Impetus Ancients AAR - 'TSOG Christmas Game 2025'

Well 2025 went like a shot and we're already in February for 2026 my where does the time go? Actually I've read an interesting article on how time seems to go quicker the older you get but I won't bore you with that on the TSOG Blog! Okay went with an old favourite scenario of mine there's a central objective and you need to have a unit within a set distance of it (in this case 2 Base Widths) when you break your opponents Army, it works well to get both sides moving so you can't just sit back and defend! Note if you break your opposition while not close enough to the objective the games ends in a DRAW! This time we had Romans and Barbarians in play using Impetus rules!

Our Christmas themed objective can just be made out in the centre of the battlefield ss the armies advance! A pretty tenuous Christmas link I know but worked for us...

Forces

Romans (Maurice & Pete)

2 x Reliable Leaders

6 x FP Legionary Units

2 x Auxilia Units

4 x S Bowman/Slinger Units

2 x CM Cavalry

2 x CL Cavalry

Off Table Reserve

2 x Auxilia Units

The Barbarians (George)

2 X Reliable Leaders

14 x FP Impetuous warrior Units

6 x S Slinger/Bowman Units

6 x CM Cavalry Units

AAR

This was a pretty balanced all in fight!

Both sides were required to advance to secure victory so there was no hanging around. The Barbarians acted as a single force advancing along the whole line whilst Roman Consuls Maurice and Peter both tried different tactics!

In the early turns the Roman Left handily destroyed the Barbarian Cavalry guarding their opponents flank and then moved into a line near the objective and awaited the Barbarians, meanwhile the Roman Right charged the Barbarians but their Units ran out of steam and did not make contact with their foes leaving their Legionaries with no skirmisher screen.

The Barbarians then launched a barrage of missile fire at the Romans and charged home! During the next three turns there was continuous combat along the whole line! The Roman Left held firm and pushed the attacking masses back with grievous casualties but the Barbarians inflicted losses on the Roman Left pushing it back and they came within a whisker of breaking the line!

With a reserve Unit moving up to assist Consul Maurice, the Roman Left destroyed the Barbarians facing them (eg broke them) which was enough to put the entire Barbarian army into flight!

A Great Roma Victory, well just...

Some Pictures

The Armies advance the Romans are to the right, Barbarians the left...

Surprisingly the Roman Horse on their extreme Left brush the Barbarian Horse aside... 

allowing them to focus their attention on the Foot Warriors!

The Barbarian Left taunts their Roman foes, it works and draws them forward!

The Roman Right Brazenly Charges but falls short of the Barbarian line!

Uh Oh...

The Barbarians unleash their fury on the stalled Roman Right Wing!

It is not long before the Roman Right's line buckles and losses are taken!

On the other flank of the battlefield the Roman and Barbarian lines meet, the advantage here though was with the romans as they had dispersed the Barbarian's horsemen! It only took a couple of turns and the Men of the Tiber put these fellows to the Sword and their leader fled in his chariot!

The Roman Right with a Unit of reinforcements holds their foes long enough for the battle to be decided on their other flank (above)!

Quickly Maurice  dash of a victory note to the Senate!

My favourite barbarian Unit, they had no Standard/Banner so I grabbed a chook from the Warlord Farm animal set, they worship the sacred God of Poulette...they performed well in this game!

Summary

So another Roman Victory but only just this time, their Right Wing was close to breaking when the Barbarian Right broke! It was a no brainer not to continue even with the Roman Right teetering their Left was virtually intact, wisely the remaining Barbarians withdrew! We are pretty happy now that we have reached a balanced forces for the Roman and Barbarians, we have found that trying to make balanced points armies with the Romans and Gauls etc lists never gives the non Roman a chance, perhaps these Rules were written by an Italian! 😁 Next time we may forget the Command Morale and just use Army Total Morale Rules this works well with our Dark Ages games giving longer and closer results with those armies?

