ROMAN WARS against MACEDONIA 280

A Simple Game of Ancient Warfare between the

Roman Republic and the Macedonian Empire

2009© Rosser Industries

IMPACT and MELEE

ROMAN WARS against MACEDONIA 280

A Simple Game of Ancient Warfare between the

Roman Republic and the Macedonian Empire

From 280-148 BC

Rosser Industries – The second in a series of simple ancient battle games

IMPACT and MELEE©

ROMAN WARS against MACEDONIA 280-148 BC

A Simple Game of Ancient Warfare between the

Roman Republic and the Macedonian Empire

of simple ancient battle games

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IMPACT and MELEE –ROMAN WARS vs MACEDONIA

2009© Rosser Industries

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IMPACT and MELEE – Rome vs. MacedoniaA simple and quick war game of a Macedonian vs. Roman battles

Game pieces are represented by top down full color photos of Macedonian and Roman warriors of thetime of the Roman Republic (@ 280-148 BC). Print out the game board (6 x 4 rectangle of squares sizedon an 8.5”x 11” piece of paper). You will have to provide your own six sided dice.

HOW TO WIN

Macedonians win by eliminating all Roman Hastati and Princeps units or the Roman player gives up. TheRoman player wins by eliminating all Macedonian Pike and Companion Cavalry pieces, or theMacedonian player gives up.

ROMAN GAME PIECES (39 attack points, 30 defense points)3 each Roman Hastati – Attack 5, Defense 3, No shooting3 each Roman Princeps - Attack 5, Defense 4, No Shooting3 each Roman Velites – Attack 1, Defense 2, Shoot 2 squares1 each Roman Triarii – Attack 3, Defense 5, No shooting1 each Roman Cavalry – Attack 3, Defense 2, No shooting

MACEDONIAN GAME PIECES (34 attack points, 33 defense points)4 each Macedonian Pike – Attack 4, Defense 5, No shooting4 each Macedonian Peltist – Attack 2, Defense 2, Shoot 2 squares1 each Macedonian Archers – Attack 2, Defense 1, Shoot 4 squares2 each Macedonian Companion Cavalry – Attack 4, Defense 2, No shooting

GAME SETUPMacedonian player sets up first, then Roman player sets up.

Macedonian player places all units along his edge of the game map, there can be no more than 2 gamepieces in a square at any one time. Pike units and Cavalry units can only have 1 game piece in a square.

Roman Player sets up along his side of the map with no more than 2 game pieces placed in a square atany one time, except the Roman cavalry pieces which can only have 1 game piece in a square at any onetime. All units must be on the game board before the game can start.

HOW TO MOVEMacedonian player moves first. All Macedonian infantry game pieces can move forward one square, orturn 90° toward one side or the other of the square they are in, no other move is allowed.

Macedonian pieces move one at a time.

Roman Cavalry and Macedonian Companion Cavalry can move one or two square(s) straight ahead, orturn 90°, or move 1 square straight ahead then slide diagonally one square up and to the left or right.

All other Roman infantry game pieces can move forward one square, or turn 90° toward facing one sideor the other side of the square they are in, no other move is allowed.

Roman pieces move one game piece at a time.

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HOW TO ATTACK

When a game piece moves next to an enemy game piece, an attack can occur. Attacks can only occur tothe front of your unit.

The moving player rolls a number of 6-sided dice equal to the attack value of the piece (Roman Hastatiwould roll 5 dice). The enemy unit being attacked rolls a number of dice equal to the defensive value ofthat game piece (Macedonian Companion Cavalry rolls 2 dice).

For every 5 or 6 that is rolled, the enemy unit receives 1-hit. When a unit receives 2-hits in one gameturn it is removed from the game.

Roman Princeps and Triarii can eliminate 1-hit each time it is attacked due to their armor, this onlyapplies if they are attacked from the front.

