The Volci has a Roman-style army. It now controls an entire peninsula and is looking for new conquests. The Gallic north beckoned. The Senones were a major power bordering the new provinces of Locri and Cartona. The second field army of Legions II, V and VI along with a strong force of cavalry and accessory units under Gladius Maximus were ordered to invade. King Vintrix and his horde were there to meet them.

The battle took place in the mountains along the shore of Lake Ulstatt. Along the shore they had their fortified camp. Advance pickets found Gauls advancing on three fronts. One force was moving along the road following the shore. The other two were moving through mountain passes that converged on the Volcian camp. Two alae of cavalry were sent out to stop the Gauls advancing along the lake road followed by a cohort of velites and marksmen slingers. Legion VI followed close behind, with Gladius Maximus directing. The rest of the army was sent to deal with the hordes coming through the passes. The Gaulic advance guard under Pollex was met by the Volcian 2nd Cavalry alae blocking the rest of the column, forcing them to maneuver through the rocky underbrush of the thick forest covering the mountains. Through the other pass King Vintrix marched with his mounted soldurii followed by a unit of Gaesatae (Gaulic Berserkers) and the rest of the Senonians.

Back with Gladius Maximus, the 1st Cavalry alae drove off a bunch of skirmishers and charged into the Gaulic cavalry. The slingers and 3rd alae of light cavalry first skirmished and then charged home against the Gaulic light cavalry. Velites took on a band of warriors. Back at the pass, the 4th Cavalry alae joined their brothers of the 2nd to hold up the Gaulic advance. A regiment of Thracian style peltasts noticed hordes of warriors advancing around the flank of the 2nd cavalry and charged in to fill the gap. Slingers hid in the underbrush to deal with King Vintrix's soldurii as they came out of the pass to link up with Pollex's warriors.

While this was going on, the elite Legion II and Legion V were fonning up to engage the rest of the Gaulic anny that was starting to emerge from the wooded mountains. Finally, the Gauls advancing up the river road were routed and destroyed. The Legion VI and cavalry moved to reinforce the Volcians battling at the pass. The Gaulic hordes were now outflanking the peltasts. The soldurii of King Vintrix charged forward, the slingers who had been harassing them up to then fled with Legion V standing ready to receive their charge. The peltasts fought furiously as enraged Gauls surrounded them and charged home. The elite Legion II charged them in the rear. The Volcian IV Cavalry alae broke and fled. The II Cavalry alae refused to flee and stood fast and died where they stood, to be honored posthumously for excessive gallantry.

Frenzied peltasts slaughtered the Gauls to their front and flanks and then fell on the nobles who had destroyed the gallant Cavalry II alae. Chief Pollex died with his men. The entire Volcian army was now in a position to receive the attack of the Semones as they were able to form battle line. The two armies crashed into each other. The Gauls made no impression against the mighty Volcians. Here the Senones lost heart and all but the gaesatae retreated. The gaesatae refused to surrender and fought on till they were surrounded and destroyed.

Battle honors were awarded to the Volcian peltasts who charged forward to fill the gap even though they knew they were at grave risk. After the Cavalry II alae, no unit did more to ensure victory than they. King Vintrix, and what remained of his army, retreated to the tribal ring fort where they still hold out. Should Gladius Maximus succeed he shall truly deserve a triumph. SPQR. The wargame rules I use are Clash by Division After Division. Along with the armies I show stats for both Clash and WRG which for many ancient gamers requires no explanation.

Volci: Field Army II
Clash Coding					WRG Coding
General: Gladius Maximus Special Powers: +1 Initiative Roll				50	C-in-C	100
A-D-M	Morale Class	Unit	# Men	Points Value	Unit	Pts
3-3-3	VR	Legion II	16	176	Reg "B" HI, HTW, Sh at 7pts	122
3-1-3	VF	Peltasts	12	96	Reg "B" LMI, 2HCW, Sh at 5pts	85
4-1-2	Vm	Slingers I	8	64	Reg "B" LI, S, Sh at, 5pts	50
1-3-2	XR	H. Cavalry	12	108	Reg "C" HC, JLS, Sh at 10pts	130
1-3-2	XR	H. Cavalry	12	108	Reg "C" HC, JLS, Sh at 10pts	130
1-1-2	XR	Lt. Cavalry	8	56	Reg "C" LC, JLS, Sh at 8pts	74
1-1-2	XR	Lt. Cavalry	8	56	Reg "C" LC, JLS, Sh at 8pts	74
2-3-2	XR	Legion V	16	144	Reg "C" HI, HTW, Sh at 6pts	106
2-3-2	XR	Legion VI	16	144	Reg "C" HI, HTW, Sh at 6pts	106
1-1-2	XR	Velites	12	60	Reg "C" LMI, JLS Sh at 4pts	58
2-1-1	X	Slingers	8	40	Reg "C" LI, S, Sh at 4pts	42
Total Points Value: 1152					Total Points Value: 1077

