Other After Action Reports: WRG 6th

I started wargaming at school, but didn’t properly play on a regular basis until I went to university. There I joined a thriving wargaming society (we even won the Student Championships one year) and almost exclusively played the Ancients period using the Wargames Research Group’s 6th Edition rules.

Those rules seem very dated now, but they gave us a lot of enjoyment at the time…even if the use of language was sometimes, er, interesting. And the Army Lists: many happy hours were spent pouring over the lists in an attempt to make my limited supply of figures go further or, let’s face it, trying to build an undefeatable super-army.

In three years, I played forty-two games of WRG 6th, keeping a summary of every one. Here they are (Editor’s Note: I cringe when I read some of the below. The younger me was not the more pleasant fellow I am now!):

1. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the MARIAN ROMANS. This was a set-piece battle against Bill Tatham. Notable actions were the routing of a unit of auxiliary pikemen by the light cavalry, a unit of slingers successfully charging the Roman flank, and the re-appearance of the light cavalry to save the day. The result was a VICTORY [5].

2. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the MARIAN ROMANS. This was against Richard Avery, and involved the ambushing of a Roman artillery column and escorts. The success of the Britons was largely due to an involved battle-plan, and the persistence of the slingers. Result was a VICTORY [3].

3. Commanding the CARTHAGINIANS against the CAMILLAN ROMANS. This was against Peter Waugh. It involved the Carthaginians being required to re-inforce another army, and thus get off the board as soon as possible, or to destroy the Roman army here. Due to the fact that half the Romans never got into the battle at all (a long, thin line approach), the Carthaginians managed to punch a hole in the Roman line and escape - largely destroying the Romans in the process. The Gallic infantry did well. Result was a VICTORY [2].

4. Commanding the CAMILLAN ROMANS against the CARTHAGINIANS. This was against Colm McQuintoch, and was a set-piece battle. Having drawn up in a line on the hillside at one edge of the battlefield, the Romans dealt with the Carthaginian elephants with light infantry. By an amazing cavalry charge from the woods, the whole Carthaginian right flank crumpled, leaving the rest of their army open to flank attacks from the legionarii. This was the first appearance of the Roman general Flaminius. Result was a VICTORY [3].

5. Commanding the CARTHAGINIANS against the CAMILLAN ROMANS. This was once again against Peter Waugh and was actually a four-player occasion: the Carthaginians being supported by the Syracusan Greeks. This saw the first appearance of the Carthaginian general Mago. The Carthaginian battle-plan was very rushed, and then some mistakes were made. Neither was the situation helped by bad die-rolls. When the battle finished, due to a lack of time, the Carthaginian/Greek alliance had achieved a WINNING DRAW, being in a position where victory would have resulted if the game had continued.

6. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the CAMILLAN ROMANS. A set-piece battle, but with the Britons down about 350 points, and with one inexperienced general. The referee also turned out to be biased against the Britons too! Despite this great disadvantage, two outflanking manoeuvres and some clever slinger work meant that when the battle ended, the Britons had achieved a VICTORY [1].

7. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the LATE IMPERIAL ROMANS. After the terrain had been chosen, neither side out-scouted the other. However, the Britons dispatched the whole of the light cavalry off-table in an outflanking manoeuvre. This action tied up so much of the Romans’ force that the slingers were able to get good casualties against the rest of the Roman army before being forced to retreat. Once the warbands joined in, the Romans gradually crumpled: the chariots not even being needed! Basically a good use of terrain and competent generalship won the Ancient Britons a VICTORY [3].

8. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the EARLY ACHAEMIC PERSIANS. After occupying the main feature of the battlefield, a large hill, with lots of infantry and slingers, the force of cavalry and two warbands on the right flank advanced at top speed. While the enemy were still trying to take the hill, constantly pelted by slingers, their right flank fell, exposing the rear of the hill-taking force. The enemy commander conceded once the impetuous Britons had hit the back of his troops. An outflanking manoeuvre with the chariots failed, but it was still a VICTORY [5] for the Ancient Britons.

9. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the EARLY ACHAEMIC PERSIANS. A re-match of the battle, above, once against Adrian. The British set up much as before, except for the deployment of the chariots on the left flank, and the cavalry sent off to outflank (unsuccessfully!). Anyway, the Immortals and the Line Infantry tried to take the hill, but failed after much fighting, eventually fleeing. The chariots destroyed the holding force at the back of the Persians, so were all ready to join in to the rear of the rest of the Persians, who were engaged in very heavy fighting on the right flank. Eventually the Britons began to prevail here as well, so the Persian commander decided on a retreat, giving the Britons a VICTORY [5].

10. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the EARLY ACHAEMIC PERSIANS. This time Colm was commanding the Persians in what turned out to be a marathon battle of eight hours. The outflanking chariots kept the Immortals and the Hoplites occupied, while the rest of the army made a big push forward. Due largely to most unlucky die-rolls, this push almost resulted in defeat, but the reserve warband held the enemy for long enough for the rest of the army to recover. The second push forward, again against the Persian infantry, succeeded, and the morale bonus of four broken enemy units (three by the reserve warband) ensured a VICTORY [1] for the Britons.

11. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the EARLY ACHAEMIC PERSIANS again. Having learnt to stay out of bow-shot, the Britons dispatched a warband to outflank while the rest of the army advanced more slowly. This warband appeared, charged and routed an enemy cavalry unit. This unit fled across the front of the rest of the enemy line, giving the rest of the army morale checks, and allowing the Ancient Britons to advance whilst they interfered with the archery of the army. At this point the Persian commander gave up in disgust! The result: a VICTORY [5] for the Ancient Brits.

12. Commanding the EARLY ACHAEMIC PERSIANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. For once I tried the reverse! The battle was very close indeed, but the fact that a unit of Light Infantry went impetuous and held off an entire warband; and that the Immortals sailed through intact (just shooting at anyone near them) meant that the Persians achieved a VICTORY [1].

14. The second battle of the 1985 NSWCs was commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the SELEUCIDS. Overconfidence and a general ‘couldn’t be bothered to think’ made me use possibly the worst strategy possible: an all-out charge towards the enemy. When we hit, they creamed us! Bad die rolls didn’t help, and seven broken units decided me to concede having suffered a LOSS [5].

15. The third battle of the NSWCs: commanding the ANICIENT BRITONS against the FEUDAL SPANISH. Having seen I was facing an army of all ExtraHeavy Knights, ExtraHeavy Cavalry or Heavy Cavalry, I was at first dismayed. However, good use of terrain (incidentally just about the only one suited to the Ancient Britons); the small size of his units; and good use of slingers, meant that he could never concentrate his forces enough. Sheer weight of numbers assured a VICTORY [4].

16. A friendly at the NSWCs. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the ARAB CONQUEST. At first things went very badly, with my chariots and one warband routing. However, not giving up hope, and some lucky die-rolls meant I began to fight back. The chariots rallied and returned, my warbands advanced, and some more good die-rolls nd good tactics meant what originally looked like another defeat actually turned into a VICTORY [3].

17. Commanding the NEW KINGDOM EGYPTIANS against the GHUZZ. My placement of terrain gave me one secure flank, but on the other my mass chariots crumbled despite being Regular A and B. The centre, however, was won, all of his five units there breaking under the onslaught of one spearman unit and the “Wild Ass Axemen”, who routed three single-handed. This emant I could get the remainder of my forces over to my destroyed flank, hold his cavalry, and eventually begin to defeat the. In all, a VICTORY [2].

18. Commanding the INDIANS against the VIKINGS. The battle started well: the four-horse Heavy Chariots destroying an enemy unit, and heavy longbow fire causing mass casualties. However, once the enemy began to advance seriously, things didn’t go so well: half thec entre collapsed, the other half winning. However, as the battle drew to a close, General Gundi himself led an elephant charge to give the Indians a VICTORY [1].

