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?
