Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203 BC

Temple
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Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203 BC

Post by Temple »

This is my first AAR, so if I'm not doing something right, please let me know. And if there are improvements to be made, also let me know.

This was going to be a campaign AAR, but I've decided to just post the results of the first battle and see where it goes from there. I'm using a matchup of Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203 BC and I'm also using roguedjack's AI overhaul mod.

So, I've started the campaign, difficulty III, small first battle going to medium final battle, with five battles in total. This is that first small battle.

I went with two Veteran Hastati/Principes, six Hastati/Principes, two Triarii, five Velites, one Slinger and two Armored Cavalry. I have an even number of non-light foot, which doesn't make for a decent checkerboard pattern. Also I think I'm a bit short of those units, but the Velites should be a help.
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Last edited by Temple on Sun Dec 03, 2017 5:54 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Temple
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

The Apulians have a boatload of Italian Foot, but only one light unit (Javelin) and three armored cavalry. And surprisingly, they moved towards me on the first turn. The Apulians have spread their cavalry, one to each flank and one in the center.
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Temple
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

So, what to do? The battlefield is remarkably flat except for a small hill complex to the west, but that isn't really intruding enough for me to use to advantage.
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So I think I'll follow some of the advice people posted in response to my topic Proper use of light troops in skirmish role? and send my Velites out to harass the enemy line. I'll also move my battle line and my cavalry forward. The enemy responded by moving forward their main battle line, including the cavalry on their left flank. Surprisingly, they didn't move their other two cavalry.
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Temple
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

Since my light troops can't get in range to shoot in this turn, I'll keep them in place, and also my main units. I'll attack his single light troop with two of my units using ranged fire and also move my two cavalry towards the center to drive off his light troop.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

So I clicked end turn and the enemy moves and hey, this is a surprise… he has split his line! Eight units comprising his right wing have moved forward and then slanted to the right, while the four remaining units on the line slanted left and are joined by most of the foot units in the reserve line. He also moves forward his left side cavalry but keeps the other two in reserve. What is he up to? A double envelopment?
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

One thing is certain, I don't want my two cavalry units tied up in a fight right now, so I move them back to my battle line. And I throw forward my light troops to harass his lines.
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Temple
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

And now the enemy responds. His right wing is chasing two Velites, some more Italian Foot are approaching the center of my line, and a few of his left move forward. One of my light troops are caught in melee, but it is trying up three of his units. And, oddly, he has moved one of his cavalry units directly next to the right flank of my line.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

Time to react to the enemy. I will move my main line forward and to the right, trying to concentrate on his chaotic left and center. I will use my light troops to keep his right wing occupied.
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And so I make the move with my battle line. I also send my cavalry back through my line, while my light troops try to reposition to keep his left wing busy. Note that I changed the camera position to directly behind my line.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

And the enemy responds and things don't go like I hoped. The enemy right wing is closing in on my left as they didn't all take the bait and chase my light troops. The one enemy cavalry has moved into my back field, and another is blocking my move towards this line. Time to tidy thing up I guess.
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And weirdly enough, one of the enemy foot units passes right between two of my infantry and ends up in a triangle of units.
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Temple
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

So this is what it looks like after my next turn. My light troops are trying to hold up his right wing, while on my right my units have chewed up his line. In the center three of my units are engaging enemy cavalry and infantry units, one each, and each commanded by a general. It might be a near run thing there. And in the rear of my line, one of my cavalry faces off against one of his.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

The enemy responds and it does not go well for me. My attempt to hold off his right wing with my light troops has failed. One of my Hastati/Principes has broken and a Veteran Hastati/Principes, flanked, is fragmented. And his one foot unit that ended up in the rear of my line is tying up or blocking two of my critical units, including my C-in-C. I must reverse things soon!
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

I launch attacks, but things are still going badly. I lose another Hastati/Principes unit and my light troops are running away from the enemy right wing. That enemy foot unit in my rear is trying up two of my infantry. And while my right wing is getting more organized, it might be too late. I've now lost 18% routed, while the Apulians have lost only 9%.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

And as the enemy responds, things go badly again. Another unit routs, my center is outnumbered in units three to one, and on my strong right I manage to rout an enemy but this leaves my unit more than a turn away from engaging another enemy. And to add insult to injury, the third enemy cavalry unit, the one the AI has been holding back in the center, charges through the gap in the center of my line and flank attacks the unit commanded by my C-in-C.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

And now I have to try to recover from this mess. But I have some good luck. On my far right the enemy had moved a light unit up to harass my hanging unit. I attacked, the light unit fell back and as my Hastati/Principes charged forward it ran into the flank of an enemy Italian Foot, which broke. This helps. And then my C-in-C's unit manages to rout the enemy it is fighting, while a nearby Triarii drives off the enemy cavalry which had flanked my C-in-C. And on my left I managed to rout another enemy, but in turn my further left Hastati/Principes breaks. I have lost 29%, my opponent, 27%.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

The enemy responds and my left and center are gone. I lose another foot unit and it is now 36% to 27%. My right is still strong, but can I translate this into routed enemy units?
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Last edited by Temple on Sun Dec 03, 2017 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

I attack! Incredibly my strong right breaks three enemy units, while one of my light troops which has been meleeing for four turns finally breaks. It is now 40% to 40%
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

It is the enemy's turn to attack. He strengthens his center and now forms a ragged line that challenges my weak center and non-existent left. But my strong right is still intact and he has let one of his foot units get trapped behind my lines. I have surrounded it with two cavalry units. Can it be destroyed? It is still tied at 40%.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

My turn! I attack with my strong right but my units are in each other's way. Still, they are all healthy. And we have the enemy C-in-C surrounded on three sides while his own unit blocks the fourth side. My cavalry fail to destroy the enemy trapped behind my line and now the enemy cavalry is challenging me. The score is unchanged.
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

And now the enemy moves. The wave that is his reconstituted line crashes into the left flank of my very reduced line and my Triarii fragments, but holds. Another of my light units routs and now 43% of my force is gone, while he has lost only 40%. He is starting to wrap around my exposed left. Am I doomed?
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Re: Battle AAR: Roman 219 - 200 BC versus Apulian 420 - 203

Post by Temple »

The Romans respond! But my attacks only get my units tied up in melee. I fail to dislodge the enemy C-in-C and now the unit which holds my C-in-C is fragmented. And two of my units are too far or facing the wrong way to have any effect in the next turn. My cavalry is bogged down in a fight it needs to be winning.
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