The Punic War land campaign turn 5 starts in Northern Italy where the opposing armies clash near Ateste in 210 BC. A quick recap of the campaign lead up can be found here https://gridbasedwargaming.blogspot.com/2022/02/ancients-campaign-start-of-turn-5.html.
As neither side has an advantage in terms of numbers of troops or leaders, the standard chance card deck is used for each army. Both armies have 7 units per side which are generated from a table using dice (see here https://gridbasedwargaming.blogspot.com/2021/07/ancients-campaign-turn-1-game-1-tamaca.html).
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| A view from the Carthaginian's position |
Units are deployed with Carthage having lost the dice roll they start the deployment process first. They will as being the first to deploy get the advantage of making the first move.
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Deployment rules on a page.
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| Both armies fully deployed. |
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| A view from behind the deployed Roman army. |
Early moves in the game...
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| Carthage begins aggressively advancing with their Gaul war bands in the centre and on the flanks push forward their cavalry and light infantry. |
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| Rome's heavy infantry in the centre defeat the Gauls, but not without sustaining losses. They are soon threatened by cavalry and move across heavy infantry to counter the threat. |
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| Carthage's cavalry make a tactical withdraw as their centre heavy infantry engage the Roman centre. |
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| On Rome's left flank their heavy infantry unit is being harassed by two light infantry units. |
Middle stages of the game...
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| While a cavalry engagement if fought out the Roman centre looks to continue its interrupted advance. |
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| Carthage's cavalry is successful on their right flank and they have regrouped. Their centre is weakened but they have the advantage on one flank to launch attacks. |
Closing stages of the game...
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| The Roman centre battles forward. |
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Carthage's cavalry begin to cause problems for the Romans and in the centre their light infantry are sacrificed to buy time for the cavalry to do their work.
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| Momentum is slipping very quickly from the Roman advance as Carthaginian cavalry close in on their flank and rear, |
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| Carthage's centre hold on log enough for the cavalry attack and defeat their opponents. A hard fought victory to Carthage. |
This was a very useful victory for Carthage as it will stop Rome from recruiting in Northern Italy in the next campaign turn. The campaign's attention will now turn to Southern Italy where Hannibal faces off against Scipio who has arrived on the scene. It will take some effort for Scipio to turn around Rome's desperate campaign position.
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| Campaign map with Carthage having control of Northern Italy. |
This will be a helpful victory for Carthage. How does this victory affect recruitment? Are you playing these battles out solo?
ReplyDeleteRome or Carthage can recruit a maximum of one army per campaign turn in a region where they have more armies than the opposition. Even if Rome wins the next game and remove one Carthaginian army from Southern Italy, there will be no opportunity to recruit. Yes, all these battles are being played solo and use chance cards.
DeleteIs that one recruited army per turn, per region, where they have superiority, or just one army per turn in total? If the former Rome is truly up a certain creek without any means of propulsion.
DeleteIt is one army recruited per campaign turn. The recruited army can only be placed in a region where they have superiority. If they don't hold superiority in any region, then the army cannot be recruited. Yes, your assessment is correct.
DeleteSuper game and a classic result with the victorious Carthaginan wings piling into the Roman centre. These games with a few large units really capture the feel of the battle diagrams in history books.
ReplyDeleteI think the last photo would've benefitted from the destroyed Roman infantry being shown fleeing in disorder. When I first looked at it I wondered what was going on as the Carthaginian cavalry looking somewhat disengaged.
So Hannibal can pretty much wrap this up now?
A final photograph of some fleeing Romans would have been helpful and provide a dramatic end to the game. I do like the looks of the larger 3 base units and they also inhibit movement once units are deployed.
DeleteA second Carthage in this campaign turn would almost seal the campaign.
Carthage have certainly had the upper hand in this campaign, I think the Romans will be defeated.
ReplyDeleteBut you never know.
Paul.
Carthage gained the advantage early on in the campaign and seem to have kept it pretty much throughout and gradually squeezed Rome.
DeleteHannibal ad Portas indeed. I think with Rome's amazing ability to recruit new armies during the Punic Wars, perhaps they should be allowed to recruit in Southern Italy even if they only have parity? That would mean a victory in the next game wiould at least afford them the ability to recruit 1 army there.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking along the same lines with home city advantage (so to speak). I am undecided and I will see how the next game goes and whether to take the opportunity of extending the campaign.
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