Battle of Zama, 202 BC - Historicon AAR

Old friends from the Piquet circle Jeff Grein and Freddie Avner made the flight out from the left coast to Historicon this year. Jeff brought his 15 mm Republican Roman and Carthagenian armies, and put on two versions of the final clash of the 2nd Punic War, the Battle of Zama. 

Friday night Jeff ran Zama using miniatures with the Commands and Colors Ancients rules.  I understand it played quickly and enjoyably - enough so that they played it out a second time, switching sides. I think I recall hearing that Andy C. was on the winning side for both games!  Picture courtesy of Tim C. from the UK. 

Saturday afternoon Jeff ran Zama again, this time with Brent Oman's "Pulse of Battle" rules; in the center of the four Roman players are Tim's son Noah and Andy's son Sam. The next several pictures courtesy of Tim C from the US.

For an era where the missile fire is limited in both range and effect, I thought the lines started fairly far apart, but Jeff wanted to build some drama, as well as help the players absorb the mechanics of Pulse of Battle. Fair enough! My contribution to the game was limited to the groundcloth, dice, rules, markers, and some extra summary sheets. 

Noah and Sam push their Legions forward!

Elephants Stomp Ahead!!! The ponderous pachyderms did pretty well on the day = much better than in the actual battle.

Q.    What's the squishy pink stuff between the Elephant's toe's?

A.    Legio XIV!

A few pictures of my own, using the crummy camera in my i-phone3.

Jeff tries to remember the rule for PoB instead of CCA, as UK Tim gives his usual suspect advice to the hapless players.  The Roman Cavalry greatly outstripped their infantry in the initial; phase of the battle. 

I watched the battle play out and chatted with friends, with my eye anxiously on the clock. I was supposed to run my own Italian Wars game at 7 PM, at which point Jeff's game would be over. 

 I understand that Zama ended almost exactly on time at 7 PM itself. The fighting came down to the wire, but when it was all over, the Romans turned an Army Morale Card when they were out of Morale points, and failed their roll - marginal victory to Hannibal's men. Scipio will have to return to Rome to try again another time. Carthago non delenda est. Ave Jeff, for a great game, and for bringing the troops all the way from California!

    Ken B. and I had planned on running 2 Chariot games using my Egyptians and his Canaanites, and Pulse of Battle and/or Archon, 2nd edition. Unfortunately, Ken decided to cancel both games when he realized that his heart just wasn't in it. That made my Friday less crazy for sure (I was scheduled to run/help with three games, including the Chariot one that night), but I would have been perfectly fine with the Saturday AM game. Ah well, no point in spending time doing hobby stuff you if aren't enjoying it!