Mexican Hat Dancing at the Hacienda - A Song of Drums & Shakos Texas Revolution 1836 AAR

Monday night we continued our make it up as we go Texas Revolution 1836 Campaign! Still using the Song of Drums & Shakos Rules. We played the assault on a farm house scenario. We are playing the rules as written. As per the last game George led the Texians and Rolf and I commanded the Mexicans.

Captain Del Toro and Sergeant Banderas with their captured supplies from their successful foraging mission…

The Forces…

Texians

New Orleans Greys
Nathaniel R. Brister Regimental Adjutant; Q 4 C2 Sword & Pistol Leader

Pvt David N. Burke; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Herman Ehrenberg; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Joseph H. Spohn; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt John Rees; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Horatio Cunningham; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Abney Holmes; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Tejano Juan Q 4 C2 Musket

Tejano Juan Q 4 C2 Musket

Alabama Red Rovers
2nd Corporal David Moore; Q 4 C3 Musket NCO

Pvt Benjamin Franklin Burt; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt James W Duncan; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt James E. Ellis; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt Samuel Farney; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt Simpson Tennant; Q 4 C3 Musket

Tejano Juan Q 4 C2 Musket

Mexicans

Soldados and Cazadores from the San Luis Battalion

Captain Del Toro; Q 4 C2 Sword & Pistol Leader

5 x Infantry Privates; Q 4 C2 Muskets Wavering

Sergeant Banderas Q 4 C2 Light with Rifle NCO

6 x Privates; Q 4 C2 Light with Muskets

The AAR…

After successfully carrying out a foraging mission and dispatching the bounty to the main column with two trusted Soldados Mexican Captain Del Toro gathered the rest of his patrol and they retired to a nearby hacienda. It was here while his weary Soldados and Cazadores rested that the Texians led by Nathaniel R. Brister with whom they ‘had crossed swords’ earlier caught up with them.

The alarm was raised by Cazadore José and the Mexicans quickly deployed to face the oncoming Texians. Del Toro occupied the hacienda whilst Banderas’ men covered the nearby bridge.

Brister split his force too, the New Orleans Greys rushed the bridge while his own boys from Alabama covered them, both groups were supported by local Tajenos!

The Mexicans reached the bridge first and a vicious firefight ensued! Both sides funnelled their troops into this duel which escalated across the unfordable stream. The waterway’s steep banks and fast flow drew the action toward the bridge. 

The Texian’s accurate and fast shooting halted the Mexicans who were eager to get into hand to hand combat with their foes, the resulting casualties from the firefight were enough to break the back of the Mexican force, Del Toro’s men were routed and fled unceremoniously! 

Brister led his men in a round of cheers as they advanced after the skedaddling Mexicans, of the Texians only Private Ellis had been lightly wounded and they had inflicted injuries on seven of the Mexicans! The Texians and Tejanos quickly crossed the bridge and occupied the hacienda.

In the distant scrub beaten but undefeated the Mexicans rallied and Del Toro plotted his revenge on the Texians and their Tejano supporters!

Pictures…

Our battlefield, not much cover!

The Alabama Red Rovers were looking for payback after being roughly handled earlier by these Mexicans...

...as were the New Orleans Greys!

With the alert raised Sergeant Banderas led his Cazadores towards the bridge.

Meanwhile the Texians made good ground...

The Texians quickly reached the bridge and started firing on the Mexicans they faced.

Banderas' men returned the compliment!

Captain Del Toro sent sharpshooter José out to face the Texians in 'red' he had an aimed shot at them and winged one!...

...then he then faced a hail of return fire from the Alabamians!

A firefight ensued across the stream as the Greys edged onto the bridge!

Casualties began to mount, especially on the Mexican side!

With their morale shaken the Mexicans began to flee!

The battlefield at the end of play...

Summary…

Another cool SDS game! This time the Mexicans had trouble hitting the side of a barn with their shooting whilst the Alabama boys with their C3 value and some hot dice rolling gave the Texians the edge. We’ve played this scenario several times over the years and all the others were much closer than this one. Regarding the rules with balanced forces (Quality wise) we find the rules are working well. One last thing, is it Texicans or Texians 🤔?

