lake trasimenus – 217 bc...opponent in 217 bc was roman consul gaius flaminius, a vain and...

Command & Colors: Ancients 1

© 2006 GMT Games, LLC

LAKE TRASIMENUS – 217 BC

Historical BackgroundMuch of Hannibal’s “genius” for warfare lay in his ability totake the measure of his opponents’ abilities and intentions. Hisopponent in 217 BC was Roman Consul Gaius Flaminius, a vainand incompetent patrician. Armed with this knowledge, Hanni-bal determined to set a trap for his opponent by ravaging thecountryside to spur Flaminius to action. True to form, Flaminiusrushed headlong into pursuit of Hannibal, marching his armythrough the narrow defile next to Lake Trasimenus whereHannibal’s army lay in wait. Hannibal posted his veteran infan-try as a blocking force, hiding his light infantry and cavalry inthe hills. As the day of battle dawned, a heavy mist covered thearea – Flaminius further aided Hannibal’s plans by neglecting tosend out scouts. The Roman vanguard stumbled into theCarthaginian blocking force, and the battle was joined. Almostimmediately the ambushing Carthaginians descended from thehills and fell on the Roman column before the soldiers had enoughtime to deploy. Flaminius died early in the fighting; more thanhalf of his army died along with him, either in the desperatefighting or drowning trying to escape. It was noteworthy thatthe only portion of Flaminius’s army to escape intact was thevanguard – those soldiers fought their way through Hannibal’sbest infantry to do it. It surely was not through lack of braverythat the Roman army met disaster at Lake Trasimenus.

The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn, and you are in com-mand. Can you change history?

War CouncilCarthagian Army• Leader: Hannibal• 6 Command Cards• Move First

Roman Army• Leader: Flaminius• 2* Command Cards

Victory6 Banners

Special RulesLake Trasimenus is impassable.

The four steep hills hexes on the right side of the battlefield asnoted, are impassable terrain.

* The Roman player starts with 2 command cards. On turn 1play one card, draw two cards. Roman player now holds 3 com-mand cards. On turn 2 play one card, draw two cards. Romanplayer now holds 4 command cards. On turn 3 play one card,draw one card. Roman player hand size stays at 4 commandcards for the rest of the battle.

Flaminius

SteepHillsImpassable

Lake TrasimenusLake TrasimenusROMAN

CARTHAGINIAN

A

M

L A

A AH

MC H

L M A M A L M

LC W W W A

LC

A A A H

LC MC MC

LS LSLC LC

H M M A

Hannibal

Command & Colors: Ancients2


CANNAE – 216 BC

Historical BackgroundNow, fully aware of the threat posed by Hannibal, the Romansassembled a truly large army, perhaps up to 80,000 strong, ledby two consuls and two pro-consuls. Unfortunately, on the dayof battle, the incompetent consul Varrus held command and de-termined to attack Hannibal, who had posted his army in a loca-tion that negated the Roman advantage in numbers – bluffs onone flank and the Aufidus river on the other. Undeterred, Varrussimply packed his legions one behind the other into the con-stricted area and launched the mass headlong at the Carthaginiancenter. They advanced into yet another trap. Hannibal had de-ployed his excellent cavalry and heavy infantry on the wings,leaving his medium infantry and Celt levies in the center. TheRoman advance did indeed push the Carthaginian center backand inflict losses, but in the meantime the Carthaginian cavalryhad routed the Roman cavalry on both flanks and closed in onthe rear of the Roman army while the heavy infantry advancedon both Roman flanks. Surrounded and unable to maneuver, theRoman soldiers were slaughtered by the thousands, and the armywas destroyed. Cannae was Rome’s greatest military defeat, andHannibal’s greatest victory.


