Battle of Thapsus 46BC using Ancients Battlelines Clash

Introduction

This is game 60 in play testing my ancient rules by replaying historical battles.  They are definitely a work in progress as I continue to vacillate between mechanisms.  At least for this game I used the same rules as game 59!  Games are designed to be played solo on a 60cmx60cm table and finish in under 30 minutes.  They are still at their core Ancient Battlelines Clash so are calling them ABC version 6.

This is the 3rd last game I played using rules loosely based on Ancients Battlelines Clash.  It is posted a year after I played it.

 

Battle of Thapsus 46BC

In Tunisia, Caesar engages the remaining Optimates forces gathered against him.

Some internet links of interest:

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

https://prufrockian-gleanings.blogspot.com/2017/11/thapsus-refight.html

https://www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/78-caesars-civil-war-49-45-bc/352-318-thapsus-46-bc.html

Troops

Roman (Caesar)

Caesarean Romans

3 HI (swords) elite

4 HI (swords)

2 LI, elite (elite to represent anti-elephant tactics)

2 MC elite

1 Leader

Breakpoint: 12

 

Roman (Pompey)

Pompeian Romans

5 HI (swords)

5 HI (swords), poor

1 Medium infantry

2 LI

4 MC

2 LC

2 Elephants, poor

1 poor leader

Breakpoint: 20

 

Scenario changes

Reduced the number of units to fit into a 2’x2’ space.

 

Deployment

Deployment

Game

Caesar advances just the flanks.  The Pompeian right flank falls to move, the centre advances (best chance to win in the infantry clash) and the left flank enters into combat with the Caesar’s right flank

First blood on the Caesarean right flank

The Pompeian light infantry manage to disorder Caesar and his cavalry and then retire from the field.  The anti-elephant light infantry inflict a disorder on the elephant before being destroyed.  The Caesarean cohorts behind advance and rout the elephant that depletes the Pompeian cavalry behind them.

Caesarean left flank engages

On the left flank, Caesar’s units did not do as well – both sides Light infantry did nothing before routing, but the Caesarean cohorts did deplete the elephant.  In the next round of melee the elephant routs. The cohorts pursue straight into the Pompeian cavalry.  The Pompeian cavalry inflict 2 depletions on the cohorts (heavy infantry require 3 depletions before routing, most other units are 2)

Caesar’s flank cohorts pursue into the opposing cavalry but take a lot of damage

Back on Caesar’s right flank, Caesar and the cavalry and cohorts charge into the enemy cavalry. One Pompeian cavalry is routed.  This is the same on the Caesarean left flank (one Pompeian cavalry unit is routed.).  But in a later melee the Caesarean cavalry is routed.

Caesar’s left flank

Finally the Pompeian battleline clashes in the Caesarean one.  The Caesarean line has not moved on the assumption that they will not come away as well from the clash.  So they have waited for the Pompeian lines to engage.  Disorders here and there.

View of the main battleline from Caesar’s side

On the Caesarean right flank Caesar’s forces have defeated the opposition.

Caesarean right flank is now Caesar’s.

Overview

On Caesar’s left flank the Caesarean forces are overwhelmed and that flank belongs to Pompey.

It is now a race to see which flanking cavalry makes it first to the battleline to make a difference to the combats going on there.

The flank cavalry form each side race to the centre

Caesar makes it first.

Caesar in the rear of the Pompeian battleline

He routs one of them in contact (can only inflict damage on one unit per melee)

The Pompeians then get their chance to melee and roll really badly.  Pompey is wounded as his unit routs. 

The battered battleline

This is enough for the Pompeian side to reach their breakpoint and flee the field.  Caesar’s side was only one legion away from their breakpoint as well.  It was a close game!

End game

Rule changes

None.

 

Verdict

My rules have survived playing twice with no changes. I do enjoy them.  They are a little different but I like them.  Admittedly only two games but hey, it is keeping my interest!

I have been leaning on the last few years to try and minimise the units on the table.  This game had a lot of units, mainly as I could not see how to do the battle justice without deploying so many different units into the battlelines.  Looking ahead to the next few battles Thapsus seems to be an exception and I can get back to much smaller battles.