Ilipa, Again

In the first playing of Ilipa, Scipio and his Romans received what Chris dubbed a "Hasdrubbing" in a five-player remote game (see A Tale of Two Armies).  That game was on 30 August.  Flash forward a week later and the two armies are positioned for battle again.  This time (06 SEP), I face off against Richard L. in a remote contest.  Yes, I actually get to take an active command.  Richard chose to take on Hasdrubal's command since he said that, "If I lose, I have managed to repeat history."  Richard is a solid and thinking player.  I figured I would have my hands full as Scipio in this fight.

Initial deployments

As before, Scipio has his battle line drawn up with two legions on the wings and a weak center.  Hasdrubal has his heavy infantry in the center and lighter troops out on the wings.

Carthaginian Right

Roman Left

Carthaginian Center

Roman Right

How will the commanders fight this battle?

After skirmishing to mostly little effect as the two lines slowly advance toward the center, Carthaginian medium cavalry strike against the Roman Right.  In a flash, the Roman cavalry are overpowered and flee toward the rear.  Without hesitation, the Spanish horsemen are off in pursuit.   The panicked Roman cavalry are caught and slaughtered.  Already, the Roman Right looks in jeopardy.    

The battle lines close.

Skirmishing out on the Carthaginian Left.

Roman horsemen turn and flee...

and are ruthlessly pursued.

On the Roman Left, Marcius brings up his cavalry to challenge the Spanish cavalry and elephant.  Before the Romans can coordinate a charge, the Spanish cavalry attack. The Roman light cavalry, the target of the Spanish charge, are driven off.  The Spanish pursue and hit the Roman medium cavalry.  Witnessing the quick collapse of the light cavalry to their left, the remaining Roman horsemen break and race to the rear.  The momentum of the Spanish cavalry carries them into the rear of the Roman cavalry.  Like their comrades on the Roman Right, these Romans are dispatched with relative ease.  Now, both Roman wings are unhinged!    

Cavalry face off on the Roman Left.

Roman cavalry are seen off
with the Spaniards in hot pursuit.

Roman medium horsemen are chased down...

and dispatched.

In a matter of only a few minutes, both Roman cavalry wings are in flight.  Trying to calm the chaos whirling around him, Scipio orders his legion forward.  He will attack the elephant and crush the Carthaginian Left before the Spanish cavalry can return.

The legionaries move forward to confront the elephant, throwing their pila as the distance is closed.  In the clash, the elephant is spooked and driven away.  The remaining Roman light cavalry set off in hot pursuit.  The rampaging elephant is caught from behind and flees. 

Scipio's legion sees the elephant.

The pachyderm is sent packing!

Caught from behind and destroyed!

Encouraged by the success on the Roman Right, Marcius leads his legion into an attack against Hasdrubal's heavy infantry blocks.  No matter how it measures up, the attacks will go in as two separate melees.  One attack with be one-to-one.  The other attack with be at one-to-two.  Marcius sends in the one-to-one attack first against the right of the Carthaginian line.  This first attack is repulsed after heavy fighting.  The second attack going in at a disadvantage actually clears the two blocks of heavy infantry from its front.  Hoorah!

The jubilation is short lived.  The one Carthaginian spear unit follows up on the failed Roman attack.  The legionaries buckle under the weight of the heavily armored enemy and flee.  The retreating legionaries skirt passed the Triarii.  In the pursuit, the Carthaginian spear hit the Triarii in flank.  Assailed from an unsuspecting direction, the Triarii crumble.  Marcius' legion is unraveling.

Marcius sends his legion forward.

The first attack is repulsed.
The second is successful.

In pursuit, the Carthaginian spearmen force part of
Marcius' legion to flee while the Triarii become a target.

Caught in flank,

the Triarii are destroyed where they stand.

Having put much of Marcius' legion to flight, Hasdrubal turns his right in toward the Roman Center.  Sending in first Spanish light infantry followed by a warband to soften up the remaining portion of Marcius' legion, the Spanish cavalry strike the legionaries in the rear.  Shocked by assaults from all sides, the legion falls apart and scatters.  Hacking through the fleeing Romans, the Spaniards reach the Spanish light infantry allied with the Romans.  Showing no quarter, these foot are cut down where they stand.   

Carthaginians turn in to envelop Marcius' remnants.

After repeated attacks to weaken the Romans, 

Spanish cavalry attack.

Caught from behind, the Romans and
 their Spanish allies melt away.

Unable to take any more, Scipio's Army breaks.  The battle is lost.

Wow!

What a severe beating I took at the hands of Richard's well-timed moves and superbly executed combats.  This was a Roman disaster of epic proportions.  Really, it may have been over before the Roman legions could find their footing.  

Richard is a cagey opponent and he taught me a few valuable lessons even as he was reacquainting himself to the rules.  Will I learn from these lessons in my next battle where I reprise my role as Scipio?

Stay tuned for the next Ilipa installment.

Thanks to Richard for a well-played and very challenging game.  Great job!  Until we meet on the battlefield again.