Battle of Ticinus 218BC using Ancients Battlelines Clash

Introduction

This is game 37 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  The latest version of ‘Ancient Battlelines Clash’ is on its own blog page. I am play testing the rules by replaying all the Peter Sides scenarios from his Historical Battles books.  ABC is designed to finish in around 30 minutes on a 2'x2' table.

I have been slow in play testing these rules for the last few years.  For November 2019 I set a challenge to play the 10 First and Second Punic Wars battles in the book.  This battle is game 2 in the attempt.

Battle of Ticinus

The first battle of the Second Punic War fought on Italian soil.  It was mainly a cavalry engagement and smaller than most of the battles I have replayed.  It was between Hannibal and Publius Corneilius Scipio (father of Scipio Africanus who was also involved in the battle).

Here are a few internet links of interest I used for this replay:

https://www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/60-second-punic-war-218-202-bc/257-004-ticinus-river-218-bc.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ticinus

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_ticinus.html

Troops

Carthaginian

Carthaginians

4 Cavalry, Medium Cavalry

2 Numidians, Light Cavalry, javelins

Leader with cavalry

Army Command Ability +2

Breakpoint: 7

(Breakpoint so high due to ACA rating)

Roman

Romans

4 Cavalry, Medium Cavalry

4 Velites, Skirmish Infantry, javelins

Leader with cavalry

Breakpoint: 4

Scenario changes

The Peter Sides scenario had the entire army.  Internet sources, and the original source, seems indicate a clash of cavalry and reconnaissance.  I have gone with the latter, loosely based on the Command and Colours scenario.

Deployment

Romans on the left, Carthaginians on the right

Game

The Carthaginian Cavalry charge into the Velites. 

The Carthaginian cavalry charge in!

The Velites retreat from the battle but two of the cavalry are halted in the charge.

The Velites retire but do slow down a couple of heavy cavalry units.

Disorders all round.  The two pushed back cavalry charge in and cause some disorders.

The light cavalry charge in; all locked in melee.

The Numidians charge into the flanks after the Roman cavalry is engaged to the front.

One Roman cavalry routs.  One Carthaginian cavalry routs.  Another Roman cavalry routs and the game is won by the Carthaginians.

The Carthaginians lose a unit but the Romans lose two and break.

Note it was the Roman cavalry that were flanked by the Numidians that routed.  If they were not in the game, it would have been a simple dice fest on who won or lost.

Rule changes

In the old version, flanking light units only got a +1 modifier in melee, compared to +2 for heavy units.In the old version, light units were disordered and then needed another disorder to be routed but in the new version they are routed on a disorder, so go quicker.  This means the +1 for lights should really go to give a similar type of power as before.  Also simplifies the game just a little with one less combat modifier exception.

Verdict

A very quick game and the result was as  expected. It was interesting to play it out though.