400pt Dbmm game using Hunnic vs Stephens Late Imperial Roman

(usual couple of Pics in photos folder)

I had 3 Irr Cmds

CIC CvS 2 CvS 15 LhS

SG CvS 1 CvS 15 LhS

SG CvS 11 LhS

Gepid Ally KnF 4 KnF

No Baggage

An Ambush and Feigned Flight strategem were paid for

The Romans had 3 Reg Cmds plus usual Baggage/Camp Pip Dump

1 Cmd had several Cataphracts with couple of Huns

A Cmd with Legionnaries backed by LI Bow and LH and 4 ArtF (I hate

these sods !)

A Cmd with Bow and Aux (Lanciarii)

several Cav and LH interspersed

Huns invaded and had plenty of open terrain with only a small wood

of any note

Romans managed to get a DH on their right and 2 RH on their left

with no real room to circumvent them basically providing them with a

terrain 'fort'

The Hun LH where therefore nullified as no real opportunity to

outflank on or off table (I was loathe to use flank march after non-

appearence in previous games)

As expected the Romans lined up between their hills with Inf on the

hills.

Huns had little option but to line up opposite. I did place a 4

element ambush of Lh in my wood hoping to use the feigned flight to

draw enemy on DH towards them (bit optimistic as wood fair distance

from hill)

Huns advanced with Lh and Gepids. The Roman bolt-shooters on carts

moved to their right immediately to face the Gepids. They fired

several times at Geipds but thankfully no kills just several recoils.

Battle was joined with several Hun Lh charging into Blade and being

charged by KnX

Couple of Huns spent and 1 killed by KnX but nothing too drastic.

But they lack power to deal with a wall of foot or mounted if they

cant gain overlaps. The Gepids managed to charge in despite

attentions of bolt-shooters and they had an overlap on the right

flank of Legionary line. This was facilitated mainly by use of a

feigned flight by my left Cmd forcing the Roman infantry to halt.

But.........isnt their always at least one.............the Gepids

could not kill any Legionnaries !! this was true for a full 3 rounds

of combats...................

Meanwhile I was taking some losses on my right from the Cataphracts

so I decided to hurl my CiC with his accompanying Nobles (a 3

element line with Gen in middle) through my Lh into the Legions to

try to punch a hole.

But................told you there is always at least

one !............of course this failed with my Nobles recoiling

leaving the Cic overlapped twice in Roman turn

and.................wait for it..............the loss of my CiC !!!!

True to form on my next Pip roll this Cmd rolled a tremendous 1

meaning I could not even halt anyone so my largest and central Cmd

routed (at some speed being mainly Lh)

This of course meant doom for neighbouring Cmds (in fact game nearly

finished there and then as the temporary 2ME morale hit almost broke

my left Cmd) as their flanks were now exposed.

The Gepids had at last quick killed two Bd plus 2 Ps (this was to be

total Roman losses for game !!!!)

But too late as they also lost a 2ME element and my left Cmd became

broken next turn ending the game.

Despite yet another drubbing (25-0 this one) it was as ever a good

game to play with the Gepid charge and my Cic charge being two

events that could have easily gone my way against the Blade.

The feigned flight was interesting to use but needs a lot of careful

planning and timely Pips. Still at 5pts and capable of being used 3

times its a useful stratagem.

The Roman Art F is potent with ability to move and also to 'gang up'

on single target (I was lucky not to lose anything to their

shooting). Blade with PsO in back rank are tough for mounted to

defeat (even the Kn) usually even or better factors for Bd.

The terrain was major factor as the hills robbed me of flanks to

target with Lh swarms.

It is as well I really like Dbmm because I have had no success with

it yet ! :-)