The Roman Pond at Roll Call 2023
Gallic vs Seleucid
Game 2 Gallic vs Patrician Roman
After 2 games I'm very much bumping along the bottom of the table, with 2 defeats and no real successes to speak of in my theory of pouring Impetuous Medium Swordsmen (aka Warband Fast in old money) onto any and all enemies that might have the temerity to stand in my path
To be fair, Heavy Infantry Warband and decent quality cavalry were not exactly the opponents I had in mind for this poorly practiced and reasoned plan, but anyways the third game hove into view with a much more traditional Seleucid army set to be my opponent
Yes, they would have some decent cavalry, but hopefully only enough to allow my own mounted wing to position itself in the right place and neutralize them while the rest of the army cascaded like a tipped-over bag of Gallic sugar onto the strange and extremely overstretched metaphorical kitchen worktop of the Seleucid army's pikemen and infantry
The Seleucid Empire, which was established after the death of Alexander the Great and encompassed much of the eastern part of his empire, including present-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, and parts of Turkey and Central Asia. The Seleucids inherited a rich military tradition from the Macedonian army but also incorporated various elements from the diverse regions they ruled. The key elements of the Seleucid army included:
Macedonian Phalanx: The Seleucid army retained the core of the Macedonian military system, which featured the phalanx formation. The phalanx consisted of heavily armed infantry equipped with long spears called sarissas. These soldiers formed tight formations, presenting a formidable wall of spears to the enemy.
Hellenistic Infantry: In addition to the phalanx, the Seleucids also employed various other infantry units. These included peltasts, who were light infantry armed with a small shield (pelta) and javelins, and hoplites, who were heavily armoured infantry wielding a spear and a large round shield (hoplon).
Cataphracts: The Seleucids utilized heavily armoured cavalry called cataphracts. Cataphracts were equipped with complete armour for both horse and rider, providing excellent protection. They typically wielded lances or swords and were used as shock troops, capable of charging through enemy lines and breaking their formations.
Elephants: The Seleucids incorporated war elephants into their army, which were fearsome and powerful beasts on the battlefield. Elephants were used both for their sheer size and strength to trample enemy soldiers and for their ability to create chaos and disruption among enemy lines.
The lists for the Gallic and Seleucid from this game, as well as all the other lists from the games at Roll Call can be seen here in the L'Art de la Guerre Wiki.
In the hallowed realm of ancient warfare, amidst the tumultuous clash of iron, the resounding thunder of battle cries and the distant sounds of wargamers playing to other game schedules picking up the final few pasties from the school canteen, a mesmerizing tableau was set to unfold.
Yes, the coming battle would be a symphony of valour and ferocity intertwining with the fragrance of victory and the haunting spectre of defeat (or at least something vaguely similar depending on how the dice went anyway).
Here, in the heart of a swirling maelstrom, a cataclysmic dance will transpire between the brave Gallic warriors and the army of the Seleucid Empire, their destinies entwined by the whims of fate and the unyielding grip of history!
This time though the terrain had fallen more kindly for the Gauls, with a swathe of fields, plantations and vineries stretched across the centre of the table like a particularly muddy and straw-strewn necklace
With very little open ground to choose from, the Seleucids had unsurprisingly opted to drive their powerful Phalanx down the only real strip of flat and even ground in the centre, and to protect both flanks with elephants and loose formation foot where this extended their line into the less-phalanx-friendly terrain types, leaving their mounted force to do its own thing over to their left
The Gallic battle plan was simple - hurl waves of warriors at the Seleucid pikemen, roll fabulous dice and sweep the from the table to then eviscerate the Seleucid army from the middle outwards.
It wasn't an especially complex or subtle plan but after the last two defeats where the Gauls had arguably tried a little too hard on this whole "thinking" thing perhaps it would prove to be one better matched to their abilities and strengths?
L'Art de la Guerre Odds
Pike vs Warband is a classic matchup, with really swingy and exciting outcomes. At first contact the factors are equal, so anyone shading it on the dice wins, with the Impetuous Swordsmen's extra damage through Furious Charge making their successes more deadly.
If the Warband fail to break through in the initial rush however, things then turn much worse for them as this chart shows. Every hit the Warband take in that first "even" round of combat skews this chart even more in favour of the Phalanx.
Clad in a spectacular array of striped trousers and with shields pre-dating the inexorable rise of LBMS transfers but still through the magic of Veni Vidi Vici waterslide technology, adorned with intricate motifs and symbols that echo the proud heritage of their tribes, the Gallic warriors, like ancient titans, surged forward with sinewy grace.
