Thoughts on Lake Trasimene and D3 OHW

photo courtesy Gridbased wargaming

As reported in the battle account on Peter's blog (see Battle of Lake Trasimene), last week, Peter hosted a remote game to refight the Battle of Lake Trasimene.  If you have not already read Peter's account, I recommend doing so especially since scenario and background details are contained therein.  No need to retell the battle either.  Hannibal's Carthaginians drove many of the Romans into the lake and Flaminius' army perished on the banks of Trasimene.

Instead, today's post examines modelling of this battle on the wargames table with a closer look at Peter's variant of Neil Thomas' One-Hour Wargames (OHW) rules.  For simplicity, I refer to Peter's work as D3 OHW.  These rules can be found on his blog. 

First, how does one model the debacle that was the ambush at Lake Trasimene?  Having fought Trasimene several times using Commands & Colors Ancients (CCA), I have seen victory go to both Hannibal and Flaminius.  While the Roman Army is initially hamstrung by only having one command card to play, the outcome is not necessarily a foregone conclusion.  With careful play (and the right card), the Romans can hold on long enough to see the situation stabilize and fight back.  There are hazards to seeing the Romans triumph at Trasimene, however.  In one game, the Romans roared back to defeat Hannibal in spectacle fashion.  The ersatz Hannibal threw up his arms exclaiming that "this is not Lake Trasimene!"  Unfortunately, he never played CCA again...but I digress. 

CCA battlefield deployment.

How does CCA handle Trasimene?  With no facing, units cannot be struck in the flank.  Yes, a retreat will push Romans back into the lake but being supported and with Flaminius nearby, up to two RETREAT results may be ignored.  CCA game results show that Carthage wins about two-thirds of the contests.  In repeated playings and given a one out of three chance to overcome Hannibal, does this scenario model the battle satisfactorily?

What about Thomas' OHW?  Could this model Trasimene with more historicity?  While units in OHW have facings and flanks, and flank attacks are possible, a unit can turn to face after the first round of combat.  Being susceptible to a flanking attack improves the chance of launching a crippling ambush.  With no retreats, though, every clash is a fight to the death.  Having an advantage in heavy infantry, the Romans can prevail the longer each engagement lasts.

Peter's initial deployments
photo courtesy Gridbased wargaming

Now let's examine Peter's amendments to OHW.

Since a D3 is used for combat resolution rather than a D6 in the original, these rules are denoted as D3 OHW.  Unit elimination drops from 15 to 9 hits.

What are the other changes introduced?

• Morale Checks.  A unit suffering hit(s) must now take a morale check.  Pass, and the unit remains in place.  Fail, and the unit retreats.
• Retreats.  A unit failing a morale check moves to the rear six inches.  Friendly units in the retreat path are pushed back.  Encountering impassable terrain or enemy units forces unit elimination.
• Veteran Heavy Infantry.  Immune from taking morale checks.
• Army Resolve.  Each army has an Army Resolve computed before the beginning of battle.  This Resolve is decreased for each friendly unit destroyed and for each failed morale check. 

Do these changes to the base rules alter the nature of play and the Battle of Lake Trasimene specifically?

To recap the game, as the Carthaginians rush down toward the Romans marching along the banks of Lake Trasimene, Flaminius has great difficulty deploying his army.  With restricted maneuver space, only about one in three units turn to face the enemy.  At the tail end of the Roman march column, matters are even worse.  Carthaginian cavalry hit the enemy before there is time to deploy.  

Carthaginians charge down from the heights...

while the defile is blocked.

Romans struggle to deploy to face the enemy.

Hannibal's horsemen catch the enemy in flank!

Having been struck in column, the back end of the Roman column panics.  Two failed morale checks see two retreats.  Those retreating units crash into their supports.  Both supporting units are driven into the lake to perish.  Still reeling from the retreat, the wavering Roman is hit again and destroyed outright.  Carthaginian cavalry turn in to roll up the enemy flank.  In the Roman center, a third unit is compelled to retreat.  This retreat takes it to the banks of the lake.  With Roman infantry packed together near the defile, Carthaginian light infantry hit the enemy in flank.  Casualties are high until support comes up to drive off the enemy light infantry.

Romans are driven into the lake.
photo courtesy Gridbased wargaming

Two more Roman units bite the dust.
photo courtesy Gridbased wargaming

The battle is over.
photo courtesy Gridbased wargaming

But it is all too late.  Carthaginian cavalry break one more Roman infantry and all is lost.  Flaminius loses his army.

Did Peter's amendments allow the nature of the battle to be replicated on the table?  Yes, they did.  I thought tension from the Roman desperation was present on the gaming table throughout.  Flaminius struggled to deploy his army from march column into battle while being pressed by the enemy.  With little space to deploy, only a portion of the Roman Army turned before the enemy struck.  Overwhelmed, some Romans broke and fled as they were attacked in flank.  Their panic spread as supporting units were pushed back into the lake.  In minutes, it was all over.  Could the battle have played out differently?  Certainly.  That is why we play the game. 

Good fun especially as commander of the Carthaginian Army!  If you play and enjoy OHW but are searching for more depth and "realism" while maintaining the base game engine, I recommend giving Peter's D3 OHW rules a look. 

Thanks to Peter for hosting such an entertaining game.