The following shots show the position of the remaining Carthaginian units at the end of turn two. Hasdrubal has run out of morale chips and is handing them, hand over fist, to Scipio.
Hasdrubal is beaten. The game is ended and Hasdrubal accepts a defeat by 'double envelopment'. The battle, in 'battle time' had lasted less than two hours. Consequently, battle casualties were remarkably light. But woe worth the day, Hasdrubal's force of 13 CUs was totally destroyed in the following retreat. Carthaginian resistance in Spain is all but ended at a single stroke.
At the end of the campaign turn this is the situation.
Carthage controls much of Italy and Sicily but is about to lose control of all Spain - she simply does not have an army to prevent its fall without evacuating from Italy. Neither Rome or Carthage has the will to pursue the war and deputations are dispatched to seek an honourable peace.
The following photo shows the peace agreement. Scipio evacuates Spain in return for Hannibal evacuating from Italy. Sicily is ceded by Rome. In return, Campania (Capua and Neopolis) are to be excluded from any alliance with Carthage - they must go it alone and Rome will surely take its revenge upon them! Carthage gives up its right to expand into Massilia. Carthage gains the Balearic Islands. The biggest sticking point in negotiations was the fate of Corsica Sardinia; possession being nine tenths of the law, Rome kept her mid Mediterranean islands.
8 comments:
Peace at last!
So when does the third Punic War start?
;-)
Simon
Was this resolution a product of the game mechanics, or the players own resolution
Hi Peter,
If Hasdrubal had survived the battle - he lost all 13 CUs in the retreat - we would have fought the very last R Vs C turn. However, after the battle was over and the last cards of the penultimate turn had been played, the province count was 11 - 5 to Carthage. Carthage would lose two in Spain - for sure - but Rome would have used up too many cards doing so to force the issue elsewhere, especially with Hannibal still on the loose in Italy.
If anything, the campaign, which we determined was a very Marginal Carthaginian win, was won in this turn when I played the Cato Councils Rome card as an event - this stops a Roman invasion of Africa until the reshuffle. The reshuffle card was not played this turn, so it would be impossible for Rome to end the game with a siege of Carthage itself. If I had not have played this card, Scipio would have gone for the throat, and probably won outright.
James,
I would like to thank you for such a great all round game and all your related articles. I cant remember a better presentation on the net than yours. I tip my hat to both you gentlemen for a great time. I will toast both of you lads with a well poured B&S.
Cheers amd Salute,
Gunny
Well done on playing out such a magnificent campaign. Brilliant work, and congrats to you both!
Thoughts from Rome:
"On reflection, I could have used the last turn to put one of the newly elected consuls into Spain to mop up while I then moved Scipio back to Italy for a a showdown with Hannibal. However, it would have meant relying on some luck with the campaign cards, morale cards and the dice which have been sadly lacking in this campaign for the Romans and so this would have been a high risk venture against a full strength Hannibal. So by maintaining a veteran, well led army in the field as a bargaining chip, an honourable negotiated peace was possible. Scipio won't be known as Africanus in our version of history but may be known as Hispanicus. Some seeking of favourable omens and favours from the gods will be required before Rome embarks on the third punic war. Though, Gaul and the East still beckon...."
Peter
I loved this, and followed it with glee. This is what I want my hobby to be like ;)
This was truly excellent. A pleasure to read.
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