To close-out the Dark Ages gaming we've done a large game (90 points a side) of Romans vs Normans. In 1081 the Normans under Robert Guiscard invaded part of what is now Albania and took the city of Dyrrhachium. Empower Alexiou I lead a force including the Varangian Guard to recapture the town, resulting in the battle. Interestingly the Varangians contained many English refugees from Hastings.
To simulate the impetuous nature of quite a few units we adopted the following scenario rules:
- All Norman cavalry (Heavy and Elite) counted as having Wild Charge in effect, regardless of the range, until they had fought a melee. The same applied to the Varangians
- The Normans must deploy a single unit of Knights in their centre to represent Guiscard's feint
- When one side had lost half its points they would need to
- CinC: Alexiou I (Impulsive) + body guard of 1 * Heavy Cav (Bloodthirsty)
- Left: 5 x Heavy Cav, 1 x Lt Cav, 2 x Lt Spear
- Centre: 3 x Heavy Spear, 3 x Lt Spear (Jav), 2 x Skirmish
- Right: 1 x Archer, 2 x Elite Infantry, 2 x Heavy Spear (Veteran)
- CinC: Robert Guiscard (Aggressive)
- Left: 3 x Heavy Cav, 1 x Elite Cav, 1 x Crossbow, 1 x Heavy Spear
- Centre: 4 x Heavy Spear, 2 x Elite Inf, 1 x Crossbow, 2 x Skirmisher, 1 x Elite Cav
- Right: 4 x Elite Cav, 2 x Lt Cav (Jav)
The field from the Roman left |
Norman knights on their right |
Roman centre |
Norman left |
As the scenario dictated there was a general advance by the Normans. The Romans hung back on the left and centrally while the Varangian Guard surged forward.
The Romans had the better of the skirmishing in the centre, pushing the Romans back and causing damage on the main line. Meanwhile the Romans cavalry launched a series of multi-unit attacks on the Norman Knights, weakening them and nullifying that attack.
The Varangians attacked the Norman cavalry opposite them with heavy losses on both sides. This was strategically in the Normans favour as it blunted the Romans main attacking force.
Varangians engage the Normans |
Centrally the Normans had the stronger infantry with Elite and Heavies facing off against Heavy and Light. The greater weight enabled them to bludgeon through, with crossbow support, and out damage the lighter Romans.
Varangians slug it out |
The Romans were the first to hit 50% points loss and the dice gods saw the centre lose several key units in the resulting courage tests. So we called it a Roman win.
The Roman centre yields |