Hunters' Ridge - Turn VIII

Situation after seven turns

The start-of-turn-event die is again a 2, allowing, in this case, two warrior units to advance straight ahead, putting one if them in contact with my archers, which could prove a problem.

My archers, being pinned, cannot move, but three units of Dacian archers advance, one of them reaching the foot of the ridge.

My cavalry circle behind my archers, re-emerging on the ridge, where they advance to the edge* and charge-attack the forward warriors, needing 6+. There are -1 modifiers for being on higher ground and for the warriors being engaged with my archers. I roll 4, the minimum necessary to score a hit, and this forces the warriors to retreat two hexes.

The right-flank Dacian cavalry advance diagonally one hex, and the cavalry in the shallow pond advance a hex to reach the foot of the ridge, making contact with my cavalry (but cavalry cannot charge-attack from a water hex).

I advance my commander onto the ridge, and also advance the two nearby units of Praetorians, meaning there will be a huge melee in the centre of the battlefield in the attack phase of this turn.

Two of the units of falxmen move forward, but crucially not the unit on the small hill on the Dacian right.

Finally, the rearward warriors advance onto the hill on the Dacian left, which is now covered in hostile tribesmen.

Standby for fireworks in the centre

*How did they do this? Cavalry, as opposed to commanders, can only move two hexes, not three, so my cavalry should not have been able to circle behind the archers, ascend the ridge and move a further hex to the forward edge of the ridge. I have only spotted the error as I come to publish this post.

Hunters' Ridge - Turn VII: Assault Phase

My archers have a clear shot at the Dacian left-flank cavalry - I need to take advantage of this

Bows against cavalry need 9+ to score a hit, but there is a -1 modifier for being on higher ground, and I roll 12! That routs the cavalry, and suddenly the danger on the Roman right looks much less threatening.

None of the Dacian archers has enemy in range and line-of-sight, so next to attack are my Praetorians. I begin with the unit in the trees, which requires 6+ against swordsmen, but there are -1 modifiers for being on higher ground, for attacking while next to the commander, and for having colleagues also engaged with the enemy unit. I again roll 12, easily eliminating the swordsmen. I do not let the victors advance to occupy the vacated hex.

Two sets of double-6s were overkill, but none-the-less welcome

Hunters' Ridge - Turn VII

Situation at the halfway point

The start-of-turn-event die is a 2 - Dacian war horns - allowing all warrior units not in contact with the enemy to advance a hex straight ahead. Only one unit can do this, as the other two have their way blocked by friendly tribesmen.

My archers remain where they are, but four of the five Dacian archer units move forward, bringing one to within two hexes of the ridge.

I leave my one remaining mounted unit where it is, but the Dacian left-flank cavalry advance to the foot of the ridge. The central Dacian cavalry advance diagonally to their left two hexes, and the right-flank cavalry advance two hexes straight ahead.

I shuffle my three Praetorian Guard units along the ridge to their left.

The Dacian swordsmen advance to the foot of the ridge, putting them in contact with two units of Praetorians.

All four units of falxmen move closer to the ridge.

The only warrior unit to advance is the one that responded earlier in the turn to the blast of the war horns.

The ridge is under what seems the start of a serious and well-coordinated assault

Hunters' Ridge - Halfway Verdict

My six surviving units will somehow have to cope with 16 Dacian units, including three of cavalry, with two of the horsemen units on the extreme flanks of the battlefield

Where I can oppose the enemy, I have a good chance of stopping him, but if enough Dacians advance together I will not have enough to cover every hex of the ridge.

Hunters' Ridge - Turn VI: Attack Phase

Fingers crossed for my horsemen!

There are some interesting line-of-sight issues in this attack phase. My archers, for example, cannot shoot at the forward warriors as the hill's plateau effect obstructs vision. Similarly, the Dacian bowmen by the pond cannot shoot at my leading Praetorians as trees are in the way.

That means the first attack is by the archers engaged with my left-flank cavalry. They require 9+, but there are +1 modifiers for attacking at close range while in contact, and for attacking into trees. However, there is also a -1 modifier, thanks to the supporting falxmen, but only 8 is rolled.

The extreme-left archers now shoot at my cavalry, also requiring 9+, but with two -1s for supporting friends, and a +1 for attacking into trees. The dice total 4.

My cavalry now attack the falxmen. This is a tougher target than the archers, but I hope to at least create a line of retreat for my men. They need 7+, but with +1 for attacking into trees and another +1 for being cavalry attacking from trees. I roll 4.

My leading Praetorians attack the warriors trying to get on the ridge, needing 5+. There is a -1 for being on higher ground, and another for being adjacent to the commander, but +1s for attacking from rocky ground and into trees. I roll exactly 5, forcing the warriors back two hexes. I do not let my men advance.

Finally the falxmen engaged with my cavalry attack the latter, needing 7+. There is a +1 for attacking into trees, but -1s for help from a unit of archers and for being falxmen attacking from trees (the first time this rule has applied in my playthroughs). The dice total 8, which destroys my unit as it has no available retreat squares that are not adjacent to enemy units.

My commander will have to join the fighting on the Roman left if I am to have any chance of resisting the Dacians there

Hunters' Ridge - Turn VI

The fate of my left-flank cavalry hangs in the balance

The start-of-turn-event die is a 4, which lets me move any unengaged unit in command range (but not the commander or horsemen). I choose to shuffle the left-flank Praetorians along the ridge to my increasingly exposed left flank.

