Game 1:
Carthage (spleen1980): 6
Syracuse (Stanislav27): 4
Syracuse opened the battle with extreme confidence, which quickly turned out to be misplaced. A supposedly unstoppable first-turn (i.e. the benefit of surprise) Double-Time with three Heavy Infantry, one Medium Infantry and the leader Heloris was thwarted with the trapped Carthaginian light bow unit losing only a single block. Another Light Infantry unit evaded and only lost two blocks. Carthage re-ordered its central line and the Syracusans pushed again, climbing over the wall. The first Carthaginian casualty was claimed, but the Syracusan line was over-extended and in shambles. (0-1)
After a Carthaginian counter-attack in the centre, the Syracusans tried to advance on the left with limited success, the Carthaginian light slingers holding on with a single block. The Carthaginians now killed the only Syracusan unit that had remained in front of the wall in the centre. With many right-flank cards, the Syracusans began positioning their cavalry, seeking to get a jump on their counterparts, while the Carthaginians seized the initiative on their right own right flank with considerable succes. (3-2)
The Syracusans could feel the battle slipping away so they finally initiated the long-planned Mounted Charge. With three Carthaginian cavalry units at their back line with very limited support, the Syracusans hoped that their Heavy Cavalry would roll up the Carthaginian charriots and riders, with the Light Cavalry poised to kill any remnants. Instead, the manoeuvre turned out to be a complete disaster. Only a single hit was landed, no roll-up ensued. Instead, the Carthaginians responded with their own Mounted Charge, slaughtering the Syracusan heavy cavalry. (4-2)
Syracuse had not been able to order their strong and advanced units in the centre for a long time. So they tried with desperation to seize the initiative on their left flank. But the defense was too strong. Mago inflicted further losses. And though Dionysus inspired a Light Infantry unit to score two kills on depleted Carthaginian units, it proved too little too late. Mago pushed on relentlessly on the Carthaginian right and earned a well-earned victory with the Syracusan centre never having been activated after the first three turns or so. (6-4)
Game 2:
Carthage (Stanislav27): 6
Syracuse (spleen1980): 2
The Syracusans wisely opened the battle by ordering their Light Troops. This allowed Dionysus to advance and the two precariously-placed Light units by the beach to withdraw while shooting. Thus, they escaped the Clash of Shield the Carthaginian general had had prepared for them.
The Syracusans then pushed strongly with their left wing, seeking to overwhelm the Carthaginian right. The light slingers promptly met their end. Himilco led a counter-attack, but in spite of dispatching one of Syracuse's medium infantry units, one of his own Auxilia units fell on the battle-back as well. (1-2).
Bitter fighting continued on the Carthaginian right flank. The defensive works proved highly valuable and one more Syracusan medium infantry unit fell. Mago then unleashed a murderous Double Time with Dionysus' Auxilia barely surviving the clash. The Carthaginians had seized the initiative on that flank and were now pushing forward. (2-2)
As the Syracusans skillfully withdrew with a Move-Fire-Move on their left, they also initiated some probing attacks on the Carthaginian cavalry. This prompted the Carthaginians to re-order their three cavalry units for mutual support while their central units sought to weaken the strong Syracusan infantry formation on the centre-right through missile fire (unsucessfully). Dionysus kept withdrawing, seeking to draw the Carthaginians towards his powerful Heavy Infantry reserve on that wing. Mago felt bold and pushed on in good order, forcing the Light Infantry screen to evade dangerously close to the edge of the battlefield (2-2).
The critical point of the battle had been reached. The Syracusans played I Am Spartacus and were able to order exactly the units it needed (no more, no less). The Syracusan Heavy Infantry charged Mago's heavies with numerical superiority and the extra inspiration from Spartacus. Two hits were not enough, however, with the Carthaginian heavy unit barely maintaining cohesion. It inflicted two hits on the battle-back, which was followed-up with the Clash of Shields the Carthaginians had wanted to use already on turn 1 but had not been able to. This decisively turned the battle. The Syracusan heavy infantry was crushed, Dionysus' depleted Auxilia routed and Dionysus himself forced to flee from the battlefield. (4-2).
It was a race against time for the Syracusans. Opting not to advance on the right or in the centre, they tried to swing over their powerful and hitherto-unengaged formation in the centre-right towards the exhausted and far-advanced Carthaginian right. Combining missile fire with which to slow down this lateral movement as well as mopping-up operations, the Carthaginians kept fighting on. The Syracusans were down to a single three-block Light Infantry unit on their left. (5-2)
With determination (and desperation), the Syracusans tried to move within range of a Mounted Charge (as well as a future Double Time) with their strong units, but the Carthaginian mopping-up pursuit was relentless. A lucky one-die ranged attack produced a banner, which forced the retreating Light Infantry to fall back in disorder. Before the Syracusans could unleash the thunder from the centre, Mago (the hero of the battle) personally took command of a Carthaginian Light Infantry, which promptly defeated the last Syracusan remnant on the far left. (6-2).
Thanks SO much to Alessio for two extremely entertaining battles. There was a lot of drama, countless swings in fortune and initiative and both methodical manoeuvres and hail-Marys galore. I was nervous and entertained from start to finish! My early bad luck in the first battle was definitely compensated by that fateful Spartacus attack, which Mago's unit survived. If it had not, I would surely have lost the second battle too. Super exciting stuff. Really well played, Alessio! Can't wait to play with you again!
Excellent scenario too. Many different options and the wall creates some new situations we don't see too often.