Senones
Clash Coding					WRG Coding
General: King Vintrix Special Powers: +1 Initiative all units in Command Radius may be command moved				50	C-in-C	100
General: Pollex				50	Sub General	50
2-3-3	VF	Soldurii (Hvy Cav)	12	132	Irr "B" HC, JLS, Sh at 9pts	133
3-1-4	EF	Gaesatae	16	160	Irr "A" M1, JLS, Sh at 5pts	105
1-3-2	XF	H. Cavalry	12	108	Irr "C" HC, JLS, Sh at 8pts	121
1-3-2	XF	H. Cavalry	12	108	Irr "C" HC, JLS, Sh at 8pts	121
1-3-2	XF	H. Cavalry	12	108	Irr "C" HC, JLS, Sh at 8pts	121
1-1-2	XF	Lt. Cavalry	8	56	Irr "C" LC, JLS, Sh at 6pts	73
1-1-2	XF	Lt. Cavalry	8	56	Irr "C" LC, JLS, Sh at 6pts	73
1-1-2	XF	Warriors	12	60	Irr "C" LMI, JLS, Sh at 3pts	61
1-1-2	XF	Warriors	12	60	Irr "C" LMI, JLS, Sh at 3pts	61
1-1-2	XF	Warriors	12	60	Irr "C" LMI, JLS, Sh at 3pts	61
1-1-2	XF	Warriors	12	60	Irr "C" LM1, JLS, Sh at 3pts	61
1-1-2	XF	Warriors	12	60	Irr "C" LMI, JLS, Sh at 3pts	61
1-1-2	XF	Warriors	12	60	Irr "C" LMI JLS, Sh at 3pts	61
2-1-2	XF	Slingers	8	48	Irr "C" LI, S, Sh at 3pts	49
2-1-2	XF	Slingers	8	48	Irr "C" LI, S, Sh at 3pts	49
1-1-1	LF	Slingers	8	32	Irr "D" LI, S, Sh at 2pts	41
1-1-1	LF	Slingers	8	32	Irr "D" Ll, S, Sh at 2pts	41
0-1-1	LF	Skirmishers	8	24	Irr "D" LI, JLS, Sh at 2pts	41
Total Points Value: 1372					Total Points Value: 1484

Coding for Clash: A = Attack Class, D = Defense Class, M = Moral Class, L = Levy, X = Experienced, V = Veteran, E = Elite, R = Regular, F = Fanatic.

I added a few extra rules. I made slings into +1 weapons and created m = marksmen. I also added extra powers for generals to add a little variety to generals' abilities and spice up my campaign.

I used my portable wargame table to run this battle. It is made out of two l/2" thick foamcore boards that are taped together down one edge. When unfolded it gives me a 40" by 60" playing area which is more than enough space for 15mm armies. This is particularly useful when you live in a cramped apartment.

The battlefield started with Lake Ulstatt on one edge. The Volcian marching camp was in one corner along the lake with a road running along the lake shore. A small stream ran into the lake. Moving away from the lake, the land rose 2 levels of geo-hex. On top of this were two levels of geo-hex mountain ridges forming two gorges which roads ran through.

Most of the table was covered with forest except for the quarter of the table where the marching camp was located (roughly a 20" by 30" area). The forested landscape gave the Gauls plenty of cover but when they left the roads it slowed up their advance. The Volcians were set up in their fort. Each unit started its movement from the two gates which were on the table. The roads were numbered 1-3. Each Gaulic unit would roll to see what road they came from. One roll was made for King Vintrix and his Soldurii. What made this game exciting for me was the knowledge that if I didn't act fast I would be overwhelmed by Gauls. My army was in a desperate situation and that added to the thrill.

One more thing I must say. I am not the slave to anybody's set of army lists. The people who write them put in a lot of work and often research, but I don't always agree with their conclusions. Then miniature manufacturers often make figures that don't fit exactly into these lists. Army lists make good research material, but treat them as written scripture is foolish. The armies I use in my campaign are based on what I have in my collection. Also, if you like my battle but don't care for Romans and Gauls, there's no reason why your battle can't be between the robots and the giant twinky men. Go for it!

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