Carthage v Syracusan Greeks TACTICA 2 Game 3

[simonw]

TACTICA 2 GAME 3 – the 'Decider'; Syracusan Greeks v Early Carthaginians; 5thC BCE

Last Monday night's TACTICA 2 game was the third and deciding encounter between the Syracusan Greeks (under Tyrant Gordogrelon, Strategos Billtiades and itinerant Mercenary Davidicchos against the early Carthaginian 'Band of Brothers'  Hughmilcar and Grahasdrupal Barca.

Both armies comprised the same  solid infantry battleline of HI Foot (incl. Hoplites) of FV 5-6 with significant Cavalry forces of mixed FV 5-6 Elites and Fv 4-6 allies. Additionally, the Carthaginians included 2 48 figure units of Scutarii (FV 4-6) with 'pilum' (equivalent). The Syracusan Hoplite array included 2 units of 48 Militia Grade citizens (FV 5-6) although the bulk were experienced veterans.

Terrain was a little more complex than the previous two games with both Flank Sectors including areas of Rough Going. Additionally, the Carthaginian Right Flank Sector included a Steep Hill and there were a couple of Low Hills in the Central Sector of the table.

Tyrant Gordogrelon, Billtiades and Davidicchos retired to the kitchen to draft their battleplan whilst the Carthagainan Commanders Deployed their forces on the table.  Grahasdrupal devised the  Carthaginian battleplan which was seemingly to adopt a defensive deployment with the right wing including the largest unit of 16 Elite Liby-Phoenician Cavalry (FV 5-6), one of the units of FV 4-6 Heavy Cavalry, 2 units of Numidian Light Horse (FV 3-6, Veteran) and the unit of 18 Caetrati (FV 3-6 Massed Light Infantry). Additionally, this wing was covered by a Skirmisher line of 18 Balaearic Slingers. 

The Carthaginian Centre comprised the 4 units of 36 Heavy Infantry (FV 5-6, Veterans) anchored on each end by units of 48 Scutarii (FV 4-6, Veteran) armed Falarica (an iron throwing spear treated in the rules as a Pilum equivalent). The Carthaginian left wing included a single unit of 12 Elite Spanish Heavy Cavalry (FV 4-6), one unit of 12 Numidian Light Horse and the single unit of Carthaginian Heavy Chariots (4 Horse Heavy Chariots, FV 5-6, Militia Grade).

The 2 Carthaginian Wings were ordered to defend utilising the Terrain pieces of Rough Going and the Steep Hill on the right in the Flank Sectors to inhibit any Syracusan attempts to outflank the Carthaginian Heavy Infantry Centre.  On the left, the Chariots were held back as a 'reserve'.

In the centre, the right half of the Carthaginian Heavy Infantry Centre advanced quickly to occupy and defend the Low Hill in that part of the Central Sector whereas the left half hung back and advanced only slowly.

The Syracusan battleplan comprised a rapid attack in the centre; all along the line. The 3 units of 36 Hoplites (Fv 5-6, Veteran) were on the right, the single unit of Mercenary Gauls (FV 4-6, Veteran Warband with Impetus) were posted right in the centre, the 2 units of 48 Militia Grade Hoplites (FV 5-6) and the unit of Samnite Spearmen (FV 4-6) on the right end of the line. The left wing was the stronger of the two and was to attempt 'left hook' with Peltasts placed behind the bulk of the Syracusan Heavy Cavalry. The 18 figure strong unit of Elite Cavalry (FV 5-6) was Deployed in 3 ranks of 5 to facilitate manoeuvre. The aim was to use the Peltasts to Flank Attack the Carthaginian Heavy Infantry and so reduce their rank bonus to zero whilst facing the 48 figure units of Militia Grade Syracusan Hoplites in 4 ranks. This would give the Syracusan Hoplites  Depth Bonus' of 8 Melee Dice in combat  which would negate the likely disadvantage of having to attack their Carthaginian opponents uphill.

This was the main attacking emphasis of the Syracusan batlleplan. Elsewhere on the field, it was considered that the Heavy Infantry match-up was at least in parity and the Syracusan Right Wing may well having a slight edge with its Mercenary Tarentines (an 8 figure strong unit of FF 4-6 Light Horse), a single unit of FV 4-6 Greek Heavy cavalry, the dozen Peltasts and the 36 Samnite Heavy Foot.  So how did it all 'pan out'?