My archers stay where they are, but two units of Dacian archers advance diagonally.

My right-flank cavalry also stand still, as do all three units of Dacian cavalry, which is quite a relief for me.

I move my commander diagonally back a hex, to the left. to put all Romans, bar the forward cavalry, in command range, but I leave my Praetorians where they are.

The swordsmen advance to the edge of the big wood, and the leading falxmen enter the wood. The rearward falxmen also advance.

Finally, the leading warriors advance into trees at the foot of the ridge, and so into contact with my leading Praetorians.

My left-flank cavalry look increasingly beleaguered, especially as they now have no retreat squares open to them 

Hunters' Ridge - Turn V: Attack Phase

My left-flank cavalry are in danger of being engulfed by hordes of Dacians - perhaps I should have sent a unit of Praetorians to help

My archers cannot shoot at the leading warriors, as the plateau effect of the hill prevents line-of-sight.

The forward Dacian archers attack my leading horsemen, needing 9+, but with a +1 modifier for being bowmen who are attacking while engaged in combat. The dice total 7.

My cavalrymen counterattack, needing 6+, but with +1 for attacking into trees. I roll 8, which forces the archers back two hexes (the first being to their right - decided by a tiebreaker which prioritises moving away from the centre of the battlefield). My cavalry are out of command range, and so have to occupy the vacated hex, putting them in contact with another unit of Dacian archers, and pulling them further from their comrades on the ridge.

If the Roman cavalry in the big wood are annihilated, which is looking distinctly possible, my left flank will be very weak

Hunters' Ridge - Turn V

The AI begins this turn by receiving reinforcements worth eight points

They are chosen, as usual, by dicing, and the first die lands as a 4, meaning falxmen, costing three points. The next die is also a 4, and then there is a 2, which is cavalry, costing five points, taking the Dacians well-past their minimum reinforcement total.

Dice also decide where the reinforcements enter the battlefield.

The AI now has 16 units

That is not all good news for the Dacians, as having numerous units means they are more likely to get in each other's way. Nevertheless, the extra cavalry unit in particular is a cause of concern for the Roman cause.

The start-of-turn-event die is a 5, but that only applies to Roman cavalry in command range, and neither of my units is.

My archers stay where they are, as must the furthest-forward Dacian archers, since they are engaged with my left-flank cavalry. Two other Dacian bow units advance diagonally left.

I move my commander diagonally forward two hexes to the right. putting him on the ridge and in command range of all my units, except the engaged left-flank cavalry. My right-flank cavalry move one hex diagonally back to the left.

Two of the Dacian cavalry units advance, but only one hex each.

My Praetorians hold their positions, but the Dacian swordsmen advance diagonally into the big wood, avoiding contact with my nearby cavalry.

All units of falxmen advance, as do the leading warriors.

The Dacians are slowly massing again - if they can coordinate attacks all along the line, my men could easily be overwhelmed

Hunters' Ridge - Turn IV: Attack Phase

My archers on the ridge will attack first

They shoot at the warriors in the trees straight ahead, needing 8+. A +1 modifier for attacking into trees is cancelled out by a -1 for being on higher ground, and I roll 9, sending the enemy unit back two hexes.

The Dacian archers in the trees shoot at my horsemen, who are bearing down on them, needing 9+, but with a +1 for being bowmen attacking from a hex while engaged, which is just as well for me as the dice total 9.

My cavalry fight back, needing 6+, but with a +1 for attacking into trees. I roll 5.

The Dacians look as if they may need reinforcements to put new vigour into their attack, and that is exactly what they will receive next turn

Hunters' Ridge - Turn IV

Action on the Roman right could prove critical

The start-of-turn-event die lands as a 6, which allows me a ballista shot at the leading Dacian unit, which is the left-flank cavalry. I need 7+, with no modifiers, and if successful, will force the enemy to fall back three hexes. I duly roll 9, and the cavalry are no longer an immediate threat to clamber onto the ridge.

I start the movement phase my leaving my archers where they are.

Both right-flank units of Dacian archers advance diagonally, but the others stay still, including the men by the pond, who have Praetorians in range and line-of-sight.

My right-flank cavalry advance diagonally a hex, and then charge-attack the warriors at the foot of the ridge, needing 6+. There is a -1 modifier for being on higher ground, but this is cancelled for attacking from rocky ground. I roll 8, sending  the warriors fleeing three hexes. I do not allow my men to advance.

I then move my commander back off the ridge, and one hex to the left, so he is in command range of my left-flank cavalry as it advances diagonally, and then straight ahead, to charge-attack the swordsmen, needing 7+. I roll exactly 7, making the swordsmen fall back two hexes. My cavalry are then out of command range, and so have to occupy the vacated hex, which puts them in contact with archers in the wood.

The left-flank Dacian cavalry cannot move as they have retreated this turn, and the other mounted unit cannot advance straight ahead as its route is blocked by the retreating swordsmen (both attempts at activation had the horsemen wanting to move straight ahead).

My leading Praetorians fall back diagonally left so as to stay on the ridge, but be out of range of the archers who shot at them last turn.

The extreme-right falxmen advance, and so do the furthest-forward warriors.

The Roman line is not as neat as it was, but immediate danger to the ridge has passed