Scipio is in essence on the run to his brother Gneaus’s camp. Having been ambushed, bushwhacked and generally run into by Carthaginians over the years he is ready to see the campfires of his brother!

Indeed the wound in his thigh from when his son saved him at the Battle of the The Ticinus River still aches on cold days no doubt.

He is trying to avoid a rather large but not heavy interception force just outside of Gnaeus’s camp. This is a small scenario and I have made a stop motion video of it so you can see nearly every move.

Using SGBoH rules we have an opportunity to move TR/PR & HA in one turn, but only one of them can be in command and each type of unit must have at least one unit adjacent to a Praefect or Tribune who in turn must be in OC range. Got it? Good.

This actually gave me a feel for what GBoH full rules may be like in terms of overall play. I think if Berg/Herman etal re wrote the activation rules for SGBoH (no I don’t own Chandragupta yet) we could get much of the joy of game flow with less fiddling with dice and chits. There is no way I could do these AARs using the full rules and actually get thru a swag of games…..I digress.

H.Barca wins initiative, and moves to encircle the Legion marching down the road. Scipio immediately moves his Velites and successfully seizes pushing his units forward. I love the battles that are not set piece! ANYTHING can happen.

Hamilcar and Mago Barca move, while Scipio elects to make a stand….or does he? This movement modification may offer a glimmer of hope, a change of tactics.

The Numidian (yes I am now playing with the right bloody ones! Thanks for telling me! move of 9) head for the edge of the woods. The Roman cavalry move to block this escapade.

(This is how I show H&R in videos)
The Light Cav H&R (Hit & Run) to no effect.

Velites push back the advancing Lancers after they inflict some pain on the lead Velite.

Experimenting with his mobility options Scipio pushes forward, Carthage yields ground. Hmmm.

Mago Barca’s men run off the V Roman Cav, and beat on the Alae.

The Hastati move forward IC (In Command), along with the Triarii and Principes. Carthage yields a little more. Interesting.

The Numdians H&R the Triarii taking cover in broken ground, and are subsequently charged by the rest of Barcas horsemen. Hasdrubal fails to seize.

Scipio’s Principes now move in IC and the Triarii and Hastati follow, the Elephant takes a beating! Scipio seizes and uses this to cover his now exposed rear with the Velites to buy time for the main body of his troops to make it to camp.

Lancers re organize, the Carthage line drops back further. Is this part of a plan or an ill conceived beginning maturing into a poorly executed response to the roman movement flexibility? The Carthaginians look to be sorely taxed without their Heavy Infantry.

I have IT!! Scipio is using BOUNDING OVERWATCH MOVEMENT!!

The Hastati move in IC and engage the 3 remaining Elephants. All three Rampage. Unfortunately the pace of Scipios advance is not keeping up with his loss tally as the Numdians attack the rear of his Legion.

But the camp is in sight!

The Principes now go on rotation moving forward with Scipio in the lead, they attack 2 squadrons of Lancers and 2 troops of Iberian Light troops. Pressing hard the Hastati and Triarii make way on the road and form a rear guard. If they can manage losses Scipios men may hold it together long enough to get 20 units to camp………………………..

As the Iberians Reaction Fire with Javelins against Scipio and his Principes this scene unfolds “a Javelin whistles through the air, lodging in our Generals steed! The horse throws him to the ground, collapsing on Scipio with its full mighty weight. Crushing the life out of him.”

Loss of the Leader catapults Romes Rout points to 60, 3 shy of Army Withdrawal. The rocky ground of Spain claims more Roman lives. Rome loses again.

Somewhere in Italy young Africanus finds a dead Eagle, its a bad sign he thinks to himself.

Watch all the action in High Def Stop Motion Video. See the death of Scipio as it happened!