Infamy ! Infamy !

Richard Clarke and the Too Fat Lardies team are still hard at work developing this rule set for the Roman period and an updated play test has just been sent out to the chosen testers.

Steve C and I set to yesterday with this version to see what has changed. As before, he took the role of the Barbarian Germans, I had the Romans.

After rolling the dice, the terrain ended up like this - lots of open space !

First on, some German looney skirmishers, building up their fervour

then the German warlord with two war bands, also working on their fervour

The Roman commander came on with an infantry formation, cavalry unit sent forward and a new exciting bit of kit - a scorpion bolt thrower

Disturbingly for the Romans, another large war band appears on the Roman right flank and slingers are in the wooded hills overlooking the Roman start line

The Roman commander has now got four groups of infantry on in two formations

With Roman attention to their right, the Looney skirmishers, all fired up, have charged across to attack the scorpion

the Roman cavalry are trying to avoid a frontal assault on the barbarian war band and head for the woods, from where more barbarians could deploy if not prevented 

The looneys have managed to get behind the Roman position and attack the scorpion from the rear

so the scorpion's impact was short lived !

The action has heated up in the centre of the battlefield as Roman infantry tangle with the barbarian warriors

Initially, the barbarians have the upper hand and Roman force morale tumbles alarmingly 

Roman archers have seen off the enemy slingers in the woods

Gaping holes appear in the ranks but the Romans stubbornly fight on

Casualties are now mounting for the Germans too and their force morale descends

Eventually, it is the Roman cavalry which swings it - they destroy the Germans and their morale hits zero. A narrow win for Rome.

We used the new tweaks suggested in close combat which do give the Romans more staying power.

Our previous games have seen their smaller numbers  overwhelmed by shock in particular so this is no longer happening.

The play testing will continue but this is a good fun skirmish game in the making.