Cannae: Countering a wide Roman formation.

[GiveWarAchance]

Was there any reason the consuls did not fan it out historically?

One of them was sulking, and the other was an idiot. They'd always lined up with cavalry on the wings, so that was what they did this time, even though it sounds like they had enough infantry to reach secure flanks on both sides.

The problem with any realistic simulation of Cannae is that if you're playing as Roman you have to be really, really stupid to lose.

Most probably Paulus expected the legion buzzsaws would simply advance & chop through the opposition with ease like in most battles so no tactics were necessary. He made the exact same mistake at Stalingrad thinking the Germans would inevitably grind through Chuikov's troops hunkered in the ruins.

[Barrold713]

Was there any reason the consuls did not fan it out historically?

One of them was sulking, and the other was an idiot. They'd always lined up with cavalry on the wings, so that was what they did this time, even though it sounds like they had enough infantry to reach secure flanks on both sides.

The problem with any realistic simulation of Cannae is that if you're playing as Roman you have to be really, really stupid to lose.

Most probably Paulus expected the legion buzzsaws would simply advance & chop through the opposition with ease like in most battles so no tactics were necessary. He made the exact same mistake at Stalingrad thinking the Germans would inevitably grind through Chuikov's troops hunkered in the ruins.

Wait...is this a reincarnated Paulus or a time-traveling Paulus?