Last night saw another game of End of Reign using Dux Bellorum, this time with my Romans facing Wayne’s Sea Raiders. The Romans lined up with their usual mixture of legionaries, auxiliaries and noble cavalry, while across the field stood the considerably less civilised Sea Raiders, apparently confident that enthusiasm, large weapons and questionable personal hygiene would once again be enough to see off Rome. It was time to demonstrate the benefits of discipline, organisation and having an empire behind you.

The key move came from my Roman noble cavalry, who swept around the flank of the Sea Raider warrior line and suddenly found themselves in the rather attractive position of being able to threaten Wayne’s chieftain. Here was surely the moment for the great Sea Raider leader to stand proudly before his men, raise his weapon to the heavens and prepare for a heroic confrontation worthy of the sagas. Instead, in what is becoming typical style, the chieftain took one look at the approaching Roman cavalry and decided that discretion was not merely the better part of valour, but considerably preferable to being trampled by a horse.

So off he went.

Unfortunately for the Sea Raider warriors, their leader’s sudden interest in exploring safer portions of the battlefield did nothing to improve their own situation. My Roman legions and auxiliaries went to work on the warrior line, steadily battering it apart while the noble cavalry continued trying to get around the flank and catch the rapidly disappearing chieftain. The Sea Raiders fought hard, but Roman discipline began to tell, and one group after another found itself on the receiving end of the sort of organised violence that had made Rome rather unpopular across much of the known world.

For a while it appeared that the game might finish in the most satisfying manner possible, with the Sea Raider army collapsing and its chieftain finally being cornered by the Roman cavalry. Sadly, Wayne’s warriors proved slightly too considerate toward their leader. They collapsed before the noble cavalry could catch him, saving the chieftain from the glorious demise that everyone except the chieftain himself was eagerly anticipating. Once again he had managed to survive a battle largely through the ingenious tactical method of ensuring somebody else was fighting it.

And so it ended in an ignominious draw for the Sea raiders. The Roman legions and auxiliaries had smashed the Sea Raider warriors, the noble cavalry had sent their chieftain scurrying for safety, yet the slippery fellow somehow escaped before Rome could administer the appropriate conclusion. No doubt Wayne’s chieftain will return for the next battle claiming that it was all part of a cunning plan. His surviving warriors may have a slightly different version of events, although judging by the number left standing, there may not be enough of them to contradict him.