Midgard : Scenario 6 : The Final Reckoning

It took a while but it is finally here - the last battle of the Midgard : Britannia campaign. This was played on New Year's Eve, and is the first game that I have played against an opponent; admittedly I had to teach my son how to play as we went along and he didn't get to choose his own forces, but it was nice that someone else took the decisions for the opposing side. We diced for who we would play - I got the Britons whilst my son got the Romans.

I have played all of the scenarios from the rule book, so this one needed to be a little different. It would still be an all or nothing battle, but with a couple of additional objectives laid on for the Britons to rescue something from their previous results (in order to allow them to still win the campaign from this game). There are a number of objectives that can add up to an additional 7 points so they don't have to have a Crushing Victory as well as meet all of the objectives to win the campaign overall.

So, each side still has the ability to win between 1 and 3 points depending upon the size of their victory in this scenario, but the Britons will also be able to earn extra points depending on what they can achieve...

• 3 points - if Vellocatus defeats Caecilius Rufinus Pulcher (either in single combat or if his unit destroys Caecilius's unit with him in it) and thus gets revenge for his father
• 1 point for each Roman leader/hero killed by the Britons (doesn't matter who does the killing)
• 1 point for finishing the battle prior to the end of Turn 8

This scenario depicts the survivors from Scenario 5 trying desperately to get to the safety of the last Roman fortification. This scenario has the stragglers situated half-way down the length of the table with the Britons chasing them from 4.5 ST behind and their reinforcements 4.5 ST ahead of them.

The Briton army (97/239=366pts):

• Vellocatus 3 (47pts)
• Maviloduus 2 (32pts)
• Aucissa 1 (18pts)
• 2x Warriors 3 (@22 = 44pts)
• 4x Warriors 2 (@17 = 68pts)
• 1x Slingers (10pts)
• 1x Archers (15pts)
• 2x Skyclad (@16 = 32pts)
• 2x Mounted Warriors (@16 = 32pts)
• 1x Hounds (22pts)
• 1x Female Warriors (16pts)

The Britons

Right wing: Maviloduus, 4x Warriors 2, Hounds, Female Warriors

Centre: Vellocatus, 2x Skyclad, 2x Warriors 3

Left wing: Aucissa, 2x Mounted Warriors, Archers, Slingers

The Roman army (85/220=305pts):

• Caecilius Rufinus Pulcher 3 (43pts)
• Gaia Pomponia Thrax 2 (21pts)
• Marius Pollux 2 (21pts) 
• 2x Legionaries (68pts) - one full strength the other = 2 Stamina
• 2x Auxiliary Archers (58pts) - one full strength the other = 2 Stamina
• 1x Auxiliary Spearmen (24pts) 
• 2x Scorpions (@20 = 40pts)
• 1x Onager (30pts)

The survivors from Scenario 5 being chased by the Britons

The Roman reinforcements

The reinforcements

Roman Stragglers: Marius Pollux, Gaia Pomponia, Legionaries (2 Stamina), Auxiliary Archers (2 Stamina)

Reinforcements: Caecilius Rufinus Pulcher, Legionaries, Auxiliary Archers, Auxiliary Spearmen, 2x Scorpio, Onager

The idea for this scenario was that the survivors from Scenario 5 are trying make it to the safety of their own lines before they are run down. I decided to up each unit's Stamina to 2 as I thought 1 Stamina would be just too low for them - this represents the addition of the last of the wounded and other stragglers from the cohort joining them on the final leg of the journey to the watchtower. Caecilius, being mounted, got to the watchtower ahead of the stragglers, called out the last of the cohort and waited in readiness to support their comrades when they arrived.

Once the Romans had retreated from the hilltop, Vellocatus, son of Bellicus, returned to the battlefield and searched for the body of his father. He found him atop a heap of Roman bodies; their shades would accompany him to the otherworld. Casting around he found the legendary sword that was always at Bellicus's side. Raising it to the heavens, he swore that he would avenge his father and drive the hated Romans from their lands.

In the meantime, Caecilius Rufinus Pulcher had hastened his last few remaining men to help any walking wounded to their feet and ordered them to march as quickly as possible to the final watchtower where help would be waiting for them. He placed his two most trusted centurions, Marius Pollux and Gaia Pomponia, in charge of the retreat whilst he jumped astride his horse and rode pell-mell to the watchtower.

As soon as he arrived, his sweating horse was quickly replaced and the three remaining units of Roman soldiers were called out to await the arrival of the last of the cohort. Once in position, the field artillery for the cohort was drawn up; an onager and two scorpio batteries.

Turn 1 (Reputation B10, R8):

It wasn't a long wait before the last two Roman units came into view. Unfortunately, they were being hotly pursued by the raging Britons. The mounted warriors closed very rapidly but were deterred from coming too close by the arrows of the Syrian archers. The fresh Roman contingent held onto their patience whilst they waited for their brothers-at-arms to join them.

Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo at the start of the game and at the end of the first turn. Suffice to say most units advanced rapidly (2 moves each with the aid of some Command Tests being bolstered) but a few of the more reluctant ones got left behind.

Turn 2 (Rep B10, R8):

The Britons carried on advancing as rapidly as they could. The cavalry caught up with the Syrian archers again and exacted revenge upon the shock retreat they had suffered earlier, wiping out the unit. Gaia Pomponia managed to extricate herself from the melee and continued her retreat towards the Roman lines.