A Rendezvous with José on the Road to Goliad - Song of Drums & Shakos Texas Revolution 1836 AAR

We’re starting a series of Texas Revolution 1836 games set between March 12 and March 18. They’ll be fictional skirmishes centred around the Goliad Campaign where Mexican General José de Urrea advanced into ‘Provence' of Texas. We’ll be using the Song of Drums and Shakos rules as written and 28mm sized figures from the Boothill range. The scenario for the initial game is a foraging one I found on the net and VPs are earned by both sides by recovering supplies from broken down wagon train along a road and causing casualties.

Cazadore Private José from the San Luis Battalion leaps across the broken down wagon to get to grips with the Texians!

The Sides…

Texians

New Orleans Greys
Nathaniel R. Brister Regimental Adjutant; Q 4 C2 Sword & Pistol Leader

Pvt David N. Burke; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Herman Ehrenberg; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Joseph H. Spohn; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt John Rees; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Horatio Cunningham; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Pvt Abney Holmes; Q 4 C2 Musket Steadfast

Alabama Red Rovers
2nd Corporal David Moore; Q 4 C3 Musket NCO

Pvt Benjamin Franklin Burt; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt James W Duncan; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt James E. Ellis; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt Samuel Farney; Q 4 C3 Musket

Pvt Simpson Tennant; Q 4 C3 Musket

Mexicans

Soldados and Cazadores from the San Luis Battalion

Captain Del Toro; Q 4 C2 Sword & Pistol Leader

7 x Infantry Privates; Q 4 C2 Muskets Wavering

Sergeant Banderas Q 4 C2 Light with Rifle NCO

6 x Privates; Q 4 C2 Light with Muskets 

Special Rules

-No Group actions are allowed by either side.

-it takes one action to gather supplies from the broken down wagon train once adjacent to it.

-A maximum of two 'loads' of supplies can be carried per figure.

-Bearing supplies does not effect movement.

-Bearing two loads of supplies means a figure can not load/fire, said figure can for free drop one load and fire/reload when they are activated.

The Situation...

Late February 1836; the Mexican Army led by Santa Anna had had crossed the Provence of Texas' border intent on putting down the insurrection that had gripped the state. The Texians were unprepared to face this foray and disorganised they hurriedly organised forces to resist the mighty Mexican Army, their chances were negligible but they would try their damnedest to succeed!

The AAR...

February 1836 under orders from President Santa Anna Mexican General Urrea's column crossed the Rio Grand at Metamoros entering the Provence of Texas. His orders were to secure the whole of its coastline which would isolate the Texian Revolutionaries ensuring their defeat!  After a rapid advance and a series of victories beginning at San Patricio and with the latest being the Battle of Refugio Urrea sent out foraging parties before pressing onto Goliad, supplies were crucial to continue the advance!

Captain Del Toro and his Soldados from the San Luis Battalion were told by locals of a broken down wagon train filled with supplies nearby and he quickly followed up their information.

Short on 'everything' as he amassed his forces at Goliad, Texian Colonel James Fannin who had been tasked by Sam Houston with halting or at least delaying the Mexican advance there decided to send out parties to scourge the surrounds and gather all the supplies that could be located. He asked for volunteers to carry out this detail and was swamped by enthusiastic and eager men! One foraging party led by Nathaniel R. Brister of the New Orleans Greys was led to believe there was an abundance of supplies along a remote road to the north west of Refugio, he ordered his men to find it unaware that Soldados from General Urrea’s San Luis Battalion were in the area…

It was early in the day and the sun was rising into clear skies when Del Toros and Bristers forces stumbled across each other in their search for supplies. The Mexicans got the hop on their foes and Banderas Cazadores quickly got to the broken down wagon train and started to gather its vital contents. They then opened up an accurate fire on the approaching Texians!

