Rome vs. Carthage 1200 pts. Conclusion

I was able to conclude the battle with two more turns today. This was a lot of fun. Today there were some great surprises. Dice can make things that way. Here's what happened. Turn Five: Rome- The Romans won the initiative.The meles continued on the right flank. Legio I did well and put two Libyan phalanxes to flight. Legio III is having a harder time with the veterans before them, but at least they are holding the hilltop. Legio IV is clinging to the table’s edge, largely due to the heroic efforts of the triarii. Some velites are trying to assist. The Allied Lgion I hurled two units into the Spanish flank, destroying a unit of infantry and driving back a group of cavalry, while the rest of the legion tried to hold off Hannibal’s veteran division.

Carthage-Hannibal renewed his attack on the right with limited success, though one veteran phalanx is driving back the two units it is engaged with. The surviving Spanish desperately tried to close with the Roman line, but came up short. The hurled their javelins and spears but failed to do any damage. The Gauls continue their systematic destruction of the Fourth Legion On the hilltop in the center, a unit of veterans pierces the line of Legio III, but their comrades are locked in combat behind them. On the extreme left, the Libyan spearmen are grimly hanging on. The Numidian light cavalry are trying to offer support.

Turn 6: Rome-With the battle drawing to a conclusion, the Romans were desperate to shore up their line in the center, But where would the resources to do so come from? On the left, Allied Legion I is determined to hold back Hannibal’s veterans. Despite this, two groups are forced to give ground to a veteran phalanx, but the cavalry is able to drive back a unit of citizen infantry. The commanding general attached himself to the triarii and charges a veteran phalanx, driving them back. However, they are now in danger of being flanked by enemy units to their right. Legio II continues to press the Spaniards, but seem to lack the will to finish the task. On the hilltop, Legio III is beginning to get the upper hand. Two veteran phalanxes have been broken. The remaining units, however, are fighting all the harder. Finally, the triarii of Allied Legion II have destroyed the pesky citizen infantry that did so much damage earlier and have moved into position to support the rest of the line. Only one Libyan phalanx remains atop the hill.

Carthage- This would be the final initiative of the game. Hannibal’s division dispatches the allied triarii and also drive back the other units on the ridge. The Spaniards are now broken and must retreat. They leave Legio II pretty much unscathed. The Gauls completely annihilate Legio IV. The Roman center is broken. The Carthaginian cavalry division finally has a good command roll and advances quickly to exploit the breach. The battle on the central hilltop has dissolved into a stalemate with neither side able to gain ground. Fittingly, a truly amazing event happened on the extreme left of the Carthaginian line. The last surviving Libyan phalanx destroyed the triarii in front of them and used their sweeping advance to turn to their right and attack the flank of a unit of principes. Unbelievably, the Libyans rolled as poorly as I have ever seen and inflicted no casualties despite the advantage of attacking the exposed flank. The beleaguered principes rooked high and inflicted six hits. Then, astonishingly, the Libyans made only one save and lost the combat by five. Not surprisingly, the Libyans failed their break test and were removed from play, breaking the division. It would be up to the Numidian cavalry to defend the flank against the two battered legions facing them.

Closing Observations: Obviously, this was a very large game with 13 large divisions involved. The Carthaginians outnumbered the Romans, especially in cavalry, but the points were just about even. At face value, it would appear that the Romans never stood a chance. However, as in every HC game I have played, I believe chance had more to do with the outcome than numbers or points. The key to victory for the Romans was to overpower the Carthaginian allies in the center and then come to the aid of the legions on the flanks. Poor command rolls disrupted this plan from the beginning. Legions IV and II just couldn't get going. This allowed the Gauls and the Spaniards to close the distance quickly and attack. The legions on the flanks did more than hold their own against the cream of the Carthaginian army. The game played out well. Melees were methodical. Fronts tended to ebb and flow until one side would eventually become worn down and have to withdraw. It certainly had the feel of what I think an ancient battle would be like. I am enjoying the fruits of my labors. I have all kinds of troops to play a variety of scenarios. Next up will probably be a Peloponnesian battle pitting Greek against Greek. I will keep you posted.

