To the Gates of Rome - a Hannibal:Rome&Carthage AAR

[gwgardner]

and gets a faceful of dust for his pains, with no chance of victory. Nero refuses battle and quickly draws his screening cavalry into the encampment.

Hannibal can attack the Romans in their camp, but that takes away all of his advantages: his elaphants and cavalry will be ineffective, and he cannot use his vaunted battle tactics.

[gwgardner]

Hannibal decides to ravage the countryside once again, then head north to join up with reinforcements from Spain.

After tearing through Etruria - more ravaging - then using extended moves into Cisalpine Gaul to take all cities there by storm, then down into Samnium to storm Corfinum just to scare the Romans in the capitol again, Hannibal ends in Genoa.

[gwgardner]

After recruiting more legions, for a total of 27 split between the Roman garrison and their army in the field south of rome, the enemy sends two - count 'em two - legions north, and successfully takes back three cities in the north. Hannibal could not intercept - he was lazing away inside Genoa.

One good piece of news as the year ended:

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

You choose up to 8 units to man the front line of each round of battle. Cavalry is useful in the frontline in case the enemy tries to retreat, in which case your cavalry can pursue (their cavalry can screen the pursuit).

I just wanted to clarify.. all remaining non-routed cavalry in each army fight out a pursuit battle if one side retreats. They dont' have to be one of the 8 in the front line. [;)]


Great AAR, gwgardner, very entertaining.

[gwgardner]

Thanks for the clarification. So what do you think? The game is half over, and perhaps I've been too cautious with Hannibal? Fabian tactics are beginning to show. If Hannibal offers battle, the Romans pull into their fortified camps.

[gwgardner]

Year 10, and Hannibal starts to sense time running short in this long, long war. How long can he maintain an army in the middle of Italy, with reinforcements coming in so slowly.

With no command in Spain, Spanish reinforcements are completely dried up. With no fleet, forces from Africa are few and far between.

He decides to use his superior battle tactics in one throw of the dice against the larger Roman army in Latium. Upon entering Latium, using an extended march, Scipio surprises him by intercepting and demanding battle.

Hannibal smiles. So be it.

This is a do or die battle ... or is it ...?

[gwgardner]

The battle goes fairly well, but Scipio breaks off after two rounds and retreats into Rome. Hannibal has little choice but to ravage the countryside in anger over his failed attempt to inflict a decisive defeat. Then he besieges Rome itself.

[gwgardner]

Hannibal demands that the Senate send a commander to Spain to gather reinforcements. It does so, and also authorizes reinforcement of Spain. For the last three turns it has also purchased a fleet.

Meanwhile, the Romans start gathering forces again and challenge him to battle. He abandons the siege, but then the Roman field army goes into encampment south of Rome.

Hannibal has to wait. [no more battle tactic cards! My crown for a battle card!] He bides his time, and awaits those troops from Spain.

So the situation as of Year 12:

[oops, I fear I've made a huge mistake, not reestablishing the siege of Rome. We're looking at a combine Roman force of 30 legions]

[gwgardner]

In year 13 (bad luck?) Hannibal fled to the north, ravaging the countryside (of course) on the way. He advised the Senate to reinforce Spain. Along with recruiting there, he hoped to get reinforcements the next turn from there.

The Romans had had enough of Fabian tactics, however, and decided to march north with their largest army ever.

[gwgardner]

The numbers wore Hannibal's force down, and he had no battle tactics left that the Romans hadn't already seen and developed a response to (ie I have no tactics cards). With his last remaining cavalry unit he fled the battle into the city of Genoa.

The Romans proceeded to mop up Cisalpine Gaul, punishing every city that had gone over to the Carthagenians, albeit by force, then marched on Genoa itself.

[gwgardner]

A forgone conclusion:

[gwgardner]

I made a few mistakes! Perhaps I used my cards too often. I needed to learn to husband them for just the right moment. I had no real strategy in Italy other than to ravage. I mismanaged reinforcements from Africa and Spain, and after losing my entire fleet, that was even harder.

I hope this AAR however will serve to illustrate that this is one game where the AI will not disappoint. And this was 'normal' level of play.

[PJJ]

Thanks for the entertaining AAR. Maybe you should have tried to occupy a few cities in the south and east in order to get support from the Italian population there, and maybe get some help from Macedonia in the process? That should force the Romans to split their forces and make it harder for them to form such a huge uber-army to kick Hannibal's butt.

Or maybe not. Maybe you shouldn't have followed my advice at all and stayed safely in the north instead. [:)]

I hope it won't take long before this game is finally released! 

[gwgardner]

Actually, the possibilities of a 'southern strategy' are something I haven't explored yet. So you may be right. Another area I need to learn is how better to use my other commanders. There are some good ones, and I primarily used them all as shuttle commanders, to reinforce Hannibal. Big mistake, I think.

[NefariousKoel]

Holy testicle Tuesdays Batman!  That's a big Roman army! 

[Alan Sharif]

This AAR has been excellent. Another Matrix game I will purchase for sure.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: Alan Sharif

This AAR has been excellent. Another Matrix game I will purchase for sure.

I can say with some assurance that if you're a wargamer with an interest in 1) Roman/ancient warfare, or 2) just a plain old fun game, you won't be disappointed.

[Alan Sharif]

Thanks. I must confess the games graphics were putting me off but your AAR has demonstrated this is a title not to be missed. I look for games that are simple to play, but reasonably historically accurate. This seems to fit the bill in a major way.

[gdrover]

Great AAR! I'm psyched to get this game. About a year ago I read the history of the 2nd Punic War, and the Historical Novel as well, so I'm well and truly in the mood.

Any idea when this will be available (even what month?)

Thanks

[gwgardner]

Hopefully Eric or someone will post concerning the release date. I wouldn't dare to offer a guess. It's ready though, as far as I'm concerned!