The Texians were poorly co-ordinated and reached the road in dribs and drabs putting them at a disadvantage and their fire was poorly directed. As they approached the Cazadores the men of the New Orleans Greys were surprised when the Mexicans ceased fire and leapt into close combat with them. In the short sharp melee the Mexicans gained the advantage and pushed the Greys back with Privates Burke and Holmes being wounded, these casualties along with several taken by the Alabama boys led by Corporal Moore led to a general withdrawal by the Texians (read here that they failed many of their Force Morale checks)!

A Mexican Victory ensued as the Texian Leader Brister decided not to try and reengage with Del Toros Soldados and continued to retire northward taking their wounded with them!

 

Some Pictures...

The Mexicans advance with Captain Del Toro bringing up the rear (he failed all his activations!).

Brister and his Alabama Boys reach the road...

Overview of our battlefield the Mexicans below the road with thew Texians advancing from the north above it!

Two of Del Toro's Soldados hit the ground under Texian fire while others recover supplies from a broken down wagon...

Sergeant Banderas (at left) orders his men to gather supplies...

Corporal Moore of the Red Rovers directs his men's fire but Privates Ellis, Farney and Tennant were quickly put out of action by accurate Mexican shooting halving his command!

Brister's New Orleans Greys fan out (read bad activation rolls) and in dribs and drabs engaged Sergeant Banderas' Cazadores.

Close combat breaks out...

...and the Mexicans prove their metal with the bayonet!

Captain Del Toro regroups his men as the Texians can be seen retiring in the background...

...the great Texian skedaddle begins...

...and continues!

The Mexicans prevail gathering ample supplies for General Urrea's column!

Summary...

We have not played SDS for quite a while because of a rule misunderstanding and a bad experience with an elite force fighting against a green force with the generally accepted turn sequence well we’re back again as the rules work really well with 'balanced' (ie no elites) forces. Tonight’s game was good and played out in pretty quick time. The Mexicans got a head start on the Texians with some good activations by the Cazadores this gave them a head start on the foraging which they did not surrender. We will revisit the Texas Revolution of 1836 again soon!

Battle of Northam 1069 AAR - Impetus 2 Rules

Last Monday we gathered on a cold evening to recreate the battle of Northam from 1069 on our tabletop. We used my 28mm sized figures and Impetus 2 Rules.

A quick summary of what is known of the actual Battle;

It was fought in June 1069 near ironically Northam. The sons of King Harold landed on the Devon coast with an invading force to reclaim their father’s crown the army was backed by Diarmait High King of Ireland. The defending army was made up of Normans, Bretons and Anglo Saxons led by Brian of Brittany who had fought with William. There were actually two battles during the day, an initial one was a raiding skirmish encounter then there was major action where the Brothers defended their boats while awaiting the tide (this is the battle we’re covering). The battle was bloody and a draw. The brothers withdrew on their boats and vanished from history last heard of in Denmark after losing the support of their Irish patrons…

Brian of Brittany urging his men forward...

The Forces;

The Godwinsons, Edmund & Godwine's Anglo Saxon Irish
Edmund Godwinson Reliable 4H Command
Godwine Godwinson Reliable 4H Command
2 x Huscarls
5 x Select Fyrd
4 x Irish Foot
2 x Archers
3 x Skirmishers

Norman Brenton Anglo Saxon Army
Brian of Brittany Reliable 4H Command
William de Vauville Reliable 4H Command
3 x Brenton Horse
4 x Brenton Heavy Infantry
2 x Brenton Javelinmen
3 x Select Fyrd
3 x Greater Fyrd
3 x Archers

Victory Conditions;

The Normans must capture the road edge behind the Godwinson Brother's Raiders for a Total Victory they score a Minor Victory Breaking the Raiders Army.

The Godwinson Brothers gain a Victory by Breaking the Norman Army.

Note - ignore Command Morale only monitor Army Morale for both sides.

