EPIC04 Zama (202 BC)

Zama Grudge Match 2024 (Optional Roman Rule NOT used)

We gathered again to have an Epic Zama rematch two years after the Romans lost due to a mounted charge of elephants. This year we switched sides, so that now I was the commander of Carthage. I hoped to get a mounted charge or two to use at the right time. However, sometimes one should be careful for what one wishes. I got those mounted charge cards, but still lost due to bad timing. As Hannibal, it was all my fault.

Well, almost all my fault. The Romans used their cavalry units very well.

The battle started out with two army cards on both sides to order light troops. I welcomed this because I wanted my light out to screen the elephants so they would not get picked out by ranged fire. After this first round of positioning the Romans unleashed relentless pressure with their cavalry, especially the light cavs. There was a great duel on the Carthaginian left with these light mounted units. It was actually back and forth for several turns, but the Romans had a leader in their cavalry wing, whereas the Carthaginians did not. It showed. Eventually the Romans would grind down our mounted troops. On the Carthaginian right our mounted troops were scattered and the general Hano was killed. This left the Carthaginian right open to attack.

Meanwhile in the center I decided to unleash the elephants to disrupt the Roman center. Four elephant units attacked with only slight effect. Not enough swords were rolled to keep up the killing. Three elephant units were killed but only two Roman infantry were destroyed. I then looked to try to group the Carthaginian heavies to form a line for a double time and line command. But those Roman attacks on the wings continued. I also had almost no cards for the right flank and three one unit center cards.

As the Carthaginian flanks were collapsing, I pulled another mounted charge and tried again with two elephants. This time the results were better, but not enough. All five elephant units were destroyed.

The Romans were now on the cusp of victory. They used a Rally card to rebuild two Cav units for another attack on the Carthaginian right, and the two medium units were destroyed by combat and flags on the back row. However, the Roman general Laelius gave his life in the effort.

The Carthaginian center began to move, but it was too late. The last mounted Carthaginian unit on the board was destroyed for the game.

Rome won 14-9. Every single Carthaginian mounted unit was destroyed, and 16 of the 23 banners were mounted units. The main lines of the soldiers never engaged leaving a long tunnel of empty space between the armies. A rare event in my experience.

Two generals were killed. The “I am Spartacus” card was used twice by the Romans, the “First Strike” card was used once by each side, and the “Clash of Shields” card was also used by the Romans. There were four mounted charge cards used in the game.

We had five players and used a 3 vs. 2 format. We did not use the optional Roman rule.

I hope you will never left numbers deter you from playing CCA Epic. We have played 2 vs. 2,
1 vs. 1, 4 vs. 1, and 2 vs. 2. It is ALWAYS fun.

However, I wonder why the Carthaginians seem to win more in this scenario to give the ahistorical result? Does the optional Roman rule help? How many games have actually used the optional rule. If you use the optional rule, please put it in the report to help with the stats.

Enjoy the game!
See pictures and other great battles here

We played the game as 2 vs. 2 with the center player as the overall commander, with the other player handling the flanks. Going in I said most likely it would come down to the elephants as they can do a lot of damage, or be a liability.

This was a great battle that played out in two parts. Part I the Romans rolled up the flanks of Carthage destroying all six of the Carthage Cavalry. Rome only lost two light CAV units. Romans consolidated the center and took out an elephant unit with ranged fire. Every thing looked good. The Roman cavalry commander on the left was too aggressive and he lost some of his Cav units. It was now more even, but Rome still had the advantage.

We took a break to have some cake. July 4th weekend, we had a Flag Cake.

We had a short strategy session and started Part 2.

Carthage had opened ranks for elephants which was not a good sign. They played Mounted Charge and hit the Roman center. It was a bloodbath for Rome. Next up the Romans attacked the elephants only to be hit with a First Strike. The Roman center was tattered. Rome tried to knock out the elephants but failed. Then Carthage played a second Mounted Charge. The Roman center was nothing but a hole. The Romans did take out one elephant with Clash of Shields, but Carthage had two more center cards to allow them to push the elephants more.

Carthage won 14-10. It was a stunning and fast defeat from which Rome could not rebound.

Lot of drama. Everyone enjoyed the scenario.

 

Message from the Romans after a Carthaginian 14-10 win 

A very balanced battle that went tied all the way. Romans used light infantry to kill some elephant blocks but the rest of the elephants wroke havoc amongst the Roman Legions. There was an interesting long fight between light cavalries with much attrition and no definite result. On the Roman left most units from both sides were destroyed and in the center the heavy units clashed against each other. Finally the dice granted a Carthaginian victory 14-13.

Baronflick wrote:

Just recovering from a epic weekend of gaming at Salute and running the London Marathon and i thought you guys would like to see 28mm Zama EPIC C&C game. These were taken at the SoA at Bletchly but the rematch was at Salute. A stunning 16 ft table and over 1400 beautifully painted figures and I was lucky to play on the Carthage side.

picasaweb.google.co.uk/SimonMiller1960/ZamaBletchleyIanSPics

Great pics. Amazing!

Where did you get so many minis and how much time did it take to paint them all?

I played this again today against my boy Daniel. This time I was the Carthaginians V his Romans. I won 14 to 12.
My elephants played merry havoc in the centre early on, and Dan had some bad luck battling back against them, letting them survive to fight again on later turns. Twice heavy infantry went down to single rolls!

Dan came back hard though across the line, and started pushing me back. It was not to be. Even after Scipio rallied the centre and pushed forward, Hannibal met him and victory was mine.

Very close and enjoyable game. Daniel didn't take may shots with his lights against the elephants, then again I tried to avoid letting him do it.

Bill

Hey Chris,
it looks like amazingly huge!
Even if I'm stronlgy stick to wooden blocks... I have to admit that painted miniatures have their own fascination.

Just recovering from a epic weekend of gaming at Salute and running the London Marathon and i thought you guys would like to see 28mm Zama EPIC C&C game. These were taken at the SoA at Bletchly but the rematch was at Salute. A stunning 16 ft table and over 1400 beautifully painted figures and I was lucky to play on the Carthage side.

picasaweb.google.co.uk/SimonMiller1960/ZamaBletchleyIanSPics

A friend and I played Zama yesterday.My lights were woefully unable to stop his elephants from closing with lots of medium infantry and causing a great deak of carnage.It came down to the wire with Rome winning 14-13 banners. It seems to be a well balanced scenario.

mark

Played this against my son today. Went to the Carthaginians 14-13. I lost all three Roman leaders to casualty rolls! Not only did this give him three extra flags, it also meant that by the end game I could not score hits with leader rolls.

I used my light infantry to shoot at his elephants, causing him to pull them back, which worked well becuase at the end of the game they trampled a number of reduced units in quick time.

Epic is great. Took nearly two hours to play, and we had a great time.

Bill