ADLG Early Carthaginians v Republican Romans

Last night saw my Early Carthaginians taking on Stan's Republican Romans. I tried to choose a 'sensible' army composition this time and went for one command of chariots, one of heavy foot and a mixed command of infantry and cavalry.

The Romans put down a lot of terrain most of which ended up on their baseline cramping their deployment somewhat:

Both armies planned a strong attack on their left while refusing their right flank. With their higher quality commanders and quicker moving troops the Carthaginians hope to get their attack in first as both sides dash forwards:

Roman legionaries advance towards the waiting Carthaginian chariots and heavy foot:

In the distance the Carthaginian cavalry and javelinmen are approaching the Roman camp and the olive grove anchoring the Roman left flank. The Roman cavalry have retired in the face of Carthaginian numbers. The Balearic slingers are already shooting at the Roman legions with surprising accuracy which they continued to do throughout the battle:

The Sacred Band moves to outflank the Roman line. The javelinmen have captured the olive grove and are well placed to launch an attack on the Roman rear:

The battle lines are drawn up in the centre. The Carthaginian outflanking move is progressing well while the Roman one has not really made sufficient progress and does not look as if it will have much effect on the fight:

The Romans carry out a sneaky move replacing some legionaries facing the chariots with the much more resilient Triarii making the Carthaginian chariot charge a risky move:

Chariots and Gallic foot charge home while the centre chariots hold back unwilling to charge the Triarii. In the distance the Sacred Band and Ligurian javelinmen are starting to demolish the Roman flank and the Carthaginian cavalry have captured the Roman camp:

The Chariots destroy their opponents but the Gauls charge fails. The Roman right flank is collapsing quickly now with their line completely outflanked:

The Gauls are swept aside but the slow moving Romans can't really exploit their success and their line is being cut down quickly by rampaging chariots and the Sacred Band:

A sole Libyan spearman holds back the Roman left:

The Libyans are overwhelmed but the Roman army breaks with one legion having been wiped out:

For once in an ADLG game I had a sensible plan and what seemed to be a reasonable army composition. Stan's deployment left his cavalry very exposed and his camp isolated, partly I think down to the amount of terrain on his baseline and the river which cramped his deployment options considerably.

I did make my usual ADLG mistake of not realising Stan could replace his legionaries with Triarii against the chariots by advancing and contracting allowing the Triarii to move into the front rank. I could have stopped him doing this by pinning him when I moved up, holding back to avoid some shooting from the velites when I'd have been much better off taking the shooting and pinning the legionaries.

The stars of the show for the Carthaginians were definitely the Balearic slingers who inflicted numerous hits on the legions weakening them before combat, the chariots and the Sacred Band all who whom lived up to their elite rating!