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

Hunters' Ridge - Turn III: Attack Phase

The battle could conceivably end with a Roman defeat this turn

There are two ways I could lose - a) a Dacian warrior unit wins a melees and advances to occupy the vacated hex, b) my commander is killed (this always loses the battle).

I start with my archers, shooting at the left-flank warriors, needing 8+, but with -1 for being on higher ground. I come up short with 6.

The furthest-forward Dacian archers cannot shoot as trees block line-of-sight, but the unit by the pond can fire at my leading Praetorians, as friends do not block line-of-sight. Archers against Praetorians need 9+, and there is a +1 modifier for being on lower ground. The AI's dice total 6.

My commander then attacks the leading warriors in the centre, needing 6+, but with a -1 modifier for being on higher ground, and another for a friendly unit also being adjacent to the enemy. But there are +1 modifiers, for attacking into trees and for attacking from rocky ground. The dice total 7, meaning the warriors are driven back two hexes.

My Praetorians attack the warriors in the shallow pond, needing 5+, but with -1 for being on higher ground. I roll 10, eliminating the enemy unit.

The threat in the centre has been seen off, at least for now, but the Roman right is still in peril

Hunters' Ridge - Turn III

This turn could see the first hand-to-hand fighting

The start-of-turn-event die is a 1, which allows for surprise Dacian bow fire, but no archers have Romans within range.

My archers stay where they are, but four of the Dacian bow units advance.

I hold my cavalry in check, but the left-flank Dacian horsemen advance two hexes, reaching the foot of the ridge (the other Dacian cavalry stay in reserve).

My Praetorians stand firm, but the Dacian swordsmen again advance a hex.

The rearward falxmen advance, and so do all the warriors, with three units reaching just below the ridge.

I am starting to think I should have taken the battle to the enemy, instead of waiting for them to advance

Hunters' Ridge - Turn II: Attack Phase

My archers will shoot at the forward warriors in the shallow pond

Archers shooting at warriors need 8+, but there is a -1 modifier for being on higher ground. However, I roll 4.

Hunters' Ridge - Turn II

Crossing the shallow pond is probably not a good option for either sides as there is a +2 modifier for attacking from water

The start-of-turn-event die is a 5, but that only applies to Roman cavalry adjacent to an enemy unit.

My archers stay where they are, but two of the Dacian bow units on their right flank advance.

My cavalry also hold their positions, but both Dacian cavalry units advance, with the the left-flank horsemen approaching within three hexes of the ridge.

My Praetorians stand firm, but the Dacian swordsmen enter the big wood.

The falxmen stay still.

The Dacian warriors in the trees roll a 6, which entitles them to throw javelins at a range of two hexes, but they are just too far away from my men on the ridge. The other three units of warriors advance straight ahead.

My archers are again the only unit able to activate in the attack phase

Hunters' Ridge - Turn I: Attack Phase

Only my archers can attack this turn

I choose to shoot at the warriors in the water (a pond?), needing 8+, but with a -1 modifier for attacking from higher ground. I roll exactly the 7 needed for a hit, sending the warriors retreating two hexes.

A cautious start by the Dacians, not yet trusting to their greater numbers

Hunters' Ridge - Turn I

Starting positions

The start-of-turn-event die lands as a 1, which would let Dacian archers launch a surprise volley, but no bow unit is in range of my men.

My archers have the initiative number of 1, and so activate first, but I leave them where they are; the only Dacian archers to advance are the ones on the Dacian left flank.

I leave my cavalry where they are, and neither of the Dacian mounted units moves either.

I also pass with my three units of Praetorians, but the Dacian swordsmen advance, although both units of falxmen bide their time.

Finally, the left-flank Dacian warriors advance straight ahead, and two of the other warrior units advance diagonally left to be nearer them.

At some point I suspect at least some of my troops will have to relinquish the high ground to intercept Dacians before they get too close to the ridge

Hunters' Ridge - Roman Dispositions

Here is my setup - a veritable thin red line

Perhaps I would be better off trying the same setup, but moving the whole force one hex to the left.

But that would leave my right vulnerable to a rush by the Dacian cavalry, who on that flank are just four hexes - two moves - from the ridge.

In any event, stopping any of the enemy getting onto the ridge at any point in the 12 turns of the battle, looks a tall order.

