushed his Archers out behind the Peltasts to shoot at the Velites in the ruins and brought up his Hoplites to face the Principes. With his Psiloi in danger of breaking, Theodotus ordered his unit of Peltasts out from their cover to attempt an assault on the hill.

Concerned about the Velites sheltering in the ruins, Heiro pushed his Archers ever closer in the hope of delivering a decisive volley into their ranks. The initiative, however, went to the Romans and it was the Syracusans who found themselves suffering under a shower of Roman javelins!

The Roman Velites are a gift that just keeps on giving! The Syracusan light troops, with no shields or armour suffered dreadfully from the javelins of the Velites and Heiro quickly found that he had two break point cards, for the loss of hardly any Romans.

The Velites on the hill dispatched the last of the Syracusan Psiloi.

And then immediately turned their attention to the Citizen Hoplites advancing on the other side of the hill.

However, Theodotus, ordered his Peltasts towards the enemy and their barrage of javelins completely overwhelmed the Velites and, thanks to a combination of casualties and fatigue the battle weary Romans were forced to abandon their position on the hill. Suddenly, the battle looked as though it might swing in favour of the Syracusans.

Seeing the Peltasts out in the open, the Roman Hastati broke ranks and dashed forward to launch their pila into the Syracusans. A totally disastrous dice roll from the Romans would have left the Peltasts completely unscathed, but a Fate Token enabled a re-roll and three more Syracusans were added to the casualty roll.

A third Break Point Card brought up the first Army Break Test of the battle, but two of the three dice passed the test and the fight for the hill was destined to continue.

The Romans ploughed on relentlessly, with the Hastati hurling themselves into the depleted ranks of the Peltasts. The Peltasts defended bravely, but their lack of armour cost them dearly and they were pushed back after suffering yet more casualties.

With just three of their number remaining and stalled from the furious onslaught of the Hastati, the Peltasts had no chance of making any impact on the Romans, who were still fighting at full strength.

On the opposite flank, the Syracusan Peltasts were also suffering grievously from the heavier Roman infantry. A deadly cloud of Pila from the Princeps skittling yet more Greek warriors from the battle line.

Heiro finally committed his final reserve and the Citizen Hoplites ploughed into the Principes, however, they needed to break formation to do so and, consequently, lost many of the advantages the tighter formation would have given them.

As the Citizen Hoplites fought for their lives against the Princeps, disaster was unfolding on the far side of the hill... the last of Theodotus' Peltasts were being massacred, falling to the last man beneath the hideous and remorseless blades of the Hastati...

After close to four hours of toil and terror the massive casualties taken the Syracusans was enough to finally break their spirit and the few remaining stragglers, along with their leaders, fled in a desperate scramble to escape the unyielding blades of the Romans.

Fielding a small Roman warband in Clash of Spears is always a little problematic, in that any Hastati and Principes quickly rattle up the points and, even the Velites cost 13 points each, compared to a mere 8 points for the shieldless Greek Psiloi. For this 'Clash', 27 Romans (with one Leader) cost 621 points, while the Syracusan warband mustered 36 figures and only cost 600 points. The Hastati and the Principes with their throwing spears are a nightmare to face, if your warband is made up primarily of troops with a Save value of 6+ and 7+, however, the stars of the Roman Warband, in my humble opinion, are the Velites. They are capable of holding ground against any other light troops and are on a par with the Peltasts, with whom they share an identical stat line.

I currently have another unit of Psiloi on the painting bench for the Syracusans and I purchased enough Greek Heavy Cavalry from the wonderful Sprue Shop to make up a 6 figure unit. The only down side of fielding the cavalry is that they are 'Rare' and will turn your warband into an 'ad hoc' formation, unless you also field some Veteran Hoplites. Not really sure where to go with the Romans; more Velites would always be welcome and a second unit of Hastati would be a good option to give the Principes a day off.