Battle of Munda 45BC using Ancients Battlelines Clash

Introduction

This is game 61 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  They are definitely a work in progress as I continue to vacillate between mechanisms.  At least for this game I used the same rules as game 59 and game60!  Games are designed to be played solo on a 60cmx60cm table and finish in under 30 minutes.  They are still at their core Ancient Battlelines Clash so are calling them ABC version 6.

This is the 2nd last game I played using rules loosely based on Ancients Battlelines Clash.  It is posted a year after I played it.

 

Battle of Munda 45BC

The final battle of Caesar against the Optimates takes place in Spain.

 Wikipedia entry:

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

 

Troops

Roman

Romans

4 HI (swords) elite

3 MC

2 LI

Breakpoint: 8

 

Latienus (Optimates)

Latienus’s troops

5 HI (swords)

2 MC poor

2 LI

Breakpoint: 8

 

Scenario changes

Reduced the number of units, and also added 2 Light infantry to Caesar’s side.

 

Deployment

Romans on the left, Latienus on the right

Game

The Caesarean side big chance is the left flank and equal chance in the centre.  Will advance the left flank and centre into attack.  They do this.  The Caesarean side generally comes off worse –Latienus’s forces have a first turn advantage of being uphill.

Clash in the centre (from the Optimates point of view)

The Caesarean left flank charge in.  Latienus’s LI routs, as does Latienus’s cavalry.

Caesarean left flank in combat

The Caesareans loses a legionary unit.  The left Caesarean cavalry charges a Latienus legion unit in the flank and it is destroyed.

Caesarean cavalry charges into the flank of the opposing battleline

Another two rounds of melee in the centre and the rebels are holding on, just.  But then they quickly lose two legionary units and their army flees the field.

End game

Rule changes

None!

 

Verdict

Another short game that was fun.  I am still toying with rules with no disorder markers and grids so will see whether I stick with these or the gridded rules. I do find they are similar to play and not hard to move from my own gridded rules to non-gridded rules, and vice versa.