Rome vs. Carthage 1200 Point Armies

Well, I was able to finish up the last of my Carthaginians. It was time to get them all on the table to face my six legions of Romans. Each army was made up of about 1230 points. That is about 750 figures on the table. The Carthaginians would be supported by a divisions from Gaul, Spain and Numidia. Turn One: Carthage won the initiative. The Spaniards were ordered to advance and did so enthusiastically (three moves forward). They drew first blood when their skirmishers’ ranged fire inflicted one casualty on each unit of velites. The Gauls, on the other hand, refused their orders to advance. On the Carthaginian left, the division of Libyan spearmen advanced six inches forward. The rest of the line was held back to await developments. On their initiative, Legio I advanced to secure the crest of the high ground in front of them. The skirmishers of II Alae moved into the woods in front of them. On the left, the commander of Legio II ordered his Velites to charge the Spanish lights. One group was successful in driving back their counterparts while the second group lost and fled the field. Turn Two: Again, the Carthaginians won the initiative. On the right, Hannibal sent forward his skirmishers to drive back the velites of I Alae. One group won and the other lost and fled the field. In the center, the Gauls and a division of veterans advanced one move towards the Roman line. On the left, the Libyan spearmen charged up the hill with their elephants in the lead. They were able to drive back the elite Legio I.

The cavalry of I Alae send their cavalry forward to drive back Hannibal’s skirmish line. Legio III moves forward to occupy the crest of the hill to their front. Legio I pushes back the Libyan phalanxes and destroys an elephant in the process. Their cavalry, however, are driven back even further by a group of citizen spearmen supported by some skirmishers.

Turn 3: The Romans won the initiative on this turn. On their left, poor command rolls would hamper their efforts. Nonetheless, they were able to take down some Spaniards with their pila. On the right, Legio I destroys another elephant, but the contest there is gridlocked. The Legio I cavalry is driven from the field by the heroic citizen infantry.

On their initiative, the Spaniards charged forth to engage the hastati before them but were unable to drive them back. The Gauls sent forth their skirmishers and destroyed a group of velites from IV Legio. The veteran division also moved forward. An elephant came into range of a unit of hastait. With one shot it rolled a six. The unit was able to save the casualty but still had to take a break test resulting in a “3”. This forced them back disordered through the principes supporting them. The Libyan spearmen remained locked in battle with Legio I, but was able to rout a unit of principes.

Turn 4: Once again, poor command rolls would continue to plague the Romans. II Legio tried to drive back the plucky Spaniards, but only one unit of principes went forward into contact. They were able to drive back some Spanish horsemen. Legio IV. rolled a “10” and did nothing at all which would prove to have significant consequences. On the right II Alae moved to its right to form a second line behind the hard-pressed Legio I. This was fortuitous as in the continuing mele in front of them a unit of principes is destroyed in front of them and they are in place to challenge the Carthaginian breakthrough. A unit of principes charges the troublesome elephant to their front, drives it back behind the Carthaginian line and continues forward into a unit of citizen spearmen.

In their initiative, on their left, the assault of the Libyan spearmen is losing steam. II Alae is able to check their charge on the ridge and the stalemate of the other phalanx continues. The veterans are able to halt the charge of the Legio III principes. The biggest event of this turn was the ferocious charge of the Gallic warbands upon Legio IV. Two units were crushed, two more driven back disordered. Only the cavalry was able to withstand the onslaught, but only barely. On the extreme right, Hannibal finally puts his division of veterans into motion sensing the Roman line is beginning to break. He still has two divisions of cavalry to commit to the battle.

At this point, the Romans are in a tough situation. Two legions are close to breaking point and they have no reserves. The Carthaginians, on the other hand, have three divisions that have yet to be committed to the battle. Their lack of cavalry will prove to be a great challenge in the closing turns.