Vorsprung vs Titus (updated)

  

At long last, it's our much anticipated Infamy campaign. Conceived during 'lockdown', we had 7 players express an interest. By the start of this year we were down to 6, but when it came to putting troops on table, we were down to 3! Oh well, we will just have to improvise.

The format we have chosen would work better with 4 players but is still doable with 3. We have gone with the 'wall' campaign from the Infamy rulebook, with minor amendments. In our 4 player format, we have 2 Roman Centurions and 2 German tribal leaders, competing for places on the 'wall of fame'. In each game, one player from each side (termed the Primus) will be the Force commander with the other player (or Secundus) providing support. Players will alternate the roles of Primus and Secundus, each game.

The core forces are different from the main rules, as below.

Roman Core Force

Roman Centurion, Primus, Status III Warlord, plus Status II Optio, with 3 groups of 8 warriors.

Roman Centurion, Secundus, Status II Warlord with 2 groups of 8 warriors.

German Core Force

German Tribal Leader, Primus, Status III Warlord, plus Status II leader, with 1 group of 10 Oathsworn and 2 groups of 10 warriors.

German Tribal Leader, Secundus, Status II Warlord with 2 groups of 10 warriors.

Support Options

Support is calculated, as per the rules, but to ensure all players have enough troops to get a decent game in, all scenarios have an extra 10 support points.

Game One - Ubique

The scene: a Roman fort on the frontier, which is the base for our heroes Dubious Figulous, played by Channing Tatum in this movie, and Titus Neutus (as played by Dick Emery)

Opposing them are the tribes of Vorsprung in this movie played by Liam Neeson and Dominatrix who has been missing in action lately. 

The campaign began on the Kalends of Aprilus and the positions on the wall were as follows:

Titus Newtus - Pugnacious; Dubius Figulus - Moderate

Vorsprung - Notable; Dominatrix - Notable

 

Oh hell, Germania!

Rome won the first initiative and ‘attacked’ into German territory. We rolled the Ubique scenario, so the game saw Titus’ auxilia, supported by Dubius’ legionaries, escorting a group of engineers, on an engineering type mission – not being an engineer (or too bright or even sober) Titus doesn’t understand this technical stuff.

Titus rolled high for support (45 points plus the 10 points multi player campaign adjustment), spent on an extra group of auxilia, with an Optio; a group of Archers, with a Status 1 leader; a group of tribal slingers; and a Capsarius.  We had a couple of spare points, which we could have spent on some Exploratores but as the Romans start on board I didn’t think it was necessary. How wrong I was, as I lost the chance to close down some of the German Ambush points – doh! Given the scenario, a musician would have been handy as well – as it is Titus will need to stay close to the Engineers to activate them.

 

Centurion Titus Neutus (III), Optio Furius Tempor (II), 2 Groups Auxilia

Optio Lucius Bowlus (II), 2 Groups Auxilia

Centurion Dubius (II), 2 Groups Legionaries

Gluteus Maximus (I), One Group of auxiliary archers

Gruber (Supra Numerum), One group tribal slingers

 Opposing them were Vorsprung and friend with 3 groups (incl. 1 Oathsworn), Dominatrix with 2 groups, and lots of support. The latter include those damned slingers, woodland archers, tribal javelins and Germanic cavalry.

Things didn't go well for Titus from the outset. Starting with the Infamy cards, Titus I drew the Machinator card, which means someone in Rome is plotting against him! A lost game will see Titus automatically drop a level on the wall!

NOT A GOOD START!

Vorsprung drew a card which allowed Rome to draw 2 more Infamy cards.

The opening moves of the game saw the Germans surrounding the Romans and building up fervour, whilst Titus tried to manoeuvre to protect the engineers, so they could pack their kit (a Task roll). Luckily, the engineers packed speedily and were soon ready to go with their little cart. The trick was now to escort them off the table.

Titus used lots of signa to perform drill (mainly form up) which allowed him to manoeuvre the Romans into position, from his original tight deployment. Quite a few cards were also used to allow the Auxilia to lob javelins at the assembling German hordes in a spoiling attack and an attempt to disrupt their fervour building.

We ended the game with an ‘End of Act’ – which gave both players another Infamy card! So it was all to play for in week 2, but the Romans have a tough task ahead.

 

Germans attack from the East, whilst Auxilia archers attempt to hold them back. 

Lucius Bowlus advances his auxilia into the woods to gain space.

There's going to be a scrap!!

The engineer cart gets under way but the path is blocked by tribal levy.

Lucius driven back and wounded - minus 3 on Force Morale - ouch!

Titus piles in with a flank attack to save the day.

Titus goes 'all in' but there's an assassin about. Titus wounded!

An End of Act gives the Romans a much needed breathing space 

Engineers attacked by Levy.

Levy driven off. Titus saves the day - again. He's all over, this boy.

With the cart poised for a home run, the Germans concede.

A close run thing, and a narrow win for the Romans. Despite that, nobody advanced on the wall. Titus did recover from his wounds though.

The campaign now moves on to the end of Aprilis and the Roman garrison receive news that Dominatrix has raised the Sacred Wang and is raiding into Roman territory........