Battle of Issus 194AD - battle report using When Warriors Collide

Introduction

This is game 67 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  I am using another set of my rules, When Warriors Collide (WWC).  I am in the process of writing up the rules but the current draft is here:  When Warriors Collide V3.0e.  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.  WWC is designed to finish in around 30 minutes on a 2’x2’ or smaller table; I am currently using a 40cmx40cm table.

Battle of Issus, 194 AD

Septimus Severus is declared Emperor, as was Niger as governor of Syria. Severus attacks Niger to defeat his rival.

Scenario source: Peter Sides Ancient Historical Battles Volume 1.

Link(s):

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Issus_(194)

Troops

Romans (Severus)

2 LDR, 3 HC, 2 HI, 2 MI.

Breakpoint: 3.5

Rebels (Niger)

1 LDR, 2 HC, 2 HI, 2 LA.

Breakpoint: 2

Scenario

Map is a hill covering from centre to Niger's baseline, tapering to corner on right flank. Cliff on Niger left flank.  Large wood on Severus left flank half on hill, half not.  About 2.5BW (Base widths) from edges and 2BW wide.

Special rules: None.

Deployment

Romans (Severus):

HC HC* (lined up with gap between side and woods). HC MI HI* HI MI (all facing hill)

*=leader

Rebels (Niger):

On hill LA HI HI LA (aligned with Severus).  One each HC behind each LA. Left HC with *

*=leader

Game

At start, Severus on the left

Severus’s main battleline fails to move in a timely manner (rolled a 1 to move twice!).  But the left flank cavalry starts the flanking manoeuvre.

Niger responds by moving his right cavalry to protect the flank

Severus left flank

Finally the Severus main battleline moves while the left flank cavalry has managed to engage the defending cavalry.  Due to the delay in the main battleline moving, Niger and his heavy cavalry move to stop the flanking manoeuvre. A terrible melee sees Severus’s cavalry disordered (rolled a 1).  The next turn the cavalry managed to rout Severus. Not going the way Severus hoped.

Behind the woods – Severus’s cavalry on the left, opposing calvary on the right.

Severus is routed.

On the main battleline, the Rebel’s light archers fire but all it does is make one Auxilia advance.  Subsequently the archers are charged by the auxilia, the light archers are dirodered but the auxilia also contacted a rebel legion that routs the auxilia.  On the right flank the auxila and light archer clash and both disordered. 

Archery on the battleline

Auxilia gone

The battleline clashes and the elite Severus legion does badly and is disordered whiel the opposing legions is not.  The remaining Severus cavalry charges into range of the light archers that manage to disorder the cavalry.

View of the main battleline

Niger’s cavalry charges the remaining Severus cavalry and disorders them. The heavy cavalry is now flanked by the rebel cavalry as well as fighting to the front and it routed.

The remaining cavalry at the rear is surrounded by rebels.  And routs.

The Severus side has exceeded their army breakpoint (losing Severus does not help) and so the rebels have won.

End

Note: I did play out one more turn but the Severus’ side lost another heavy cavalry to archery fire and a legion.  For no loss to the rebels.

Verdict

I thought that would be a tough but relatively easy victory to Severus.  Severus rolled so badly and the rebels rolling so well (never seen so many 1s or 6s at just the right time for a one-two rout).  A very enjoyable game to watch unfold.  Historically the flank attack worked but the delay in the main battleline clash meant Niger could afford to send his cavalry to the other flank for support.  Closer than expected.  Could easily have gone to Severus will different dice rolls.