Macedonian Companion Cavalry get to eliminate 1-hit each time they are attacked because of theirtraining and armor. Macedonian Pike subtract 1-hit each time they are attacked through the frontfacing of the unit, this subtraction ceases once a Macedonian Pike game pieces is destroyed (reflects thedisordering of the Pike phalanx formations)

Macedonian Companion Cavalry that moves 2 squares straight ahead and attacks get to double thenumber of dice (4-dice x2 = eight (8) dice) they throw when this occurs (simulates cavalry charging theenemy)

ROMAN LINE REPLACEMENTWhen a Roman Princeps unit is positioned in the same square with a Roman Hastasi unit, the Romanplayer has the option to “reverse” the Hastati and Princeps game pieces just before the Macedonianplayer rolls the Macedonian attack dice. This will allow the Princeps (with better defense rolls) to beattacked instead of the Hastati. The same rule applies with the Roman Triarii, and any Roman Princepsor Hastati game pieces in the same square with it.

Roman players also get one, 1-dice attack before any attack roles are made, by all Hastati and Princepsgame pieces, this simulates the throwing of Pilum just before melee.

MACEDONIAN PIKE UNITS

Macedonian Pike game pieces double their attack dice when facing cavalry or heavy infantry opponents(4 attack dice x2 = 8 dice thrown). This only occurs until the first Macedonian pike unit has beendestroyed.

FLANK AND REAR ATTACKS

When you attack an enemy game piece into its side or rear, add +1 to all your dice rolls. What wouldnormally be a hit when rolling a 5 or 6, now is a hit when rolling a 4, 5, or 6.

Archers cannot shoot into the flank or rear of an enemy unit. It is assumed the enemy unit would turnits’ shields toward the enemy archers or javelins.

Defensive subtraction for hits is not allowed when the enemy unit being attacked is being attacked in itsflank or rear.

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TERRAIN

These two armies did not have to fight on a level plain to be effective. Because of this, this gameincludes two terrain pieces, FOREST and a HILL.

If a Macedonian Pike unit that moves onto the HILL square, will have one dice less attack rolls, and twodice less defense rolls.

The only units allowed to move into a FOREST square are Roman Velites or Macedonian Peltists. Whenthey are on the FOREST square they can be attacked by adjacent enemy game pieces, but the enemygame pieces deduct 1-dice from their attack rolls.

Each player rolls one dice for each terrain piece (1-Hill, 1-Forest) one at a time. The high roller for thatterrain piece then decides where to place the terrain piece on the game board, or to put it back in thebox and not play with it during this game session.

OPTIONAL RULE - ELEPHANT

If you wish to refight Pyrrhus invasion of Italy in 280-275 BC you will need to add an elephant to theMacedonian forces (Pyrrhus). Subtract one Companion Cavalry and one Macedonian Pike, and replacethem with one Elephant. An Elephant has the following characteristics.

ELEPHANT has 6 attack dice (3 attack dice when shooting), 4 defense dice (2 against Roman Velites), Canshoot 2 squares.

The Elephant has a range of 2 for shooting, and hits on a 5 or 6 die roll. It moves like MacedonianCompanion Cavalry but when attacking. When it attacks or defends against Cavalry, it doubles its attackand defense dice.

Elephants that are hit once in a turn are subject to panic. Roll a 6-sided die and if the roll is a 5 or 6, theElephant panics and moves two squares directly away from the unit causing the hit. (This could be adiagonal move, if being hit by shooting. Any unit in the elephant’s path (friend or foe), are immediatelyattacked by the Elephant with the Elephants normal attack dice. Units receiving 2-hits are removedimmediately.

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MOVEMENT EXAMPLE: (Not to scale)

(A) Roman Hastati game piececan move forward one (1) square, or

(B) Turn 90° to the right, or(C) Turn 90° to the left

A

C ↑RomanHastati

B

MOVEMENT EXAMPLE TWO: (Not to scale)

Macedonian Companion Cavalry can move to any of the“A” gray squares, or turn to face “B” and“C” in one movement turnsIf they move to A1, and attack, they double their attack dice.

A2 A1 A2

A2

C ↑MacedonianCompanion

Cavalry

B

ATTACKING – An archer firing (4 squares) can hit game pieces in the following squares.