Their flowing manes, like a wild tapestry of flame, fluttered in the wind, marking their presence as a celestial beacon of defiance against the fact they had already lost 2 games with this exact same tactic.
In their hands, gleaming weapons—wrought with the ancient knowledge of their forefathers—seek to carve destiny's path.
Look out for Zlatan !
The two lines of cavalry were jostling for moral superiority on the right flank of the Gallic army, giving the Gaulish horsemen finally the matchup they had sort of been seeking all weekend in facing a better, but smaller enemy cavalry force.
Even the solid mass of Soldurii Heavy Infantry were in place aligned with the wild cavalry activities of the rest of their command, ready to blunt the Seleucid mounted wings fierce charge and then try and overwhelm them by sheer weight of numbers at some unspecified later point in the battle
Arrayed in disciplined ranks, the Seleucid pikemen formed an indomitable wall of iron and resolve.
Assembled in unyielding phalanxes, their towering sarissas extend like very thin tree trunks with all the branches stripped off, or possibly even big long bits of bamboo, a forest of deathly steel-tipped nastiness that disallowed any intrusion of doubt.
Behind their glistening shields, their eyes, resolute and unwavering, the pikemen clearly harboured the battle-hardened spirit that had withstood the test of time as they checked the Gallic charge and paid it back with considerable interest to boot!
The Seleucid cavalry were massively outnumbered, but far better in quality. Faced with such a dilemma, and swept up in the excitement and chaos of the infantry battle to their immediate left, the mounted Gallic warriors were keen to unleash their savage fervour, their minds aflame with the spirit of unyielding freedom as they simply decided to give it a bit of a punt.
Like the noble beasts of untamed might on which they rode to battle, the Gallic horsemen danced amidst the fury of the Xystophoroi's charge, their swift movements tracing an ephemeral tapestry of destiny upon the rather lovely green battle mat no doubt provided by that muse of the tabletop surface, Rafa and his Whims.
With every strike, the two sides spears and lances sang an elegy of violence and combat, the Gauls articulating the fierce and indomitable spirit that resisted for so long the oppressive yoke of empires, and the Seleucids just being efficient and happy they had longer spears and Armour as well.
As the two armies struggled to gain the upper hand, a tempest of valour washes over the field of conflict, a sensory overture that spoke loudly in the language of sweat, blood, indomitable spirit and (in many cases) fear-induced flatulence.
With each clash, the thunderous percussion of metal on metal reverberated through the very fabric of existence in a manner which had never been seen before in the Holywell Junior School (unless you count the time Mr Harrisson the music teacher accidentally got given a hash cookie and ended up having to be surgically removed from the school drum kit).
The harmonious chorus of grunts, battle cries, and the clash of arms blended together in an intoxicating melody that crescendo'ed with the fervour of the gods of war, dice and tiny little soldiers.
Flanking the Seleucid phalanx, a symphony of spear-wielding warriors stood poised in the muddy fields and plantations, their disciplined forms evoking an aura of unwavering determination which their combat factors against Impetuous Swordsmen somewhat belied. ..
In this moment of consequence, as destiny weaved its intricate threads the Gauls grasped the opportunity arrayed before them.
A glint of determination flickered across their eyes, signalling their understanding of the immense and rather obvious strategic significance that now lay within their grasp.
With fervour, audacity, and a sup of Magic Potion they charged home, their footsteps light as plastic figures as they traversed the battlefield like nimble spirits gliding upon the winds of fate to fall upon the flanks of the Seleucid army.
These Gallic heroes knew, should they succeed—should the gallantry of Gaul breach the Seleucid flanks.
A torrent of chaos and fury would then descend upon the tightly-knit phalanx, shattering the impenetrable façade of the pikemen and the air itself would ignite with a symphony of battle cries, the cacophony of clashing weapons, and possibly the sounds of post beans and pasty wargamers flatulence as the Gauls, like avatars of celestial wrath, unleashed their wild spirits upon their now outflanked adversaries.
The Gallic cavalry were by now deep into their rather risky plan of absorbing the Seleucid cavalry charge and then outflanking the outnumbered enemy.
Each sweaty sword thrust, each perspiration-inducing outflanking movement was a study in precision, harmony, and sheer grab-your-knackers bravery and faith in pure luck as the two forces wove an intricate tapestry of danger that sought to ensnare the Xystophoroi in the Gauls rather messy and ad-hoc trap.
