Cynocephalae
Scenario Cynocephalae 197 BC
"The Dogs Head"
Phalanx vs Legionaires
The Background
After the final
defeat of Carthage in the Second Punic War at Zama, Rome began to find itself
drawn into the internal politics of Greece. Philip V
of Macedon had been an ally
of Hannibal and despite having done little to help his ally during the war there
was a sour feeling in Rome towards those who aided their enemies.
Despite the war-weariness of the Senate and the people of Rome, Titus Quinctius
Flamininus managed to get senatorial authority to wage war in Greece. He then
invaded Thessaly in 200 B.C. with two legions, including the Cannae legions who
had not seen their homes for over 14 years. Philip mobilised his forces and a
series of indecisive manoeuvres followed.
Finally, the two armies ended up camped on opposite sides of a series of rocky
ridges with hillocks named Cynocephalae or "Dogs Heads" for their appearance.
The exact location of the battle somewhat disputed but in any case the battle
was fought on the Cynoscephale ridge itself, so terrain was certainly a factor.
Philip placed light troops on top of the ridge although he was as yet unaware of
the proximity of the Roman forces. The Romans sent out velites and cavalry to
recap the slopes and a combat began. Skirmishers from both sides met. Philip's
forces were initially prevailing and the Romans were driven off the slopes
until Roman reinforcements arrived and pushed the Macedonians back. Philip's
cavalry then arrived and turned things again, but the Romans were able to make
an orderly retreat under the cover of the Aetolian cavalry, and once at a safe
distance turn and hold their ground.
As the mist began to clear both armies marched out to do battle. The scene was
set for a battle pitting two fundamentally different theories of ancient warfare
-- phalanx vs. legion. The result of this battle would be decisive. It is a rare
example of a true encounter battle. Philip was not happy about fighting with his
phalanx on such difficult terrain, but was inspired by the reports that the
Roman skirmishers had been driven back, sees an opportunity to defeat the Romans
while they are dealing with this setback. Philip marched half his phalanx, with
Thracian light-armed troops, up to the summit and deployed them on his left.
The Roman forces managed to fully deploy albeit down the slope from the
advancing Macedonians. Philip had deployed his left wing while his other wing
trailed behind in order of march. Realising that his right wing was dangerously
exposed, Philip ordered his left wing phalanx to lower their spears and attack.
They drove the Roman right wing down the slope in disarray. Flamininus in
response orders his right to hold their ground, and leads his left (4,200
infantry plus allied support) to relieve his light troops near the summit. The
Roman left wing had attacked the disorganised Macedonian right wing and broken
it.
Roman troops force back the Macedonian light infantry, and the light infantry on
both sides retires Philip puts his phalanx and light-armed troops in
double-depth, thus halving his front to leave room for his left wing to move up
the pass in column Philip's right charges downhill on the Romans, and begin to
force them back
But while his left wing is still deploying across the ridge, Flamininus orders
his right wing, with the elephants, to attack the Macedonian left, still in
echeloned formation as it deploys, is easily pushed back by the Romans and their
elephants But the Roman left is still in trouble.
At this decisive moment, when victory hung in the balance, a Tribune in the
advancing Roman left wing realised the dire position in which the Roman right
wing stood, and detached 20 maniples (probably the reserve Triarii) from the
left wing to attack the victorious Macedonian phalanx in the rear (since it had
already moved farther forward than the right). This broke the Macedonian left
and completed the Roman victory. There is great slaughter of the exposed
Macedonian phalanx.
Results of the battle: The Macedonians in retreat raised their pikes as a symbol
of surrender, but the Romans didn't understand the signal 7-8,000 Macedonians
killed, 4-5,000 captured c. 1,000 Romans killed
The inability of the Macedonian phalanx to deal with an attack on its rear
reflects the trend in the years since Alexander toward a heavier-armed
phalangite, with less flexibility than it had had when developed by Philip II;
and the consistent development of the Roman maniple toward flexibility
Philip's influence in Greece proper was broken, and he was essentially confined
within Macedonia. Flamininus conducted some mopping-up campaigns after
Cynoscephalae to push back Macedonian influence. In 196, Flamininus proclaimed
at the Isthmian games that the cities of Greece were to be free, with no
garrisons and no Roman control, and Flamininus was hailed as the liberator of
Greece.
