Romans and Gauls by Allan Tidmarsh

 Searching for a participation game that can be played on a small table in a couple of hours with simple rules and 54mms toy soldiers, Anthony dug through his extensive wargaming library and just before Christmas he found this:

An article in an old wargaming magazine furnished this scenario along with "Very Simple Rules for Romans V Gauls", the rules cover just a single sheet of A4, played in an area 7' x 3'.  Written by Allan Tidmarsh (Tidders) a well known wargame blogger, and his full rules can be found here on his By Toutatis blog (link also in the list on the right).  

 Overview of the table, top left sees a Roman supply column making it's way to relieve the watchtower across the river on the right.  Ahead of them, skulking in woods on the hill a small warband of Gauls have spotted the Roman column and prepare an ambush.  Across the river the main body of the Gauls are camped by a ford while another small warband patrols the outlaying land.

Many of the Gauls in my collection were made by Alan and feature in the photos on his By Toutatis blog, they include figures by HaT, Italieri, Cafe Storme and Expeditionary Force.  My Roman troops are all Toyway/Timpo figures similar to the ones which he also used in his games. 

The Roman supply column comprising four units, lead by Legionaries with Centurion, followed by the supply detail and flanked by Auxiliary archers while another unit of Auxiliaries brings up the rear.

The game mechanics are easy to pick up, ideal for a participation game and leave plenty of room for the players to customise to their particular scenario.  Players dice for initiative each turn, winner goes first, the standard move for infantry is 6" modified by a further dice throw for each unit to increase or decrease the distance by 2", so that a column like this might bunch up or get strung out on the march.

The player who lost initiative then moves his units in the same manner, after which any firing and melee take place if needed, followed by a morale test for any unit that is reduced to 50%.  And that's the end of the turn. 

The larger warband comprise the figures I painted up, mostly made by HaT and Italieri, they will need a bit more work to bring them up to the standard of Allan's figures

As the supply column proceeds, the movement modifiers have caused the Auxiliary archers to advance beyond the main body of  troops, seeing this the Gauls spring their ambush and erupt from the treeline to attack.  In the firing phase the archers loose arrows and cause casualties but not enough to blunt the impact of the Gallic charge (no melee or morale test occurred at the end of this turn).  

Seeing the threat ahead the Centurion leads his Legionaries to support the archers while sending the supply unit to safety and ordering the Auxiliary infantry to extend the line.  The warband crashes into the lightly armed archers cutting them up roughly, prompting a morale test and causing them to fall back on the Legionaries to hold ground.

The melee continues with the Warband breaking the archers but being contained and held by the better armed and disciplined Legionaries. 

Hearing the commotion of battle the main body of Gauls break camp and cross the ford to join the attack while the Auxiliary infantry form up on the flank of the Legionaries.

The second small Warband remained across the river to contain any attempt by the watchtower garrison to brake out and come to the aid of the column.

The troublesome archers have been eliminated but the original attack has lost it's momentum and been thrown back but in the melee the Legion line has become disordered and both sides are sullenly holding their ground.

The fresh Warband throws itself against the Auxiliary line, spears and pilums are thrown by both sides but casualties are not significant.   The line holds as the charge hits home but gaps open during the melee allowing the Gauls to slip through and around the flank, the greater numbers begin to tell and before long the Auxiliaries are overwhelmed.

While the Gauls are taking trophies the supply unit quietly slips away into the wooded hills, but with another Warband patrolling the opposite riverbank it's unlikely they will get through to the watchtower.

_ _ _ _ _

I felt the melee rules worked well, only figures touching base to base are included in the combat up to a maximum of 3 against 1.  If it's 1 attacking1 then both throw 1D6, if 2 against1then throw is 1.5 D6 v 1D6 or 3 against 1 it's 2D6 v 1D6 all subject to modifiers, highest score wins.  The short rules don't specify that the scores are cumulative so we decided that they were not, i.e. when 3 attack 1, both throw 1D6, if the attacker loses he throws a second dice if this is higher than the defenders original score then the attacker wins.  

When firing, bows have a range up to 18" and can be a serious threat, spears/pilums reach only a short distance of 4", we allowed all troops a resupply of missiles to avoid unnecessary housekeeping.  Hits are decided by dice score modified by range and cover, casualties from firing and melee are all subject to saving throws.

So there we have it, the intention was to test the rules and scenario as written with a view to future use with participants.  I thought they would fit the bill being easy to understand and quick to play, with no record keeping.  I think they would easily adapt to other periods, personally I would prefer to use a larger area (6' x 8') and double the movement/firing distances, but we were specifically looking for game to run on a smaller table.       

And finally may I wish you dear reader good health and happiness throughout 2026.