Fantastic Battles: Tumble by the temple - 28mm Seleukids, Romans and Carthaginians

October’s Big Game Sunday saw Tony, Garry and I facing off with a somewhat plausibly historic game of Fantastic Battles – pitting 1900 points of my Late Seleukids against their unholy alliance of Republican Romans and later Carthaginians.

I had hidden a three-company unit of Arab allies in the woods on the Seleukid left as an ambush to slow down the Roman advance on that flank, but during the mishaps phase, both they and a unit of Roman velites opposite were enthusiastic and advanced towards each other. Thus, melee combat was begun before either side received orders to advance. 

Elsewhere, the Seleukid side suffered little from mishaps (a single late unit of slingers). It could have been far worse. At one point I think I rolled four or five 6’s in a row which would have caused havoc if they weren’t adjusted thanks to the quartermaster strategy. The Romano-Punic armies suffered more with late, enthusiastic and diseased units along the line.

The opening turn saw general advance orders for both sides. A unit of late Roman cavalry, finding itself out o command range, turned tail immediately and left the table. On the Seleukid left, the Arab infantry scattered the opposing velites, although the next Roman unit in the line was a much fiercer principe unit and they had a hungry look in their eyes.

On the far-right flank, beyond the impassible (for units) ruined temple complex, more Arab allied auxiliaries – this time skirmishing archers and camelry – were making a great deal of noise and dust, distracting both the Punic Numidian cavalry units and two units of formed Punic infantry.

The Seleukid far left advanced, but too slowly to save the Arab infantry who scattered before the ranks of formed Romans. Next along the Seleukid line, scythed chariots slammed forward into Roman hastati, narrowly avoiding an enemy elephant which then when on to hit them in the flank.

The initial bloody assault was just a preamble though really for the charge of the Seleukid cataphracts and Galatian mercenaries. Although the chariots quickly scattered, the damage they caused to the Roman resolve was catastrophic.

The Punic centre had struggled early with units out of command due to mishaps. They now started to advance on the Seleukid imitation legionaries and elite agema cavalry. Yet again, the agema found themselves facing off against bloody elephants! This time the elephants were supported by Spanish scutate who proved a tough unit to crack.

The Seleukid cavalry punched through the Roman centre, routing infantry and elephants alike, and slaying commanders left right and centre. The Punic warlord too was slain as his elephants routed before the Seleukid assault.

Back on the right, beyond the ruins, the Arab delaying force had done wonders, distracting far more Punic units than the Carthaginian centre could afford. As the Arabs were attacked, the skirmishers fell back, out of command, and then turned and ran from the battlefield, but it was hard to begrudge them their lives given the valuable service they had provided.

Only late in the day did the Roman heavy infantry close with the Seleukid thureophoroi, causing great trepidation on the Seleukid left.

But it was all too late. The Seleukid centre units, finding their opponents fled, turned outwards to assist their colleagues on the flanks. Only a single, leaderless unit of Roman cavalry held ground in the centre.

It was not to be a day of heroic Roman stands! The Roman cavalry fled before the Seleukid cataphracts and elephant. On the left, the last Roman of rank fell, and it was all over for the Romano-Punic alliance. Maybe next time they will think harder before choosing their friends…