207 Vercellae (101 BC)

Details: Written by: GMT Games; Category: Cimbrian War (113-101 BC); Published: 11 May 2008; Last Updated: 05 April 2023; Hits: 12409

Victory Results:

35 %

65 %

Total plays 54 - Last reported by Albion on 2024-06-21 12:28:57

Historical Background
Following his victory over the Teutons and Ambrones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae, Gaius Marius moved east to join Quintus Lutatius Catulus against the Cimbri in the Po valley of northern Italy. Beorix, the Cimbri king, had been waiting for his allies, the Teutones, to join him. However, when Marius brought the Teuton kings out in chains, he rashly decided to fight alone. The two armies drew up for battle on a level plain. The fighting opened with the Cimbric cavalry moving to attack Marius’ left. In the center, a huge mass of infantry headed straight for the center and Catulus’ legions. Marius’ well-trained veteran legions foiled the Cimbric cavalry charge and then joined Catulus’ legions in the center that were taking the brunt of the Cimbri attack. Meanwhile, Marius’ lieutenant Lucius Cornelius Sulla was winning his battle on the right wing. The legions of Marius and Catulus in the center ultimately forced the Cimbric infantry to fall back, and the retreat turned into a rout as they fled back to their camp. Thousands of Cimbri were taken prisoner while many more were slain, including Beorix. As a result, the tribes from the north ceased to pose a threat to Roman expansion. Disputes over the credit for this great victory sowed the seeds of the later Civil War between Marius and Sulla.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history.


4	2	6		5	4	2

2	2	2	8		2	3

War Council

Germanic Tribes
• Leader: Beorix
• 4 Command Cards
• Move First

Roman Army
• Leader: Marius
• 6 Command Cards

Victory
8 Banners

Special Rules
Marius Legions Rule is in effect.

Posts in discussion: 207 Vercellae (101 BC)

Novak replied the topic:

#2339

6 years 6 months ago

We played three battles; Gauls won two, Romans one.

First battle, the deciding factor was warrior charge breaking the center Roman line and getting behind Roman lines plus cavalry charge on Gaul right flank. 8-5 for Gauls.

Second battle, Gauls tried the same strategy but were decimated. Gaul player had some unfortunate cards, severely hindering his strategy. 8-5 for Romans.

Third game, another Gaul victory. First strike and two Line Command cards brought the advantage to Gauls which they managed to explore mopping up damaged Roman units. 8-3 (or 8-4, I forgot), but the game was very close - if Romans managed to pull back injured units it could've ended quite differently.

Valvorik replied the topic:

#2102

7 years 2 weeks ago

Played this solo, German win 8:2 in 10 turns.

A reversal of the historical path, the German hand opened with a Mounted Charge and two cards for right flank movement, which lead to effective use of the medium cavalry to roll up part of the Roman left and then come across to harry Roman centre units as the Germans managed with line advances and similar to break through between the Roman centre and right.

So perhaps now the seeds of the civil war are not Marius and Sulla disputing credit for victory but instead blame for loss.

King-Billy replied the topic:

#928

13 years 11 months ago

I think the secret for the Germans is to use the Warrior advantages to full effect.

Warriors can move two hexes if they then battle.

Warriors that are full strength at the beginning of the turn attack with four dice.

Full strength Warriors may ignore one flag result.

A warrior unit may make a momentum advance and bonus combat even without a leader.

Thus a full strength warrior can in many instances attack with 8 dice per turn. This is particularly powerful if you get warriors next to each other next to an enemy line. If the first one does not kill it, it will hopefully damage it enough for the second one to kill it. It will then advance and attack the next enemy in the line, hopefully weakening it enough so that the next warrior can kill it and advance, repeat as many times as you have warriors.

I think in this game it would even be of benefit for the leader with the medium cavalry to abandon the cavalry and join a warrior unit. A warrior supported by a leader will get a kill on 50% of each roll. Space the leaders out so that each warrior is supported.

It is harder on the Germans, but can be won.

Mark-McG replied the topic:

#927

13 years 11 months ago

Germans have a tough time with this one..

Tuscan-Centurion replied the topic:

#884

14 years 2 weeks ago

Played this one on the same day as King Billy as the Romans (won it 8-5).
Let the Barbarian Med cav hit me on the left, it took out my bowmen but a counter with my own cav forced some losses on the Germans and they retreated.
While this was going on I got the Roman infantry into a line in the centre and on the right. Moved them slowly forward fending off assaults by warriors and taking out some German auxilia. Picking off the auxilia proved to be the path to victory after repelling the warrior charges and forcing losses (and acquiring banners) on them.

I agree that this is a good scenario where both sides have a good chance of winning. Happy to play it again.

Pavlov replied the topic:

#859

14 years 4 weeks ago

One of my favorite scenarios as well. Just played it as the Romans and won by quite a margin.

The strategy that Billy suggests worked extremely well. Romans, it is very important to get your infantry into a line and keep them in a line as much as possible. I got my medium infantry in the center, up front and in a line and they were able to repel attacks by infantry and warriors as well. Took losses but none that eliminated a unit.

I let Sulla on the right flank range out on his own to take on the archers and harrass that side of the battle field. Seemed to work well.

Agree with Bill about the Medium cavalry on the left. Don't go after them. They are pretty much neutralized when they have to attack units in any kind of line.

Now to see if the Germans have it in them to win this one. According to Billy, it looks like it's possible. Looking forward to posting my strategy for a German win.

King-Billy replied the topic:

#858

14 years 1 month ago

This scenario was the second part of our "Battle of the Barbarians" day that saw six games featuring Romans V Barabarians.

This time the Germans won 1 and Germans 1, with the results being R8-G7, R7-G8, R8-G5,

This is really a fun scenario, see my comments above.

Bill

King-Billy replied the topic:

#794

14 years 4 months ago

This is my favourite scenario so far. Played it twice, both times as the Romans. Got smashed in the first one, but won the second convincingly.

The Romans have to get the infantry into line as soon as possible and position their leaders for maxium effect, then let the Germans smash themselves against the wall of troops.

Need to watch the left flank though, those medium cavalry can be nasty. Let them come to you, don't go after them, but do not leave the medium infantry to protect the flank, they need to be in the middle. Use the archers and the Roman medium cavalry.

Bill

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