But within the hearts of these intrepid warriors beat a pulsating rhythm of unity—a bond stronger than any clever new-fangled cavalry armour arrayed against them - and sheer numbers was nice too, even though the Gallic cavalry in the middle of the line were now pretty close to defeat.
Signa inferre! Praege! Concursu! The ebb and flow of this ancient tapestry of carnage was now weaving a spellbinding narrative—a testament to the indomitable spirit of mankind and the rather obvious but still exciting narrative of having a bigger, wider army and trying to pin an enemy frontally and get around their flanks.
In the close quarters fighting of this relentless struggle, the bravery and audacity of the Gallic warriors had run into the hard reality of a wall of decent quality pikemen, and had pretty much come up short all along the line when confronted by the discipline and fortitude of the Seleucid Phalanx.
But, with both flanks still very much to play for, the Gods themselves now held their breath (another fart thing probably?), as if ensnared by this ethereal tableau for which the entire age of Rome was seemingly looking on (or would have been if it was a top table clash).
This was the true manifestation of the eternal struggle between the unyielding forces of Successor destiny and the soaring aspirations of the Gallic soul.
Mercenaries: The Seleucid army often employed mercenaries from various regions, including Greeks, Thracians, and Galatians. These mercenaries brought their own unique fighting styles and weapons to the army, adding versatility and diversity to the Seleucid forces.
Archers and Slingers: The Seleucids relied on ranged units such as archers and slingers to provide long-range support. Archers were skilled in using bows, while slingers were proficient in launching projectiles using slings. These troops could soften enemy formations and disrupt their movements before engaging in close combat.
Royal Guard: The Seleucid kings maintained a personal guard unit known as the Agema. The Agema consisted of elite soldiers, carefully selected for their loyalty and skill in combat. They served as the king's bodyguard and were often deployed in crucial battles as an elite fighting force.
In ADLG terms the Seleucid army is a diverse and well-equipped force that combines elements of the Macedonian military tradition with the best parts of the martial influences of the regions they ruled. Their broad range of infantry, cavalry, and specialized units makes them a formidable military power in the Hellenistic era.
The Seleucid pikemen, disciplined and resolute, had by now largely shrugged off the supposedly devastating Gallic initial charge.
They instead stood like an impregnable bastion against the relentless tide of Gauls, their synchronized movements speaking of an unspoken (eh?) unity, an unbreakable bond that transcended the limits of mere mortals and hinted at the longevity of metal figures in an age when we are all toying with 3D printing.
As their sarissas thrust forward with unyielding precision, the Phalanx resembled a deadly forest of iron (a metaphor specially picked for those of you with Skatzochoirophobia, aka a phobia of hedgehogs), each strike a calculated arbiter of fate, severing the mortal coil of the foolhardy Gauls who had dared to challenge the pikemen's on-table dominion.
As the sun's golden rays started to fade upon the horizon, the Gallic warriors, adorned in vibrant hues and bearing the symbols of their proud tribes, charged home against the smattering of non-Elite Thracians who guarded the left flank of the Seleucid infantry line.
Quod erat demonstrandum! This was a chance to avenge the pasting of the first game suffered at the hands of these two-handed weapon waving forest peoples, and the Gauls were determined to record a new entry in that ledger of combat, their souls now aflame with the fire of ancestral defiance and thoughts of revenge.
In this twilight realm of bravery, audacity and stupidity the Gallic warriors were also however being forced to confront the mighty Seleucid beasts of war, in the shape of their irrepressible elephants.
These rare hidebound biological machines of fury stood proud guards on the flanks of the Phalanx, their eyes shimmering with a gleam of as-yet untold valour. Each Gaulish warrior knew their task - they needed to beat the odds here if they wished to restore honour and freedom to Gaul, each man becoming an embodiment of the very essence of Gaulish indomitability and (as a result) also some rare but no doubt hard-won Normandy-based elephant bbq expertise.
This was the moment of destiny! The Seleucid flank is utterly breached, as if a Dam Buster raid had flown in and turned sharply over the school field only to drop a bouncing bomb of Gallic goodness right into the Moeser Dam of Seleucid flank security!
The Gallic forces secret strategy of having an absolutely massive amount of men had finally paid off, as trouser-sporting warriors surged like a tidal wave of newly released Rhinewater down into the industrialised valleys of the Seleucid rear areas.
Even the swathe of Ruhr Valley industrial factories making up the enemy baggage were now apparently a target for the surging attacks of the Gallic warriors!
With the Gallic warriors now surging forward on both flanks, sweeping away the resistance of the holding forces of the Seleucid Empire, the catastrophic failure to smash frontally through the Phalanx was now rapidly being forgotten by the Goscinny and Uderzo of contemporary post-battle song writing in the Gallic chieftains entourage.
