Today we used my Syracusan and Early Carthaginian armies in a battle in the open rather the mist and river terrain of the real battle!
Phil diced to get the Syracusans (Last time he used this army he did rather well!) - which left Lawrence and I to be the Carthaginians, a very different prospect to the famous army of Hannibal Barca!
Phil was defender so got the table side he wanted, the downside was we got to deploy second...
The layout at game start, Syracusans to the left.
Lawrence deployed with Numidians, his light infantry, the Citizen Spearmen (Including the Sacred Band), and some unreliable Spanish!
In the centre, he deployed his chariotry.
My wing (right) had the mercenary hoplites, the African spearmen, more Spanish, Libyan Javelinmen and some slingers.
Facing Lawrence, the vaunted Syracusan Cavalry, with a unit of Tarentine Light Cavalry.
His centre was a mix of Corinthian Hoplites and Syracusan Hoplites.
His left had some Italian spearmen. a unit of Archers and 2 units of Peltasts.
The Greeks looked menacing...
...the hotch-potch that formed the Punic forces tried to!
One of the Punic Heroes had 'Omens' and got a '2', so we started by losing a Rep point!
I decided to hold my wing back, and sent my light Slingers forward, the Libyans refused to advance in support, despite several attempts!!!
In the centre, the Chariots stayed back too.
On the left, Lawrence flung his Numidians wide, and advanced the rest of his infantry.
The Numidians are very good at this!
Phil responded to my light advance with his own. His archers took the wood so they were pretty safe, but my slingers escaped damage too.
On Phil's right, his Tarentines charged the Balearic slingers, who evaded. His Heavy cavalry countered the Numidians.
He also expanded his Hoplite line to counter the Punic infantry.
The said Punic infantry, despite being reluctant troops, made good pace to engage the Syracusan horse.
The Balearics and archers surrounded the Tarentines and shot them down!
Lawrence had moved his Numidians round the back of the Greeks, so they countered.
As the Syracusans expanded their Phalanx, Lawrence angled a Punic spear unit to cover their flank.
The Chariots rumbled forward! the Syracusans moved Hoplites to intercept!
On my wing, despite being outnumbered - and without the Libyans who were being very slow, my slingers damaged the Greek Archers.
Lawrence's Numidians slipped past the Syracusan cavalry, who were surprised to be charged in rear by the Punic infantry.
Naturally, the Syracusans were beaten...
...and in the next phase destroyed them!
To help the chariots, I felt forced to attack the Hoplites.
I didn't do too well, 2 Stamina loss for both sides, and I lost my L1 Hero!
On my right, my dopey Libyans failed to evade and got caught by Peltasts!
Phil drove his Hoplites in mass against my attack, and with a good die roll he destroyed my Italian Hoplites! - the supporting Spanish lost 2 Stamina with the overflow!
Another amazing Phil roll, he destroyed the Libyans and as my excellent slingers were just in supporting distance, them too!
My Hero ran to relative safety!
My Greek Hoplites were beaten back by Timoleon and some Syracusan Hoplites.
Lawrence's wing was now racing to defeat the Syracusan right.
My Hoplites broke!
On Lawrence's wing he caught a Hoplite unit between Punic spearmen and his Numidians!
Back in the centre, my supporting Spanish decided it was time to be elsewhere!
The Syracusans began to move their rear line to reinforce their right, I was very thin on the ground now, so they were surplus to requirement!
The pincered Syracusan Hoplites broke!
As our Rep was getting low, I charged one spear unit against the Hoplites.
Lawrence charged the Hoplites, and did quite well, driving them back into the rear line.
Lawrence charged the remaining Syracusan horse with Spanish and the Sacred Band!
He caught another hoplite unit in his vice!
That will do it Lawrence!
Poof! - the Hoplites were gone!
The Syracusan right was gone, and the Punic hordes rushed to find new prey!
My African spear unit was finally swamped!
Lawrence's Chariots needed help!
On my wing, the Syracusans were sweeping round.
My last spear unit tried to fend off the enemy light troops.
Ah well, The Chariots had done well!
The second 'Viced' Hoplite unit fled!
Sadly, the Peltasts caught me in flank and another great die poll from Phil killed them! My spearmen at least killed the other Peltast unit first!!!
Lawrence's second chariot force charged and destroyed the (damaged) Hoplites who had killed the other unit!
The Numidians prevented another Hoplite unit from coming to the rescue.
Lawrence charged his Spanish into the fight with the 2 Greek Heroes who had decided not to leave the combat (?!)
Lawrence rolled over the Heroes, just to be sure!
That was the end of the game, we had 3 Rep, the Syracusans 2!
Sadly, the Numidians didn't survive, they failed to evade a Hoplite charge right at the end!
Fun game, and VERY close!
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