Sertorius against Pompey, Part One

And they're off! I end up playing the Spanish contingent on the far right flank of the army of Sertorius, so the photos are taken from behind his army. Above you can see the far left (loony) contingent of Celtiberians and Caetrati moving forward to attack Pompey's Gallic horse and foot. Simon is running the Sertorian left, Willie the Pompeian right.

Next are Celtiberians trampling some trees in their haste to get at the enemy, which unfortunately includes some legionaries.

Moving into the centre, the Romans of both sides can be seen advancing. Billy plays Pompey, while Larry is Sertorius.

The next photo along was too blurry, but here is my command at the Spanish far right, facing off against what seems like innumerable Numidians, run by Colin.

A long table shot of the situation after Turn One. Sertorians to the left as you look at it.

A low level shot of the action on my wing.

How it all looks from the humble perspective of the PBI.

The masses advance further at Simon's end of the field.

More of the same.

The legions are about to collide.

I am also in charge of the massed Spanish foot, facing a mixture of legionaries and Italian auxiliaries. I deliberately move my rightmost Spanish infantry towards my right to support my outnumbered Spanish cavalry. This is a calculated risk, since it leaves the next unit in facing both of the Italian foot units.

 I am being cagey at my extreme right - I need to try to pick off the Numidians a unit at a time to try to compensate for their numbers.

The whole table from off to my flank at this time. The nice even lines of Romans can be seen in the middle of the field, while my flank is more flowing. Only the gods know what is going at the far end.

I move over there to take a photo, and while the Caetrati seem to be doing well at the extreme left, the Celtiberians here are not enjoying an encounter with the legions.

So this is what a Roman civil war looks like.

Some of my Spanish foot end up fighting legionaries too.

My other units move out as per orders.

And my Spanish heavy cavalry prepare to charge.

That's all for now, since at this point my camera batteries gave out and the two spare sets I had with me turned out to be duds. Fortunately, Colin was able to come to the rescue, and I'll pick up the narrative from here once he emails his photos to me...

Found another blog

You have to see the Persians on here, I came across it on TMP: Land of the Lead.

The Return of the Kriegshut

Wille calls his large shed for gaming his Kriegshut, and to celebrate its return after much refurbishment, we are putting on a rather grand ancients battle on Saturday. These photos show the setup.

The battle is loosely based on historical events. The young Gnaeus Pompeius (who calls himself Magnus), has decided that he needs to show all of Rome that he truly is great by marching on Sertorius in Spain. After raising auxiliaries from his home estates in Northern Italy and Cisalpine Gaul to add to the five legions voted him in exasperation by the senate, he marches through Gallia Transalpina, overawing the locals and levying more troops as he goes. He has a real chip on his shoulder about coming from Picenum and feels the need to prove himself once and for all. Arriving in Spain, he is joined by a contingent of Numidian auxiliaries sent by the long-suffering Metellus, who has been campaigning against Sertorius for several years now. The war is at a stalemate, but Metellus sees the coming of Pompey as a chance to increase the odds, just so long as the headstrong Pompey doesn't get himself and his army killed. The combined force meets the army of Sertorius, composed of three veteran legions, supplemented by many Spanish and Celtiberians. The fight is on.

First up are the Gauls on the right wing of Pompey's army, photographed by a reconnaissance unit from the opposite side.

To their left are some Roman-equipped Gallic troops, and then the first of Pompey's legions. Casualty markers can be seen waiting behind them.

Pompey's centre: legions on the plain.

His centre left: more legionaries and some massed auxiliary North Italian foot, all nice and safe on a large imposing ridge.

The final shot of the brash youngster's army shows the Numidians arrayed on his left, with a few Roman heavy horse in reserve.

Above is the first photo of the army of Sertorius, a force of Spanish cavalry, facing the Numidians.

The massed Spanish foot are next, commanded by a Roman working for Sertorius. Spaniards like hills.

The legions of Sertorius.

Celtiberians.

Finally, at his extreme left, Sertorius has placed a whole load of Caetrati.

A long table shot from one flank. Sertorius on the left, Pompey on the right.

A close-up of the Spanish cavalry.

The Spanish on their hill.

Many Numidians.

Italians and legionaries infesting a hilltop in Spain.

Many Caetrati, with Celtiberians stretching off into the distance.

A few Gauls. They like trees.

Last is a low level shot taken from the left rear of the Pompeian forces. The game is being played on Saturday. I have no idea who will win. Except Willie - he hates Romans, and so will win regardless as they slaughter one another in their endless civil wars. It does look as though many others will go down with them one way or another, though...