Across The Danube - Turn III

Situation after two turns

The start-of-turn-event die lands as a 2, but that only affects Dacian warriors in a tree hex.

My archers stay where they are, but both Dacian bow units advance cautiously (ie diagonally, rather than straight down).

My cavalry nearest the commander are well within command range, so I am able to advance the unit two hexes, meaning I can launch an immediate attack charge. This is like a normal attack, but happens in the movement phase, and does not prevent a further attack in the attack phase.

My cavalry attacking Dacian cavalry require 8+ from two dice, but there is a -1 modifier for being on higher ground. However, I roll a disappointing 5.

My extreme-left cavalry are out of command range, but I want to move them, so I roll three dice, which land 6, 3, 2, and consult the wheel-like compass in the bottom-right corner of the map. This shows the directions the unit can take, and since I want to pull it back to the right, I use the 3 to do exactly that.

The unit is now in command range, and so I have no trouble getting it to advance diagonally right to behind my other left-flank cavalry.

I leave my right-flank cavalry where they are.

The forward Dacian cavalry are engaged, and so cannot move, but their friends next to them advance on to the high ground, which puts them next to my forward cavalry, whom they promptly charge. They require 8+ with two dice, but there is a -1 modifier for having a friendly unit next to the attacked unit.

The dice land 8, meaning the revised 7+ target has been exceeded by one, which has the same effect as matching the target, ie it causes the defenders to retreat two hexes, which in this case sends my men into the river at the edge of the battlefield.

Dacian cavalry never advance after an opponent retreats, so there is no follow-up.

However, this frees the other Dacian right-flank cavalry to activate as they are no longer engaged, but they do not move, perhaps sensing a trap? 

The Dacian cavalry in the clump of trees near the battlefield advance two hexes, finishing next to two of my legionary units sheltering in the wood near the Danube, but they cannot charge either unit as cavalry cannot charge into trees.

There are no units of Praetorian Guard, so the two units of Dacian swordsmen are next to activate, and both advance, one into a copse, the other into rocky ground.

Two of my legionary units are engaged, but the third I pull back diagonally right to be further from the double-unit of Dacian cavalry.

Just one unit of flaxmen moves, then my spearmen advance straight up to engage the unit of right-flank Dacian cavalry that is not on high ground.

I am tempted to move my commander adjacent to the legionaries to give the units in the trees a -1 modifier in any attack they launch, but this would make him vulnerable to attack from Dacian cavalry, and since losing the commander means losing the battle, that is not a risk I am willing to take.

Instead, I move the commander diagonally back to the right a hex, at which point he has to stop as being in water prevents further movement.

The Dacian warrior unit again stands pat.

With three Dacian units below the red line, and more advancing, the situation does not look good for the Roman cause, although there are nine turns to go