As it is not so easy to get the players for Great Battles of History (GBoH), sometimes the best option is to play solitaire, trying to win against yourself! One of the greatest installments in this series is SPQR. It allows you to replay a variety of engagements, and the latest Deluxe Edition covers all the expansions. As I acquired SPQR some time ago, it was already high time to get into this. As for the scenario, I picked the one suggested by the designer – Bagradas Plains.
The Scenario – Bagradas Plains (255 BC)
It is nearly the end of the First Punic War. Carthage is almost defeated and the Romans have landed in North Africa! The desperate Punic leaders hired a Spartan general, Xanthippus, who managed to actually organize the Carthaginian forces and plan for the best use of their assets.
And so the battle on the Plains of Bagradas River started – the Carthaginians initiated the battle with an attack by the elephants. That attack tied up the main force of Roman infantry which was quickly exploited by Punic cavalry (outnumbering the Roman counterparts eight-to-one). Legions had some luck on their left where they routed mercenary Celts, but once Carthaginian cavalry redressed their ranks and attacked form both flanks, the battle turned into slaughter. Only 2000 Romans managed to return to Italy.
Will history be changed and will the Romans manage to withstand the tactically more able Carthaginians? Enjoy the below photo-session report to find out!
Setup
The initial deployment of the forces. Lack of Roman cavalry is clearly visible (click the picture to enlarge)
Legio III prepared specially for the battle – the only unit fully clipped! (click the picture to enlarge)
Turn 1
The Velites try skirmishing in the center but are repelled by the Elephant Screens and other range weapons. (click the picture to enlarge)
The Elephants charge and even with pass-through, many Romans are routed. (click the picture to enlarge)
Troop movement in the first turn – Elephants tied up the center, while Punic cavalry started encirclement maneuver. (click the picture to enlarge)
Causalities after Turn 1
Turn 2
Elephants continue wreaking havoc in the center and Prefect Plautius barely escapes! (click the picture to enlarge)
Another charge by the beasts, but many of them will be routed and their unpredictable rout will damage both sides to great extent! (click the picture to enlarge)
The left-wing Punic cavalry strikes! (click the picture to enlarge)
In the end, Phalanx move on to attack! (click the picture to enlarge)
Main actions of the second turn – in Rout Points the situation is balanced but there is already 14 routed Romans on board. Triari still not activated (those rigid Roman doctrines!) (click the picture to enlarge)
Causalities after Turn 2 – Elephants, as powerful as they are, die quickly on the battlefield
Turn 3
One overextended Phalanx was encircled by the Romans, routed, and utterly destroyed! (click the picture to enlarge)
Left-wing cavalry continues its destruction of the Roman right. (click the picture to enlarge)
Key developments of the third turn – phalanx killed in center and bot cavalry wings attacking the Romans. (click the picture to enlarge)
Causalities after Turn 3 – Roman casualties skyrocketed
Turn 4
Left-wing Punic cavalry redressed the units, removed cohesion hits, and were planning for another. (click the picture to enlarge)
In a last desperate effort – as in history – Roman legionnaires attack and rout Celt mercenaries. (click the picture to enlarge)
Unfortunately, they are caught in the rear by the Carthaginian cavalry. Then the full-swing slaughter began… (click the picture to enlarge)
Causalities after Turn 4 – Roman Legions utterly destroyed
Summary
Well, that was an interesting experience and much needed learning exercise in GBoH. Elephants proved to be powerful but brittle and unpredictable creatures. The role of cavalry cannot be emphasized more – the above battle shows this clearly. Another lesson to remember is even if you are winning and pushing back the enemy, you should not overextend your forces (remember, they momentum advance) as they can get caught in ugly counter-attack – see the Phalanx case.
All in all that was
great fun and you can expect further reports soon!
Would like to see more of this. Have the game but not the time and space to enjoy it as much as I would like. Additional game play through on SPQR scenarios might inspire. Good presentation!