The Carthaginian plan to defend the Flank Sectors actually worked pretty well, particularly on the right where the Elite Syracusan Heavy Cavalry were held up by the Steep Hill defended by the Caetrati and the 2 Numidian Light Horse unts which slowed the advance of the smaller 12 figure Heavy cavalry unit. The inability of the Syracusan Cavalry to clear the Steep Hill deprived the Peltasts behind them of space to outflank the Carthaginian Heavy Infantry Centre and so this important component of the Syracusan attack plan was blunted. Meanwhile, the two units of 48 Miltia Grade Hoplites on the left end of the Syracusan battleline fought well and defeated the Scutarii defending the Low Hill on the right end of the Carthaginian line. 

Unfortunately for the Syracusans however, their 2 large Hoplite units were unable to fully exploit their success with the 'traffic jam' on the Steep Hill to their left being further aggravated by the success of the Carthaginian Elite Heavy Cavalry there which actually broke the smaller of the 2 Syracusan Heavy Cavalry units. This triggered a couple of Routed Past Control Tests in the adjacent Heavy Units which Gordogrelon almost inevitably Failed; resulting in Disorder in the Large Militia Grade Hoplite unit and Elite Heavy Cavalry unit nearby.

On the Syracusan right,after an 'extreme' contest between opposing Light Troops (Syracusan Peltasts and Numdian Light Horse respectively). This contest included 3 successive fates Roll Tests! Firstly, the Syracusan Peltasts who advance through the Woods were Charge by the Numidian Light Horse and after a couple of Turns of Melee, they and the Numidians both reached the Unit Breakpints. The Peltasts had to test fates forst though having suffered a greater number of 'Kills' in Melee. Davidicchos rolled a double six! Over to Hughmilcar. He rolled a double six as well!!!!! So, another Turn of Melee was necessary with both units reduced to rolling only 3 Melee Dice each (needing 3 to 6 for 'Kills'). The Numidians inflicted 2 'Kill's to the Peltasts one. The Peltasts were consequently required to test Fates again. Davidicchos rolled 11; another Pass (with only one figure remaining)!!!! Over to Hughmilcar; a FAIL!

So despite 'winning' the Melee 2 'Kills' to one, the Numidians Broke and the single remaining Peltast wisely 'chose' not to Pursue. (N.B. In Tactica 2 'Kills' are used as a measure of the remaining 'Fighting Strength' of a unit and do NOT actually cause figure removal. The entire unit remains on the table with 'Kill' marked until such time as the unit is Broken or 'wiped out'.

This success was not sufficient for the Syracusans though. Essentially, the FV 4-6 Samnite Foot were outmatched in both numbers and quality by a combination of 48 Scutarii (FV 4-6) and FV 5-6 Carthaginian Citizen Spearmen and the small (-ish) 36 figure Gallic Warband in the centre also Failed its Impetus Control Test and so proved like the Samnite Foot to be overmatched by their Carthaginian opponents. They also Broke. These 'Breaks' triggered Routed Past Control Tests in adjacent Syracusan Hoplite units which Gordogrelon duly Failed (as is his wont). This resulted in a disastrous Disordering of much of the  Syracusan Hoplite unitbattleline which unzipped' in subsequent Turns tto the extent that cause the Syracusan army reached its Army Breakpoint.

It was a tough, close game with the Carthaginians suffering many casualties   2 v 1 Thanks to all the participants for their magnificent efforts and photos.

Tyrant Gordogrelon of Syracuse (Gordon Crawford)
Strategos Billtiades (Bill Robertson)
Mercenary Davidicchos (of York)
Grahasdrupal (Graham Bryson)
Hughmilcar of Rhodes (Hugh Cameron)

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[Imperial Dave]

Attack of the mutant brown caterpillars...

[simonw]

I have green ones too! I have exterminated Gordon's yellow ones. 

[Imperial Dave]

Poor old Gordon 

[CarlL]

Great battle report Simon. Lovely figures and photos.

I realise I know two of your player generals, Graham the Hat from his Armati days, and "Mercenary Davidicchos (of York)" from our games in York and wider 'fields of battle' in North Yorkshire. The Armati weekends in Glasgow are much missed. While I have knocked up a few miles on A64 between our various venues in N.Yorkshire for our monthly bash.

Perhaps I should dust down my copy of Tactica II and arrange a game with 'mercenary Davidicchos' and our other general Paulos scriba et cogitator! But we might have to have committee meeting first .....

Carlus tortor et auriga
 

[Atheling]

Fantastic looking game guys!  8)

The one thing I really love about Tactica is that the units look the business in that they look like units of soldiers and not gaming pieces. The aesthetic of a game is very much my gig when it comes to wargaming.

Brilliant and keep on posting

[simonw]

Carl, Dave would definitely like to find someone to play Tactica (2) with him in York. He is just an occasional visitor up here in Renfrew these days. I'm glad that you like the report and photos Atheling.
Cheers
Simon
P.S. I'll let Graham know that you're taking an interest in the games Carl.