The
opposing
Armies
The Romans had
8,400 of their own infantry and 10,000 Italian allies; 4,000 phalangites and
2,000 peltasts from the Aetolian league; a total of some 2,600 cavalry
(including 400 Aetolian); and around 20 elephants. Philip had 16,000 phalangites,
1,500 mercenaries, 4,000 peltasts, 2,000 light armed Thracians and 2,000
Illyrians, and about 2,000 cavalry total.
Because the
amount of heavy infantry, light infantry and cavalry on both sides are about the
same, this battle makes a very good wargame scenario to play.
The Generals
Titus
Quinctius Flamininus (227-174BC)
During the Second Punic War (218-201) he was military tribune under Marcus
Claudius Marcellus (208) and propraetor extra ordinem at Tarentum (205-204).
As consul in 198 he sought to win Greek support for Rome's struggle against
Philip V of Macedonia (Second Macedonian War, 200-196). Arriving in Greece, he
realized that future peace depended on breaking Philip's power, not merely
humbling him. He secured the backing of the Achaean League and then opened peace
negotiations with Philip at Nicaea in Locris. Though proposals were submitted to
the Senate, the talks broke down, and fighting resumed until Flamininus' victory
at Cynoscephalae (197). The peace terms proposed by the general and adopted by
the Senate specified that Philip could retain his throne but must abandon all
his dependencies outside Macedonia.
At the Isthmian Games at Corinth in 196, Flamininus proclaimed that all Greeks
in Europe and Asia were to be free and governed by their own laws. For this deed
he was hailed in many Greek cities as a saviour and accorded homage alongside
the gods. After checking the ambitions of the Spartan tyrant Nabis, the Roman
forces finally withdrew from Greece in 194.
In 193, Flamininus supported the Roman championship of Greek autonomy in Asia
Minor. He attempted to rally the Greeks against the Seleucid king Antiochus III,
and to counter the pro-Seleucid policy of the Aetolians. When the Aetolians
called on Antiochus for aid, Flamininus persuaded the Achaean League to declare
war on both parties. After the defeat of Antiochus by a Roman army at
Thermopylae (191), Flamininus helped to re-establish peace in Greece.
In 189 he served as censor, and in 183 he was sent to Prusias, king of Bithynia,
to demand the surrender of the Carthaginian general Hannibal. He convinced
Prusias to deliver Hannibal to him - the latter preferred poison.
Philip
V of Macedonia (238-179 BC)
Philip V was one of the last great Macedonian sovereigns ruling from 221 to 179,
whose attempt to extend Macedonian influence throughout Greece resulted in his
defeat by Rome.
The son of Demetrius II and his wife Phthia (Chryseis), the young prince was
adopted, after his father's death in 229, by his half-cousin Antigonus Doson,
who took the throne. Philip succeeded upon Antigonus' death (summer 221). On his
accession he was only 17 years old and Doson had taken care to organise around
him a regency council. But Philip did no delay in getting rid of this council:
he re-inforced the absolute monarchy, deliberately turning his back on the
direction chosen by his predecessor. He soon won renown by supporting the
Hellenic League in its war against Sparta, Aetolia, and Elis (220-217).
In 217 he concluded at Naupacte a treaty with the Aeolians, who had recommenced
hostilities on the death of Doson. This left him free to act in the west.
After the defeat of the Romans at Cannae, he concluded a treaty with Hannibal in
215. This did not translate into any effective assistance on the part of
Carthage, but Philip carried out a number of doversionary attacks in the
Adriatic and on the frontiers of Illyria - operations that did not really
compromise the Roman positions.
In 215 Philip, allied with Hannibal, attacked the Roman client states in Illyria
and initiated 10 years of inconclusive warfare against Rome (First Macedonian
War). The Romans countered his moves by an alliance with the Greek cities of the
Aetolian League, but Philip effectively aided his allies. When the Romans
withdrew in 207, he forced an independent settlement upon Aetolia (206) and
concluded the war with Rome on favourable terms (Peace of Phoenice, 205).
