Deployment

Troops are deployed as shown on the map opposite. The positions are approximate and can be adjuisted to fit the troops being used. Although Attila's army has slightly fewer troops as they have more cavalry they will take up more space.

Thorismund

Theodoric

Alan Heavy Cavalry

Alan Light Cavalry

Roman Infantry

Roman Cabalry

Ostogoths

Huns

Gepid Foot

Gepid Mounted

Hun Flank Force

Hill

Victory Conditions

The Roman side wins a victory if Aetius is still alive and more than ½ the  Roman contingent and Theodoric's command (excluding Alans and Thorismund's command) are unshaken; holding their original position or are closer to the initial enemy position; and they suffered less overall casualties than the Hun side (counting all contingents). Casualties include actual casualties removed, any troops driven off table and routing units.

 

The Hun side wins a victory if Attila is still alive and more than ½ the Romans and Visigoths (including Thorismund's command) are shaken or casualties or more than 4 javelin throws behind their original position.

 

Any other result is a draw. In a multi-player game, individual players have the following additional victory conditions:

 

Attila wins if he is still alive, the Huns win, and no more than ¼ actual Huns (excluding German Allies) are casualties.

 

Adaric wins if he is still alive, the Huns win or draw, and more Huns than Gepids are casualties.

 

Valamir wins if the Huns win or draw and the Ostrogoths inflict more casualties on their opponents than the Gepids did on theirs.

 

Aetius wins if he is still alive, the Romans win, and the Visigoths have more casualties than the Romans

 

Theodoric wins if the Romans win or draw and no more than ¼ of the Visigoths are casualties.

 

Thorismund wins if the Romans win or draw, he succeeded in capturing the hill and no more than ¼  of his command are casualties.

 

Sangiban wins if he is still alive, the Romans win or draw, and none of his heavy cavalry are casualties.

 

It is quite possible for more than on player to win. Note that Theodoric, Thorismund and Valamir do not have to survive to win. In fact, a heroic death could even be considered to contribute to victory. Attila, Aetius, and Adaric, however, have future plans that requires their continued existence and Sangiban was not that heroic.

Special Rules

The Alans may not initiate any charges before the 4th turn and then only if the Romans are clearly winning. They may countercharge if charged. This is to reflect their lack of enthusiasm and desire not to commit to a potentially loosing cause.

 

In a multi-player game, Aetius and Attila must give orders to each contingent (ie Aetius writes orders for Theodoric and Sangiban). If players on the same side wish to discuss tactics, their respective figures must be in base to base contact on the table, otherwise the only allowed communications are by messages, ideally through an umpire.  It is up to the players whether or not they choose to obey the orders they are given!

 

The 7th and 8th turns take place in the fading evening light. To simulate this the following rules apply under Comitatus (apply similar restrictions if using other rules):

   Visibility is reduced to 2 javelin throws

  All movement is treated as if in difficult terrain

 

The Game

Troops are deployed as shown on the map opposite. The positions are approximate and can be adjusted to fit the troops being used. Although Attila's army has slightly fewer troops as they have more cavalry they will take up more space. The main lines should be 2 bow shots apart and the flanking forces should be at equal distance from the bottom of the hill.

 

Aetius' army moves first on turn one, simulating the initiative they took to seize the hill. Attila's army moves first on turn two as he then took the offensive. Thereafter dice for turns, adding the commanders in chief's command points, the winner deciding whether to go first or second.

 

The actual battle started late in the day and ended when darkness fell. Therefore the game is limited to 6 normal turns. If at that point no one side has an obvious victory the game goes on for two more turns with reduced visibility for dusk as described opposite.

 

The game is over at the end of the 8th turn when it is assumed that both sides pull back ad withdraw to their camps if there has been no clear winner.

A shieldwall of Roman infantry stand ready to receive a cavalry charge. Converted 28mm Gripping Beast and Foundry figures.