WADBAG Battle Report:
Chalons 451AD
Giant Battle DBA at Historicon 2004
By
David Schlanger and David Kuijt
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This Giant DBA scenario was originally run at Fall In! 2001, and brought back with
minor tweaks for Historicon 2004. We have received a lot of positive feedback on the event,
and plan to run it again on September 24, 2005 at NOVAG's
Fall
GAMECON as part of De Bellis Vasingtonium.
This overhead view shows the whole battle unfolding. The Ostrogoths appear to finally be closing on
the Visigoths on the far end, while the walls of warband in the foreground continue to close.
The opposing Gothic allies have finally closed to within charging distance.
The Roman right still looks quite solid. The Visigoths and Alans still have a solid line of defense,
despite the continual pressure from Attilla's Huns.
The Romans look to be hard pressed to hold this gap. Octar prepares to run over a Frankish warband.
If the Franks can't hold, there will be a lot of space to exploit for the Huns, and only Aetius to prevent it.
This is the last view of the battle before combat will be joined on both flanks.
Despite the Visigoth's defensive angular formation, Valamir charges with his Ostrogothic Knights!
Ostrogoths also move into position to threaten the Visigothic right flank.
Using their savage double move, the Franks assault the Gepid line. Double ranked warband
vs. double ranked warband - it doesn't get much better than that!
The Franks have finally gone impetuous, but unfortunately their forward movement has created a
bigger gap for Aetius to cover.
The Ostrogoths have taken some casualties, but Valamir and his knights continue to surge forward.
Aetius and his allies look uncertain about the future of the Empire.
Things have gone poorly for the Franks, and they have broken. Octar moves to take the hill
in strength, and Aetius is running out of options.
The Gepids have crushed the Roman loving Franks and now look forward to impetuous pursuit of the
demoraldemoralizede spoils of victory!
This view provides a good idea of the broken up formations, as the combat continues. Sangipan
and his Alan have broken along with the Franks, but the Ostrogoths have also been punished and
demoralized by Theodoric and the Visigoths.
Valamir's Ostrogoths have been broken, and many of them flee.
Despite the demoralization and disintegration of his army, Valamir fights on, locked in deadly
combat with the hated Visigoths!
The remnants of Sangipan's Alan continue to struggle against Attilla while Roman elites move down the
hill to attack the Hun right flank. Attilla will also need to worry about Theodoric on his left.
Game Master David Kuijt answers a question about the routing Franks. Notice the number of casualties
building up behind the Roman base edge.
A melancholy Sangipan looks on as Attilla ravages what's left of the Alan force. Aetius considers
his options carefully. Grimald has to look away to avoid gazing upon his shattered command.
There is not much left of the battered Frankish command. As a result, there is little to prevent
the mighty Gepids from descending on the Romans and their camp.
Octar has pressed over the hill and has driven Aetius back. Aetius is running out of options.
Aetius stands alone against four Hun elements with nominal support from a demoralized unit of Frankish warband.
Despite the imminent danger on the Roman left, with an aggressive attack from the hill Aetius has
managed to break Attilla's command with the help of Theodoric. This leaves the Huns with two broken
commands (Ostrogoths and Attilla's Huns) and the Romans with two broken commands (Franks and
Sangipan's Alan).
Octar moves to attack Aetius with hill advantage and two overlaps including a flank attack. Aetius
faces a +2 to +3 combat with no recoil. Tough fighting throughout the battle may have finally taken
its toll on his Roman Equines.
The Romans still hold most of the hill with their stalwart Blade wall, but the Huns have little
need to push against this Roman strength at this point.
While Aetius fights for his life the rest of the battle is a swirling chaotic mess of demoralized
troops, their pursuers, and the dead.
Octar (Mike Stelzer) counts off the combat factors for this crucial die roll.
Aetius is slain, and the Huns are victorious! Despite Attilla's own command breaking, and the Ostrogoths
being demoralized, the Hun army has taken the day. In killing Aetius, Octar's newly found prestige will
allow him to rival the great Attilla!
Page created: August 30, 2005.
The author David Schlanger may be contacted at buckynduke@comcast.net
Please do not use any pictures or text from this
page without permission.
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