Philip then turned to the east. He plotted against Rhodes and in 203-202
conspired with Antiochus III of Syria to plunder the possessions of the Egyptian
king Ptolemy V. But the people of Rhodes and Pergamum defeated Philip at sea off
Chios (201) and so exaggerated reports of his aggression that Rome decided to
declare war (Second Macedonian War).
The Roman campaigns in Macedonia (199) and Thessaly (198) shook Philip's
position in Greece, and in 197 the Romans decisively defeated him at
Cynoscephalae in Thessaly.
The terms of the peace confined Philip to Macedonia; he had to surrender 1,000
talents indemnity and most of his fleet and deposit hostages, including his
younger son, Demetrius, at Rome. Until 189 Philip aided Rome against her enemies
on the Greek peninsula. As a reward his tribute was remitted and his son
restored (190).
Philip devoted the last decade of his life to consolidating his kingdom. He
reorganized finances, transplanted populations, reopened mines, and issued
central and local currencies. Neighbouring states constantly and successfully
accused him at Rome, however. Becoming convinced that Rome intended to destroy
him, he extended his authority into the Balkans in three campaigns (184, 183,
181). In 179, while pursuing a scheme for directing the Bastarnae against the
Dardanians, Philip died. He had been a fine soldier and a popular king whose
plans for expansion lacked consistent aims and achieved only temporary success.
The Battleground
Considering that
the main strike force of both sides was close order infantry, they couldn’t have
chosen a worse place to fight! The main battle took place across a ridge of broken terrain that interfered with
the order of both sides’ main bodies.
The tabletop should therefore be dominated by a triple peaked ridge surrounded
by open terrain (See MAP 1).
The table should be 100" by 50" at least.
The hills are treated as normal terrain for movement purposes. The 2 top levels of the hills on the left, however, are difficult terrain. But the top on the right is considered normal terrain.
In relation to combat results the side on the higher part of the hill will get a +1 combat result. If both sides of a combat fully occupy the same height, then both receive the +1 combat bonus.
A unit on clear
ground fighting a unit in that is located within difficult terrain will only
lose any rank bonus if models in the unit are in direct contact with enemy
models located in the difficult terrain.
The Deployment
Every player places a unit alternate beginning with
the Macedonians.
Macedonians
-
Half the Phalanx is placed in each dark blue box.
-
The light troops and all cavalry are placed in the light blue box.
-
Philip is placed in the advanced dark blue box. Nicanor is placed in the backward dark blue box.
-
The Thracians are also in the advanced box.
Romans
& Aetolians
-
The 2 legions are each placed in one of the dark red boxes.
-
The Italian allies may be placed in any or all of the red boxes.
-
The Aetolian allies are placed in the right light red box.
-
The elephants are placed on the right flank.
-
The light troops may be placed in any or all of the red boxes.
-
The cavalry is placed in the light red boxes.
-
Flaminius is placed in one of the dark red boxes. Phaeneas is placed with the Aetolians.
Map 1
(Each square measures 15"x15")
Characters are deployed last. Skirmishers may not make an extra 4" move before the game starts.
The Start
Philip formed half his phalanx and the Thracians in a line across the crest of
the central peak, and sent his lights, with the cavalry protecting their flanks,
forward to skirmish. The rest of his troops were still emerging from
the Macedonian camp.
The Romans get the first turn.
The battle lasts 8 rounds.
Special Rules
|
 |
The Macedonian Army
This army is taken from the AoA Alexander and his
successors list (about 4000 points).
Every model you will use represents 100 men.
Thracians are
known to have shields, romphaia and javelins around this period. The Phalanx
used to have around 25% elite phalanx. I represented this by making one unit
Royal guard and two units veterans. There is a discussion whether the peltasts
were really peltasts or a title for special formations. I presumed that the
phalanx mentioned would include special phalanx peltasts, and that these
peltasts were light troops. It is said that some of the mercenaries were Cretan
archers, so I divided the mercenaries into to equally large units. At the time
of Philip V the Macedonian cavalry seemed to have reverted back to using
throwing spears and javelins instead of kontos, probably due to the use of shields. A wedge
formation does not seem appropriate anymore, instead I gave the cavalry a light
cavalry option (the Macedonians were shocked to receive a charge in formation by
the Roman cavalry, so it is valid to think that they were in a more loose
formation themselves).
