Akragas 406 BC

When I first bought this game I played this scenario alot solitaire, and the Syracusans always won. I finally worked out the best tactic for the Carthaginians is to run their left wing units across to and mostly behind their right wing. You then fight the main battle with your best troops i.e the mediums and heavy supported by Auxillia. The chariots and light cavaly with a leader can be quite devastating if used at the right moment, especially with a mounted charge.

I just got the game about one month ago. We had three different players try it out. We all could win as Syracusan, but not Carthage. It did seem to level out our abilities.

Our group played this three times today, each time with a Syracusan win. The Carthaginians can use their missle troops, but once the heavies get into battle they will carve up the Carthaginians easily.

The left flank of the Carthaginians is particularly weak. In all three games it collapsed. We considered a balance provision that would give the Cathaginians an extra unit (perhaps a light infantry or auxilary infantry) on that flank.

Still, it is a fun scenario and we all had a good time. There was no "walkover" 2 x 5-3 wins and 1 5-4 win.

Solo plays:

Carthage won this battle through the skilled use of ranged combat. Before the initial contact between the two groups of infantry, the Carthaginian light units peppered the Syracusan line managing to eliminate a heavy unit and severely damage another unit. The Syracusans were only able to get three full strength units in to combat. This should have been enough to crush the weaker Carthaginian army, but unfortunately it was not to be. The Carthaginian line held and then began to cut through the enemy ranks. It was a pretty lopsided battle due to the effectiveness of the Carthaginian harassment strategy.

Carthage 5 - Syracuse 0

The Carthaginian range attack this time was much more ineffective. The Syracusan line was able to advance with no casualties and then proceeded to crush Carthage's center. Near the end there was a chance for Carthage to turn the battle the other way, but they were unable to eliminate two heavy units instead damaging them and forcing them to retreat into protection. The MVP has to go to Daphnaeus, who led his heavy unit to smash through the Carthaginian line eliminating a whopping four units throughout the game! To win this one, I think Syracuse has to very aggressively advance their line to get their heavy units into combat.

Syracuse 5 - Carthage 2

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

This first scenario is a fairly straightforward power-vs.-maneuverability confrontation. If the Syracusan general can bring his heavy infantry to bear squarely against the opposing line, he will win. The Carthaginian must maneuver and hope to pick off five Syracusan light units before that happens.
I think the advantage is slightly with the Syracusans in this senario. Their missile troops have better range, which tends to prevent the Carthaginian skirmishers from doing much to disrupt the Syracusan heavies. And the only real mobile striking force Carthage has is the chariot and light-cavalry pair on his extreme left; a flank attack against the Syracusan right is thus about the only way Carthage has to secure the initiative. If that fails and the Syracusan makes no large exploitable errors afterward, he's got a lock.

This scenario could be rebalanced by giving the Carthaginians 6command cards rather than 5.