Blood on Sawdust!

Gladius vs Trident

Neptune takes an interest.

Retiarius on the wrong end of a catastrophic bleed. 

Having painted up the typical Murmillio (M) v Retiarius (R) gladiator figures, I gave Habet Hoc Habet a good "kick of the tyres".  First my novice gladiators were allocated basic attributes for strength, size, health, speed, agility, luck and popularity.  To these were added standard skills for grappling, running and throwing rocks.  3D3 worth of additional attributes and skills could be bought equipping my mini-pugilists with the means to handle their primary weapons - sword and shield for "M" and trident and net for "R".

The initiative phase provided "action" cards from a standard card-deck.  Novices receive two cards each.  My Retiarius turned 8 of clubs then a joker gaining another card, an ace, gaining yet another card which was 9 of clubs.  Murmillo's hand consisted of king of hearts followed by 9 of spades.  These cards gave "M" the first two actions with which he first charged his opponent to deliver a sword attack.  "R's" ace however, allows him to interrupt "M's" charge with a trident thrust which "M" successfully defends.  "M" develops his sword attack achieving a "hit" with his size and strength bonus augmented by a very high dice roll.  "R" failed his blocking roll and therefore "M's" gladius hit home with the force of a "mighty blow".  The cut falls on Retiarius' right leg creating a catastrophic bleed.  His movement is reduced to a crawl and he is pronounced with 2D3 actions before he is defeated. 

Retiarius seizes his last gasp chance by co-ordinating a net and trident  assault.   His net is cast with a natural 9 versus 4 meaning Murmillo is ensnared.  Retiarius holds on for two more rounds before weakening, allowing Murmillo to get free.  "R's" trident attack fails as his weapon is parried by "M's" gladius.  Retiarius sinks to his knees exhausted to the point of collapse.  The day belongs to Murmillo!

Aye,

Rusty Pilum       

Single Combat

"Seriously Tooled-up" 

Rudimentary scratch-built arena

"I want a good, clean, contest"

Light-Sabre vs Gladius!

If the official appears "blurry" then you have probably lost
your gladiatorial contest!

Today I decided to get my gladiators into action in order to test out Flagship Games' "Habet Hoc Habet" ruleset.  Mind you, since I only had a solitary Murmillo painted up I needed to get my finger out.  With due haste I therefore set about knocking up a modest training arena using a CD covered in textured basing compound surrounded by an improvised palisade.  At the same time I based up a Retiarius, a Crupellarius and an arena official to allow a bit of fisticuffs.  

Everything came together really quickly which allowed me to concentrate on the game.  I was looking to test whether HHH has all or at least most of the factors I consider desirable for small unit battles involving single Contubernia.  My plan would be to fight larger, multi-cohort battles using Augustus to Aurelian  dipping down to the individual Contubernia level using something akin to a modified HHH system.   A full report will follow in my next post.

Aye,

Rusty 

Roman Cavalry go Pig Tickling

Very fresh rations!

Man v Pork

Ala Hispanorum Vettonum chasing Chorizo  

Roman cavalry detail

The man behind the shield

Final moments

Closing in

I have just finished painting the first stand of four cavalry which will become Ala Hispanorum Vettonum.  In order to provide some visual impact I thought I would add a big, hairy, old, wild boar. I can't remember where I bought him, but he's a big boy.  I reckon, if he turned around, it might be worth a Denarii or two on the result.     

Aye,

Rusty

Habet Hoc Habet - Gladiator Rules

"Who turned out the lights?"
Excellent Crusader Miniatures 28mm Gladiator

In looking for the best rules to govern the actions of my small contubernia, I was minded to explore systems which deal with intense personal combat.  Most obviously within the Roman period, this would suggest gladiator contests.  There are an exhausting variety of gladiator rule-sets out there.  I am confident however that with Flagship Games' "Habet Hoc Habet" I have found exactly what I am looking for.  "HHH"  allows for Lanistae (gladiator owners) to build Ludi (gladiator training schools) providing for gladiator troops of varying qualities to train, fight and gain experience and skill.  This is pretty much what I want from my contubernia as they deploy up-country in Britannia.  

That said, I am a keen advocate of Adrian Goldsworthy's "The Roman Army at War" and much of Keagan's analysis of the motivations and limitations of men in battle.  This nicely sets the logistic sophistication of Roman expeditionary warfare against the advantages of local knowledge of the indiginous population operating on interior supply lines in a sympathetic population.      

In the meantime I have treated myself to some of Crusader Miniatures' excellent 28mm gladiator castings to test out the "HHH" system.  Below is the first example off the painting table!  

Habet Hoc Habet!

Aye,

Rusty

Bootnecks by the Boat-Load.

I am personally compelled by the argument that Roman military operations in Britannia were enabled and sustained by significant coastal and riverine activity.  Roman armies were undoubtedly capable of campaigning inland using the 'tyranny of plunder' and accompanied by masses of baggage animals and carts bringing up catapult artillery, tentage, grain, solid fuel, reserve missiles and all of the impedimenta of war. Sustaining a campaign however, would require bulk movement of materiel. Before the advent of motor transport this was very much easier, quicker and economic by water. After all, it is a matter of fact that the Roman army arrived in Britain by sea and that a substantial fleet (the Classis Britannica) was established in the province.  It is inconceivable that such a resource lay idle after the disembarkation of the invasion force.  It has been estimated that, the fighting elements of a single legion required some 210 tons of dry grain and fodder per month.  This is just one type of supply but provides an inkling as to the necessity for the 37 known Roman military ports in Britain.  Many of these are at the mouths of navigable rivers, the valleys of which are peppered or parallelled with Roman forts and installations tracing the line of conquest.My miniature Roman army will fully reflect this naval influence.  

My first project is to create "Portus Abonae" a colourful interpretation of Sea Mills port on the junction between the Rivers Trym and the Avon in the Westcountry and an excellent embarkation port for operations in the Severn estuary and (what is now) Wales. The first "contuberna" will be from Cohors Primae Aelia Classica. A formidable section of grizzled bootnecks - Roman marines.   

Superstitious Matelots like to keep Neptune close. 

I think I'll wait for the next boat to come along! 

The first of my Portus Abonae buildings.

Cork scratchbuild with textured paint & plasti-card tiled roof.

Detachment of Legio II Augustus. 

Centurian & Legionary explore the foreshore.

Signifer and escort.

Port furniture and warehouse.

I am slowly putting together my miniature logistics base so as to allow my contubernia to go "up-country".  More soon.

Aye,

Rusty Pilum