| ## | Mv | WS | BS | St | To | Wo | In | At | Ld | Sv | |
| Advanced Flank | |||||||||||
| Philip V of Macedonia | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Army General; Any unit within 12" of the General may use his Leadership when it takes a Leadership test; Must always test before other units in army; Light Armor; Shield | |||||||||||
| Thracians | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3/4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Rhomphaia; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Thracians | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3/4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Rhomphaia; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Backward Flank | |||||||||||
| 2nd Commander Nicanor | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Light Armor; Shield; sub general (use his LD within 12" for all troops) | |||||||||||
| Command | |||||||||||
| Army Battle Standard | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Battle Standard; Unit accompanied gains +1 Combat Result; Any unit within 12" may re-roll any failed Break tests; Light Armor; Shield | |||||||||||
| 3rd Commander | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Light Armor; Shield | |||||||||||
| Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Royal Guard Phalanx | 20 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx; Stubborn | |||||||||||
| Veteran Phalanx | 24 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx; Stubborn | |||||||||||
| Regular Phalanx | 24 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Regular Phalanx | 24 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Regular Phalanx | 24 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Regular Phalanx | 24 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Regular Phalanx | 24 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Light Troops | |||||||||||
| Peltasts | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Peltasts | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Galatians | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish; warband | |||||||||||
| Illyrians | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Mercenary Skirmishers | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Cretans | 8 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | X |
| Leader; Shortbow; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Celts (Galatians) | 20 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | X |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Javelin; Shield; Warband | |||||||||||
| Cavalry | |||||||||||
| Macedonian Cavalry | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; throwing spears & Javelins; Light Armor; Shield; Stubborn; Light Cavalry | |||||||||||
| Thessalian Cavalry | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; throwing spears & Javelins; Light Armor; Shield; Light Cavalry | |||||||||||
| Caltic (Galatian) Cavalry | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; throwing spear & Shield; Light Cavalry; Warband | |||||||||||
The characters will have the same weapons as the troops they fight with..
The Roman Army
This army is taken from the Republican Romans list
(about 4000 points).
The Republican
Roman Cohort consisted of one manipel of 120 velites, being the poorest Romans,
one manipel of 120 hastati, one manipel of 120 principes and one manipel of 60
triarii. To represent this, I choose to let each legion consist out of 12
hastati, 12 principes and 8 triarii. You may combine the triarii of 2 legions
into one unit, because that plays better in warhammer. The hastati and principes
used pilums, the hastati being the younger and poorer of the two, so that they
usually fought without armour. The triarii still used thrusting spears. The
velites are also equipped with a throwing spear. This gives them an advantage
fighting other skirmishers. Of the
Latin legions it is assumed that they were equipped the same as the Roman
legions. I choose to give them more hastati and principes to represent them
having some 1600 more men.
Click here to see pictures of my Roman Republican army
| ## | Mv | WS | BS | St | To | Wo | In | At | Ld | Sv | |
| Command | |||||||||||
| Flaminius | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
| Army General; Any unit within 12" of the General may use his Leadership when it takes a Leadership test; Must always test before other units in army; Light Armor; Shield; Drilled | |||||||||||
| Army Battle Standard | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Battle Standard; Unit accompanied gains +1 Combat Result; Any unit within 12" may re-roll any failed Break tests; Light Armor; Shield; Drilled | |||||||||||
| 2nd Commander | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Light Armor; Shield; Drilled | |||||||||||
| 3rd Commander | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Light Armor; Shield; Drilled | |||||||||||
| Cavalry | |||||||||||
| Roman Cavalry | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Throwing Spear; Shield | |||||||||||
| Italian Cavalry | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Throwing Spear; Shield | |||||||||||
| Italian Cavalry | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Throwing Spear; Shield | |||||||||||
| Legion I | |||||||||||
| Velites | 12 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Throwing Spear; Javelin; Shield; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Hastati | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Large Shield; Light armor; Drilled; Manipular Formation; | |||||||||||