That is a really great game in a very good series. If you would like to see some more reports of mine from GBoH please have a look here: https://theboardgameschronicle.com/tag/gboh/
It however raised a few questions on my understanding of the rules :
Turn 1 , Velites are repelled but they are not at contact to the elephants, so they should not be in position to missile fire as javelins have only 1 hex range but we see casualties on the elephants, how were they achieved ?
I saw elephants on their depleted side, but the elephant rampage rule triggers the death of the elephants and it is stated they can never rally, so how can they be depleted as depletion comes through the rallying of units ?
I hope you can answer but more important put other AAR from other SPQR battles.
Thank you again
as for being able to fire without contact, there is rule called “Harassment & Dispersal Tactics”. I see that in the heat of battle I omitted important part of it :”unit that has the same or lower Movement Allowance”. Velites has less movement then Elephants so should not be eligible. Still, they were decimated by elephants reaction fire so you cannot say that error paid off for them! Good catch!
As for second question – depletion – in other modules you mark unit which moved be turning it to other side. I used rallied below the unit to mark depletion.
Hi. I have just acquired the SPQR deluxe edition ( 4th ), and I really wished to play the Bagradas scenario ( seeing an Spartan general facing the Romans is always a pleasure ?)
Unfortunately when I have unboxed the game I have realized that despite there are pieces for these battles, the maps of Bagradas , Magnesia and other Spanish Battle ( Illipa or Baecula ) are not in the box .
After the surprise, when I read carefully the content I see 19 battles are offered ( including 5 from the Barbarian expansion ) but there are only six double maps – that means 12 battles.
Does anybody have any idea of what happens with this ?
You got it. They tell you can use either Zama or Cannae for that scenario, and do not pay attention at different terrains, given the battle took place at normal terrain.
It happens the same with other battles with no specific maps.
That’s a good scenario to get into the game system. Other battle are more challenging.
True! Still, that was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it immensely!
Would like to see more of this. Have the game but not the time and space to enjoy it as much as I would like. Additional game play through on SPQR scenarios might inspire. Good presentation!
That is a really great game in a very good series. If you would like to see some more reports of mine from GBoH please have a look here: https://theboardgameschronicle.com/tag/gboh/
Hi
I just start with GboH and I loved your AAR.
It however raised a few questions on my understanding of the rules :
Turn 1 , Velites are repelled but they are not at contact to the elephants, so they should not be in position to missile fire as javelins have only 1 hex range but we see casualties on the elephants, how were they achieved ?
I saw elephants on their depleted side, but the elephant rampage rule triggers the death of the elephants and it is stated they can never rally, so how can they be depleted as depletion comes through the rallying of units ?
I hope you can answer but more important put other AAR from other SPQR battles.
Thank you again
Hello,
as for being able to fire without contact, there is rule called “Harassment & Dispersal Tactics”. I see that in the heat of battle I omitted important part of it :”unit that has the same or lower Movement Allowance”. Velites has less movement then Elephants so should not be eligible. Still, they were decimated by elephants reaction fire so you cannot say that error paid off for them! Good catch!
As for second question – depletion – in other modules you mark unit which moved be turning it to other side. I used rallied below the unit to mark depletion.
Should you be interested in my other session reports please feel free to have a look at my blog and GBoH section: https://theboardgameschronicle.com/tag/gboh/
Hi. I have just acquired the SPQR deluxe edition ( 4th ), and I really wished to play the Bagradas scenario ( seeing an Spartan general facing the Romans is always a pleasure ?)
Unfortunately when I have unboxed the game I have realized that despite there are pieces for these battles, the maps of Bagradas , Magnesia and other Spanish Battle ( Illipa or Baecula ) are not in the box .
After the surprise, when I read carefully the content I see 19 battles are offered ( including 5 from the Barbarian expansion ) but there are only six double maps – that means 12 battles.
Does anybody have any idea of what happens with this ?
Thank you
There are two maps you can use, it is written at the beginning of the scenario, by heart I would say that one is Zama
You got it. They tell you can use either Zama or Cannae for that scenario, and do not pay attention at different terrains, given the battle took place at normal terrain.
It happens the same with other battles with no specific maps.
Thanks a lot