For the first post of 2025 I find myself needing to report on the last game played here in GHQ in 2024, a Punic War three hander with William and Phil leading the Republican Romans and the Allied Etruscans respectively, leaving me to lead the Carthaginian army once again. A few pictures I managed to take during the hurly burley of the battle which hope will give a sense of how the game played out. Rules were Hail Caesar of course! On to the action ~
Viewing the field of battle from behind the Roman lines, Republican Romans on the left, Allied Etruscans on the right, Carthaginians in the distance.
The Carthaginian centre comprised the elephants, Celtiberian warbands, Numidian skirmishers backed by Haztrubal Bicca's veteran Heavy Infantry.
On the Roman left flank Billius Secundus deployed his Medium Cavalry screened by many Small Units of Cretan archers.
The Roman centre comprised two Legions with their Velites ready to skirmish with the elephants and their screening Numidian Light Infantry.
Both armies hurried to close with each other. Velites and Numidians exchanged volleys of javelins and casualties mounted along with Disorder on the Carthaginians.
Spanish Light and Medium Cavalry on Haztrubal's left find themselves facing a storm of arrows and slingshot from the Allied Etruscans' right.
On Haztrubal's right his Celtiberian Heavy Cavalry clash with Secundus's Mediums and come off second best.
Loosing the Hand-to-Hand combat results in a Morale Test. With two 1's the result, they Break!
The second group of Celtiberian Heavy Cavalry fare better in the early exchanges, the Romans are Shaken but survive to fight on!
The Numidian Light Cavalry supporting the struggling Celtiberians are thrown forward against the victorious Romans. Haztrubal's attack is coming unravelled all too quickly.
The Numidians suffer the same fate as the Celtiberians at the hands of the Roman Medium Cavalry! Haztrubal's right is Broken and his centre is stalled by widespread Disorder.
The Spanish Cavalry on Haztrubal's left are Broken by missile fire and an Etruscan cavalry charge. The victorious Romans sweep behind his centre and take the Allied Greek infantry in the flank! It's all up for Haztrubal's cause, again! He can only watch the destruction from alongside his veterans who Blundered off the table in Turn 2 and struggled to get back in time.
Billius Secundus enjoying his victory over Grandad Haztrubal Bicca!
You may have noticed that Phil has made some very Old School movement and range sticks. In practice so much less fuss to use than a tape measure twinned with Arkwright's Till!
I can only trust that in the coming year those capricious 'dice gods' will show some favour on my dice throws. They most definitely didn't favour me in this game at all! Next week, Lurgi permitting, we are planning a SYW game here in GHQ.
