"Money, money, money!" - Campaign game vs Sean's Greeks

Malchus' Carthaginians face off against Sean;'s Greek mercenaries.

Tonight, Sean and I played another Clash of Spears game as part of our ongoing campaign in Sicily during the First Punic War. It was the second battle of the month for each of us, and so counted as a "pressed" battle, meaning rewards and assets would be hard to come by...

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Malchus sat on the stool in his camp tent and stared at the bedraggled figure before him. The scrawny, mostly bald, seer wore a threadbare robe covered in blood, and stank of sweat and offal.

“Well,” Malchus asked, “what do the gods say? Will our raid of the farm be successful?”

“Oh, mighty one, favored of Rasap. I see blood, I see violence and rage. I see death!” The final word rattled as it left his throat.

“Hmmm,” Malchus said in a low voice. “I am a man of war and you prophecy death and violence in my future?”

Noticing the warning sign, the augur stammered. “Ye-ee-es, my lord.”

“Do you take me for an idiot, you charlatan?” he roared.

“Ye-es, my lord, ummm, no, I mean no-oo my lord.”

“Very well,” the warlord sighed, “wait outside and my aide will see to your payment.”

As the little man scuttled out of the tent, Malchus called for his assistant. “Bostar! Get in here!”

The tent flap opened again immediately and Bostar appeared. He knew better than to delay when Malchus was in a mood.

“Sir.”

“Take the ‘seer’ to the center of the camp and crucify him. He’s a fraud.”

“It will be done.” Bostar saluted and exited the tent. Of course he’s a liar, he thought. They all are. No one can tell what the gods will do except the gods themselves. To believe otherwise is madness.

A short while later, as the screams from the dying prophet filtered through the tent, Malchus smiled for the first time that day.

(Initial deployment marker final locations.)

The scouts had been correct. The farmer had confirmed to them, under persuasion, that the family idols were hidden in one of three locations on the property. Unfortunately, Malchus’s troops weren’t the only ones looking for it.

(Javelin men advance to the woods.)

(Initial unit placement - start of turn 1.)

Across the field, coming around from behind the farmhouse, he could see the thrice-damned Greeks advancing. By Tanit, he hated the Greeks. It seemed that was all there was to fight on this accursed island.

(Greeks everywhere!)

He ordered his spearmen to advance in the center, and they did so in perfect order. On the left, the Libyan tribesmen scampered into the marsh, while on the right the Punic citizens move forward cautiously.

(If only they had fought as good as they look.)

(I think I still haven't learned how to use these guys - so far their points have been kind of wasted.)

Meanwhile, he could see the Greek slingers digging in one of the possible locations. From the yells of consternation, he could tell they had found nothing of value. Only two possibilities left.

(Greek slinger started right next to one of the objective markers.)

(Unit positions - start of turn 2.)

(Javelin men move into the marsh to support the spearmen.)

(The Greek line is more spread out.)

His spearmen quickly advanced to the central hiding place, a shallow hole beneath a small flagstone. Yes, he could hear them cheer, they had secured the treasure.

By Rasap, they were blessed today, that misbegotten little lying seer be damned.

And that’s when things started to go very wrong…

(Hoplites and spearmen clash in the center.)

(Spearmen fall back after barely losing the combat.)

(Battlefield overview - turn 2.)

The spearmen suffered the charge of not one, but two units of their Greek counterparts and held. But the third charge broke them.

(Bostar orders the spearmen to hold!)

(The spearmen are charged in the flank.)

(Their formation is broken and they fall back!)

(The spearmen are attacked again, and this time the unit is destroyed.)

Though they dropped the leather bag containing the idols, Bostar was able to pick it up and he started to head back toward their own lines.

(Bostar has gotten the bag and heads for home!)

(Rumblin', stumblin', bumblin' - Bostar could go - all - the - way!)

Perhaps, thought Malchus, they might still have a chance.

(Unit positions - start of turn 4.)

(The hoplites have smashed the Libyan tribesmen.) 

Seeing their valuable treasure getting further away, the money-mad Greek mercenaries went into a rage.

Their spearmen finished off the second unit of Libyans, while the other charged the tribesmen. The wild-eyed savages held their ground and flung their javelins at the onrushing Greeks! What by Baal’s hairy arse, were they thinking?

They must have been consumed with madness to not just flee the more heavily armored troops. One of the Greeks stumbled and fell as the javelins hit home. But it was not nearly enough. The hoplites swept the tribesmen away like chaff before a storm.

At that point, it was clear the engagement was lost.

(Bostar was only 4" from the edge when the Carthaginians broke, So close!)

As he fled the field with his surviving troops, Malchus couldn’t help but wonder. Maybe that weird little seer had been telling the truth after all.

It was too late to worry about that now. No, now he had to find another soothsayer. Another honest one. That would not be easy…

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Sean earned a major victory - meaning that he did earn some rewards and experience. I was lucky not to lose any. I need to re-think my strategy, in particular how to use the Punic citizens.

'Til next time!

(Just a detail photo of some of Sean's beautiful brushwork on the shields - each one is a masterpiece!)