The game was 650 points each on a 6x4 table.Hannibal's Carthaginians
IC + 2 TC
2 x 4 Spanish/Gaullic Cav (Sup CV)
6 Numidians (Avg LH)
2 x 6 African Spear (Avg HF)
8 Campanian Spear (Poor HF)
8 Gauls (Avg MF)
2 x 2 Elephants
6 Javelinemen (Avg LF)
4 Balearic Slinger (Sup LF)
Agesilaus' Spartans
3 TC
2 x 6 Spartans (Sup HF, armoured)
4 x 6 Neodam. (Sup HF, protected)
2 x 4 Thessalians (Avg LH, Jav)
6 Peltasts (Avg MF, Off Spear)
6 Thracians (Avg MF, Jav)
6 Javelinemen (Avg LF, Jav)
The Carthaginians invaded Lacedaimons gentle valleys, with 2 steep hills, village and brush all on one side, largely blocking off the left third of the table. We both deployed on the right side, with the LF in the steep hills. Agesilaus deployed with all six spear units in two large groups, flanked by the MF, and with Thessalians on the extreme right flank. Hannibal cunningly deployed his foot on the left centre, cavalry and Numidians in the middle, and Elephants on the right flank opposite the Spartan MF.
Agesilaus started by wheeling the two Spartan HF groups to better line up against the Carthaginian foot and elephants. There was then a general advance with the LF in the hills on the let and the MF on the right hanging back a bit.
Hannibal also advanced, wheeling to match the carthaginian line. The two LF in the hills advanced, hoping to gang up on the outnumbered Spartan LF.
Agesilaus was happy to march quickly forward with the Hoplites, confident against the enemy foot. The LF on the left halted to defend on a hill. One of the right Thessalian LH was split off with a general and marched at the double to help the outnumbered LF. Meanwhile the rest of the right flank forces advanced slowly.
The battle opened with skirmishing in the left hills. Carthaginian numbers would eventually tell, disordering the Spartan LF. However by then the Thessalians arrived to save the day and allow a general to rally the LF. Still the hoplites pressed on.
Hannibal saw that the hoplites approached in echelon (due to the two groups having wheeled in parallel) and decided to prempt their attack. He chaged the centre Spartan group with one spear unit and the two cavalry. The elephants were not quite in reach. The Africans were soon fragmented and the cavalry were forced to break off disordered. Generals moved to rally their disorder, although the Gaullic cavalry would critically fail to do so.
Agesilaus saw the melee success and eagerly pressed forward the rest of the hoplites. One of the Left centre hoplite units charged the Gauls while the rest of the centre hoplites moved up on the cavalry, Numidians and one of the elephant units. The fragmented Africans broke, Numidians evaded to the rear, the elephants were locked in combat, but the Gauls disordered their Hoplite opponents!
Hannibal turned the Campanians in reserve in left centre to face the pursuers of the broken Africans, sent the retiring Numidians to the right flank, charged the remaining elephants into the peltast MF, and tried to rally the cavalry. The Gauls broke their opposing Hoplites and disordered the adjacent hoplite unit. Curse those uncivilised northern madmen!
Agesilaus personally intervened to rally the disordered hoplites. In the centre the hoplites were able to charge the disordered cavalry, while the hoplites on teh left end of the line attacked the second African unit. On the right the MF tried to javelin the second elephant unit to death and the remaining Thessalians slipped past the right flank. The hoplite charges disordered the Africans, the first elephant unit, fragmented the Gaullic cavalry, and disordered hoplites rallied.
Hannibal was now desperate. The Numidians moved up on the Thessalians but otherwise it all hung on the melees. The left centre infantry held, but both cavalry broke, as did both elephant units, one being destroyed. TheCarthaginians were one point off breaking!
At that the two generals agreed that the hour was late and honour had been served by both armies. 10-2 to Sparta!
Comments on the game:
- this was just a learning game so it was tactically simple. Even so the rules played very well, and we did plenty of turns.
- Doing the initial wheels to get the Spartan line better matched against the Carthaginian centre was crucial
- Agesilaus got over excited ordering that charge on the Gauls. I should have waited for the supporting flank units.
- the Thessalian and Numidian LH didn't do much. I'll definitely be painting up some cavalry for the Spartans.
- the Offensive Spear MF did great holding off jumbo. They're good value even if they are expensive.
Some of these unit ratings were guessed from Ross' advice of the beta test lists. I can't wait for book 2. This was teh most fun I have had playing ancients in years. Good job on the rules, guys!
regards
Scott Elaurant