Seeing what had happened to the archers, the Legionaries did an about face to prevent the same from happening to them just as the artillery let loose.

End of Turn 2

Roman losses = 1 unit Archers

Turn 3 (Rep B10, R4):

It was lucky that they did as the cavalry unit impacted the half-strength century at full pace. The legionaries withstood the impact, suffering a number of casualties, but the cavalry were defeated. British war dogs bayed for Roman blood as they launched themselves at the Roman spearmen taking a few warriors down.

Meanwhile, the Roman garrison advanced to help out the beleaguered legionaries in the centre of the field, which gave time for Gaia to join the Gallic archer unit. But the legionaries under Marius's command would have none of their glory taken away so took the fight to the skyclad unit directly in front of them. The Roman artillery were again able to show their accuracy by hitting the unit of hounds which caused them to retreat (I made a mistake here, one of this unit's Traits means they do not retreat from combat).

End of Turn 3

British losses = 1 unit cavalry

Turn 4 (Rep B8, R5):

The legionaries' minor victory was short-lived as the skyclad Britons pushed their attack and defeated them; Marius barely escaped with his life. The rest of the British lines advanced but the hounds did not fare so well against the Roman spears and were finally culled. The Roman artillery failed to find its mark against the rapidly approaching wave of hate and iron.

End of Turn 4

British losses = 1 unit hounds
Roman losses = 1 unit legionaries

Turn 5 (Rep B6, R1):

The British cavalry noticed that the Gallic archers had become detached from the Roman defensive lines and appeared to be isolated, so charged home. This was to be their undoing as they were destroyed as a functioning unit.

On the Roman left, the defeat of the hounds opened the way for the British warriors to make their charge against the Roman auxiliary spears, but they were repulsed. Recognising that they had to defeat a unit at a time, the Roman artillery consolidated their ire upon the skyclad but to very little effect.

End of Turn 5

British losses = 1 unit cavalry

Turn 6 (Rep B6 R1):

To avoid the wrath of the Roman war machines, the skyclad turned their fury upon the isolated Roman archers to their left. They attacked them with half of their number, but the other half were still available as targets and were destroyed by the combined power of the artillery.

Now that the skyclad were out of the way, Caecilius Rufinus spotted his chance to take out the newly appointed British leader. The fresh unit of legionaries plunged into the melee in the centre of the field, put many of the British elite to the gladius and injured Vellocatus in the process. Unfortunately Caecilius also took a wound in the process.

The Roman auxiliary spears, buoyed up by their repulsion of the British warriors renewed their attacks on that unit, but Maviloduus called upon a Favour of the Gods and was able to defeat that unit.

End of Turn 6

Roman losses = 1 unit Archers

British losses = 1 unit skyclad

Turn 7 (Rep B5 R1):

Now that the spearmen were out of their way, the warriors on the British right flank saw the opportunity to destroy the dreaded Roman artillery. One of the scorpio batteries was completely destroyed in this onslaught and then the warriors eyed the onager as their next target. But, before the warriors could get there, the onager sent forth one final volley of missiles to destroy the skyclad warriors attacking the Gallic archers.

The British archers engaged the weakened Roman archers hoping for more success than their naked brethren, but under Gaia Pomponia's command they proved to be a tough nut to crack. The Roman archers pushed the British skirmishers back.

Marius Pollux saw that the artillery was about to be rolled up by the huge numbers of British warriors on his left flank, so he moved some of the scorpio machines away from the main back line in order to support Gaia Pomponia before they were overrun.

Vellocatus was now aware that the man who killed his father was before him, and in a rage charged forward with his much reduced band of followers. All were cut down to a man, but not before he reiterated the dying words and actions of his father "Though I die, I smite thee". In his glee at defeating another major British leader, Caecilius Rufinus spurred his men on to attack the next band of elite British warriors in their path. Alas, for the Roman leader, these proved to be a fresh unit with vengeance on their mind. Caecilius and the last of the legionaries were cut down.

The loss of both leaders caused each side to halt hostilities and retreat from the fray. The Roman cohort had done it. They had just about survived the gruelling journey and killed off the main British antagonists from this area's tribe.

End of Turn 7

Roman losses = 1 scorpio unit, 1 unit legionaries, Caecilius Rufinus Pulcher

British losses = 1 unit skyclad, 1 unit warriors 3, Vellocatus

Final Tally (Rep B-2 R-6):

This seems to be a fitting ending to the game and campaign. Again, the Roman units proved extremely hardy and numbers were never really able to be brought to bear against them in a truly effective manner. The main British leaders have proven very tough in the previous games but my saving rolls have been poor for them in the last two games, and the Legendary Weapon has failed to cause any wounds. I was a little surprised that the Roman general was taken out, as this turned the Narrow Victory (1 point) over to the Britons.

The Britons also managed to secure a couple of their objectives:

• Kill Roman leaders - Caecilius Rufinus was killed but not quite by Vellocatus or his unit - so only 1 point was earned here instead of 3
• The game did not reach turn 8, so this objective was achieved - 1 point

So, the final tally for this scenario was 3 points for the Britons and 0 points for the Romans giving...

Campaign Score: Romans 8 Britons 6

This final game was a close run thing in the final turn as Reputation leaked rapidly away from both sides. I will post an aftermath of this game in the next day or so and sum up what will happen to the Roman cohort's survivors and my interaction with the Midgard rules in the coming months.