Game Length; 8 Turn

The AAR;

Both sides faced off across a valley near Northam on that fateful June day in 1069, there were only a few hours of daylight left and the fate of William’s fledgling Kingdom hung in the balance! The Leaders of both great hosts ordered them to advance and it was not long before archers and javelin men were exchanging fire.

The Brenton Horsemen on Brian of Brittany’s right were sent a missive to turn the flank of the Raiders Army and end the battle swiftly so they charged forward! The long spear armed Anglo Saxons facing them under the direct leadership of Edmund Godwinson cunningly deployed so the mass of horsemen was broken up and hit multiple bands of warriors at the same time! The great surge of the Brenton Knights broke like a wave hitting the shore, many fell to the rabid spearman who drove them back! This one action smashed the Brenton Horsemen and they were no longer strong enough to play any decisive part in the battle, spent they retired under pressure to play little part in the rest of the battle spending it screening the Norman Army’s right!

Brian though dismayed at his setback urged his line of foot forward aware that William de Vauville's flank of his army were already in action against the invaders right wing!

After seeing off the Brenton Knights the Godwinson Brothers were confident they could defeat the enemy before them and pressed the advantage on their left with Edmund’s personal Body Guard leading the way! A grinding clash of shield walls occurred in the centre of the line with the Normans slowly giving way.

William de Vauville now proved his metal and launched his extreme left at Godwine’s flank, led by archers the local Fyrd had great success pushing back the Irishmen guarding this part of the Godwinson’s line! Gritty hard fought melees were now occurring all along the line and both sides believed they were on the brink of victory!

The whole battle line started to pivot around the central units, the Norman right pulling back while their left advanced! The fighting continued with heavy losses on both sides niether would break though!

The light was failing with the two battered lines still fighting and with darkness the fighting subsided. Brian of Brittany had failed to destroy the Raiders and capture their ships but importantly he was not defeated, King Harold’s Sons had not been defeated but their grievous losses and failure to establish a base for themselves on mainland England meant their attempt to regain their Father’s Crown was over, for now!

A DRAW!

The Raiding Anglo Saxon Irish Army lost 9 VDs 6 short of breaking

The Norman Brenton Anglo Saxon Army lost 10 VDs 4 short of breaking

Some Pictures;

Our Battlefield Raiders to the right and the Normans to the left…

Both sides advanced…

Edmund’s flank troops watch the Brenton Knights approach with confidence!

A few final taunts are exchanged before the biffo begins…

The Brenton Horse find their charge contacts multiple foot units thanks to Edmund’s clever deployment! They are soundly defeated!

The Horsemen are repulsed and Edmund’s foot soldiers attack them in turn!

Long Spears are useful against mounted troops as the Brentons found at great cost!

The overall situation after Brian’s failed attempt to roll up the Godwinson Brothers army with a great cavalry charge…

William de Vauville's local troops advanced on Godwine's Raiders with success!

The Brenton Foot form a line and move out, to the right their Horsemen can be seen under attack from Edmund's Spearmen...

Godwine's Body Guard engages and defeat some Fyrd...

...while more of his warriors come to grips with a Band of Select Fyrd they were not so fortunate!

de Vauville begin his attempt to turn Godwine's flank, but the sun was setting and time was running out!

All the while on the Raiders other flank they press the Brentons back!

The Brenton Knights continued to withdrew before the Raiding Forces!

With darkness gathering Godwine's Body Guard take a pounding from a second Band of Anglo Saxons!

The back and forth continued as a group of the Godwinson Brothers Irish grind more Brenton Heavy Infantry into the Ground! Despite losses both armies continue to fight on the action only  ceased with night falling.

Summary;

Well this was a hum dinger of a game, I planned for eight game turns but added a ninth on the night to see if the battle could be resolved, that didn’t help, it was definitely a bloody draw! We recreated history to a tee! The rules played well and we completed the game in around two and a half hours giving us a time for coffee and a chat. Everyone walked away having enjoyed the night!

Next time I think we’ll be play a Napoleonic scenario using Blucher Rules.