Age of Hannibal - Messana 264BC

 'Age of Hannibal' by the guys over at Little Wars TV is a superb game!

I am no ancients expert - indeed, my excitement over ancients is most succinctly exemplified by violent dudes and luscious ladies in the early 00s 'Spartacus' show, and bad experiences with 5th edition WRG and DBA. Anyway - these rules are superb.

I get that an ancients 'expert' will be all over rules mechanisms from WRG 5th and 6th through DBA then DBM etc etc etc...and to the evolution of javelin and kontos and points values of same, as i either fall asleep or drink their wine... 

I could argue that ancients 5th ed WRG was what got me into wargaming in 1980, and similarly what pushed me into other periods VERY quickly because of its lack of cohesion and the actual lack of anything which could be considered enjoyment...however, I digress.

 These rules incorporate a number of design mechanisms from years gone by - that said, they incorporate the Chipco mechanisms from the rules of the same name in the 90s / 00s.

• The morale clock (a d10 as indicator) counts down as your army takes hits over the opponent and vs a threshold number - meaning that units will start to degrade faster, and you will have to assign morale 'hits' as same degrades. Keeping on top of your opponent's actions re. the morale clock is the name of the game, whilst fighting for tactical advantage.
• Combat is beautifully simple (d8s plus mod-  beat for DMZ marker or double etc.), and thereby devastatingly final - command is what you  have to think about.
• The morale clock, as it works downward. thereby controls the number of units you can move - unless you remain cohesive - and in command; combat and hits and general movement and your opponent want to prevent same. 
• Units, based on troop type, also therefore have 'traits' that affect combat, morale, movement through others, rallying etc. It all works well - the main thing being that until you get the hang of your army, there's a lot to forget - show me a set of rules where that does not happen, and this improves with experience of the mechanisms and rules. 

This scenario has one problem however: the allies, Greeks and Carthaginians hate each other, but have decided today to fight their common enemy - the Romans (it's like MSNBC and ABC clubbed together to fight Fox News...but with less violence...).

I played the allies - and my daughter, having taken an interest in ancient history recently - would take the Glory of (early) Rome.

The game is very straightforward - and can be hacked for many ancient/medieval periods with ease. Worth consideration is an R.E.Howard based Hyboria campaign with it. that would be epic, and align with Tony Bath's excellent work in the 1960s in his legendary Hyboria campaign I think...   

The setup for Messana - Hanno with Carthaginians who have deserted the city at top left, Romans outside the city of Messana with enemies on flanks, and Hiero II with the Syracusan army, who have taken a break from bullying the Carthaginians, to fight a common enemy, at bottom right...

The might of Rome (and HAT 20mm plastic, and Airfix 1970s fort, and polystyrene covered in polyfilla...)

Greeks - famous for moral philosophy, democracy, and kebabs.

Appius Claudius finishes his apple

The Greek / Syracusan lines

Early attacks across the river

The Roman reserve

My opponent's nails done this morning - I have been asked to let the internet see this superb nail art...

...if 5 DMZ (demoralizations) or kills happen in the turn (bar skirmishers), then someone will lose on the morale clock - so those 'hits' have to be managed

Carthaginian troops stay silent - for now

Romans cross the river - the reserve and a foray face the Carthaginian forces

First hits on the Carthaginians

Heavy fighting with the skirmishers and Hoplites...

The new nails - and the attack against the Carthaginian elements

Hoplites under pressure...

Romans start to get the better of the Hoplites, who have ...let's say, questionable loyalty to the cause...

...though Carthaginians do not give up easily

The Hoplites are losing steadily...

...though cavalry actions on the flank persist

The Roman reserve - decides that it will take on the Carthaginian force...

...as the Greeks are beaten

...the end of the Syracusan/Greek element

The Roman reserve closes

The Final Battle

In the end, the Romans would defeat the disparate Carthaginian/Syracuse force, which could never seem to consolidate its efforts.

A truly great set of rules; simple, but not simplistic, without all the bullshit which would otherwise convert a game into an exercise in rampant futility. recommended. Game designers who do not want to make money from hardback books full of crap, but who give a shit about how the game plays, could learn a lot from these rules and scenarios.