Hunters' Ridge

THE fourth scenario in Mike Lambo's Commander - Romans v Dacians is Hunters' Ridge.

The human leads a Roman force that must occupy a ridge and prevent any Dacians getting onto the ridge at any point in the 12 turns of the battle

The AI receives tribesmen costing 38 points, chosen as usual by rolling dice.

Die Unit             Cost   Total

5     Warriors      2pts    2pts

5     Warriors      2pts    4pts

1     Archers       3pts     7pts

1     Archers       3pts     10pts

6     Warriors      2pts     12pts

4     Falxmen      3pts     15pts

1     Archers       3pts     18pts

2     Cavalry       5pts     23pts

3     Swordsmen 3pts     26pts

1     Archers       3pts     29pts

4     Falxmen      3pts     32pts

6     Warriors      2pts     34pts

1     Archers       3pts     37pts

2     Cavalry       5pts     42pts

The AI has exceeded its minimum force by four points, or the cost of two units of warriors.

Dice determine where the Dacians start.

The Dacian army is nothing if not numerous

The human, in addition to a commander costing five points, receives troops worth a further 29 points,

Die   Unit              Cost   Total

N/A  Commander 5pts     5pts

2       Cavalry        6pts    11pts

3       Praetorians   5pts   16pts

3       Praetorians   5pts    21pts

2       Cavalry        6pts     27pts

3       Praetorians   5pts    32pts

1       Archers        3pts     35pts

An elite force, if ever there were one, with no ordinary legionaries or spearmen.

Why I Read

RECENTLY, while scouring the shelves of a bookshop for something to read as a back-up on a trip I was planning, I came across a thin booklet (120 small pages) entitled: Why I Write.

As it was by George Orwell, and I loved Animal Farm, Homage To Catalonia, Down And Out In Paris And London, and 1984, I thought it was worth buying, despite the £7.99 price tag.

The book turned out to contain four essays, of which the title one, Why I Write, is perhaps the least interesting, but that is at because The Lion And The Unicorn, Politics And The English Language, and even, to a certain extent, A Hanging, are such riveting reads.

Why I Write is part of Penguin's Great Ideas series, that also includes pieces by Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, Marcus Aurelius and Machiavelli

A little background for those unaware: Orwell was a social revolutionary - a Trotskyist, more-or-less - who spoke out against Stalin's version of communism at a time when most on the Left could see nothing wrong with the monster.

In The Lion And The Unicorn, published in the dark days of February 1941, he complained that Britain was not a true democracy, as the only true democracy was a Socialist Democracy.

"We know very well that with its present social structure England cannot survive. We cannot win the war without introducing Socialism."

On India: "It is a mistake to imagine that if the Indians were free to cut themselves adrift they would immediately do so. When a British government offers them unconditional independence, they will refuse it."

On his dream government: "An English Socialist government will transform the nation from top to bottom ... but it will not be doctrinaire. It will shoot traitors, but it will give them a solemn trial beforehand and occasionally it will acquit them. It will crush any open revolt promptly and cruelly, but it will interfere very little with the spoken and written word."

Orwell was clearly no Mystic Meg, and perhaps it as well many of his dreams never came true, but he was closer to the mark on how the war abroad might pan out.

"In truth there is no reason to think anyone will do our fighting for us yet awhile, except the Chinese, who have been doing it for three years already. The Russians may be driven to fight on our side by the fact of a direct attack, but they have made it clear enough that they will not stand up to the German army if there is any way of avoiding it. The subject peoples of Europe will rebel when Hitler begins to totter, but not before. Our potential allies are not the Europeans but on the one hand the Americans, who will need to mobilize their resources even if Big Business can be brought to heel, and on the other hand the coloured peoples, who cannot be even sentimentally on our side till our own revolution has started."

On a lighter note, in Politics And The English Language, he criticises longwindedness among writers.

"If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out."

Good advice, most of the time, but it could have been written: "If it is possible to cut a word, cut it."

But do not cut on reading Orwell - his works are well worth it.

A Little Bit Of Shropshire History

DURING a recent walking holiday in Shropshire, I was able to visit two sites of great historical interest - a medieval castle and an Iron Age hillfort.

