Ancients campaign - turn 4 game 1

The first land game of campaign turn 4 has Rome and Carthage facing off in Northern Italy at the battle of Bellunum 212 BC. I ended up playing the game three times as I was trying out some army resolve rules, replacing the previous rules where the first army to be reduced to one unit had to retire. The new test rules have an army losing its resolve when they have half or less army resolve points than the enemy. Resolve points are calculated for each unit still available:

• 1 point for each light infantry, light cavalry, warband, and artillery unit
• 2 points for each heavy infantry, heavy cavalry and elephant unit

At the end of each turn a resolve check is made to see if an army will retire.

The Roman General and troops (all HaT plastic figures) doing a quick count of his resolve points.

Carthage has the advantage with two armies in the region and will gain an additional rally chance card for the game, replacing a no event card.

The order of battle is...

Rome:

• 4 x heavy infantry
• 2 x light infantry
• 1 x catapults

Carthage:

• 2 x heavy infantry
• 2 x light infantry
• 1 x warband (Gauls)
• 1 x light cavalry
• 1 x heavy cavalry

Rome has deployed their centre well forward intending to get their heavy infantry involved as soon as possible and start wearing down the Carthaginians. Carthage on the other hand had a long line with light cavalry and Gaul on one flank and their heavy cavalry on the other.

Carthage's heavy cavalry commanded by their general is positioned on the flanks.

Catapults are positioned on the other flank, hoping to create some disruption in the enemy.

On to the game...

The Roman centre pushes forward while Carthage moves forward on the flanks and decides to wait in the centre.

Part of the centre clashes, but other Roman infantry have been delayed. On the flank the Gauls charge a somewhat unprepared light infantry.

The Romans appear to be struggling at this point and the flanks have been won by the Carthaginians.

The Roman centre pushes forward trying to breakthrough before their flanks are attacked.

The battle is definitely in the balance as Rome has had some success in the centre, but it is now fighting off attacks on its flanks.

Carthage's centre is just holding on and their heavy cavalry may prove a threat. While on the other flank their light cavalry are delaying other heavy infantry from joining the centre engagement.

The Roman commander's unit is committed to the fight in the centre and is quickly under pressure from all sides.

In a bitter fight in the centre Roman heavy infantry are just able to hold on, while other units start to move in from the flank. 

A count of army resolve points at this time has:

Rome (6 points)

• 3 heavy infantry = 6 points

Carthage (3 points)

• 1 heavy cavalry = 2 points
• 1 light infantry = 1 point

A victory to the Romans as they have double the resolve points. It was a game that both sides at one time of the other seemed to have the advantage. However, in the end the Romans were just able to hang in there and grind out a victory.

Out of the three games played testing out the resolve rules, two went in favour of the Romans, so I am happy for this game's result to stand.