| Veteran Principes | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Light Armor; Large Shield; Drilled; Manipular Formation; Stubborn | |||||||||||
| Legion II | |||||||||||
| Velites | 12 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Throwing Spear; Javelin; Shield; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Hastati | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Large Shield; Light armor; Drilled; Manipular Formation; | |||||||||||
| Veteran Principes | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Light Armor; Large Shield; Drilled; Manipular Formation; Stubborn | |||||||||||
| Triarii Belonging to both legion I & II May be fielded as 2 units of 6 or as 1 unit of 12 |
6/12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Thrusting Spear; Light Armor; Large Shield; Drilled; Manipular Formation; Stubborn | |||||||||||
| Latin allied Legion I | |||||||||||
| Velites | 12 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Throwing Spear; Javelin; Shield; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Hastati | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Large Shield; Light armor; Drilled; Manipular Formation; | |||||||||||
| Principes | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Large Shield; Light armor; Drilled; Manipular Formation; | |||||||||||
| Latin allied Legion II | |||||||||||
| Velites | 12 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Throwing Spear; Javelin; Shield; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Hastati | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Large Shield; Light armor; Drilled; Manipular Formation; | |||||||||||
| Principes | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pilum (Hvy Throw Spr); Large Shield; Light Armor; Drilled; Manipular Formation; | |||||||||||
| Triarii Belonging to both allied legion I & allied legion II May be fielded as 2 units of 6 or as 1 unit of 12 |
6/12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Thrusting Spear; Light Armor; Large Shield; Drilled; Manipular Formation; Stubborn | |||||||||||
The characters will have the same weapons as the troops they fight with.
The
Aetolian Allies
This army is taken from the
Alexander and his successors list.
The Aetolian
Phalanx must have been not unlike the Macedonian phalanx, but many suggest that
the Greeks have used spears instead of pikes for a long time.
The Greek cavalry seemed to have continued to use javelins instead of kontos.
The elephants used by the Aetolians were African. They probably used a howdah,
giving the crew a total save of 3+.
| ## | Mv | WS | BS | St | To | Wo | In | At | Ld | Sv | |
| Command | |||||||||||
| Commander Phaeneas | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Light Armor; Shield; sub general (use his LD within 12" for all Aetolian troops) | |||||||||||
| Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Aetolian Phalanx | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike or Thrusting spear; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Aetolian Phalanx | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Pike or Thrusting spear; Light Armor; Shield; Phalanx | |||||||||||
| Light troops | |||||||||||
| Peltasts | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Peltasts | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Peltasts | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Peltasts | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Leader; Javelin; Shield; Light Troops; Skirmish | |||||||||||
| Cavalry & Elephants | |||||||||||
| Aetolian Cavalry | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Leader; Standard; Musician; Spear & Javelins; Light Armor; Shield | |||||||||||
| African Elephant | 1 | 6 | 4 | - | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | X/4 |
| Elephant; Fear; Terror | |||||||||||
| Crew | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Pike; Javelin; Light Armor; Shield | |||||||||||
| Mahout | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | X |
| African Elephant | 1 | 6 | 4 | - | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | X/4 |
| Elephant; Fear; Terror | |||||||||||
| Crew | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Pike; Javelin; Light Armor; Shield | |||||||||||
| Mahout | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | X |
The sub general will have the same weapons as the troops he fights with.
The Theoretical Tactics
The
Macedonians must quickly form into a battle line to prevent the historical
opportunity for the Romans to get into the gap between the two halves of the
phalanx. The advanced phalanx has little room to deploy; on both sides resides
difficult terrain. Retracting the advanced phalanx will give the enemy a higher ground
bonus and may be disastrous if not completed in time. but getting the backward
phalanx in place in time will also be very difficult. Look out for the terror
causing elephants when deploying your cavalry.
The Romans must get between the two halves of the phalanx. They can try to finish off the deploying part of the enemy before concentrating on the other wing, or can concentrate all their power on the nearest Macedonian wing. But look out, don't do things at any cost. The phalanx may grind you before you finish the manoeuvres. Use your elephants wisely.
Learn more about the Roman Tactical Checkerboard Formation here.
The Practical Tactics
See how things worked out when we played this scenario here.
The Checkerboard Formation
Learn more about the Roman Tactical Formations here.
Let me know what you think of this scenario. I am eager to learn!
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