Heraclea Interactive Replay

Turn 1: Drusus's EIO Activation

	Option	Votes
	A (keep Drusus off-map)	0
	B (enter, defensive posture)	1
	C (enter, pick off SK)	0
	D (enter, threaten HC)	2

My thoughts:

Option "A" is clearly inferior to pre-empting Pyrrhus's Elite Initiative Orders phase. There's no reason to let the Epirotes have the first move, especially since Drusus is going to move before Pyrrhus anyway (because of his lower initiative).

Any of the remaining options are sensible. But an offensive posture has a two-fold advantage. First, if Drusus gets to move before Pyrrhus, he can launch a devastating attack on Pyrrhus's flank. Second, even if Pyrrhus moves first, he must deal with the Roman cavalry somehow -- no hitting the flanks of the Roman infantry, or whisking off to set the elephants in motion.

So I also cast my vote for option "D", and with a 3-1 voting majority, I'll follow through with that option here.

The Roman entrance is a little tricky, since the units enter sequentially from a single hex. If Drusus makes a beeline for the Epirotes, the cavalry end up nose-to-rear, leaving their flanks horribly exposed -- and remember, Pyrrhus may get to move before the Romans!

A better move is to advance only slightly, giving following units a chance to come up and guard flanks. The move shown is a reasonable balance between attack posture and flank defense, leaning a bit towards the latter.

It's now time for the 2-initiative Praefectae Sociorum (Rebilus & Plautius) to move. What should the Romans do now?

• Plautius
  1. Stay put -- the Triarii are going to need guidance at some point.
  2. Move to the Roman right -- be there in time to rally when the routings begin.
  3. Get the rear line of legionaries moving forward.
  4. Something else (specify).

• Rebilus
  1. Move the Velites into the river -- pin and disrupt the enemy skirmish line
     (Followup: should the Epirote SK perform OW? Their average TQ is better than the Romans, but SK in shock combat are pretty pathetic).
  2. Move the front line of legionaries forward.
  3. Something else (specify).

Does the order of activation matter? Should either or both try for Momentum? If they do, and they succeed, what should they do with their activation?

Mail me your suggestion.