The basic game move sequence in ARMATI is: Missile, Movement, Melee, and Morale. The deployments were just out of bow range, so the Romans, scoring higher on the movement roll, elected to move first. On the first turn then, the Romans marched off smartly toward the waiting Pontic host. The cavalry divisions on each flank made good progress; the Germanic horse forcing the Pontic general to wheel his phalanx in order to counter the threat. The legion elements advanced straight ahead, with the light infantry and / or skirmisher screens covering. The Pontic response to this general advance was limited to the left flank. Here, the light cavalry division (J) moved into contact (melee) with the Spanish cavalry (2). The scythed chariots (I) galloped off toward the auxiliaries (6). In the resulting melee between the mounted elements, the Spanish scored a single BP against the light cavalry.

(BP is an acronym for "break point", and each unit type has a certain number of these break points. Once they reach that number via missile or melee combat, the unit is considered broken and removed from the field. I will try to avoid a running commentary on the rules, as my intention is to report the battle. For those readers interested in this set of ancient - and other periods - rules, please see the review by Dave Ottney in MWAN No. 71, pages 87-90.)

Turn two saw the initiative swing to the Pontic side. As both sides were now within bow and javelin range, the sky was filled with projectiles. However, die rolls were terrible all around. The Roman archers tried to whittle away at the advancing cataphracts, but were unsuccessful. The auxiliaries too, launched a volley against the advancing chariots, but to no effect. In the center of the field however, the Pontic archers (E) eliminated the slingers (5), losing one unit in the exchange. The sole movement for the Pontic force was the charge of the scythed-chariots (I) into the ranks of the Roman auxilliaries (6). In response, the Romans continued the general advance on the left, while refusing their right. The Germanic cavalry galloped deep into the Pontic zone, creating even more concern for the Pontic commander. For, to the front of the phalanx, there were two divisions of cohorts approaching. Indeed, the javelin units of both forces (4, D) had come into contact. Unfortunately for the Eastern Army, the melees did not go at all well. The Romans scored a BP against the javelin men screening the phalanx, and the chariots would never reach the line of cohorts as they were destroyed handily by the auxiliaries. Finally, over on the Roman right, the Spanish cavalry had eliminated a unit of light cavalry. This temporary victory set the stage for a major clash between heavy cavalry divisions of both sides.

The initiative roll was won by the Romans on the next turn, but before they moved, missile fire took some toll. The Pontic archers ranged fire into the central line of cohorts and scored a hit. A unit of javelin-armed infantry on the Pontic left (F) fired into the auxiliaries who had just eliminated the chariots.

This time, it was the Romans who were destroyed to a man. The unit of bowmen on the Roman right took fire from the javelins and light cavalry, surviving without great difficulty. (The archers were skirmishers - with a decent protection factor - and the Pontic dice were terrible.) In terms of movement, the Romans were starting to take control of the field. It would not be too much longer before the main bodies of infantry - and cavalry - would clash. Over on the Roman left, the Germanic cavalry had started to wheel in order to get in better position to take the Pontic phalanx in the flank or rear. The cohorts on the left (A), under direct command of the general, had moved through the melee of javelin men and had dispersed both friendly and enemy skirmishers. The phalanx was now truly immobilized, for it was too late to wheel (and too difficult and slow).

Facing this serious threat, the Pontic commander could only hope that the phalanx could withstand the assault long enough for the cataphracts to roll up the right flank of the Roman line. In the center, the cohorts continued their advanced into the teeth of bow fire. The composite heavy division of Iberians and Greeks (C, B) also moved into the center, preparing to meet the Roman advance. On the left flank, the cataphracts had split-off from the engaged heavy cavalry and had run over the bowmen screening the cohorts deployed in depth. The unit of javelin men advanced at an angle, coming into range of the last division of cohorts. Wheeling and running from this contest of heavy infantry and horse, the remaining light cavalry moved off into the rear-right of the Roman position. 

The single melee contest on this turn, again, was marred by poor die rolling for the Pontic force. High on their success against the light horse, the Spanish cavalry scored a BP on the enemy heavy horse.

As the Pontic Army was now operating with a reduced Initiative Rating, it was no surprise that the Romans held the move option for turn four. In the resolution of missile fire, the Pontic force was again plagued by miserable dice: the archers could not dent the cohorts advancing on the hillock, and the javelin men to the left had no success either. There was no return fire from the Romans, as all light troops had been eliminated or dispersed. Action on the Roman left was brought as the general moved his division into contact with the units of the Pontic phalanx. For the time being, this was the only attack the phalanx had to withstand, as the Germanic horse were having trouble lining up a charge. In the center, opposing lines of heavy infantry were getting closer - each division trying to bring the most troops into contact for that important first turn (3, C and B).

And, as predicted, the cohorts deployed in depth, were the recipients of a charge by two units of cataphract cavalry. The Pontic light horse had "about faced" and was now within firing and charge range of the engaged Spanish cavalry. Melee results for this turn demonstrated the continued advantage in dice to the Romans. While the Spanish cavalry did take one BP from the Pontic horse (must be tired), the cohorts engaged by the cataphracts, were able to repel the assault. Even with bonus for wider stands and impetus, the cataphracts each took one BP from the cohort infantry. The success carried over to the Roman left, where the unit - with attached general - was able to score a single BP against the pikes.