Approaching Clun Castle, a Norman fortification that in the 1100s was an important frontline defence against Welsh attacks

The Great Tower is the best-preserved part, although that was built around 1300 to accommodate hunting parties, rather than as a defensive addition

Fine views across the border into Wales

Today the castle is perhaps most viewed as a picturesque backdrop for the local crown-green bowling club

Imagination is needed to make much of Norton Camp hillfort

But you do get some idea of how imposing the ramparts must have been

And an artist's impression helps where imagination fails

Bible Truths

MY latest charity-shop find is Werner Keller's The Bible As History - Archaeology Confirms The Book Of Books.

First published in West Germany in the mid-1950s, it was quickly translated into many languages, becoming an unlikely international bestseller.

The book is a real eye-opener for anyone who has not read the Bible (the vast majority of the world's population, even in nominally Christian countries) and who is not well-versed in ancient history.

Keller was not a theologian, nor a historian, but rather a civil servant and journalist, as well as a former anti-Nazi resistance fighter (yes, there were some in Germany).

In The Bible As History he collates the growing body of archaeological evidence, much of it uncovered in the pre-WW2 and immediate post-WW2 periods, that confirmed stories in what are generally regarded as the Old and New Testaments, as well as the arguably non-canonical Books of Maccabees.

These finds include the Merenptah Stele (the name of ancient Egyptian pharaoh is now more normally rendered as Merneptah), a granite slab dating from about 1205 BC, which contains the first known mention outside of the Bible of Israel.

Inevitably archaeology has moved on a great deal in the last 70 years, and much of what was new and exciting in the 1950s is now old and, in some cases, superseded by more up-to-date information.

Keller does not concern himself with parts of the Bible he clearly regards as fairytales, but he explains how matters long regarded as, at best, far-fetched, such as manna from Heaven, and the parting of the River Jordan and the 'Red Sea', could easily have happened in nature, without divine intervention.

I bought the book for £2.99 - as usual, I cannot recall where - believing it to be different from a book I already owned on the same theme.

A hardback bargain

However, I have been unable to locate the earlier book, and I now suspect it was another edition of the same work, that perhaps I had only borrowed from a library.

Whatever the case, it is a great read, although I confess to not having gone through the New Testament section as I was mainly interested in the military and military-related details of the Old Testament.

Summing Up Hill Of Watchfires

MY score against the AI is now 3-0, and this third scenario was the easiest victory of the lot, although it felt far from inevitable in the early going.

Indeed, my Romans were the first to lose a unit, but my plan of exploiting the Dacians' faulty setup (their centre and left were strong, but they neglected their right), meant I was able to turn the enemy's flank and sweep their men off the hill.

Attacks from the flank and rear are especially strong, thanks to the rule that units unable to make a mandatory retreat are routed and removed from the battlefield.

This has proved a great buy

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn XII

I win if there are no Dacian units on the hill at the end of this turn

The start-of-turn-event die is a 6, meaning the return of fog.

The archers have targets, so remain in cover.

My horsemen also remain where they are, but my left-flank Praetorians descend from the hill and contact the swordsmen, making it impossible for the latter to move onto the hill this turn even if they should defeat my men in a melee.

Since the warriors and archers also cannot make it onto the hill, I declare the battle over.

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn XI: Attack Phase

The Dacian archers again get to attack first

Their preferred target of those in range and line-of-sight is the Praetorian Guard, and they fire at my right-flank unit as having the lower to-hit total. There is a standard requirement of 9+, but the presence of swordsmen engaged with the Praetorians reduces the score to 8+. However, 2 is rolled.

My rearward cavalry attack the swordsmen at the foot of the hill, needing 7+, but with a -1 modifier for being on higher ground, and two more -1s thanks to the presence of friendly units. I roll 6, which eliminates the swordsmen as they have no available retreat squares.

The final turn should be short but sweet, from a Roman perspective

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn XI

A Roman victory is all but assured

The start-of-turn-event die is a 2, but that only applies to falxmen in trees, and there are none left (falxmen, that is, there are still plenty of trees).

The archers have a target, so remain in cover.

My rearward cavalry reascend the hill and charge-attack the swordsmen directly ahead of them, needing 7+, but with -1 modifiers for being on higher ground and for the assistance of a friendly unit. However, I roll 3.

My right and central Praetorians move straight ahead, but the left-flank unit falls back diagonally left.

The Dacian swordsmen in the trees stay where they are, as does my legion, but my spearmen occupy the hex just vacated by the left-flank Praetorians, and my commander advances a hex, so as to put all Roman units in command range.

