Playing The Author

Friday night at Fall In! I put on a game called Playing The Author: Romans and Celts, circa 98 A.D.. Initially it seemed that I would selcect one player and myself to be on one side with the opposing side being run by the remaining players who had signed up for the game. Eventually I transfered my command to Walt. So I got to play only one or two turns.

The layout was quite simple the Celts had to force their way through two passes held by Roman cohorts and a handful of auxilia. The Celts would be forced to fight in a very confined area. The romans would fight with secure flanks and rear. The Romans had to hold out until a relief column came on board rolled for in turn three. These would have arrive in turn four to save the Romans.

On the right of the Roman side I selected my partner Jude to hold the pass on that side. On the left I held the pass on the left. Walt O'Hara came late so I turned my command over to him as he had signed up for the game. I always figure people don't drive hundreds of miles not to play.

To the left is the general set-up. On the right are the hordes of advancing Celts. Their senior commander is on the extreme right of the photo on a chariot. To the left of the picture the Romans have deployed on the floor of the passes. Notice that the Roman auxilia have lined the edge of cliffs above the pass to hail arrows down on the enemy attempting to rush the Roman cohorts.

In the scenario the only passable areas are the floor of the passes and the areas in front of the passes. The cliffs facing the Celts were impassable from that side. From the Roman side these could be climbed. If the Romans are not relieved by on coming cohorts by turn four there would probably be no one to tell the tale of the passes. In addition to coming on in turn four the relief column woould have to arrive on board in the Roman rear. If they came on from anywhere else this would prolong the game until the column could cut its way to the passes.