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Monday, August 10, 2020

Pharsalus: CCA in 6mm

 
This weekend past saw a return of Commands & Colors Ancients (CCA) in 6mm with a LIVE opponent!  That's right.  I managed a F2F game of CCA after many months of no in-person gaming.  A major milestone, I think.  I set the game up outside on the patio table in the evening shade of the house.

The battle fought was Pharsalus, a contest between Caesar and Pompey in 48 BCE during the Roman Civil Wars.  Since the historical battle was fought on 09 August, the game this weekend represented an "anniversary edition" of the famous contest.

The battle deployment using the CCA scenario is illustrated below with Caesar's army at the bottom and Pompey's army at the top.  Each side requires seven banners to win.  Pompey holds four Command Cards while Caesar holds six.  Pompey moves first.  The Julian Legions Rule is in effect for both armies.  This rule allows Medium and Heavy infantry to conduct ranged combat.  Also, the Julius Caesar Rule is in effect allowing a unit attached to Caesar extra capabilities.  
CCA version of Pharsalus
My version of the battle deployments converted to 6mm figures rather than blocks is shown below:
Kevin chose to command the Caesarians and we launched into battle.

My Pompeian battle plan was grounded on the notion that the Pompeians hold a numerical and qualitative superiority in cavalry on the Pompeian left.  I would try to overwhelm the Roman cavalry on the Roman right, expose that flank, and then roll up the Roman line.  I would need to accomplish this task before Caesar's superior Heavy infantry defeated the Pompeian Medium infantry.

One note on the troops differentiation between the Caesarians and Pompeians.  Caesar's legions were superior to the Pompeian legions.  To account for this qualitative difference, the game assigns most of the Caesarian infantry as Heavy and the Pompeians are mostly rated as Medium.  In game terms, Caesar's infantry battle with five dice while the Pompeians will battle with four dice.  This is an effective and simple way to distinguish troop quality.  Neat.  

Back to the game.  This seemed a reasonable plan until I drew my four Command Cards.  None of the cards drawn were applicable for the Pompeian cavalry wing. OK.  Toss that plan out and begin an advance on the Pompeian right since I had at least two cards for that sector.  Perhaps I could launch a cavalry attack later?  Well, that was not to be.  At no time during the battle did the Pompeians draw a card that would activate their cavalry wing.  Rats.

What Pompey did was to attack on the right with great force.  Caesar lost a unit or two and then fell back having suffered heavy casualties in that sector.  Pompey pressed on.  While Caesar fell back on his left, he advanced in the center leading from the front when required.  Units were exchanged during this phase of the battle but Pompey managed to break the Roman left.  The banner count at mid-game was 6-4 to Pompey.  Leading from the front, Caesar with a heavy infantry legion struck into the Pompeian center.  Two Pompeian legions fell in quick succession.  The Pompeian center was in shambles.  With banner count tied 6-6, Pompey attacked a weakened legion near the Roman base line destroying it for the win, 7-6.  A very close contest that went down to the final banner.  

At the end of the battle, the field looked like this:
End of Game
This was a very fun contest and a real pleasure to game again against a live opponent.  A very bloody affair; over in about 45 minutes.  Caesar will expect a rematch.

39 comments:

  1. Looks like a good game - the 6mm figures look nice en masse.

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  2. Sounds like a cracking game and that you got unlucky with the cards, as your plan seemed sound. The game looks much, much better with figures IMHO.

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    1. It was a very good game, Steve! Not decided until the last banner either. My original battle was thrown into the waste bin but still managed to come away with victory. I love CCA played with figures.

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  3. Good to see you back gaming F2F Jon. And congrats on Pompey’s victory despite the Gods being against you at the start. C&C is a great system and having played a Zoom game with Tony a few weeks back, I’m going to dig deeper and have a look at doing a SYW version.

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    1. Yes, very good to get a return to F2F gaming, at least for now. Pharsalus is not an easy win for Pompey. CCA stats show Caesar wins about 70% of the time. SYW version? Is GMT working on one or is this a design of your own?

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    2. I was thinking of doing my own CCA inspired rules.

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    3. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

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  4. Looks lovely in the 6mm. I like the way the cavalry are based.

