Cannae, Again?

Yes!  In fact we got in four battles of Cannae in a gaming session on Saturday.

In an encore presentation of Commands & Colors Ancients in miniature (see Four Battles at Cannae), Scott invited Kevin and I to a day of gaming in Coeur d'Alene.  On deck were more battles of Cannae.  In September, we managed to get in four games in about five hours.  Yesterday's session saw another four battles played in under five hours including a break for lunch at a local burger joint.   

Commands & Colors: Ancients' Cannae

After a lengthy pre-battle chat, we dived into action.

The Table

In Game #1, I (Carthage) faced Kevin's Romans.  After an aggressive Roman start that saw the Roman battle line advance to engage, Rome's attacks did more damage to themselves than to the enemy.  Once Carthage got its heavy infantry on the left into action, Rome crumbled.  Carthage wins 7-3. 

Rome pushes the battle line forward...

only to meet defeat.

Game #2 saw Kevin and Scott go at it.  Scott commands the Carthaginians while Kevin sticks with commanding the Roman Army.  

Scott and Kevin ready for battle.

As seen in previous Cannae games, Scott relies upon Carthaginian missile fire to soften up the Romans before attacking.  Today was no different. Despite suffering from missile fire, Rome advances.  Once Roman ranks were depleted, Carthage strikes.  Carthage wins 7-5.   

Like Babe Ruth,
Scott points to where the missile fire will fall. 

Game #3 saw me back at the table.  I faced Scott as he commanded the Roman Army.  In a closely contested match, my Carthaginians fall to Scott's Romans 7-6 as he ripped open the Carthaginian center in a pair of crippling cavalry charges.

Overrun by Roman medium cavalry.

In the last battle of the day, I remained at the table still in command of the Carthaginians.  Kevin sat back down to command the Romans.

Kevin sits behind the Roman Army.

In a battle that ebbed and flowed throughout with neither able to gain the upper hand, my Carthaginians finally fell 7-6 in the closest match of the day.  The highlight of the battle (for me!) was a devastating Carthaginian cavalry attack against the Roman Right.  when the dust cleared, three Roman units were dead on the field.  Unfortunately, those successes were short lived.  Carthage lost both cavalry units in attacks on the following turn.    

Carthaginian ranks are thinning.

At the end of the day, Carthage won two battles and Rome won two battles.

For the players, individual scores were:

Scott 2-0

Kevin 1-2

Jon    1-2

Have I mentioned that Scott is a very good player?  At least I managed to win one game this time!

As always, great fun, great food, great company, and beautiful armies.  I do have indigestion though.  The burgers and fries were quite greasy...but delicious.