Hannibal at the Gates

Thomas, Kyle, and I got together this past weekend for some Punic Wars action with To the Strongest! Carthage went first and stepped off with Group March moves!

Kyle and Thomas, commanding the Legions of the Republic, responded in kind. 

Carthaginian cavalry working its way around the flank of their Roman counterparts.

On the Carthaginian right, the stream made outflanking the Romans harder, but with 5 cavalry units to 2, denying control of the flanks to Carthage would be difficult. 

Carthage, move 3. Evidently, the sacred chickens refused to eat, but the Romans insisted on giving battle regardless. 

In the center, the opposing LI javelinmen trade shots, mostly to little effect, but a unit or two does get eliminated. Meanwhile, the Elephants look for an opening. 

The Roman left flank is enveloped, whilst their infantry tries to come to grips with the opposing Gaulish, Spanish, and Libyan infantry. Theoretically, their pila, better save numbers, and special Quincux rally rule should give them the advantage there.

The Roman right is getting enveloped as well. A Disordered unit of Spanish Scutarius pulls back, hoping to Rally. 

On the Carthaginian right, an ongoing exchange of Javelin casts is indecisive, which is fine with Hannibal, as it delays the clash of the heavy infantry and buys more time for his horse to win the day... which they are doing slowly.  

Eagle's eye view of the field, as Carthage plays a bunch of aces, followed by the Romans doing much the same. 

Spanish, Gallic, and African Cavalry continue to work on their envelopment, while a Disordered unit of Libyan spearmen also pulls back in the hopes of Rallying. 

The Roman left flank cavalry have been eliminated. That spells trouble with a capital T, and that rhymes with P and that stands for Publius Cornelius Scipio!

The right most Libyan spearmen are Disordered. 

But it is too little, too late, and on the next turn Roman losses exhaust the last of their Victory medals; in contrast, Carthage still has 16 out of their original 19 left. The senate convenes in a panic, appointing a Dictator to save the Republic!

Carthaginian left at the end of the battle. 

Carthaginian left center; the Spanish Caetratus (LI Javelins) in the woods repulsed multiple attacks by the opposing Legion!

Carthaginian right center; once again the infantry gave as good or better to the Romans than they got,  and any day that happens is going to be a bad day for the SPQR!

Carthaginian right flank cavalry at games end - clearly, it would only have gotten worse!

another  view. 

Another view shows the fragility of the Carthaginian left center. Despite the ill fortune on the day, the Roman players still enjoyed the rules, it being the first time for Kyle with TtS!

The fortified roman Camps, garrisoned by Ballistae and some raw Javelinmen. It was never threatened, but perhaps the points might have been better used elsewhere?

It's hard to see, but I used the system for terrain set up in TTS! for this game, except that I made the choices for both sides. Cartage tried to keep as much open terrain on the flanks with some cover in the middle,  whilst Rome aimed for the opposite! Yellow beads were fields, blue stream entry points, green woods, brown hills, black rocky impassable hills, and teal vineyards. 

Another hard to see view

and a 3rd!

as per the rules, cards are dealt for every potential feature. 

Any with clubs are removed. 

Diamonds are removed in the central zone, but stay on the flanks. Hearts are retained.

Spades drift in a direction determined by the pip value of the card. 

Final terrain set up - Roman side is near.