A Thin Gray Line

Another Bibracte Experiment

The Seventh and Eighth legions were set up in triplex acies on a “model” hill. There were 20 mock-ups of cohorts, each containing eight 15mm “figures.” All the cohorts were ‘deployed wide,’ meaning that there was a single rank of “miniatures.” The main reason behind this was to increase (it was hoped) the effectiveness of the pila volley that would be launched moments before melee was joined. 

The approximate tabletop footprint of these two representative legions was 48 inches. The orderly lines of 160 “figures” represented 9,600 at a scale of 1:60. Under the Tactica II rules, the value of these 20 cohorts was 1,280 points. 

Arranged against this functional thin gray line were three commands of Helvetii warbands, each containing four units. The ‘Blue tribe’ was on the right. It had a strength of 172 warriors, so 1,118 points. These several warband units, like all the others, had a depth of four ranks. As a result, when contact was made with the waiting Roman legionaries, a depth advantage or bonus of three d6 would be granted to each unit or melee area. In the center, the ‘Yellow tribe’ mustered 164 warriors, so 1,066 points, while on the left, the “Green tribe’ had a strength of 156 warriors, so 1,014 points. 

Summary Report

Four turns were all that it took for a figurative tsunami of Gallic warriors to crash into, break through and then destroy or dissolve the rather too thin line of legionaries. Well, at the end of three turns, the writing was very much on the wall (‘Romani ite domum’ - and in vary large letters), but an additional turn was completed to see if the Roman reserve cohorts might salvage something . . . maybe a little pride at least. 

The legion commanders ordered up the second line to support and extend the first line. This move permitted 14 handfuls of eight d6 to be rolled for the initial pila volley. The results of this volley were disappointing, with only 16 percent of the heavy javelins thrown finding any targets. Even though three warbands suffered sufficient pila ‘kills’ to be marked as ‘missile halted,’ contact had already been made, so this movement penalty did not factor into the subsequent melee phases. 

Even though advancing up a slope into the a shower of pila, seven of the 12 Helvetii warbands were able to secure the impetus advantage. Even though all the attacking barbarian units would have their melee dice reduced by 25 percent (rounded down), they succeeded in killing or wounding 48 percent of the Roman heavy infantry against 33 percent casualties to their front rank of warriors. 

A cohort in the approximate center of this paired legions formation was simply flattened, while others were reduced to a shadow of their original strength. By the end of the third turn, each legion had lost five cohorts and the screaming wave of Gallic tribesmen was bursting through to the third line of legionaries. These subsequent combats saw the tide of warriors smash into fresh cohorts and witnessed a rerun of what had transpired in the early stages of this battle/experiment. 

Reviewing the Numbers

I recall reading somewhere that in order to stand any chance of success, attackers should have at least a 3:1 superiority in numbers. Reviewing my math for these various mock-up formations, the Romans had the following: 160 “figures,” 1,280 points, and 9,600 legionaries. The colorful Helvetii tribes had: 492 “figures,” 3,198 points, and 29,520 warriors. The warriors then, had three times as many “figures” on the tabletop - or on the apportioned space of said tabletop. The Gauls had approximately 2.5 times as many points as the Romans. In terms of representative figure scale, the Helvetii tribes brought 19,920 more men to this staged fight. 

Given these numerical inequalities and given the fairly poor dice rolls made by the Romans on most occasions, it is neither a complete surprise nor a severe shock to see two legions dismantled so quickly. 

On reflection - if not obviously apparent - a more ‘fair and balanced’ experiment might have resulted if one of the Gallic tribes had been removed from the table. The remaining warbands could have covered the Roman frontage by reducing their unit depth. Perhaps I should have just experimented with the ‘Green’ and ‘Yellow’ tribes? 

Surveying the figurative field at the end of play or testing, it was noted that each legion had just three cohorts left. Therefore, approximately 112 “figures” or 70 percent were listed as casualties. Of these surviving cohorts, half were damaged. Checking the various Helvetii units, it was determined that 129 figurative warriors had fallen.  The ‘Blue tribe’ had suffered losses of 25 percent, while the ‘Yellow tribe’ and ‘Green tribe’ lost 26 and 28 percent, respectively, of their original strength.