The biggest MeG battle in Poznan so far!

2 vs 2 MeG 15.000 per side with Chris Haenze, Dawid Michalski and Mateusz Alduin Sztajn Jedliński

Thanks to our local Warband store we managed to fight a battle with double the Magna size army (2x 7500) per side. We established the following rules:

Each of the 4 armies have to be legal in their own rights.

One army chosen from the alliance is the leading one for the PBS purpose.

Generals of each army have to lead UGs from their own army with the exception of 2 units per alliance that can be swapped.

Each army has two Main Commanders who can share orders with allies (if professional/floating).

In all other respects each alliance is considered a SINGLE army (single camp (double size), KaB work on allies, break on 50% of total TuGs per side and so on).

Although technically we played Magna, we used Maximus measurements due to the sheer size of the opposing forces.

We decided on war West vs East. Westerners were represented by the Mid Roman Republican army allied with the Late Carthaginian Army. East by Macedonian Successor and Bactrians.

East was the attacker. And mostly won the terrain placement and scouting by 20%. Despite that fact, it was West who placed their units last, which is always a serious advantage.

Here is how 26 UGs (West) vs 24 UGs (East) look like. We really enjoyed the sight of such forces about to clash!

From the left, East: Bactrian light cavalry, Elephants and archers, Shock cavalry, Thracians, 5 UGs of phalangists, including Agyraspides, Xystophoroi, Indian contingent with Elephants, Cataphracts with Cretans and Light Macedonian cav.

From the left, West: Velites, Triari, Elephants, Superior Legionaries then Hastati, Celtic force, Campanians and deep Carthaginian force: superior spearmen behind cavalry behind Numidians.

To be able to play 2 vs. 2 we established the following rules:

Each of the 4 armies have to be legal in their own rights.

One army chosen from the alliance is the leading one for the PBS purpose.

Generals of each army have to lead UGs from their own army with the exception of 2 units per alliance that can be swapped.

Each army has two Main Commanders who can share orders with allies (if professional/floating).

In all other respects each alliance is considered a SINGLE army (single camp (double size), KaB work on allies, break on 50% of total TuGs per side and so on).

Although technically we played Magna, we used Maximus measurements due to the sheer size of the opposing forces

Another look on the battlefield... It was a week ago and memory still imprinted in my mind...

Beginnings of the battle were slow, sides took a time to make minor corrections in the deployment. Skirmishers from boths sides, on both flanks rushed for a fight. It was pretty important for the Eastern alliance to have some luck in this initial fighting or otherwise there was a risk of being outflanked by the light forces of Westerners. That would be a major issue as our army was less nimble and lacked reasonable reserve forces. In the center Romans decided to double their line and take the first punch of the sarrisophoroi on their superior legionaries.

Shooting phase was so much in the favor of proficient Eastern archery… Numidian light cavalry routed causing KaB on Carthaginian cavalry, which will turn out important later on. On the left - bactrian cavalry got the upper hand against roman javelinmen. Losing light screen on their left, westerners were forced to forfeit the defensive stance or would be shot down slowly.

Gallic forces were initially held back, but then enemies decided to use them in, what seemed, suicidal attack, just to disrupt phalanx line and deliver as many blows as possible. Xystophoroi on our right were placed just in the position to counter this kind of a move, but were kept in check by carthaginian spearmen and could no go for any rushed action.

Entire second turn was a preparation for the major clash of battle lines. Carthaginians tried to provoke Cataphracts for charging the next turn. Romans in the center hoped for a good fight against phalangites (little did they know - they faced elite agyraspides, not some conscripts). On their right, Romans positioned cavalry against our Thracians. So we planned to intercept them with Xystophoroi (so much from the initial - hold on plan ;)).

Turn 3 and here comes the big clash! Romans were stunned that from the line of phalanx javelins were thrown at them (Thracians) and not all were able to complete their charge. Gauls reached the phalanx and dealt some serious damage with shattering. Xystophoroi pinned Roman cavalry at place, as planned. Our Cataphracts kept their mind cool and held charges. Costly move in yellow cards, but was necessary not to trample Cretans so they could finish killing the Numidian.

Fighting in the center was bloody for both sides. But it was the Romans who failed to keep their line and broke off. So Phalanx pushes forward. Surprisingly, Gauls kept their line.

Turn 3 and here is the result of initial fight. Clear advantage in the center on Easter forces. Not so bright situation on either of the flanks...

Round 4 and Roman right goes into full action. Basically they baited our Elephants into the trap and we missed to counter it with the shooting… Carthaginian left still does its best to provoke bactrian forces facing them, and this time they succeeded. It wasn't blind charge though - Carthage had already lost its cavalry unit due to keen shooting of Macedonian light cavalry and KaBs delivered some extra wounds here and there as a result. Now it was plausible for cataphracts to break through spearmen units. Gauls still hold their ground!

Round 5. Our left wing is shattered but not without loses on the Roman side. And the units that broke through are not fast enough to threaten our camp. Also we managed to turn Thracians and Agyraspides to face the danger and still had light cavalry and archers for annoying shooting so it was all under control.

On the right another Carthaginian unit (Campanins) is broken causing mass KaB that help bactrian cataphracts to eventually break through spearmens of the Sacred Band… just to hit another unit of elite spearmens from Carthage… damn.. forces of the West are so deep on this wing… Meanwhile bactrian elephants and Macedonian Xystophoroi which made a gap in our armies line but it was swiftly covered by light Indian spearmens.

It was clear that our right stuck due to superior numbers of the enemies but inconclusive fighting on the wings meant our unstoppable phalanx can win the day without the risk of get a flank charge. Unstoppable? Not really unstoppable, still one unit of Gauls is holding on against 2 units of sarrisophoroi!

Round 6. On our left carthaginian elephants in Roman service try to charge against Thracians but get scared off by the javelins thrown. This section of the battlefield is of lesser significance now. In the center Macedonian phalanx keeps pushing and now is in fight with the Roman reserve force (Hastati).

During the last fights of the battle Gauls are finally broken in the center and cataphracts of the right wing get upper hand (with some lucky rolls) against already damaged Carthaginian elite spearmens.

Fight was bloody indeed. 10 TuGs lost by Westerners and 7 SuGs. Eastern forces lost 5 TuGs and 1 SuG.

Not really sure which moment was decisive for the outcome of the battle. Not sure if such can be in case of that huge battle. I am happy that general battle plan worked - massive phalanx push in the center and keeping their flanks covered. Not the most innovative, I know. But the actual experience from the game was great!

Thank you very much to my ally and my opponents. I am pretty sure we all had a great time during the biggest Mortem et Gloriam battle played in Poland thus far!