Today we had Rhod back with us (he had been busy with family the last few weeks) and he brought his newly finished Late Romans (10mm figures - yet another scale we now play in!)
We were trying Rhod's army lists, so used identical armies to test the classifications. Nominally, Phil and I were the Western Empire, while Lawrence and Rhod used the Eastern troops.
The Eastern Empire forces, Legions in the centre with Cavalry and light troops on each wing.
I commanded the Westerners left wing, 3 units of Legionarii, one formed Archer units, 2 bow armed Skirmishers and some light Javelin armed cavalry.
I rapidly got my cavalry and Light Infantry forward in an attempt to seize the wood ahead of the Easterners.
Phil advanced his cavalry wing supported by more Formed Archers and his Cataphracti.
Rhod had advanced his Skirmishers and Light Cavalry, but my Skirmishers had failed to get second moves so I was still short of the wood, I therefore flung my Light Cavalry in and attack with my Hero, and even had my Armenian Legion in support, I was playing safe, what could go wrong?...
Phil had charged his Equites onto their opposite numbers, his light Cavalry into the wood on the right, but his Light Cavalry charged the enemy lights, who evaded successfully, so Phil's light hit the Eastern Cataphracts!
Phil's Eguites beat the Easterners, but on his 'Risk to Heroes' roll threw 'Snake Eyes'. Phil saved one 'One', but the C-in-C was injured!
The Light Cavalry had no chance against the Cataphracts, especially as they got to counter charge.
The Light Cavalry caused no damage and melted away!
In a second round of Melee, Phil got ANOTHER 1 on his 'Risk' roll and the C-in C died!, at least his Equite unit routed the Eastern Equites!
Phil charged his Cataphracti into the enemy ones, and the Light Cavalry from the wood charged the Eastern Cataphracts in flank too!
As expected, the Westerners won!
Lawrence had charged the Western Equites with 2 Light Cavalry units, but Phil won!
Next to the big cavalry battle, Phil's formed Archers fought Lawrences, and again, Phil lost his Champion to a random arrow!
Back on my wing, my Light Cavalry were destroyed, despite my preparations!, fortunately, my Skirmishers had driven the enemy from my wood and were pursuing.
My Skirmishers failed to hit the enemy Skirmishers, with their Hero, but the other unit destroyed the Light Cavalry which had beaten mine so completely!
Phil had 'Got in' with his Equites on the second Eastern Light Cavalry unit, and also had his Light Cavalry in as a secondary unit!. He also charged his Cataphracti into the Eastern Formed Archers.
Phil's Equites, of course, destroyed the Eastern Light Cavalry. The Eastern Hero fled to the centre!
Rhod had given his Legionarii and Archers the 'Replacements' trait...
...so the Cataphractarii were now fighting a fresh Legion.
The Legion made short work of the blown Western Cataphractarii!
At this point, a turn end, we found the Eastern army had 1 Reputation left, whereas the Westerners had -1 with the loss of the Equites Cataphractarii
Ah well, at least we Westerners had a moral victory. We mainly lost due to my Light Cavalry loss early in the game, and the unlucky loss of both of Phil's Heroes!
It was a fun game though, so really we all won!