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    1. I agree about the look in 6mm. I based the cavalry such that I could assess troop type by number of troopers an each base.

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  5. Excellent report Jonathan, obviously a very close tussle. More photos of the armies would be good, your 6mm looks great.

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    1. Thank you, Mike! Sorry about the lack of photos. I only managed a beginning and ending shot. While it is still out, I may replay solo and do a better job of documenting the action.

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  6. Great to see CCA in 6mm! Nice close match, too...

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  7. Looks like a nice game and always good to get back to gaming with friends.

    Christopher

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    1. Returning to a F2F gaming session was a pleasure, for sure!

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  8. Congratulations on getting in a F2F game! It’s been a long dry spell for you. Gaming outside is a good precaution I think. Hopefully this was a success and can be repeated soon. 😀
    C&C always looks better with the miniatures. Though I laughed when you mentioned having a battle plan bc there’s no such thing in C&C. Just using the cards you got. 😀

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    1. F2F has been a long time in waiting, no doubt! We are planning a rematch soon as soon as we confirm no one gets sick.

      There is still planning involved with CC regardless of cards drawn. Think of it as a game of poker. You know what to do when the cards fall favorably. What is interesting is contending with the cards you DO draw and trying to optimize the outcome. But then, I'm a planner...

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  9. It looks fantastic in such a small scale!

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  10. Congratulations on finally making it to a FtF game Jonathon. I have played CAC a few times with Julian but its not my favourite, for the reasons you describe - if you don't get the right cards, you cannot put any plan into action - that total randomness I find somewhet unrealistic if one is playing Napoleon or Wellington - the inability to do what you want does not seem to represent any historical reality - which makes it very frustrating at times! You did very well to win despite the lower quality troops and inactivity of your superior cavalry!

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    1. Hi Keith. C&C is a game that must be framed into the correct gaming spectrum. It is not a simulation, for sure, but it sure is an enjoyable "game" in the beer & pretzels sense. Rarely is someone not willing to give a game of C&C a go. Maybe that has everything to do with the guys I game F2F with but I find many really enjoy the dynamics, uncertainty, and the "it ain't over til its over" quality of C&C.

      Pompey did well to pull out a win here but it was a close one. I wonder it I can repeat that feat?

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    2. Yeah totally agree Jonathon and as a game, it can be good fun. I do like the idea of the dice with the different troop types on them to signify casualty resolution!

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  11. That looks like a lot of fun. We have only played CaC Napoleonics once and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As Keith says it is very frustrating when you are poised on the edge of executing a brilliant plan and can't draw the right cards but, unless you are very unlucky, that normally only holds things up for a turn. I'm very much looking forward to the next one and we have all the Ancients sets, so might give that a go.

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    1. Lawrence, the battle was a lot of fun! It has been far too long since I have been able to join a buddy for an F2F game. Not only a gaming session but we finished off the evening with an al fresco dinner on the patio with spouses and take away from a local Asian bistro.

      As I mentioned above to Keith, keep the goal of C&C in mind when you are gaming. It is a game first and an enjoyable one at that. Not drawing the "perfect" hand makes the game that much more challenging. no games ever play the same twice so replay value is high.

      If you have the Ancients set (my favorite of the lot), give it a run out on the table and report back on your impressions.

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  12. What a fun looking game Jonathan...
    The C&C rules/ game seems to work well with 6 mm figures...
    And here is me with a large bag of 6mm Napoleonics needing to find something to do...😀

    All th3 best. Aly

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    1. Hmmm. What could you do with a large bag of 6mm Napoleonics and CC Napoleonics? Why, I have no idea but you will think of something!

      It is a fun game.

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  13. Enjoyed following that, looked far better in 6mm than blocks for sure.

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  14. Very cool, Jonathan. I like the look and scale of 6mm for this battle.

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  15. That's a classic battle. I enjoyed your Report really much.

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  16. Fun sounding game and just nice to being to be playing ftf!
    Best Iain

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    1. It was fun and a pleasure to return (FINALLY!) to F2F!

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  17. Looks great, I'm so far missing my face to face gaming. Just CCN on Vassal at the moment.

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    1. I have yet to try CC via VASSAL. The modules looks pretty good.

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