** This thread discusses the Content article: 002 Crimissos River (341 BC) **

this is the second official map from GMT CCA base game. Coment it freely here and in the forum.

this one is very nice, and also the possibility to see discussions attached to the article.

Eric S. Raymond wrote some comments about this scenario on his webpage. CLICK HERE to read full article.

Syracusan hoplites try to bushwack a larger Carthaginian force as it crosses a river. I think the outcome of this scenario depends a lot on the luck of the Syracusan draw; the first time I played it, I got to play two Line Command cards on the first two turns and the result was a lopsided massacre and rout of the Carthaginians.
The second time I played the Carthaginians. My card luck was good and I managed to execute a successful right-flank attack with my Sacred Band heavies and chariots. This destroyed the Syracusan line, but the Sacred Band was nearly wiped out in the process (down to one block). I have to count that as a Carthaginian tactical victory but (given the scenario conditions) actually a strategic defeat for Carthage.

Solo plays. For these ones, I had been playing with the river rules printed in the rulebook, not the ones updated in the FAQ. As such, holding the river was much easier than it would otherwise be.

Syracuse completely dominated the tempo of this battle. They first turn moved their entire allotment of heavy units Double Time to essentially take control of the river crossing. For the rest of the battle, not a single Carthaginian unit made it across. However, the Carthaginian right flank crushed the opposing cavalry and auxilia. They also managed to severely injure a couple of heavy units, but never managed to eliminate one (even when they only had a single block). Syracusan ranged attacks also proved effective in keeping units away from the river crossing.

Syracuse 5 - Carthage 3

Syracuse again had the advantage with a Heavy Unit order that pushed the center phalanx forward. The strategy was similar with them trying to hold the river to prevent crossings. Carthage did not want a repeat of last time so moved the heavy infantry and Sacred Band against the Syracusan phalanx. The initial impact seemed like it might provide the breakthrough needed to get across the river, but the line held and destroyed both the heavy infantry and the Sacred Band. From this point Syracuse used its light ranged fire to pepper the units cross the river to achieve victory. It would take a very aggressive maneuver as well as some luck to get units across the river. Of course in these two plays, Syracuse happened to have orders to quickly push the phalanx forward and shutdown the river (5 dice against 2 is a major imbalance.)

Syracuse 5 - Carthage 2

A surprise (and lucky) win for the Carthaginians, when the succeeded in taking out the Syracusan medium cavalry and auxilia on the left flank and two of the heavy infantry and Mamercus in the center - mostly with Hasdrubal's units and some ranged help from the lights while all the medium units sat on the wrong side of the river and watched. But the Carthaginians lost every heavy unit they had winning.