Been a while… a few reports to push through.

As part of the planned Pyrrhic Wars Campaign in 2027 the group have been building armies.

We had a practice game with on one side the armies of Alexander, Pyrrhus and Antigonid One Eye v Republican Rome, Imperial Rome and Gallic Roman Allies.

I had requested players to bring Hail Caesar 250 point forces. Goldie had 290 points…need to watch that laddie!

Below is Rob’s Alexanderian Macedonian Army. A mix of Victrix and Warlord figures.

Below is my(Terry) army. Victrix figures mainly, most painted for me by Goldie with the command figures being Gripping Beast.

Below is Keith’s Successor Army, a mix of Victrix and Warlord figures.

Below is the Gallic portion of Al’s Carthaginian Army, again Victrix figures.

Below are some of my Imperial Romans. A mix of Foundry and Warlord figures.

And lastly below are some of Goldies Victrix Republican Roman Army.

Rob and Goldie were quickly into it. Rob charged Hoplite Phalanx into it. Heavy infantry against heavy infantry…each with supports.

One of my 2 commands advanced….thankfully the Phalanx part! Supported by Samnite light infantry and Epiorite Cavalry.

The Macedonians advanced….the Gaul’s didn’t seem interested.

Keith had some of the Warlord Elephants in his Army.

Back to Robs attack…..he was saving on 4’s. Rolling 4 ones is not good. He lost the combat…rolled his break test and popped.

Goldie pressed his advantage.

My Pike block charged Legionnaires.

I positioned my Elephants to charge Legionnaires….not a good idea but would be amusing. I have 4 attacks…they have 7…..Elephants have rules which basically say ‘Hunt Cavalry’.

The sloooowwww march to combat continues…….

I charged the other Imperial Command……maybe dice gods will favour me.

I am relying on the whisky glass here. The Samnites have 5 attacks and save on a 5(or 6 in first round due to incoming Pilums). Legionnaires have 7 attacks…save on 4. I have 6 attacks from supports… they have 2. I lost but held. Elephants also lost but held.

On left below… Roman cavalry face Alexander and his Companions……Combat continues on the right.

At last. Pikes v Warbands…….Cav v Cav.

Close up.

Alexander/Companions combat smash Roman cavalry and sweep into Legionnaires who had retired from combat against Phalanx shaken. Alexander had 2 or 3 attacks as well…..one would expect a Macedonian victory.

Warband v Pikes is getting rather messy as the battle lines breakup.

Oooopsy. Alexander and his Companions are destroyed. They inflicted 8 wounds on the Romans…of which 7 were saved……in return they lost the combat and were destroyed!

My Nellies are holding on…….the Samnites are holding on….both..barely!

In for a penny…..

Final act of game….I wasn’t going to ….but the taunts of the Romans left me no choice but to man up and send Pyrrhus with his cavalry charging a unit of shaken legionnaires…which after watching Alexander get destroyed I wasn’t to keen on….the Dice Gods were smiling and he look out the legionnaires……

So all in all an interesting and fun game. We are getting more familiar with the rules….thankfully the rule book that comes with Epic sets has more detailed rules on this period so you get that flavour more. Looking forward to next game.

The Whisky glass in my troop pictures contained Ardbeg 8 For Discussion. I prefer Sherry whisky more than Peaty ones but decided I needed an Ardbeg in my collection so I picked up this one(which has a Sherry aspect to it).

Tasting Notes found on line are:

The colour is pale gold, lighter than expected for a sherry cask matured whisky, and the nose is packed with peaty aromas. These are initially earthy and ashy, but then become more flinty and mineralic. Underneath are some sweeter aromas of dried fruit (especially sultana), toffee and butterscotch, plus heather honey and a twist of orange peel with hints of fennel seed and seaweed.

On the palate this whisky is punchy to begin with. Smoky and peppery notes hit first and these have an ashy charcoal-like edge to them, followed by damp earth and coal tar soap. Then comes a hint of green chilli and white pepper to accentuate everything. That flinty mineral feel from the nose is also present. 

Then comes much needed sweeter characteristics – think of juicy sultanas and raisins, plus butterscotch and toffee especially. Then the heather honey note evolves and sits underneath. With time other notes begin to develop and add depth. Hints of gingerbread and oat cookies marry with a pinch of cinnamon and a hint of seaweed. Very notes of candied orange and hints of liquorice and menthol also come through.

The finish is long with peaty and biscuit-like notes lasting longest. The sweetness slowly fades – first the sugary honey and toffee, then the juicy dried fruits. This leaves a gripping maltiness and expressive peat smoke. This has a earthy and ashy edge again with a hint of fennel seed and seaweed from the nose coming back right at the end.

Wow…. I didn’t really get any of that…but it is an easy whisky to sip while playing a pleasant game…..more so than the Ardbeg classics like the Corryvreckan and Uigeadail.

Until next time.. Terry out.