"Haztrubal Ad Portas!"

 

Well, I can but hope at any rate! Once again Phil journeyed from the depths of 'Darkest Rawnsley', bravely defying the latest round of roadworks, for our weekly game here in GHQ. We had settled last week on the 2nd Punic War as our next game, making use we hoped of the new A5 size rule book so recently received here from Warlord Games. Phil would take on the Republican Romans under Coronus Cunctator ~

While I would lead the Carthaginians under Haztrubal Bicca ~

As ever now, on with the annotated photomontage hopefully carrying you down into the unfolding action ~

The might of Rome! Cretan Archers, Equites Romanii, Legio VI, Etruscan 'Allies'.

Carthage on Tour! Celtiberians, Elephants, Libyan Veterans, Cisalpine Gauls, Numidians, Southern Italian Allies.

Numidian Light Infantry occupy the walled garden flanked by the Warbands formed by Cisalpine Gauls, supported by Haztrubal's Southern Italian Allies.

The Carthaginian centre moves forward cautiously. {My Command Dice rolls going as usual of late!}

The Equites Romanii, screened by Cretan Archers and flanked by Legio VI, advance equally cautiously!

Perhaps wary of Haztrubal's elephants Legio VI deploy their Velites forward to harass the approaching threat.

The Etruscan 'Allies' meanwhile do... nothing! Perhaps that foretold what was to come...?

The Equites Romanii surge forward hoping the smash the piecemeal units opposing them, already softened up by the Cretan Archers' galling fire. 

Meanwhile, Haztrubal's centre makes better progress and the cavalry on his right prepare to clash with the enemy!

Celtiberian cavalry smash their Equites Romanii opponents, helped by those capricious 'dice gods' damning Phil's dice for once!!!

In the centre the Velites of Legio VI have fallen back and Haztrubal's elephant and supporting Light infantry smash into the Disordered Principes of the Legion, who were quickly supported by the Hastatii.

The remaining Equites Romanii are smashed and Haztrubal's cavalry sweep around the shattered remnants to attack the flank of Legio VI!

Coronus can only contemplate the upcoming disaster with the destruction of the Equites Romanii and the enemy in his flank and rear in numbers!

Legio VI will be destroyed and the path to the Eternal City laid open to Haztrubal if Coronus continues his resistance. Thinking it better to live to fight another day rather than fall on his sword, Coronus orders a withdrawal covered by his immobile Etruscan 'Allies'. What awaits the Romans will be revealed in the next episode...

In the intervening days Coronus Cunctator attempts to appease those pesky 'dice gods'!