Thanks Duncan! I admit I'm not very good at documenting my battles and putting together reports, but I would like to improve. Next post will attempt some commentary :) As for my current encounters: I am still running mostly Punic War scenarios, but plan on diving into the Latin Wars again soon. Perhaps I'll use that as an opportunity to write some linear campaign battle reports! (I also have some Samnites that a friend gave to me to paint - I'd like to get those mustered before completing that campaign/project)

Stoked to see your 3rd c. Spain campaign. Please remember to post :) Any particular encounter to start? Aside from your Lusitanians, which minis have you gathered for the project? 

As usual the quality of your figure painting and scenery puts mine to shame! Great stuff.

Your pics and David's battle reports are really inspiring - not sure how well mine will measure up. 

Its going to be a "what if" solo campaign with Carthage attempting to secure control of Spain, the Romans seeking to derail their efforts and the Spanish tribes and city states being wildcards, able to operate independently, declare for either side, or flip sides based on randomised circumstances. Need to playtest my campaign rules to see if chaos ensues.  If it does it will make for a more interesting commentary! 

From Baccus I have:

• A Carthaginian army (mostly bought pre-painted), with Numidian and some Spanish mercenaries;
• A horde of Celtic types covering the Celtiberians, and north-eastern Spanish tribes (complete);
• A horde of Iberian types - Scutarii, caetrati. medium and and light cavalry (bolstered with a few from Rapier) currently part painted - hoping to finish them over Christmas holiday;
• Lusitanians - Heavy and light caetrati and light cavalry, part painted, part in the latest order;
• A small Early Imperial Roman army (complete) and some Marian legionaries (not painted yet) to fill out Roman forces.   
• I also have Heroics & Ros Hoplites and other Greek types for the coastal city-states completed, and H&R Republican Romans (part painted), plus a load more Irregular Britons/Gallic types to fill in some gaps. 

If it all goes quickly I'd like to move on to a near historical Sertorian campaign - asymmetrical battles galore. 

Cheers Duncan :) 

Campaign sounds great, with lots of variety mini-wise. Bet it's going to look a treat on the battlefield. I really like the idea of wildcard Spanish tribes. I've been meaning to add scutarii and caetrati to the mix for some Spanish representation -- perhaps future posts from your kind self can provide the impetus I need. 

Good luck with the project and please remember to post some updates of your work! 

A few new additions to the field: 

Samnite infantry AIT01

Roman cavalry ARR05

Auxiliary archers AIR04

Whipped up a few more imperial soldiers over the weekend. Roman legionaries (AIR01) and Gothic infantry (AGO01). Starting to imagine Alaric's sack of Rome, but first I should probably finish the Germans I have waiting for my Marcomannic Wars project...

Happy New Year :)

Love the Samnites, and the Goths look awesome!  Although I'm sure they look lovely to the right eyes I'm afraid I can't enthuse about Romans (personal bias).   I've only managed to finish two terrain pieces over the last week, so this is more great inspiration to crack on!    

Very impressive for a weekend! It takes me months to get some figures finished.

Amazing work, figures and the table look brilliant

Cheers folks :) 

Going to attempt the roughest of battle reports here (not going to be the quality of David's or others here on the forum), hope you enjoy! 

c. 343 BCE. Deep in the heart of Samnium…

A tribe of Samnites control a vital trade route through the Apennines. Latin tribes and cities to the north, eager to ingratiate themselves with Rome, seek to wrestle these lands from the native Oscans. 

The encounter is set in the locale of a Samnite village, a gateway into the Apennines. A cohort of drilled Italian infantry, cavalry and leves skirmishers provoke the stubborn Samnites into mustering their own modest defense, determined to protect the mountain pass. 

Failed orders and blunders plague the cavalry corps of each belligerent force, allowing the respective infantry of the Samnites and Latins to take the centre of the field. The latter take up a battleline and execute a volley of javelins, forcing the Samnite skirmishers into a disordered retreat.

Samnite cavalry gallop to the crest of the hill overlooking the battle, where they unleash their own javelin volleys into the allied Latin infantry below. One of these units is forced into a disordered retreat, allowing a charge of Samnite infantry to clash with the remaining Latin leves and infantry division, having been weakened by the split in their forces. Another failed order for the Latin cavalry corps seals the responsible officer’s decommission, as the consequences only serve to hasten a badly deteriorating situation for the assaulting Latins.

As the Latin blunders pile up, the Samnites take the opportunity to reinforce their highground position in the centre of the field, isolating their enemy and pushing them into the periphery. A successful rally from the disordered Latin infantry cohort briefly boosts morale and prompts a march forward, aided by the (un)timely arrival of the cavalry corps, previously loitering on the sidelines. This burst is somewhat successful, as the Latin leves aim a deadly volley at their counterparts in the rear. Desperate to make up for their tardiness, and despite being aware of the Samnite cohort dangerously positioned atop the hill, the Latin cavalry hurl javelins in at the Samnite left flank, managing a number of casualties but ultimately failing to budge the stubborn Oscans.  

A flailing final rally and charge from the Latins brings this engagement to a close, with the Samnites repelling a blundering force that was never able to establish a favourable position on the field. An allied Latin infantry cohort is shattered by the Samnite battle line; an Italian cavalry division is similarly broken, and the other sent into a shameful retreat, led by none other than our calamitous captain. 

Not without a few licks, the Samnites soundly defeat the invading Latins, thereby protecting the mountain pass - for the time being, at least.

Samnites and Senones size one another up in Valle Peligna.