Battle of Pydna 168BC using D3 Ancients Clash

Introduction

This is game 49 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  It is the third historical game using my new rules d3 Ancients Clash (the previous games were with ‘Ancient Battlelines Clash’).  I am in the process of writing the rules up from the scribbling it is currently.  D3 Ancients Clash is an evolution of Ancients Battleline Clash but uses d3s and designed to assist with replaying these historical games.  I am play testing the rules by replaying all the Peter Sides scenarios from his Historical Battles books.  D3AC is designed to finish in around 30 minutes on a 16”x16” table.

Battle of Pydna

Here are a few internet links of interest I used for this replay:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pydna

 

 Troops

Roman

2 Legions, Heavy Infantry, line relief, medium missile protection
2 Allied Legions, Heavy Infantry, line relief, medium missile protection
2 Velites, Skirmishers, javelin
2 Pergamene/Achaian/Allies, Medium infantry
2 Allied Light Infantry, Light infantry, javelin
2 Heavy Cavalry
1 Elephant, untrained
1 General with the Heavy Cavalry on right

All trained except where noted.

Breakpoint: 10

Macedonian

4 Phalanx
1 Thracians, medium infantry
2 Peltasts, Light Infantry, javelin, untrained
2 Skirmishers, Skirmishers, untrained
2 Heavy Cavalry
1 General with the heavy cavalry on the right

All trained except where noted.

Breakpoint: 8

Scenario changes

I did not include the Light Cavalry  (no room)  and halved the number of units.

Deployment

Romans on the left, Macedonian on the right

Game

Romans all advance except the left cavalry (as the enemy cavalry is better with the general attached).  The Macedonians all advance except their left cavalry that is facing the elephant as does not what to get into melee with it.

The right flank Roman cavalry charges into the light infantry.  The light infantry are lucky and deplete the cavalry  that are forced to halt and no contact the light infantry.

 Roman cavalry charging the peltasts

Roman allies and light infantry advance to the Thracians who throw their javelins at them for no effect but are shaken by the return fire.

Roman lights exchange fire with the Thracians

The main Roman battleline advances.  The skirmishers exchange fire and the Velites get the worst of it and retire

Main Roman battleline advances

The left flank Roman lights advance. But the Macedonian missiles push them back.

Left flank Roman light infantry advances.

Unlike the actual battle, the general and cavalry charges into the opposing cavalry.  The Roman cavalry retreats but Perseus fails to follow up.

Perseus charges the Roman cavalry

It is the Macedonian turn and Perseus is in a dilemma.  If he charges the Roman cavalry he is likely to pursue them off the table.  If he turns to come behind the main battleline then the Roman cavalry will attack him in the flank.  Considering he did not participate in the actual battle, Perseus will not do anything.

 

The Thracians fire at the light infantry but to no effect.  The Roman cavalry once again fails to pierce the Light infantry missiles.  Bu the Elephant charges the Macedonian cavalry and they rout.

Roman elephant charges the Macedonian cavalry.

The Roman cavalry finally contacts the light infantry and pushes them back and the light infantry force the Thracians back as well.

Forcing back the light infantry

The Roman legions charge the phalanx, clearing the Macedonian skirmishers along the way.  A legion is depleted and some are pushed back.

Legions Vs Phalanx

The next turn sees light units move to and fro and the legions are pushed back even further and disorganised.

The disorganised Roman legions.

And a legion is lost!  And the phalanx that did it charges into an allied medium infantry and it is routed.

A victorious phalanx after routing two Roman units

And another legions is destroyed.  And another.

Two more legions down

Finally the General routs the opposing light infantry and then manages to rout the Thracians!  It may be too late though – the Romans are close to their breakpoint.

Finally the Roman cavalry routs the light infantry

The Allied Medium infantry charge into the rear of the phalanx and they are destroyed.

Phalanx attacked from two sides.

A phalanx attacks a legion.  This is actually classed as a frontal attack as it did not start fully behind the legion.  But they are locked in melee

Phalanx Vs Legion

On the Roman left flank, the ongoing battle of the light infantry unit has been continuing, the Macedonians were depleted a few turns ago and are depleted again and rout.

Light infantry in battle

The Macedonians have reached their breakpoint and flee.  The Romans were very close as well.  It was a lot closer than the historical battle, mainly due to the collapse of the Roman centre.

End

Rule changes

One change and it is one I have been mulling over for a while.  In my old rules 2 on 1 fights gave a penalty to the single unit.  This was also a reason for pushbacks in that you could potentially create single units that are penalised.  In these new rules, single units are only penalised for ordering. But there is now no other reason to have units aligned to one another and I really wanted one.  I did not want to add a -1 modifier for single unit as a -1 mod is a lot for opposed D3s! But I managed to reach a decent compromise – on a 0 result normally both sides are shaken.  I have changed it so that on a 0 both sides are shaken unless it is a 2:1 fight, then only the single unit is shaken.

And I modified the -1 for mounted being the target of firing to only if by Heavy Archers.  I was always a bit unsure of this and am now realising it makes all missiles too powerful against cavalry. So now light missile armed unit only delay cavalry while Heavy Archers will generally delay but have a small chance of depleting them.

 

Verdict

I did like the interplay of the missile armed light units on the Roman right flank.  It took forever but light armed units are more of a deterrent.  When up against their mirror image they either are pushed back or push back the enemy.  No real advantage from equally armed units, and neither get destroyed by the other.  The Roman cavalry on the right consistently rolled low and it was frustrating for the Romans as the Roman right flank should have cleared the opposing Macedonians a few turns earlier.  

Historically as the Phalanx advanced they became disordered and the legions were able to overcome them.  I chose not to represent this in the battle – maybe I should have had any phalanx that advanced or followed up after melee become shaken.  In fact, that is what I should have done and would do in a replay.