The Dacian warriors advance diagonally to their left.

My eight units mean I have twice as many as the AI, and the hill is firmly in Roman hands

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn X: Attack Phase

Despite fog and intervening friends, the Dacian archers can shoot at my cavalry as both units of horsemen are within two hexes, and friends do not block line-of-sight

The archers choose to shoot at the further-back unit as there are two -1 modifiers for fellow Dacians being adjacent. But there is a +1 modifier for attacking from lower ground, and as archers against cavalry need 9+, the revised score for a hit is 8+. However, the AI rolls 9, forcing my men to fall back two hexes, and so off the hill.

My other cavalry attack the falxmen opposite them, needing 7+, with a -1 for being on higher ground, and I roll 10, eliminating the Dacian unit. I do not allow the cavalry to occupy the vacated hex.

My forward Praetorians attack the other falxmen, also needing 7+, and with a -1 for being on higher ground, and another -1 for support from the spearmen, and I roll 9, routing the enemy.

As an aside, it is somewhat ironic that the falxmen vacillated at the rear of the battlefield for so long, only to be wiped out as soon as they got involved in the fighting.

My right-flank Praetorians attack the warriors, needing 5+. I roll 6, sending the warriors back two hexes.

The swordsmen at the foot of the hill attack my forward cavalry, needing 8+, but with a +1 for attacking from lower ground. The dice total 5.

A unit of cavalry retreating is the first real setback I have suffered for several turns

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn X

A Roman triumph cannot be far away

The start-of-turn-event die is a 6, meaning more fog to reduce the range of the surviving Dacian archers.

They advance diagonally into trees.

My forward cavalry advance diagonally right and charge-attack the forward swordsmen, needing 7+, but with a -1 modifier for being on higher ground. However, I roll 2.

My commander withdraws two hexes diagonally right so as to put all Roman units in command range, and then my rearward cavalry attack the same forward swordsmen, needing 7+, but with -1s for being on higher ground and for having support from other cavalrymen. However, I come up short with 4, the swordsmen leading a charmed life.

My forward Praetorians advance diagonally right, the middle Praetorians advance diagonally left, and the rearward Praetorians advance straight ahead.

The rearward Dacian swordsmen advance into trees, and my legion also advances a hex.

The right-flank falxmen advance to the foot of the hill, putting them in contact with two Roman units. The other falxmen also advance to the foot of the hill, putting them in contact with my forward cavalry.

It seems the AI is throwing in its last reserves, and the Dacian warriors confirm this by also advancing, making contact with cavalry and Praetorians.

A lot of fighting to be sorted out!

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn IX: Attack Phase

Rather aptly, the Romans look in organised formation, while the Dacian units are haphazardly scattered

My forward Praetorians attack the swordsmen with whom they are in contact, needing 6+. There are -1 modifiers for being on higher ground and for support from the commander, but I only roll the 4 needed to force the swordsmen to the edge of the battlefield again.

Perhaps I can advance part, at least, of my army off the north side of the hill, and so rule out any last-minute charge by Dacians onto the high ground

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn IX

The Praetorians that arrived as reinforcements at turn VII are unlikely to get into the action

The start-of-turn-event die is a 1, allowing Dacian archers to launch a surprise attack at a range of three hexes. My forward cavalry fit the criteria for a target, but 9+ is needed, and there is a +1 modifier for attacking from lower ground. The AI's dice land, not for the first time, as a miserable pair of 1s.

The movement phase begins with the archers holding their position as they have enemy in range and line-of-sight.

My forward cavalry leave the edge of the hill and place themselves between nearby trees and rocky ground. My other cavalry remain where they are.

The forward Praetorians advance diagonally left to confront the swordsmen who have reached the foot of the hill. The middle Praetorians advance diagonally into trees, and the rearward Praetorians move straight ahead.

The swordsmen on the Dacian left move to the foot of the hill.

My legion advances diagonally left, for a reason that will soon become clear.

Both units of flaxmen stand still.

My spearmen advance into rocky ground on the edge of the hill, leaving a route for my commander to advance diagonally left three hexes, and so be in position to support my forward Praetorians.

The Dacian warriors advance diagonally right.

