Bloody Huns

Bloody Huns - Late Romans v Sassanid Persians

Game . Using Never mind the Bannerets/ Dark Ages in 28mm.

Players
Late Roman  : Adam.
Sassanids     : David P 

AAR by David Pentland.

A Roman force deployed to stop a major Persian incursion encounters the enemy’s formidable cavalry advance guard near a mile fort.

The Romans have also arranged and paid for the support of a contingent of Huns, but as the battle is about to begin they seem to have hesitated.

Taking the field, the Persians are played by David, and the Late Romans by Adam. The Huns will be rolled for each turn (1D6), on a 1 they will enter for the Persians, and for the Romans on a 6, to reflect their perfidious tendencies.

The game was played using a variant of the “Never mind the Billhooks” rules, “Never mind the Bannerets/ Dark Ages”. Each side draws a special event card to be held and played anytime during the game. As in Billhooks the game begins with a maneuver phase, where each side in turn moves a unit until one is fired upon or charged. With the Sassanid’s just entering the mat edge at the start it takes sometime to bring their forces close enough to begin engaging the Roman defenders.

The Romans use this phase to move forward their right wing to flank the advancing enemy.

But when a shower of Roman arrows bring the phase to an end, the Persians are caught on the hop with an Elephant out of line, and cavalry trying avoid being flanked.

Then battle is joined, and the card deck comes into play. This consists of one card for each general on the board, two bonus cards and a skirmish card for each side.

The bulk of the Persian vanguard continue to advance, while the forward elephant is able to reach the Roman line, 

A Sogdian Heavy Cavalry unit engages Roman cavalry on Persian left. The ensuing melee is inconclusive and both are locked in combat.

Turn 2 - Roll for the Huns, but they decide to wait and see how the battle develops. 

The Cavalry melee continues when Roman Fedoratai attack the Sogdians in their flank.

Ultimately both cavalry units are routed, leaving the Roman infantry victorious.

When the Sassanids play their saved special event card however, a Clibinari unit is able to catch these same infantry in the flank and breaks them in turn.

On the road the main line of Sassanids advance, (except for the second elephant that is lacking available orders. Leaders can be level 1, 2 or 3. The level determines how many orders a leader can give per turn, and also gives bonus attacks in combat. Sometimes there are not enough orders to move all one’s units.)

The Persian Cataphracts charge the remaining Roman cavalry unit, who counter charges, both sides taking heavy losses.

Meanwhile the engaged elephant despite being injured and losing most of it crew, still fights on against the Roman infantry.

At the end of the turn the Romans are nearing breaking point, but a roll 1 for the Huns seals their fate, and living up to their reputation they ignore their contract with their former paymasters and throw in their lot with the Persians. 

Adam concedes.

Photos curtesy of David Pentland and the Editor.