Wednesday saw me invited round to Neil's place for Round 2 of the Global MeGfest-Leighton Buzzard version, where we decided to spread our games over several days rather than play three in a day. 
Round 1 can be found here.
Round 2 was against Langobard. Who? Langobards eventually settled in Italy as the Lombards, but this is there pre-settlement list.
That's a big list, it could be running rings round me and any flanks that I leave exposed are in big trouble.
My list, unchanged after trouncing the Parthian Vassels
The Langobards chose to defend 'Standard' terrain in an effort to deny me any chance of nasty terrain , it's like he's read the blog...
That being said, I still managed to get it over to dense with no secure flanks! This placed a vinyard, two woods and a town on dried heat of the Italian summer table, mostly on my side of the table, giving me a decent defensive area to hide in. (Yes, still not happening, hate corner sitting).
Facing an all mounted army, I manage to outscout them by 10% (40% + 10% plays 2 x 20% and 20%)
Neil anchored his forces either side of the wood, with warband types and archers holding it, while each flank held two average melee expert dev charge cavalry, a superior dev charge cavalry and a short spear melee expert cavalry units. On my right was his elite (superior, dev charge AND melee expert) guard cavalry. My bows hid in the town (out of sight) as they would get steamrollered if in the open. My Guard infantry and superior 8 held the right with two average infantry, while on the left my cavalry supported one superior legion and two average ones. 12 units plays 9, this was going to be a real test of my new command structure if I was not going to get flank charged all over! 
My cavalry swung out to face Neil's left hand cavalry horde, 12 bases vs 22, this was going to be hard work, so I put my superior legion into a supporting position, and was bringing an average legion up in support. It did not help my cards were fairly poor this turn. The bows looked on from the town, they were not coming out to play.
On the right, I swung the Seguntienties out to the right, which Neil matched with his lancer, but also threatened with warband types emerging from the woods. My superior 8 advanced with it's supporting average unit following at a slight oblique to avoid being flanked. My guards, despite some useless cards, moved into a pivotal position between units, slightly set back so they could inflict damage without being flank charged by lancers.
Then the wine gums came out to play! Yummy!
Oh, and some stuff happened in the game. I set up my superior cavalary and legions so that they would have to take the charges, while my average legion faced off against Neil's elites (that might not work well, but this flank was now tasked as a holding force), while my average cavalry double wheeled out to try and block the approaching short spear cavalry, which Neil obligingly matched. 
NICE paint job on these Neil. 
This might hurt.
Come on then!
On the next turn, I controlled the deck, giving me the choice of where to charge first, so my average , short spear cavalry charged his aerage short spear cavalry. The only advantage I had was 6 in my unit and 'shoot and charge' unskilled javelins, which,, for once, produced a great result! 
Neil's three units smash into my two. Will the quality of Rome win out over the quantity of the Langobards?
On the left, I only took a wound, while Neil compounded his pre-existing wound with another, putting him within a base of breaking. On the right, My cavalry took a base and a half losses from the charge due to Neil's Devestating charge ability, only causing a wound in return; but my foot superiors did rather better, despite losing a base, they killed a base on return.
Mear moments later, my average cavalry, despite losing a base, crush one unit of Langodoc cavalry (2-0). Beside them, my superiors fight tooth a claw against Neil's horse lords. 
Neil's opinion on my superior, impact weapon and integral shooters from his devastating charge cavalry. A quick hit and in they come, hoping to capitalise on that ability.
Further right, having been hit by two units, the Segunientes hold on long enough for my exceptional foot to make it in and in the process, on a massive double red, show how embarressing it is to only roll two wounds! Seriously! Oh, and to add to the dishonour, Neil wounded them back on a black die!
My average cavalry turn about to rejoin the frey, and look for suitable targets, while the rest of my line does a great job in just holding on. In fact, they do better than holding on as their superior staus and melee expert training starts to knock lumps out of the three units facing them. However, I had left my right flank hanging in the breeze, and my superior infantry was about to be flanked by Neil's devastating charge infantry, which could hurt.
His other warband types are met by an expanding Roman unit, and on the right, he crashes a unit of four short spear cavalry frontally into one of my weaker legions, causing a wound.
My guard infantry finally do what they are paid for, and break the cavalry they were flanking (4-0) and have their sights firmly set on the barbarian foot to their front, who are still held up by a now rather weakened Seguntienties.
My average legion does decent damage to Neil's average cavalry (both are evenly matched, my advantage is having more bases), while my superiors wait the inevitable charge.
My average cavalry shows for a second time that 'shoot and charge' is worth it, causing a wound on the way in to the back of Neil's already dented superior cavalry.
Before oblitorating them in one hit! (6-0). Pity their pursuit would not have reached the average unit next door, but I'm sure that can wait for the next turn! 
Neil's warband types crash in, and do... NOTHING! In fact, I do more damage to him. A red and a green produces a shatter and a blank, followed by a double red rolling double shatter, so in effect a double double miss. Inconceivable! 
Under the weight of numbers, my superior legion on the left folds, but they take a unit of Langobard horse with them as they go (8-2).
Leaving a rather gapping hole in both lines! My average legion to their right is now contacted by a flanking warband, and Neil's superior melee expert guard cavalry. They were in for a rough time!
But my guard infantry pile into the warband to the Seguntienties front. exceptional impact weapon armed troops on a yellow - MISS! 
On the right, all troops are now hotly engaged. In fact, apart from expansion, we werenearly all engaged. My foot, despite being up, roll particually badly while Neil's white dice do him proud and he kills a base wih an attached fighting general, who also promptly dies. Oops!
My average cavalry throws in another game winning flank charge...
Or not! This is the fourth flank attack between us that has failed to do a thing!
The average foot collapse under the weight of Neil's elites aided by his foot. (8-4) To their right, the fight continues against Neil's other warband types.
But the melee shows the strength of character of Roman cavalry, as they break their intended charge target (10-4)
It's all a little tense here, the Roman cavalry is winning, but the supporting infantry on this flank are crumbling faster than an OXO cube.
In the centre, the Seguntienties break too (10-6)
While on the right, the Cohors Tertae Nervariorum (the garrison troops of Lancaster) polish off the four bases of cavalry (while their replacement general looses another base and wound with the superiors), giving me a 15-6 win. 
Neil was unlucky with a lot of rolls, I stopped him getting my flanks apart from once, and my average cavalry did really well, until it joined the flanking-failure club! Great game, and Neil did really well with this force in his second and third game.
Next, onto fight the Etruscans!
Thanks Will, I like your reports because the narrative and photos look like a realistic action, but then I see some games and the cards just seem to mentally interrupt that for me and I think I am seeing a card game. I can’t make my mind up about the rules because of this, so have been watching some videos by the author..
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