The exchange of fire in turn five saw the hapless light cavalry unable to score against the rear of the Roman allied horse. (I decided to negate the protection factor of the Roman horse because the fire was coming from the rear. However, and again, the die roll was awful, and the volley of arrows went everywhere but to target.) The skirmishing javelins did score one BP against the division of cohorts as they were marching toward the composite division of Greeks and Iberians. The Romans simply shrugged off this irritation. Having the initiative (it would not be lost for the rest of the game) they concentrated more on bringing the rest of the stalwart legionnaires into melee. This movement turn finally brought the Germanic cavalry crashing into the rear of the Pontic phalanx. Any advantage gained by the move was quickly denied, as the Roman general chose to resolve melees from right flank to left, and not left to right.

The Spanish horse found their second wind, and scored a BP against the heavy cavalry. Counter-attacks from both front and rear were unsuccessful. In the swirling melee of Roman infantry and Pontic cataphract, there was an even exchange of BPs. It was too late for the cataphracts though, their impetus was gone. The advantage was with the Romans here: in two turns of combat, they were leading 3 to 1 in BPS inflicted. The advantage continued with the first round of melee in the right-center, as both the Iberians and Greeks took one BP from the attacking legionnaires. On the Pontic left, things began looking worse. Though the Romans had split their division, and the one cohort had taken two hits from the steady pikemen, they had given as good, scoring two against the phalanx. The left most unit of the phalanx was crippled. The Germanic cavalry made quite an impression too, for they broke the contacted phalanx unit. Its routing elements did not bother the engaged ranks - much to the chagrin of the Roman general. Though the Germanic horse could not continue its attack against the next section, the writing was on the wall for the phalanx.

The writing was read by all on turn six, the final turn of this experimental game. The Romans, as they had for every move except one, held the initiative. The sole exchange of fire came from the unit of javelin men on the Pontic left. All other possible Roman targets were engaged in melee. The volley of iron barbs scored one BP against an as of yet untouched cohort. This heavy division of two cohort units had now taken two hits from the upstart javelin unit. Bleeding but determined, these cohorts rolled over the javelin men, scattering them in all directions. A few unfortunates found themselves on the sharp end of a gladius. Other movement was limited to the Roman left, where the attack against the phalanx continued. The Roman general had split his division to bring every man to bear against the wall of pikes. The Germanic cavalry, regrouped after its first assault, launched a second charge against another section of the phalanx. The Pontic general was attached to this target unit. The section of phalanx that had been cut-off when the one routed could only wheel towards the melee, and watch as their comrades were cut and/or run down.

Recovering from his error in the last turn, the Roman commander decided that the sequence of melees in turn six would proceed from his left flank to the right. The first resolved; the rear attack by the Germanic horse. Faced with disciplined legionnaires to their front and blood-lusted barbarian horse to the rear, the pressure was simply too much for the pike men to handle. As on the previous turn, this section of phalanx routed away. The Pontic commander was speared as he tried to stem the tide of fugitives.

(In the ARMATI rules, any general attached to a unit that is broken in melee, is automatically killed.)

This ended the game, as the Pontic force had reached its limit of three break points. Two units of phalanx had routed away, and the general himself counted as a key unit. The Romans, in contrast, had not lost a single key unit. Their light infantry had been sacrificed to a man, however.

Conclusion

This play-test of the ARMATI rules was fought over a the course of a week, 15 minutes here, perhaps an hour there. All told, I would estimate the wargame took about two full hours. That is one of the attractive features of this rules system, that games are fairly short. This is not to say that the games are simple. One must place some thought into the deployment process, as well as into a plan of attack. And of course, as the Pontic commander learned, it does help to roll good dice.

Historically, though this assessment is based on just one game, the rules seem realistic. One finds the light units to be generally ineffective, serving only to prepare the way for the inevitable clash of the main bodies. As in other periods of warfare, attacks into a flank or rear are devastating (especially by ferocious Germanic horse).

Another attractive aspect of the ARMATI system is the basic simplicity of army representation. A player has three choices with respect to size of force, but the mechanics of the game remain the same.

The restrictions on Army Break Point does take a little getting used to, however. I felt that something more needed to be completed with turn six. After all, there were still a few melees taking place on the board. For example, what if the cataphracts had finally defeated the Roman cohorts? What if the composite phalanx had pushed back the other cohorts? But then, these are the questions / objections of an inexperienced Ancients gamer.

In terms of critique, I can only offer the following (as I played this game solo): The Pontic commander gambled by placing all of his mounted elements on a single flank. The Roman commander also gambled by placing just one unit of heavy cavalry to counter this threat. But, as I mentioned earlier, Fortuna was on the side of the Romans this day. One might very well wonder what the outcome would have been, if the Pontic commander had placed some cavalry to the right of his phalanx.

As the victorious Romans continue their invasion of Pontus, perhaps that is a story for another issue of MWAN.

Post Script:

I am in the process of play-testing other periods with this rules system. On schedule are games pitting 100 Years War French versus English, and Renaissance French Catholic versus Spanish. My purpose(s): diversion and experimentation. The cost of the basic book is moderate. The inclusion of extensive army lists make it worth while. I understand that Mr. Conliffe is publishing a supplement book to ARMATI that will be out in April of this year. On that note, I might also add that Mr. Conliffe has been kind enough to respond to every inquiry I have had concerning the nuances of this rules system. While I understand that these rules or even the periods covered do not appeal to every gamer, I would still recommend that you take a look at ARMATI.

Springtime in Pontus An Ancients Wargame Report

Introduction and Deployment
Battle