The (Unofficial) Great Battles of History

Vae Victis #1 Scenario Translation


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Frédéric Bey has been kind enough to permit me to post translations of his GBoH scenarios from Vae Victis magazine. The creativity is his; the "translationese" and typos are mine. My French isn't perfect, so if anyone can offer corrections, I'd be grateful.


The Road to Beneventum

By Frédéric Bey, from Vae Victis #1, p. 34

The following scenario allows an easy introduction to the rules of SPQR, on a reduced map, being tactically interesting for both players. It requires only counters from SPQR.

Background: In 275 BC, Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, went to the aid of his Samnite allies, and he advanced into Italy for the second time. While the main army advanced towards the Samnite capital of Beneventum, the Epirote advance guard fell nose-to-nose with a part of the III legion, coming to reconnoiter the terrain.

Map: The southwest quarter of the Beneventum map, within columns 10xx to 25xx. The orientation of the map is unchanged.

Roman Deployment

Tribune Antonius: 2107 (OC)
Praefect Eq. Falco: 2007
Praefect Eq. Drusus: 1700
III Legion
Units facing southeast:
Velites: 2511, 2310, 2109
Hastati: 2410, 2309, 2209, 2108
Principes: 2409, 2308, 2208
Primus Principes: 2107 (Principes with TQ 8)
Triarii: 2407, 2306, 2206 (rule 9.6 is not is use)
Cavalry III: 2007
Cavalry AS/III: 2008, 1908, 1907
Units facing northeast:
Cavalry V: 1700
Cavalry AS/V: 1902, 1901, 1801

Epirote Deployment

All units face northwest:
Leocratus: 1616 (OC)
Milon: 2019
Repl: 1108
Epirote slingers: 1815, 1816, 1916
Cretan archers: 1713, 1714
Epirote Hoplites: 1616, 1617, 1515
Thracian LI: 1517, 1417, 1416, 1415
Thessalian HC 1-4: 2018, 2019, 2118, 2119
Greek Mercenary LC: 1107, 1010
Macedonian LC: 2220
Samnite MI: 1207, 1208
Lucanian MI: 1110, 1109

Special Rule: Ragged lines are as per Beneventum.

Victory Points: In addition to points scored for eliminating enemy units (1 per TQ point), players score points for exiting their units from the map:

Romans: 1/2 point per TQ point exiting between 2616 and 2614
Epirotes: 1 point per TQ point exiting between 1600 and 2200

TQ Rout Points
Romans 136 50
Epirotes 133 50


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Dave Townsend
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