Ancient Campaign Turn 1 - Game 2 - Ticinus 218 BC

The second battle of the campaign has Hannibal and his army battling a Roman army along the banks of the river Ticinus. 

The tabletop was decided by terrain cards and set up with a river down one edge and hilly ground on the other flank.

Both armies deployed

The order of battle...

Rome:

• 5 x heavy infantry (1 unit of veterans)
• 1 x light infantry
• 1 x light cavalry

Rome as normal replaced one initiative chance card with a rally card.

Carthage:

• 4 x heavy infantry (1 unit of veterans)
• 1 x light infantry
• 1 x elephants
• 1 x heavy cavalry

Because the army is commanded by Hannibal the Carthaginian army replaces a no effect chance card with an extra initiative card. (If not commanded by Hannibal they would have just replaced a rally card for an initiative card.)

Deployment rules...

The units were deployed using a set of rules I am still playing around with. They have been influenced from reading Solo Battles. Essentially my 6 by 4 foot tabletop is divided into three parts of 2 foot along the army's base edge, so there is a centre area and two flanks.

Deployment notes

Players dice to see who goes first, then they deploy alternatively their first, second, and final lines of units.

In their first round, players deploy their first line of units up to 18” from their baseline. Only cavalry, light infantry, and warbands (which move greater than 6” normally) can be placed on flanks. There are no restrictions on units deployed in the centre.

In the second round, players deploy their next line of units up to 12” from their base edge. The same unit restrictions apply for the flanks.

In the third, and final round, players deploy their final line of units up to 6” from their base edge. Heavy infantry can be rushed into position and placed on the flanks but sustain 2 hits if used on the flank.

When placing another line of units, they must be placed behind the previously deployed line of units. So, if for the first line of units was placed short at 12" due to terrain constraints, then the second line must be placed behind them. This will create crowded lines which cannot manoeuvre their units.

When deploying two units in an area (eg flank) they must be deployed together in a line. They cannot be staggered or have one placed behind the other.

Having the first line being able to deploy 18 inches from the base edge means the first lines of the armies are in most cases within 2 moves of each other and will be engaged in combat or shooting without delay. So getting your deployment right is important as there will be little opportunity to adjust your lines.

On to the game...

Hannibal takes the initiative and pushes all his forces forward. Importantly his light infantry were able to control the hilly ground on the left flank, gaining the uphill advantage against the advancing Roman heavy infantry.

The Roman heavy infantry are holding against the pressing Carthaginians.

The elephants push ahead in the centre while on the flanks the Romans are facing problems. Their cavalry have fled the field and the Carthaginian light infantry are stubbornly defending the hilly ground. 

Roman heavy infantry shore up the left flank and the cavalry withdraw but remain a threat.

The elephants are finally eliminated and go berserk inflicting one final blow on their attackers. The Carthaginians push forward with the second line of heavy infantry. On the hilly ground Roman heavy infantry finally eliminate the defending light infantry only find themselves faced by veteran Carthaginian heavy infantry unit.

In the centre it was a grind with each army's heavy infantry trying to wear down their opponents.
 

Having won the engagement in the hills the Carthaginian heavy infantry (with Hannibal attached) join the fray from the flank and decide the battle.

A second victory for Carthage, but one that was not easily won. Without their advantages of moving first and additional initiative chance card it could have been a different story.