Zama 202 BC

Carthaginians vs Romans

Historical Background
Carthage is on the verge of defeat. Spain has been lost. Scipio has landed in Africa and beaten a large, but inexperienced, Carthaginian army at the Battle of the Great Plains, and Masinissa with his vaunted Numidian light horse has gone over to the Roman side. Hannibal is recalled from Italy, and hurriedly builds an army around the veterans he has brought with him. He creates a corps of war elephants and fields more infantry than does Scipio, but ironically, his cavalry is far weaker and less capable. When the armies meet on the plains of Zama, Hannibal knows his cavalry on the flanks will be beaten, but stakes all on crushing the Roman center with his elephants and infantry before the victorious Roman and Numidian cavalry return from pursuing the Carthaginian horse. Scipio, knowing he is outnumbered, masses his legions in the center and fully intends for Masinissa and the cavalry to complete the encirclement and win the battle. As the battle gets underway, both plans are working. The Carthaginian cavalry is driven quickly from the field while the Romans are hard pressed to keep their lines intact against the Carthaginian infantry. The flexible legions prove their worth as reserve lines move quickly to secure flanks or bolster the center. In the end, however, Scipio’s plan prevails. The Roman and Numidian cavalry return, the Carthaginian army is surrounded, and the valiant infantry is destroyed. Scipio had perfected a better tactical system, and that system won at Zama over the legendary Hannibal. The rigid, but powerful, phalanx – dominant for so long, had been beaten by the flexibility of Scipio’s legions combined with cavalry. The baton of military supremacy had passed to Rome.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history.

War Council

Army: Carthagian
Leader: Hannibal
5 Command Cards

Army: Roman
Leader: Scipio
5 Command Cards
Move First

Victory
8 Banners

Tags: Banners: 8 Army: Carthaginian Army: Roman Leader: Hannibal Leader: Scipio Terrain: plain Special Rule: No Special Rule Game Box: Base Game

Last Updated on Monday, 12 July 2010 15:52

Discuss (3 posts)

Anduril

015 Zama (202 BC)
Jan 31 2011 02:00:13

This was the first scenario I've played that the elephants proved their worth, rather than being easy flags for the Romans. Carthage threw its right flank forward and the elephants at the right of the Roman center while skirmishing on the left with its light cavalry. By the time the last elephant was finished off, the Roman left had ceased to exist along with much of the center.

Carthage 8, Rome 4

For where things would have gone from there, it would have still most likely resulted in an eventual Roman victory. With the Carthaginian cavalry hammered into uselessness and the Roman light cavalry intact and the two sides' light foot on equal footing, the surviving Roman units would have been able to withdraw from the field intact. The two armies are now about the same size, so the Romans would have been able to either move forward to challenge Hannibal again or (more likely) wait for more troops from Italy.

#1043

apergis1@verizon.net

015 Zama (202 BC)
Nov 01 2009 02:51:15

Zama is the most popular scenario with my regular gaming accomplice. We have played it at least 100 times.
We feel that there is a slight edge with the Romans. They win about 55% of the time.
We feel that the key for a Carthaginian victory is how they employ their elephants. An all out assult by the elephants rarely works. The most popular tactic we like to use is for the Cartheginians to use their light infantry to screen the elephants. In spite of the rampage factor, we find that the elephants are most effective when used in coordination with other units. Other units are used to weaken an enemy unit and the elephant finishes them off.
One of the most effective opening moves for the Romans is to move up light units and fire on the elephants. Considering the starting formation of the Carthaginians, a few rampage result can cause alot of damage.

#655

badweasel

015 Zama (202 BC)
Nov 13 2008 02:32:59

Solo Play:

Rome started aggressive with a Line Command. From their opening hand, they should be able to quickly overwhelm the Carthaginian center. Unfortunately, the elephants had other plans. The elephants punched through the Roman center, scattering units and wreaking destruction. After the confusion subsided, Rome rallied and cut the elephants down. This was pretty much the end of Carthage's good times for the battle. Despite having a high level of mobility, they could not inflict damage and mainly caused retreats. Rome slowly advanced their units, constantly using harassing fire to weaken the Carthaginian line. Scipio himself led the legion's charge, granted he was with a reserve heavy unit, but he definitely dominated the Carthaginian infantry.

Rome 8 - Carthage 4

The battle opened solidly in the Romans favor. By the end of the second turn they were up 3 banner to zero. This was thanks to a well executed cavalry charge that eliminated two elephant units and the Carthaginian medium cavalry. After this, Carthage decided they needed to aggressively push forward to get into battle and not let the Roman cavalry pick them apart. The remaining elephant unit smashed through the Roman line earning 3 banners before being eliminated. After this, Carthage's heavy units connected with the Roman troops and began smashing them to pieces. Rome repulsed the attack but was severely bloodied and so unprepared for the warrior charge that cut through their left flank. Despite the three banner margin, Rome did not do that poorly and was a couple block away from seven banners.

Carthage 8 - Rome 5

#393

Discuss this item on the forums. (3 posts)

Visitors

Zama 202 BC

Carthaginians vs Romans

War Council

Other battles in Second Punic War (218-202 BC)