BBDBA Rome vs Rome - Bedriacum

We've got a lot of Imperial Romans, we used to play Warhammer Ancient Battles (yes I know.. put away your holy symbols & stop blessing yourselves..). So we created two BBDBA Imperial Roman Armies, an Eastern & Western. A Rome vs Rome clash was always on the cards, surprisingly Imperial Roman Civil War battles aren't covered that well compared to the Caesar vs Pompey era. After a LOT of trawling through books & internet, Bedriacum was what we settled on. We discovered a smashing map from the OurCivilisation.com site & it helped a great deal in the set-up.

Set during the Year of the 4 Emperors 69AD, Bedriacum (or the second Cremona) was the battle to decide who would be the final Emperor for that year. Vitellius had claimed the prize after a bloody struggle, but Vespasian didn't agree & sent his own army to Italy from the East. This is the main resulting battle.
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More info on the battle from =
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bedriacum
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Cracking Map of the Battlefield= http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/tacitusc/histries/map2bic.htm
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Second Battle of Bedriacum / Cremona Date: 69AD
Location: near Bedriacum and Cremona
Combatants: Vespasianus' Forces vs. Vitellius' Forces
Vespasianus' Forces Commander: Marcus Antonius Primus
Vitellius' Forces Commander: (?)
Result: Vespasianus' forces victory
Vespasianus' Forces Strength: 5 Legions? (III Gallica, VII Claudia, VII Gemina, VIII Augusta, XIII Gemina)
Vitellius' Forces Strength: 4 Legions (XXI Rapax, V Alaudae, I Italica, XXII Primigenia), Vexillationes from 7 other legions, and Auxiliaries.
(Reference Roman Army Forum=
http://romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=15563&start=20 )

Bedriacum the inital disposition of the Legions, Vespasian had more troops available. Using the Army notes available, it was always going to be difficult imposing the 36 element BBDBA framework. We added a few more elements to make up the numbers. however we still have smaller Legions that what I would of liked, anywhere between 4 -6 bases strong. We settled for 40 elements for the Vitellians & 44 for the Vespasians.

Our interpretation of Bedriacum, Legion numbers marked & separate detachments. The Praetorian Guard elected to fight for Vespasian. The OurCivilisation.com map makes special mention that a lot of Vespasian Auxilia fought on the flanks, so we copied this in the set-up. The next map is the layout with DBA troops on the battlefield.




Terrain is a scenic mat, Road & River (treat as minor) as Battlefield plan. Urban areas represented by some buildings or Ruins. A few extra pieces, Rough, Orchard, Rocky Hill added to spice up the game. To be honest they didn't make any effect on the outcome. Jack would take the Vespasian force & I the Vitellians.
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The battle begins, view of the Vitellians. Concentrated Artillery, Blades & Auxilia.

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Vespasian troops, Blades, Artillery, Psiloi. In the right background can be seen the Praetorians.

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The Praetorians march to battle. They would act as a nice reserve force.

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ATTACK! Vitellian Auxilia confront Vespasian Blades.

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The fight in the South, Auxilia & Cavalry force the River. Allied Gallic Cavalry force the first combat..... typically Jack rolls well & forces the Gauls to Recoil.

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The middle shapes up, this area would be a bloodbath.

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Another view of the Centre



First of the Overall Battlefield views, with Army labels. Taken from the North looking South across the battlefield.

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The fight in the South is going well for the Vitellians & slowly get the upperhand.

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The centre is a stalemate despite the Vespasians having more blades there.

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The foreground, in the North, I elected not to engage on mass & to give ground.

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The turning point in the battle coming up (in my humble view). Blade vs Blade combat, good rolls on both sides kept the balance....

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.....Until I managed to roll four 1's in a row, Jack takes the opportunity & manages to destroy two Blades. From this point on the centre would collapse dramatically!!!

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However in the South the combo of Cavalry, Blades & Auxilia start to take their toll on Jacks Vespasians crossing the river.

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Nice view of the Northern battle. The view of the Vespasian Auxillia.

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The Northern flank again looking into the centre. Jack had a good match up with his Blades facing Auxilia.

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It's full swing! The battle at its height looking from the Vespasian lines.

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Luckily I have two Blades in reserve to plug the gap in the centre. Would it be enough though?

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Overall Battlefield View, at this point the Vitellians centre is beginning to take the strain, all my reserves are committed. Jack still has the Praetorians to commit.

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The North is still a stalemate.

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The South is starting to show signs of promise for the Vitellians!!

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Breakthrough!! The Vespasians are sent packing, the Cavalry legs it at full pelt back across the river. One broken command for Jack.

Ha! Laughs Jack & takes it in his stride. The position in the centre is far too good for him. A few pathetic rolls by me & the entire centre collapses..... oh the shame.

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Meanwhile some minor skirmishes take place in the North.

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I look at the table.. the South is great but I can't see me being able to make it count & swing the troops northwards quickly enough.











