Alesia Album | Conventions New and Old | Philip Viverito

Caesar Reinforces the Redoubts

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:33:19 -0600

Above you are seeing in the lower left a Gallic relief force. At the top of the picture is one of Caesar’s legions attempting to bock the Gallic forces.

To the op extreme left you can just see one of the redoubts. In the real battle the Gallic relief force and the Gauls inside Alesia were out of communication because of Caesar’s siege works which stopped all communication to or from Alesia. Consequently Caesar who was greatly out numbered had the advantage. In both real life and in our miniature reenactment Caesar won out.

The Players

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:23:29 -0600

Games are successful when the players understand how the system works. But without help the game master would find things unmanagable. Here Mark is helping me explain the system.

Roman Defense Works

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:23:10 -0600

Here we see the Gallic relief force attempting to get through the layers of Roman defenses. Frst were the wood and iron stakes to get through. Next bramble bushes or tree branches. Then the ditch and finally the wall itself.

Wisely the tulmus (revalin or gate defense) is their main target. Roman gates were simple openings. The soldiers would form up in the opening.

To blunt an assault the Romans would erect a small wall just in front of the gateways. The men would man this small wall as others defended the openings and gateway on each side and rear.

wargames

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:22:50 -0600

Recognition

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:22:37 -0600

Recognition is very important to any normal person. There can be few honors greater than recognition by your peers. Thank you!

Reboubts

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:21:53 -0600

Romans commonly constructed small castra or fort which we would call redoubts when besieging a fortified place. Due to the broken ground surrounding Alesia Caesar had constructed by his engineers numerous little forts or redoubts. Each contained the type of unit that best suited the terrain.

Some of these redoubts served either horse or foot units. In some places cavalry would work best and in others infantry would be most effective. These redoubts could block open areas which the enemy could utilize.

Above is one of these redoubts. Each had a surrounding ditch, obstacles had many names like lillies or stymuli (punji stick driven into the ground). Above the ditch would be a rampart topped with some form of wall. This wall could be palisades covered with thorn bushes or tree branches. Palisades should not be confused with stackards. Stockades are continuous wooden walls with each log touching the other. A palisade is more open. The men would carry two or more long wood stakes that were planted in the ground with spaces between each.

Child’s Play

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:21:43 -0600

In my games I encourage and welcome younger players to play. These will determine the future of miniature gaming. To turn them away is to do an injustice to growing this hobby.

Joe (in the grey shirt) assisted as an experienced player. He runs some great games and his help was greatly appreciated.

Sometime the ounger gamers really understand and get into the game. Sometime they don’t. Fortuanately I have often watched over the years younger gamers grow up. This is very rewarding to see them each year.

Making things Clear

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:21:31 -0600

Keeping the flow of a scenario game going smoothly is key to a good experience for the game players old or young.

This game scenario was quite large and it was eccensial to keep it moving. I think we did.

When It Stops Being Fun

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:21:18 -0600

Games Masters make or break a scenario games. Here MArk is obviously having a good time helping out. Joe is to the right. Steve and Frank were not in this shot but all four really helped me make this scenario game a success.

The award is much theirs as mine. So when gaming stops being fun I’ll stop gaming.

Yet Another Large Redoubt

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:21:03 -0600

Here is another large redoubt located beneath the temporary camp of Gauls. There were so many Gauls arriving at Alesia before the battle that the Gauls had to erect a small camp just out side the gate. The cavalry were sent out to gather a relief force from all over Gaul before Caesar could close the siege lines.

A Little Redoubt

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:55 -0600

Here is still another little redoubt. Notice the tower which is over the gateway.

The Gallic Garrison

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:41 -0600

Here we see one of the gates of Alesia as units of Gauls rush to assist the releif force. In the game there were too few too late.

Between the Line

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:31 -0600

Between the lines we see Gallic units rushing to attack the Romans while the relief force attacks. In the real battle the Gauls forced the population of the town of Alesia to leave the town. These poor sould perished as the Romans refused to let them through the lines and the Gauls refused to let them back into the town. Government hasn’t changed much.

Roman Battery

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:26 -0600

Her is a shot of a redoubt with a battery of catapults (lower right).

Alesia From Above

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:21 -0600

Alesia like mostt Gallic forts and towns had a central strong pont. You can see the cliff on which Alseia sat and the tower as well as the Roman large redoubt on the right.

Two Redoubts

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:12 -0600

Here Gallic units rush between the redoubts. Each is placed so that they Romans can shoot at the Gauls.

alesia map

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:20:00 -0600

I used Dodge’s map of the terrain surrounding Alesia. This displayed not only the terrain but also the siege works. It became apparent that the siege works were not continuous due to the terrain features.

While my models were not exact they did retain the general idea and flavor of the period. The peoblem with research and scenarios is that you have to make compromises.

Typical Siege Works

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:19:41 -0600

The GreatTower

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:19:20 -0600

The Great Tower would be a typical but not ubiquitous feature of Gallic towns and fort. In this case I choose to have one in my model.

Gates Above The Lower Camp

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:19:07 -0600

Defenses of Alesia included gate ways with real gates. Like the Romans we see a revalin in front of the gate. Below are tents and walls.