Hail Antony! Actium Playtest Success!

Thanks to my fellow-Hawaiian expat, Kimo, a great playtest for the Actium game was just concluded. Kimo brought over a few nicely painted ships which were added as armed escorts for Cleopatra's squadron. The victory conditions for Antony's fleet was allowing Cleopatra to break out with her cargo ships intact enroute to Egypt. This and either destroying or capturing Octavian. The scenario has Octavian's placement unknown to Antony's forces - just as it was historically. Octavian's victory conditions would be the capture of Cleopatra and/or the destruction of Antony. Antony's command ship being known to Octavian. An alternative victory condition was the overall number of ships destroyed. This was the case for our game after six turns. Antony's forces run by Kimo destroyed far more of Octavian's ships and was declared the winner of the game. This despite Cleopatra being unsuccessful in her bid to escape. The rules are based loosely on Hail Caesar - mainly the command activation rolls at the top of the turn. All of Octavian's commanders had rating of 9 (this due to Antony's plans being known to them), and all of Antony's commanders having a rating of 8. Antony himself retained a 9 rating due to his force of personality. Here are some images of the game.

Octavian's right squadron, run by me, in a line-abreast formation having to make a 90 degree bend to keep unit cohesion and also avoiding contact with an adjacent squadron. This squadron later was decimated by both missile fire and close combat action

Another view of Octavian's right squadron - he was actually in this squadron and his command vessel destroyed.

Kimo actually destroyed the command vessel that Octavian was in - here on the right flank. A subordinate took over the command with a lowered command rating. This actually should've ended the game, but in the heat of battle we continued with the game. One thing Kimo pointed out later, after another of Octavian's command was destroyed was that the replacement command vessel should not occupy the area the previous one was destroyed in. That made sense and will be incorporated in future games.

A view of the center of the battle - Cleopatra's squadron behind Octavius' squadron.

To keep the game simple enough for convention play, only Cleopatra's and Antony's ships were classed as Deceres, and command ships on both sides classed as Quadriremes. All covered deck ships (painted in either red or blue) classed also as Quadriremes. Open decked ships classed as Triremes. The few open decked ships with fancy prows and tails were classed as Liburnians - and these only in the center squadron of Octavian's fleet.

Antony's squadron getting the better of Agrippa - which was not the historical case, of course!

 Another thing we discovered was that although missile fire can cause some damage, it was best to engage in close combat, and ram if possible. To successfully ram required a separate activation score.

The beach of captured or destroyed ships - note they are mostly red ones formerly from Octavian's fleet. Behind them are the recently painted Irregular minis legionaries and marching camp. I've ordered a few more to beef up the look.

Action in the center - Cleopatra's ship still behind Octavius' squadron.

Here's an updated QRS from notes taken during the play test.

Besides resuming painting on the Ii Naomasa figure, I'll be trying out the Gladiatorial Combat rules for the other game I am committed to host at Enfilade! in May.