19. Commanding the EARLY ACHEMENID PERSIANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. This battle was against a tri-generalship and with the Persians highly upgraded to make up points values. Although the terrain was not very good, the battle began well, with his outflanking forces not arriving and some effective archery on my part. However, bad die rolls on my part meant that I ended up in a line facing the Britons and, in the hand-to-hand combat that followed, the Persians lost and, despite the victory of the Hoplites and the dispatching of an enemy general, eventually broke. The result, a LOSS [3]. However, it was later discovered that the Persian Immortals had fought the whole battle as Medium Infantry not Heavy Infantry, due to the cheating of the tri-generalship (Editor’s Note: Can’t believe I wrote this!) so perhaps not such a loss after all, as much of the battle’s outcome depended on how the Immortals fought.

20. Commanding the EARLY ACHEMENID PERSIANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. This was a re-match of the above battle, with me still furious at the cheating in the last conflict, above. Anyway, the terrain was in my favour due to some excellent die-rolling, and a combination of heavy missile fire and good Immortal work did wonders. The appropriate moment was excellently chosen to hurl in the Heavy Cavalry reserve and the day was won. A VICTORY [4] for the Persians.

21. Commanding the EARLY ACHEMENID PERSIANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. The terrain was bad, but I planned a daring reversal which failed only due to monstrous bad luck (Editor’s Note: Uh huh!). Basically my idea was to sacrifice the lights in order to give the main infantry a chance to break one of his flanks. Unfortunately this failed, ending in a LOSS [5].

22. Commanding the EARLY ACHEMENID PERSIANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. Once again the terrain was against me but, for once, luck was with me. Anyway, a plan of “wait for him to come to me” worked, and at the end of the battle, due to time, the Persians had achieved a VICTORY [1].

23. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS against the EARLY ACHAEMIC PERSIANS. The terrain was all on my side, and a successful flanking manouevre meant that his left flank crumpled entirely. The battle ended as my forces were moving across to take his other flank by surprise. The result, a VICTORY [4] for the Britons.

24. Commanding the GHUZZ against the VIKINGS. The battle began well, but soon my skirmishing forces began to evade into each other and, as the battle ended, most of my units had evaded off the board and were just returning. In all, I caused more casualties but, because the battle had to end early, I suffered a minor tactical defeat or a LOSS [1]. If it had continued, well…who knows!

25. Commanding the MARIAN ROMANS against the TIBETANS. The only tactics possible against a bow-army are an all out charge as soon as possible, and I would have won this way but for the fact I was stupid and disordered most of my units. The result was therefore a LOSS [2].

26. Commanding the EARLY IMPERIAL ROMANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. This was a re-run of the battle of Mancetta, where the Iceni rebellion under Boudicca was crushed. The battle went very much as was expected, and the Romans won a total victory. VICTORY [5].

27. Commanding the EARLY IMPERIAL ROMANS against the ANCIENT BRITONS. This time the terrain was fairly Briton orientated. Due to good tactics, and the fact the opposing general didn’t know the rules too well, the Romans just managed to achieve a minor tactical victory. VICTORY [1].

28. Commanding the LATER HOPLITE GREEKS versus the LATE ANGLO-IRISH. Due to the “ol’ switcherooney” tactics of the Greeks (Editor’s Note: I have no idea what I mean by this, but I assume it refers to light infantry starting the game in front of Hoplites then melting back through them as contact is made) and the bad luck of the Irish, the Spartans achieve a VICTORY [3].

30. Commanding the LATER HOPLITE GREEKS versus the NORSE IRISH. The terrain was fairly even, really the only differences were the fact that the Irish infantry was better (2HCW & SH) than the Hoplites. Luck was very even on both sides, but my tactics were a little better. After the main combat had gone my way…then his way…then my way etc. it was decided to make what turned out to be a great battle a DRAW [0].

31. Commanding the LATER HOPLITE GREEKS versus the MARIAN ROMANS. Brasidas decided on an all out advance, with the Hoplites in the centre, the Peltasts on one wing and the Syracusans on the other. Both wings defeated their opposition heavily, but in the centre the Hoplites had difficulties with the well-armed and -armoured Roman troops. However, when the battle ended, the wings were about to return to the centre, and the Hoplites were engaged in a furious melee with the Romans. The Greeks had won a tactical victory on points and position: a VICTORY [1].

32. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the EARLY IMPERIAL ROMANS. As this was against a novice commander, I was down points and terrain. The left-flank out-flanking manoeuvre failed in its original attempt, while in the centre the slingers picked at the halted legionaries, and on the right a form of stalemate reigned. In the second phase of the battle, the light cavalry saved the left wing by capturing the enemy general and sweeping all before them. In the centre, the Romans finally advanced, and the slingers retreated. On the right, due to a bit of luck, we won the all out charges. At the end of twelve phases, the situation was fairly dicey, but we had more points remaining and achieved a tactical victory: a VICTORY [1].

33. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the EARLY IMPERIAL ROMANS. A smaller scale battle with the legionaries demoted to C class. A strong chariot charge to the Roman centre of auxiliary archers broke it: destroying the Roman plans for a pincer movement. Then each of the wings was isolated by superior numbers and attacked two-to-one. The result was a complete victory or VICTORY [3].

34. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the NORMANS. This was a set-piece battle, with the terrain slightly in our favour. My plan was to bash the Vikings in the centre, hold the wings, and see what happened next! The centre attack was a great success but, after fierce fighting, the wings broke! However, the centre was now so crushed that I could bring its forces to bear on the enemy wings, and achieve a total victory. VICTORY [4].

35. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the ALEXANDRIAN MACEDONIANS. This was going to be a difficult battle: none of my units could face his and win! However, good terrain meant that I could hold his phalangites and Companions in a gap on the left side of the battlefield whilst I attempted to cream the rest of his army via weight of numbers. This worked! In the sixth period of the battle, when it was halted for time reasons, his phalangites etc were just beginning to threaten my army, and his left wing and most of his centre was just about to crumble beneath the assault. in all a VICTORY [2] much to my surprise.

36. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the CARTHAGINIANS. The terrain, two woods, was well back on my side so I decided to lurk in the woods whilst my light cavalry on the wings defeated his light cavalry. He advanced throughout, but collapsed on the right wing. As the battle went on, his wings collapsed even further, the centre still not met. The wings wrapped up, the centres met, and he was crushed on all sides. A total victory. VICTORY [5].

The next four battles were at the National Student Wargames Championships 1986

37. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the THEMATIC BYZANTINES. The terrain, as at most competitions, was against me. Also, his army being ExtraHeavy Cavalry etc, I couldn’t do much in combat. However, to be fair, his tactics were good, and I suffered a 7-18 loss: a LOSS [3].

38. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the ARAB EMPIRE. The terrain was in my favour as it was bisected by a river. I formed up on the bank, anticipated his outflanking move with two warbands, and waited. His outflanking force was mashed, his river-crossing force bounced off mine, his general routed and carried away the rest of the force by the domino affect. A 23-3 victory which is a total victory. VICTORY [5].

39. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the EARLY HUNGARIANS. The terrain was against me again, ebing open and versus a cavalry army with lots of ExtraHeavies and Knights. I tried some unusual tactics which might have worked apart from some bad luck (Editor’s Note: I wish I could remember what these ‘unusual tactics’ were!) Anyway, I was fairly crushed, suffering a 2-23 very heavy defeat. A LOSS [5].

40. Commanding the ANCIENT BRITONS versus the FEUDAL SPANISH. The same terrain as above, so I wasn’t too confident as his army was very similar to the above. However, despite some initial appallingly bad die-rolling, I crushed him. However, the battle ended, by tournament rules, before I could do more than a 16-9 or heavy victory. A VICTORY [3].

In all, I came 8th, but would have come 2nd if the above battle (#40) had continued. Final points for me were 47:53 or -6.

41. Commanding the SELEUCIDS against the NORMANS. This was against an inexperienced opponent, who knew the rules well. As I expected, my archers destroyed his morale, and his attempt to charge Heavy Cavalry wedges into Pike ended in disaster. I scored a heavy VICTORY [3].