Across The Danube - Turn IV

Situation after three turns

This turn begins with the Dacians receiving reinforcements worth at least five points, chosen in the same way as at the start of the battle.

The result is a unit of falxmen and a unit of swordsmen, each costing 3pts, so the AI minimally exceeds its lowest entitlement.

Further dice throws show both units arrive in the top-left corner of the map.

Reinforcements added

The start-of-turn-event die lands as a 1, meaning surprise Dacian archer fire, but no archers have a target within range.

I leave my archers on the high ground.

Both Dacian archer units also stay where they are.

I move my commander (remember, he can move at anytime in a Roman initiative phase) diagonally forward to the left.

This puts him in command range of both my left-flank cavalry units, making them easier to control. The further-left unit I send forward to attack the further back of the two Dacian cavalry units. and declare a charge attack.

Cavalry on cavalry need 8+, but my men receive a -1 modifier for being on higher ground, and another for support from the spearmen. However, with my two dice I roll 5, which is one short of the score needed for a hit.

My other cavalry unit similarly charges the other Dacian cavalry unit, but, although there is a -1 modifier for receiving support from my other cavalry unit, there is a +1 modifier for the enemy being uphill. I roll 7, which again is one short of the required total.

I leave my right-flank cavalry where they are.

Neither of the Dacian cavalry units can move as they are engaged in combat, there are no Praetorian Guardsmen, so next to activate are the Dacian swordsmen. The two units near the centre of the battlefield advance diagonally so as to form up next to each other, which means extra support in an attack phase. The newly arrived swordsmen also advance.

My two legionary units in trees stay where they are, and I move the third unit forward diagonally left so it can support both of them.

Three of the falxmen units advance, but the fourth, although wanting to do so, is blocked by friends.

My spearmen are engaged in combat and so cannot move, while the Dacian warriors at last leave the rocky ground they have been sheltering in, and advance to the edge of the hill they are on.

It promises to be a bloody attack phase