The Dacians have not given up, but the odds are stacked against them

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn VIII: Attack Phase

The rearward archers cannot shoot as fog is reducing their range to two hexes

But the forward archers can attack my forward cavalry, needing 9+, but with +1 modifiers for being on lower ground and for being bowmen attacking from an adjacent hex. The dice total 3.

My cavalry counterattack, needing 6+, but with a -1 for being on higher ground, and I roll exactly 5. The archers retreat one hex, but further retreating is impossible as their way is blocked, so the unit routs.

The AI is outnumbered by eight units to six

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn VIII

The AI now has one more unit than my Romans

The start-of-turn-event die is a 6, meaning the return of fog, which cuts archery range to two hexes.

A second unit of Dacian archers reaches the foot of the hill on its east side.

My leading cavalry advance diagonally right a hex, and charge-attack the swordsmen on the hill, needing 6+. I roll 6, which eliminates the swordsmen as they have no retreat hexes available. My cavalry are out of command range, and so have to occupy the vacated hex. My other cavalry also advance diagonally right, and charge-attack the forward archers, needing 6+. A -1 modifier for being on higher ground is cancelled by a +1 for attacking from rocky ground, but there is also a -1 thanks to my newly arrived forward cavalry. I roll 9, eliminating the Dacian unit.

My Praetorians in the centre of the hill advance diagonally left, into trees and nearer the swordsmen approaching from the north. The other Praetorians on the hill advance straight ahead, which leaves room for my commander to advance two hexes diagonally right, bringing all Roman troops into command range. This lets my Praetorians in the river advance onto dry land.

Both surviving units of Dacian swordsmen stay where they are.

My legion advances onto the hill.

The rearward falxmen advance diagonally to their right.

My spearmen advance a hex.

The remaining unit of Dacian warriors stands still.

For the first time, the high ground is free of Dacians

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn VII: Attack Phase

None of the Dacian bow units is in position to shoot

My rearward cavalry attack the warriors at the foot of the hill, needing 6+, but with  three -1 modifiers: one for being on higher ground, the other two for having units of friends also engaged with the warriors. I roll 8, eliminating the Dacian unit. My cavalry do not enter the vacated hex.

Just one unit of Dacian swordsmen remains on the hill, although another approaches

Hill Of Watchfires - Turn VII

This turn begins with the Romans receiving reinforcements worth at least five points

The first die is a 3. meaning another unit of Praetorians, and since they cost five points, that is my lot. I place the unit on the second hex up on the extreme right, but I cannot pretend to be happy. I would much rather have had cavalry, or a less-expensive unit that would have allowed me to roll for a second one.

The start-of-turn-event die is a 2, but that only applies to falxmen waiting in ambush in trees.

The forward Dacina archers have a target in range and line-of-sight, so do not move, and another unit of archers joins them on the hill.

My forward cavalry immediately make contact with this newly ascended unit, and delivers a charge-attack, needing 6+. I roll 11, eliminating the archers. My other horsemen similarly charge-attack the forward archers, rolling 10, and so another Dacian unit is destroyed.

My newly arrived Praetorians roll 6, 5, 2, which, on consulting the compass, lets them advance diagonally left into the river.

The Praetorians nearest the forward warriors advance into the rocky ground on the hill next to them. The remaining Praetorians advance diagonally right.

The swordsmen on the Dacian left remain where they are, but the unit on the right advances to the foot of the hill.

My legion advances diagonally right to contact the forward warriors.

The falxmen stay in reserve.

My spearmen ascend the hill, and my commander moves into nearby rocky ground, from where he can support three foot units.

Finally, the recently arrived Dacian warriors stay where they are.

Another unit of warriors looks certain to be eliminated

Hill Of Watchfires - Halfway Verdict

The hill is nearly all-Roman

To win I have to end turn XII with no Dacian units on the hill, and that looks eminently possible - indeed, it looks likely.

If I were to lose a cavalry unit, I would be a little less confident, especially if I were obliged to bring my commander into the thick of the action.

Nevertheless, the fact that I have been able to take advantage of the Dacians' neglecting their right wing has paid huge dividends, not least because units are particularly vulnerable to attacks from flank or rear, as their avenues of retreat are restricted.

However, the battle is far from over, and I am still outnumbered in terms of numbers of units, and my men will be more vulnerable to bow fire if they have to line the edge of the hill to stop Dacians sneaking on.