303 Lauron (76 BC)

** This thread discusses the Content article: 303 Lauron (76 BC) **

Pete and I played this as the second scenario in our campaign. I was four banners up after the first game, and was feeling pretty cocky..... Pride go'th before the fall!

Pete went first and used the ambush force to attack my right flank, quickly killing my light bow, but my medium cavalry escaped. Again Pete's dice were not good, and he was showing some frustration. It did not last long.

You will see that the Romans have a single light unit and no heavies, with only two cavalry. Pete did manage to kill one of the cavalry, leaving me with one on the left flank away from anything.

Getting two Order Lights, one Move Fire Move, Two Cavalry Charge and two Order Heavies was therefore not the most useful hand to hold. Moving one unit at a time desperately trying to avoid Pete's relentless attack saw my right melt away. Finally got into a reasonable position with a reasonable card, Pete's medium cavalry charges on the left killing enough to win the game 7-2.

From a four banner lead to a 1 banner deficit. Humble is my middle name.

A close battle, 7:6 victory for the Romans under Pompey

My wife and I have played this scenario eight times playing both sides and our experience is that it is a very balanced game.

Vittoria Romana 7-1. Sertorio pone in moto le sue ali. Sulla destra Perpenna carica con la sua cavalleria ma non ottiene grossi risultati, anzi viene ucciso da Petreio che insegue poi i resti della cavalleria sertoriana fin oltre Lauron. Sulla sinistra, Herrenio riscuote un buon successo cogliendo di sorpresa con i suoi Guerrieri le unità di Afranio riuscendo ad eliminare un'unità di fanteria media. L'azione si sposta nel centro dove Sertorio avanza con le sue fanterie pesanti. Pompeo riesce però con un ordine di Avanzata Rapida a coglierlo non ancora perfettamente schierato. La battaglia si conclude con la morte dello stesso Sertorio alla testa dei suoi fanti pesanti.

Wow - 7-6 Sertorious. Can't even begin to describe this battle, it was amazingly hectic in every sector from time to time, although mostly in the centre and Roman right. It swung back and forth so many times both of us lost count, and in the last four turns both sides had chances to win the game, and whiffed. Basically Pompey tried to form a line of medium foot and go straight up the middle with line command and double time, and after a lengthy clash of spears they destroyed the Sertorian heavy foot, but at great cost to themselves, with three medium units left from that attack, but all at 1 or 2 points. A very fortuitous Rally card saved the day for the Romans at that point, and allowed Pompey, supported by his left win to push again with an inspired leadership card. The Sertorians were pushed back almost to their board edge, with Roman Medium horse whiffing on a chance to take down a 1 point Auxiliary and win the match, and the Aux then did a hit and a double retreat to the horse. This allowed, finally a 1 point Sertorian warrior to corner a 1 point Roman archer on the edge of the Roman map who could not evade, to kill it and win the battle. Nail biting for the whole last half of the game, highly recommended.