Thursday, December 14, 2023

Nikephorian Byzantines versus Late Imperial Romans East

This is the last game in my club's Basic Impetus League.  To understand the importance here are the currently rankings:


So, I'm in 3rd place.  Richard in 2nd place has just received a forfeit from Mark W which gives him 1 point and puts him first and exhausts all his games.  Dave slips to 2nd and has already played all his games.  I have one game to go against Steve B.  If I win I will tie for first place which we have agreed will be a shared win.  A loss will see me tie for second place and as we know, coming runner up in a war is not a good outcome.

The game would be between the player ranked 3rd and at the bottom.  What could possibly go wrong?

Have patience and you will see.

The Byzantines were out scouted.
This meant the Romans decided to deploy with a large patch of difficult terrain 
(which they had placed and which I will refer to as "the scrub")
effectively separating the two armies.

Byzantines advance.
A contest starts to develop for the scrub.

The Byzantines try and advance as quickly as they can,
the Roman infantry doesn't move,
but their cavalry move to meet the Byzantine threat.

The fighting in the scrub continues.
Byzantines keep advancing,
but the Roman cavalry now decide to withdraw.

Byzantines make some progress in the scrub,
and start to turn their army to face the enemy.

The Byzantine Kataphractoi mounted on beautiful grey horses
get into the fighting round the scrub.
Even the General with the purple cloaked Tagmatic Kavellaroi gets into the action.

Finally some progress as Byzantine weight of numbers gets some results in the scrub.

The Roman infantry has now about faced.

The Byzantines have now arrived on the Roman's right flank,
or is it now their left flank?

It's slow work...

Disaster!
The Byzantine Kataphractoi charge but come up short.
The Roman archers engage.
However...
The Byzantines have now captured the scrub.

Both sides have now lost their heavy cavalry.
The Roman medium cavalry is somewhat exposed now the Byzantine legion has caught up.

Did I say it's slow work already?
Well it is.

Make that very slow.

Progress!
Varangians to the fore,
Byzantine Flankers live up to their name,
and have slipped round the Roman flank.

The Romans are surrounded!

In what should have been a game winning move,
the rear end charge by the Byzantine Flankers is driven off.
Worse, the Varangians were dealt a mortal blow by some pointed sticks.

However, Byzantine bow fire wins the day!

Phew, what an epic fight.



 

2 comments:

  1. I always like to see the Byzantines in action - and to see them winning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Getting to play a game is a win.
      Getting to use my figures is a win.
      And winning is a win.
      :-)

      Delete