The Seleucids were taking serious casualties on both wings, and their mighty pike block was now chasing the fleeting shadows of Gallic skirmishers to no effect whatsoever on the future outcome of the battle.
Seleucid List Building in ADLG
Sic erat scriptum! Swarms of Gallic cavalry were buzzing like Francophone flies around the exhausted and confused remnants of the Seleucid mounted wing as well, as the Soldurii infantry played their role to near perfection, neutralising and absorbing the final lancer charge as the horsemen of Gaul moved into position to inflict a devastating rear attack in the very near future.
Time was up for the Xystophoroi, and the Gauls were about to start celebrating cleaning the Seleucids clocks in this part of the battlefield.
Finally, with a huge crash of falling beastflesh, the once-might Seleucid Elephant Corps was no more, dragged from its position of fear-bringing military supremacy by the simple bravery of Gallic youth and slightly older more experienced guys too.
With that, with both flanks of the Phalanx wiped from the field of play and with their cavalry also squared away neatly, the Seleucid army succumbed to defeat and the Gauls record their first victory of the weekend!
Click here for the report of the next game in this competition, or read on for the post match summaries from the Generals involved, as well as another episode of legendary expert analysis from Hannibal
The Gallic Commander explains the result to his friend Obelix
Asterix: "Obelix, my dear friend, we have emerged victorious from the battle against the Greek Seleucid Empire! Our Gaulish warriors fought with immense bravery and skill, and we achieved remarkable success on both flanks of the enemy's formation."
Obelix: "That's great news, Asterix! But what about the pikemen in the centre? Did we defeat them too?"
Asterix: "Ah, Obelix, those pikemen were an incredibly formidable force. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't break through their ranks. Their disciplined formation and long spears made it extremely challenging for us to penetrate their defences."
Obelix: "But Asterix, we've always found a way to overcome our enemies! How did the pikemen manage to withstand our assault?"
Asterix: "The Greek pikemen are renowned for their defensive prowess, my friend. They formed a wall of shields and spears, creating an almost impenetrable barrier. Our attacks couldn't find a weak spot, and they held their ground resolutely."
Obelix: "So, what did we do then? How did we win the battle?"
Asterix: "While we couldn't break through their centre, we capitalized on our strengths on the flanks. We outmanoeuvred their forces, utilizing our agility and speed to overwhelm them from the sides. This forced the enemy to divert their attention and resources, weakening their overall defence."
Obelix: "Ah, I see! So, we managed to defeat them by attacking from multiple directions!"
Asterix: "Precisely, Obelix! By focusing our efforts on their flanks, we disrupted their formation and created confusion within their ranks. It prevented the enemy from reinforcing their center, which allowed us to hold our ground and claim victory."
Obelix: "That's amazing, Asterix! Our Gaulish strategy prevailed once again!"
Asterix: "Indeed, Obelix! Our ability to adapt and exploit the weaknesses of our foes is what sets us apart. While we couldn't break through the enemy's pikemen, our determination and cunning allowed us to achieve a decisive advantage in other areas of the battlefield."
Obelix: "I'm proud to fight alongside you, Asterix! We make a great team!"
Asterix: "And I'm equally proud to have you by my side, Obelix! Our friendship and unwavering spirit have always been our greatest strength. Together, we shall continue to face any challenge that comes our way."
Obelix: "Onward to new victories, Asterix! The Gauls are unstoppable!"
Asterix: "Indeed, Obelix! The Gauls shall rise triumphantly, no matter the obstacles we face!"
Hannibal's Post Match Analysis
This may have been a win, but the lack of thought you showed demonstrated once and for all that thou art a mere pawn in the game of intellect, easily sacrificed for a greater purpose by greater Captains of war than thee
You may try and claim this as a great victory through telling oratory, but I do declare, thy words are as garbled as a Frenchman trying to pronounce 'squirrel'! Thy speech of victory is as empty as the promises of a treacherous general, won as it was by the simple application of brite force and some luck against the Agema and Elephants to boot.
Do no try and correct me in this analysis - I shall cut through thy arguments like a seasoned warrior through enemy lines.
Thou art a pompous boulevardier of ignorance, strutting with false sophistication while all the time any observer can see that thy intellect is as weak as a soldier who collapses under the weight of his armour. At least there is a night of sleep for us all now before you undertake the challenge of the next game
Click here for the report of the next game in this competition
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Game 2 Gallic vs Patrician Roman
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