Yet another DBM scenario. This one is based on the 'Horse and Foot' scenario in the WRG scenario book. A mostly infantry army is surprised on the march by a mostly cavalry one, and need to get to the protection of the hills if it can...

On the road were 350AP of Early Imperial Romans complete with baggage strung out in column of route (except for some light troops protecting the flanks)

OB:

CinC Reg Cv(O)

Equites Reg Cv(O)x5

Moors Irr Lh(O)x3

Legion Reg Bd(O)x4

Auxilia Reg Ax(S)x4

Sub1 Reg Cv(O)

Archers Reg Bw(O)x6

Auxilia Reg Ax(S)x4

Legion Reg Bd(O)x6

Sub2 Reg Cv(O)

Auxilia Reg Ax(S)x4

Legion Reg Bd(O)x6

Slingers Reg Ps(O)x4

Baggage x 6 (Mobile)

In the flat corner of the table, were 350AP of Parthians

OB:

CinC Irr Kn(X)

Cats Irr Kn(X)x7

Archers Irr Lh(F)x8

Tribesmen Irr Ax(O)x5

Sub1 & 2 (Identical)

Gen Irr Kn(X)

Cats Irr Kn(X)x3

Archers Irr Lh(F)x12

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The Roman Auxilia immediately scuttled into all available cover, like beetles under a strong light. The Bowmen formed up on the right of the Rgo in the centre of the table, with their right flank covered by legionaries. To the left of the Rgo were the CinC's legionaries, the cavalry and the light horse. The baggage headed for the hills as fast as PIPs would allow.

The Parthians advanced fast on both flanks, trying to work round the edges of the Roman lines. The mass of cataphracts trundled forward in the centre, heading for the Roman cavalry on one side, and the bowmen on the other.

There ensued a long drawn out struggle between Cataphracts and Bowmen where in spite of getting into contact several times nobody died.

However, the commander of the left hand Parthian command was shot from the saddle on a 6:1 (aaargh! You would think that being 5(S) against Bow(O) would be enough, but it isn't). The command survived (he was the first loss) but couldn't do much thereafter and light horse started to get picked off by the Roman commander on this wing. On the right, the cataphracts slowly ground through the cavalry but made no impression on the legions. Meanwhile the Moors killed lots of Horse archers. The Parthian CinC fed in reserves of both cataphracts and light horse as PIPs allowed.

Finally, a hole opened in the line of Roman cavalry, and the Roman CinC died - his demoralised command fled and the light horse poured round to menace the Roman right flank from behind. The Romans redoubled their attack against the Parthian left wing and succeeded in demoralising it, but their losses mounted too fast as the horse archers hit the rear of

the line, and the army broke.

Close thing, though.

My Roman army seems to have learnt how to fight the Parthians. In the

first couple of games the cataphracts always rolled up and the

legionaries died in droves. Now they are impossible to kill. And as for

those thrice-cursed bowmen.....