Some people cling to the idea that Troy never existed. Or, if it did, the city fell foul of a trade dispute with its neighbours. Some people don’t believe in fairy folk. Is the Ragnarok just a silly tall tale?

Well, the implausible does happen! Schliemann found his Troy ( VI) and dated it contemporaneous with the events of the world’s greatest book, the Iliad. Ireland’s “ Truath de Danann” can be traced in the DNA record; they were indeed short, dark people ( Giac I’m looking at you!). And of course, you will be aware of Bjorn Kurten, the Finnish palaeontologist, who has uncovered evidence for the extreme weather of Ragnarok in the Scandinavian oral traditions. So I must tell you, it is possible for seven gamers to sit around a miniature battlefield and enjoy a whole day of laughter and amusement without a single crossed word! A chance to revel in the great events of the past…

One question mark does however lie across where exactly the Battle of the Catalaunian plains actually took place? We opted for a more modern reconstruction which sited the field with the Marne on one flank and a low ridge on the East of the battlefield. However, even more recent studies have the Goths, Saxons and Franks in a shieldwall and that we decided against. This was to be a massive cavalry battle; one of those great battles where history can be made or unmade.

For the “ Romans” there was Meroveus and Avitus, prefect of Gaul, with a mix of legionaries and auxilia. Behind the Roman left stood Aetius and three cavalry units. Poor old Sangiban of the Alani was as Aetius intended the bait to lure the Huns into the pincers. On the right were the father and son team of King Theodric II and Thorismund. To replicate the battle we deemed that if the King is indeed slain ( again), then the Visigoths gain berserk status and another attack card is drawn. We used this one before in our Lützen game when Adolphus is hit and it seemed to work.

Arriving from the East were the foul hordes of the East. Giac faced the Romans with a depleted Gepid command, stiffened by a command of ravaging Huns. In the centre Attila himself ( well Keith McGlynn) charged straight ahead with two mighty commands of picked warriors and another command of lesser nomads units. I led Childeric’s Saxons and Valimir’s Ostrogothic horse on the Hun left.

What a game! Some days everything just falls into place; great company and an exciting game. Perhaps the Visigoth horse would have been better in the centre than their rather long flanking manouver? Could Aetius’ counterattack have been better timed? All these are questions for our next rematch perhaps. Thanks to all who came in this and the other mega game. Put a note in your diary to join us next club day.

Happy New Year!!!