War CouncilCarthagian Army• Leader: Hannibal• 6 Command Cards

Roman Army• Leader: Varro• 4 Command Cards• Move First

Victory7 Banners

Special RulesNone

Paillus

Atilius

Varro

ROMAN

CARTHAGINIAN

LCLC H H H H MC HC

LC

LS W A LS A W LS

MC A A M M M M A A MC

AH H

A

L L

Maharbal Hannibal Hasdrubal



DERTOSA – 215 BC

Historical BackgroundAfter Cannae, Rome struggled to rebuild its armies, but neededtime. In Spain, Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal commanded anarmy large enough to possibly let Carthage win the war – if itunited with Hannibal’s victorious veterans. Standing in his way,however, were the legions of two capable (at last) consuls, thebrothers Gnaeus and Publius Scipio. Both knew of Cannae, butfelt the only way to prevent encirclement was to quickly breakthe Carthaginian center. When the battle commenced, the Ro-man legions fiercely attacked the Carthaginian center, but , un-like Cannae, there was enough Roman cavalry to hold theirflanks. Lacking cavalry superiority (and his brother’s tacticalgenius), Hasdrubal was unable to surround the Romans beforethey broke through his center. His cavalry joined the retreat, leav-ing the splendid heavy infantry to its fate. Rome was granted thetime it needed to live and fight another day. Eight years later,Hasdrubal finally was able to march to Italy, but lost both hisarmy and his life at the Metaurus.


War CouncilCarthagian Army• Leader: Hasdrubal• 4 Command Cards

Roman Army• Leader: Gnaeus & Publius Scipio• 6 Command Cards• Move First

Victory6 Banners

Special RulesNone

PubliusGnaeus

ROMAN

CARTHAGINIAN

LS A A A A A LS

H E H

LC LC LC MC

A M M M M M M M A

MC H H MC

L L

Hasdrubal

Command & Colors: Ancients4


2nd BATTLE OF BENEVENTUM - 214 BC

Historical BackgroundDesperate for manpower to replace the losses at Cannae, theRomans found a unique solution. They formed two legions fromslaves. They were given to the Consul Gracchus who saw theirpotential and trained them well. Two years later, still under hiscommand, these legions engaged a Carthaginian army underHanno. Gracchus issued a decree to his men before the battle -freedom to any soldier bringing back a Carthaginian head. TheRoman attack started well, but as soon as Carthaginians beganto fall, scores of Gracchus's troops broke ranks to decapitatecorpses. Faced with a disintegrating army, Gracchus correctedhis error by amending his decree to "win the battle and secureyour freedom." The slave soldiers quickly reformed and sweptall before them. Interestingly, these soldiers gave their loyalty toGracchus - not Rome. When he was killed a few years later,most of the soldiers in these legions deserted.


War CouncilCarthagian Army• Leader: Hanno• 4 Command Cards

Army: Roman• Leader: Gracchus• 4* Command Cards• Move First

Victory7 Banners

Special RulesThe Calor River is not fordable.

* When the Roman player gains his third victory banner block,he immediately draws two additional command cards. He willhold a hand of 6 command cards for the rest of the battle.

ROMAN

CARTHAGINIAN

Hanno Mago

Gracchus

Calor

Riv

er

A

H M M M WM

M H MC

W L L AL

H M W W M

L L L ELB

M H LC LC

Hanno



CASTULO – 211 BC

Historical BackgroundTime runs out for Publius Scipio. After several years of unbro-ken successes, the Scipio brothers rashly divide their armies todefeat the Carthaginians in detail. As Publius’s army nearsCastulo, he realizes he is facing superior Carthaginian numbersand is in danger of being surrounded. Marching all night, histroops attack a small detachment of 7500 Celt-Iberian warriorsunder Indibilis blocking the Roman line of retreat. They holdlong enough for the Numidian Masinissa and his elite Numidiancavalry to join the fight. Scipio’s army is not strong enough todefeat both forces quickly, and now the Carthaginian armies ofMago and Hasdrubal arrive on the field, surrounding and de-stroying the Roman Army. Publius Scipio is killed in the fight-ing. Shortly thereafter, Publius Scipio’s son comes to Spain, re-builds and retrains the Roman army, and wins the battles ofBaecula and Ilipa, avenging the deaths of his father and uncle.


War CouncilCarthagian Army• Leader: Hasdrubal Gisgo• 5 Command Cards

Roman Army• Leader: Publius Scipio• 5 Command Cards• Move First

Victory8 Banners

Special RulesIf the Roman leader Publius Scipio is lost, Carthage wins at once.

A Roman unit that exits off the Carthaginian side of the battle-field, from a hex in the center section or a hex on the Romanright section, counts as one victory banner. The unit is removedfrom play.

ROMAN

CARTHAGINIANMC H

ALC LC LC

M LS LC

MC L

A

M H

A A

W

W

L MC A M L M L

A M M

W H H

A

MC MC

Masinissa

Mago

Hasdrubal

Scipio

lake trasimenus – 217 bc...opponent in 217 bc was roman consul gaius flaminius, a vain and...

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