Battle of Immae, 272 AD using Ancient Battlelines Clash

Introduction

This is game 70 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  I started by using my own rules Ancients Battlelines Clash (ABC) but recently using a similar set of my rules, When Warriors Collide (WWC).  I recently updated ABC with some learnings from WWC, so back to using ABC! I have also gone (back) to a 10x10 grid this time.  I was considering a grid again and then after playing Dominion of the Spear I then creating 3x3 grid rules for them.  I realised I could replace my movement rules in ABC with those in the 3x3 rules.  The new ABC rules are similar to the old ones but movement is more flexible.   I am play testing rules by replaying all the Peter Sides scenarios from his Historical Battles books, and some others I find along the way.  ABC is designed to finish in around 30 minutes on a 2’x2’ or smaller table; I am currently using a 40cmx40cm table.

Battle of Immae, 272 AD

Aurelian's veteran legions reconquest of Palmyra from Queen Zenobia's mixed forces.

Scenario source: Bill Banks Ancients.

Link(s):

World History: https://www.worldhistory.org/Battle_of_Immae/

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Immae

Troops

Romans (Aurelian)

2 LDR, 2 HC, 2 LC, 2 HI, 2 MI, 1 LI.

Breakpoint: 3

Palmyra (Zenobia)

1 LDR, 2 KN, 2 LC, 3 LI, 2 LA.

Breakpoint: 4.5

Scenario

Map: Open.

Special rules: Palmyrene KN have missile capability and their LC are camels.

Deployment

Romans (Aurelian):

LC HC MI HI* HI MI HC* LC.  1 LI in front of the HI

Palmyra (Zenobia):

LC KN LA LI LI LI LA KN* LC

Deployment (Romans on the left)

Game

Only the Roman left flank manages to advance.

Palmyrenes advance the flanks only.  Their centre is no match for Roman centre so will delay as long as possible.

Palmyrenes advance the flanks

Romans advance.  The general charges the Cataphracts but they shoot and the generals charge fails.  The Camels shoot the opposing Light Cavalry and the Light Cavalry are destroyed.

The Palmyrene right flank is not going well for the Romans

The Camels advance and manage to destroy the leader.  This is not going well at all for the Romans.

Roman leader dies at the hand of the camels

And then the Heavy Cavalry on the other flanks mandatory charges the Cataphracts and also is routed.  The Romans have lost all their Heavy Cavalry already.

Roman right flank Heavy Cavalry charges the Cataphracts

The Roman battleline advances.  The Auxilia charge the Cataphracts, they shoot but fail to stop the charge.  The Auxilia is routed in the ensuing melee.

Roman battleline advances

Both Palmyrene Cataphracts fail to move, Palmyrene left flank Camels fires at the light cavalry and disorders the Roman cavalry  Further missiles exchange sees the Roman LC rout.

Roman battle line advance, except for a legion that engages the left flank Cataphracts and the Legion is disordered.

Roman battleline continues to advance, Legion engaging the cataphracts

In the next melee, the Cataphracts routs the Romans.  Enough of the Romans have been destroyed that the Palmyrenes have won!

Endgame

Verdict

A very quick game (as designed).  The Romans roll appallingly than the Palmyrenes rolled really well. The Romans lost 6 units compared on one Palmyrenes, and the latter is was a light infantry unit.  Does go to show the difference in luck. In a game with a few units and fast combat resolution, this has occurred in the past and did so for this game. I did expect the Roman flanks to hold a little longer for the Romans in the centre to engage and rout  the opposing missile units.  But it was not to be.  Liking the new rules - these are still mostly ABC but with generous movement rules, stripped back a little from previous rules and a slightly faster combat resolution.  Liking the grid (again!).