Introducing Tim to Hail Caesar

I managed to give Tim his first go at Hail Caesar yesterday evening. I put together a couple of small (about 320pt) forces based upon the figured I have, I could do with a few more Romans, maybe another box of the Victrix ones would be in order later in the year.

Carthaginians

General (Leadership 9)

Unit	Combat				Morale Save	Stamina	Special
	Clash	Sustained	Short Range	Long Range
Libyan heavy infantry with long spears	7	7	3/0	0	4+	6
Libyan heavy infantry with long spears	7	7	3/0	0	4+	6
Spanish Scutarii medium infantry armed with Pila	6	6	3	0	5+	6
Spanish Scutarii medium infantry armed with Pila	6	6	3	0	5+	6
Spanish Scutarii medium infantry armed with pila	6	6	3	0	5+	6
Spanish Caetrati light infantry armed with javelins	3	3	2	0	-	4
Numidian light cavalry armed with javelins	5	3	2	0	6+	4	Feigned flight
Numidian light cavalry armed with javelins	5	3	2	0	6+	4	Feigned flight
Elephants with javelin armed crew	4	3	1	0	4+	6	Elephant

General (Leadership 8)

Unit	Combat				Morale Save	Stamina	Special
	Clash	Sustained	Short Range	Long Range
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium cavalry armed with swords and javelins	8	5	3	0	5+	6	Tough fighters
Gallic skirmishers armed with javelins	3	2	2	0	-	4
Gallic skirmishers armed with slings	2	2	2	2	-	4

Republican Romans

General (Leadership 9)

Unit	Combat				Morale Save	Stamina	Special
	Clash	Sustained	Short Range	Long Range
Hastati heavy infantry armed with pila (small unit)	5	5	2	0	4+	4	Drilled
Hastati heavy infantry armed with pila (small unit)	5	5	2	0	4+	4	Drilled
Principes heavy infantry armed with pila (small unit)	5	5	2	0	4+	4	Drilled
Principes heavy infantry armed with pila (small unit)	5	5	2	0	4+	4	Drilled
Triarii heavy infantry armed with long spears (small unit)	5	5	2	0	4+	4	Drilled, Elite, Stubborn
Velites light infantry armed with javelins	3	3	2	0	6+	4	Tough fighters
Velites light infantry armed with javelins	3	3	2	0	6+	4	Tough fighters
Numidian light cavalry armed with javelins	5	3	2	0	6+	4	Feigned flight

General (Leadership 8)

Unit	Combat				Morale Save	Stamina	Special
	Clash	Sustained	Short Range	Long Range
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium infantry warband armed with swords and javelins	9	6	2	0	5+	6	Wild fighters
Gallic medium cavalry armed with swords and javelins	8	5	3	0	5+	6	Tough fighters
Gallic skirmishers armed with javelins	3	2	2	0	-	4
Gallic skirmishers armed with slings	2	2	2	2	-	4

I gave Tim the choice of forces, he picked the Carthaginians and after a brief overview we set to.

Both forces attempted to advance on each other, but my second roll of the game allowed me to demonstrate the blunder rules and my Gallic contingent retired in the face of the enemy!

Both forces eventually closed on each other, the two contingents of Gauls getting to blows first. The Carthaginains Gauls were surely better paid and more motivated as my chaps got a bruising, although we soon stabilised that flank.

The two solid lines of infantry faced off in the centre and the Romans made the first move, most of the combats were going my way, but being small units the casualties began to tell. Eventually, I had destroyed one of the African Spear units and the Elephant and were pushing the Spanish from the field. Hannibal had even been unhorsed.

Things were going well for my Gauls too, eventually having held the line they counter punched and broke the Gauls in Carthaginian pay.

In the main slog my units were now almost all shaken and the Numidians and Velites defending the flanks had collapsed. With the return of the Spanish to the fray and a timely set of flank and rear charges the Roman centre collapsed and the game was over.

Ouch!

The figures and terrain are all from my collection and were painted by myself. They are mainly Gripping Beast, Warlord Games and Victrix with a few models from other ranges thrown in.