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Jacks wastes no time & brings his reserves into play. The Praetorian Cavalry advance. Jacks Blades hack through any opposition including the 'Heroic' Vitellian Artillery who fight to the last.

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Some Vitellian troops manage to cross the river to help in the centre, but its too late.

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He's spoilt for choice. Where does Jack send his Cavalry??

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With typical Roman ruthlessness Jack orders the Praetorians to charge the last resistance in the South. The casualty figures rising 'alarmingly' for the Vitellians.



The end is in sight. The Vitellians Casualties are appalling.

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The breakthrough in the South is my only consolation. All that stands between Jack & Rome is one General element!

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I curse my poor planning & wished that I'd commited my northern forces.













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The last stand required for victory is destroyed!!!!

Final view of the the Battlefield. Enough Said...

Well the North looks pretty smart still.

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The Battlefield casualties, well mine anyway 20+ elements.

The 'howls of Jack' are enough to send a man potty.

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A mighty scrap indeed, with a painful head as well. This one took all day with a few breaks, including a 'Dr.Who' viewing at tea time (still the best thing on telly) .

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Oh dear! What a bloodbath, even though we broke a command each. Jack breaking my centre was critical, he could exploit my weakness. I couldn't get the advantage from taking his flank, my troops had too much ground to cover. Cue the slaughter, Blades can be devastating & it showed in this one.

DBN Austrians vs French

We've had the DBN rules for a while now & even based up a few armies. At long last we were able to get a game played. A 30" Battlefield, with home made terrain. Jack would take the French & I the Austrians.

The figures are 1/300 Heroics & Ros, which I collected & painted over twenty years ago! Various rules & basing schemes have come & gone. Just like everyone, I 'grew up' & became a sensible fella, so alas the figures were stored away. Anyway after Jack was born & he reached an age were he could enjoy gaming, we started collecting & painting armies, DBA became our standard rules. After discovering DBN, I purchased the version 2 rules & we set about basing the Napoleonics. They are all mounted on standard size 15mm bases. As with most first attempts, there were some 'vague' areas we were unsure of, but obviously we'll improve with practice. We enjoyed the game, even Jack had a few comments on what he liked & disliked.

The Heroic Austrians, a standard 12 point army.


A 12 point French Army


The Battlefield, the French would attack from the north. I set the terrain & Jack rolled for which set-up edge. Strangely he got the side he wanted, I was happy getting a road edge.



The Austrians in massed columns of march.



Jack elected for a more conventional approach & lined up from the start.


I waste no time & deploy either side of the town.


Austrian Muskets race to deploy


The French led by the flamboyant General, Prince Murat on the right


Jacks Light Cavalry, Chasseurs a Cheval & Lancers, race ahead


Overview from the south with elements labelled.
Sensing an opportunity I send my cavalry straight up the middle.


Jacks straight in & unleashes the Light Cavalry onto the Austrian Muskets.


The Artillery deploys & opens up. Sadly both sets fail to make an impression.


The French attack with Muskets in column & Heavy Cavalry, Cuirassiers.


Withering firepower form the Austrians repulse the French Cavalry with losses.
We used the optional 'HIT' system, with small stones used as Hit markers.


The Battle is shaping up nicely.


The Austrian Heavy Cavalry (Cuirassiers) plays a support role rather than a head on attack into the French Muskets in the centre. The Light Cavalry (Uhlans) are sent packing with losses.


I concentrate the Austrian musketry & the French Light Cavalry are destroyed.


More losses for the Austrian Uhlans & they are now 'shaken'. The Austrian Cuirassiers turn to face the threat of French Muskets.


Mid point in the battle, so a few labels for the troops.
I'm cruising Jacks lost all three Cavalry elements!!!


Vive la France! Utters Jack & attempts a last ditch effort.


French Columns in action. Elsewhere Jack takes out 2 elements of Austrian cavalry

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He brings it level by launching a surprising attack on the Austrians.

The French Columns charge home instead of deploying into line for a firefight.

Jack nearly succeeds & destroys an Austrian Musket, the score is 3 - 3!!

However it fails at the last & on my turn the flanks close.....

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Cue the Benny Hill music.... 4 Austrian Muskets chase 2 French Muskets around the town.

Daaa.. Da Da Da Diddle aaaa......!!!

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I manage to destroy some French Muskets on the left & victory is sealed.

Final positions...

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Final overview of the battlefield.


Well, well we did enjoy that one with a nice tense finish at he end. We did use the optional HIT markers for casualties & to be honest it didn't detract from the game. We printed out the combat charts & used them to speed up the game. I took a few double takes in adding up the combat factors, but again practice makes perfect.

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We both fell into the trap of using Cavalry head on & we both paid for it. Just like in history, firepower is more than capable of taking out the colourful horsemen. Close Combat in DBN has more factors & seemed more brutal than normal DBA, we both enjoyed that aspect.

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Yes we will play again & next time use more of the element types. Artillery didn't make an impression in this game, so hopefully that will change in the next. Overall, DBN is a smashing set of rules & we recommend them.