HIT

HIT HIT HIT

HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT

HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT HIT

↑Macedonian

Archer

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DESIGNER NOTES

I like simple games, but I also like to see the two sides in a game be balanced, but not the same. In thissmall game you will see the classic Pike vs. Pilum contest. Can the Macedonian pikes and Heavy Cavalrypin the center and turn the flanks of the Roman army, or will the Roman heavy infantry grind theopposing army down in a battle of attrition

This is not the Macedonian army of Alexander and his conquests, this Macedonian army represents thefinal version of the Greek pike armed heavily armored phalanx type army. Combined with a small forceof shock action cavalry, the Macedonians have an army where the individual parts each have a uniquepart to play. If they work well together they should win, if not they will be destroyed.

The Roman army in comparison is the classic heavy infantry army. Hastati, Princeps, and Triarii are allheavy infantry armed with sword and pilum (Long spear for Triarii). Their formations are flexible (forinfantry) which allows them to attack normally on a hill square (rough terrain). They have a tacticalsystem that has been developing for generations, and the backing of all of central Italy during this time.They use their multitudes to wear down an opponent over the long term.

Romans lost battles but won wars, the Macedonians only really have one army, so if it is lost, so is theirstate. With both sides looking for a battlefield they each can fight effectively on, let the battle begin todetermine which system, and state, will prevail.

Elephants are not a normal feature of this period of Roman warfare (280 BC) and were a real shockwhen Pyrrhus introduced even a few against the Roman armies. The optional rule allows for theirinclusion in the games by sacrificing some of the Macedonian Companion Cavalry and Pikeman.

PARTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

ROME and her ENEMIES, Editor Jane Penrose, Osprey Publishing, 2005

GREECE and ROME at WAR, Peter Connolly, Prentice Hall, Inc. 1981

FIGHTING TECHNIQUES of the ANCIENT WORLD, Simon Anglim, Phyllis G. Jestice, Rob S. Rice, Scott M. Rusch, John Serrati,

GREENHILL BOOKS, 2002

The COMPLETE ROMAN ARMY, Adrian Goldsworthy, THAMES and HUDSON Ltd., 2003

ALEXANDER the GREATS CAMPAIGNS, Phil Barker, PATRICK STEPHENS LTD, 1979

LOST BATTLES, Reconstructing the Great Clashes of the Ancient World, Phillip Sabin, HUMBLEDON CONTINUUM, 2007

WARFARE in the CLASSICAL WORLD, John Warry, UNIV. of OKLAHOMA PRESS, 1995

WARFARE in the ANCIENT WORLD, edited by Sir John Hackett, FACTS ON FILE, INC, 1989

And,

SLINGSHOT Magazines, published by the SOCIETY of ANCIENTS, varied authors

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MACEDONIAN GAME PIECES

Macedonian Archers

Macedonian Pikemen

Macedonian Companion Cavalry

Macedonian Peltists

Elephant (Optional)

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Pike

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Archers

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Peltists

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian

Companion Cavalry

Macedonian

↑ Front ↑

Elephants

GAME PIECES

acedonian Archers

Macedonian Companion Cavalry

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian

Companion Cavalry

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian

Companion Cavalry

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Pike

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Pike

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Peltists

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Peltists

↑ Front ↑

Macedonian Pike

↑ Front ↑

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Woods

ROMAN GAME PIECES

Roman Hastati

Roman Princeps

Roman Triarii Roman Velites

Roman Cavalry

↑ Front ↑

Roman Cavalry

↑ Front ↑

Roman Triarii

↑ Front ↑

Roman Princeps

↑ Front ↑

Roman Hastati

Hills

Roman Triarri Roman Velites

↑ Front ↑

Roman Velites

↑ Front ↑

Roman Princeps

↑ Front ↑

Roman Princeps

↑ Front ↑

Roman Hastati

↑ Front ↑

Roman Hastati

↑ Front ↑

Roman Velites

↑ Front ↑

Roman Velites

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