007 Cannae (216 BC)

A fantastic game filled with ups and down. I took the Romans so was at a disadvantage but had more experience playing the game. Carthage used its Cav. Units well taking out my left Cav. Unit on his first turn. In fact, Hasdrabul was so aggressive he had his Cav. Units killed from under him twice, but lived to tell about it. Carthage cleared out most of the Roman lights, racking up a 5-3 lead. A Rally card also allowed them to lick their wounds a bit and recover a warrior unit from a one block to a three blocks. However, Rome had a first strike and a clash of shields which helped to blunt Carthage’s force. Some good solider work and a line command brought the Roman mediums into the battle. The Romans came back to make it 6-5. It was really getting tense as the Carthage heavies move up. Carthage used a unit of slingers to soften up a medium getting two hits, and followed up with a heavy destroying the unit to make it 6-6. Carthage then rolled a helmet to win on the leader causality check. It can’t get better than this. Carthage wins 7-6, but what a fantastic game.

I absolutely love playing the Romans in this scenario. My primary strategy is to move the light infantry and a medium infantry to the flanks. I actually try to bait the Carthaginian’s into attacking my auxilia with his cavalry if I can get medium cavalry and perhaps a medium infantry up I can usually do well. I don’t rush the center until he commits his heavy infantry. I do feel that R Borg does tend to give the historical victors a slight advantage.

First game, Varro won. This AAR is for the second game...

Turn 3: Consul Gaius Terentius Varro moves up his forces on the right. Skirmishing occurring in the center. Hasdrubal orders a Mounted Charge and nearly wipes out Varro’s personal corps of medium cavalry. The Roman commander is compelled to retreat.

Turn 5: Varro, undaunted, Counter Attacks with a Mounted Charge of his own and eliminates a Carthaginian cavalry unit. But Hasdrubal sees an opportunity to surround and slay Varro and Counter Attacks with his remaining horsemen. On the Roman left flank, General Maharbal does the same against another Roman cavalry force. Varro’s cavalry are eliminated but he manages to escape. All tied at one banner each.

Turn 6: Maharbal’s Numidians surround and liquidate the last of the Roman cavalry. Carthage 2, Rome 1.

Turn 7: The encirclement begins. Hannibal’s heavy infantry march against the Roman center-right; two Roman units are destroyed. Romans stoically continue to move forward in the center. Carthage 4, Rome 2.

Turn 8: Ferocious melee on the Roman right as Varro urges his auxiliaries to withstand the surge of Carthaginian heavy infantry. The light troops rise to the occasion and nearly eliminate a Punic heavy infantry unit. Romans haven’t given up yet… Carthage 4, Rome 3.

Turn 9: Romans move up their medium troops to reinforce the line. Hannibal throws down I Am Spartacus! (And everyone wonders who he’s talking about…). But lady luck cheats the Carthaginians as not a single useful die roll turns up! A wasted turn for Carthage…

Turn 10: On the faltering Roman left, Maharbal leads the Carthaginian heavy infantry against General Lucius Aemilius Paullus’ medium infantry. Carthage 5, Rome 4. Not looking good for the Romans…

Turn 12: The end comes quick. Varro and Paullus are short on options as their army is surrounded. They try to move up reinforcements into the center, but it is too late. In a simple Coordinated Attack unleashed by Hannibal, Varro and his decimated auxiliary unit are both destroyed by, of all things, persistent but accurate Balearic Island slingers! Carthage wins 7 to 4.