Fallen Victory

These are some shots of the game we played on Saturday. I've been write a wargame campaign that could be played by non-wargamers, set during the Boudiccan revolt of 61-62AD.  It is named Fallen Victory after the statue of Claudius in Colchester that supposedly fell over just before the revolt began.

The campaign day broke into two parts. During the first, the two teams, in separate rooms, manoeuvred across replica antique maps of Roman Britain. This proved to be very exciting, as for almost the whole two and a half hours, neither team had very much of an idea what the other was up to. I umpired the Roman team which reacted to the growing crisis with considerable stoicism; no tears were shed even when II Augusta perished to a man. Below is the British team; after a somewhat shaky start, they rallied and burned a broad swathe of destruction right across the width of Roman Britain.

When the two armies met (near a burning Cirencester) we transferred the action to the tabletop, and fought it out using my miniatures and To the Strongest! rules.  The Britons formed up in a huge mass with chariots to the wings and the laager to their rear.

Above are the Romans, and below the revolting Britons.  Most of the players were novices, but there were four gamers mixed in.

Above, a flanking move by one of the British chariot wings.  Below, other British chariots that had launched an unexpected flank attack, sweep around behind the Roman lines.

Because of time limitations, we only had around an hour-and-a-half to play the game, and consequently didn't get to finish it. Some of the non-gamers picked the rules the rules up well, others found them challenging to master in 90 minutes. I am currently writing some even simpler rules that should enable the same game to be played by non-wargamers in under an hour.

Below is my favourite shot, from behind the British wagon laager.  I'll take proper photos of the laager in a few days, when I have more time.

With time running out awarded a marginal victory to the British, largely for not having lost to the far superior Roman legionaries!  It was a splendid day of gaming; I am sure I shall repeat it.