Historical Background

Historical background Carthage and Rome were both emerging superpowers of the Mediterranean. Rome built its power upon the infantry and conscription system. No matter how many defeats the Romans suffered, they were always able to overcome the enemy by recruiting new troops. Carthage’s wealth came from trade and the strength of its navy. Both superpowers had been allies fighting against their common enemy - the mighty Pyrrhus, King of Epir. But it took them only 12 years to be turned into enemies. The casus belli was the Carthaginian attempt to gain control over Sicily. Rome considered this a major threat towards its control over the entire Italian peninsula. he First Punic War lasted 23 years. In 264 BC, the Romans laid laid siege to Saguntum, the Romans objected, making it another ca- T siege to Syracuse and forced this small kingdom to break its al- sus belli. In 218 BC Hannibal raised an army and crossed the Alps, liance with Carthage and become yet another ally of Rome. The Car- defeating Publius Scipio at the Ticinus River. Right after, Hannibal thaginians thought that they could overcome the Romans just as they invaded Italy, achieving his most significant victory in the Battle of did Pyrrhus – by fortifying important cities and keeping their naval Cannae in 216 BC annihilating entire Roman army in the process. superiority. Rome had no navy, thus it was supposed to lose the war in However, Hannibal refrained from besieging the Rome itself and in- the long term anyway. stead decided to cut off the Romans from their allies, who – just as However, in 262 BC the Romans successfully besieged the fortress Capua and Tarentum – begun to switch sides. The Roman Republic of Agrigentum. The relieving force led by Hanno was defeated, a clear was in real danger, and appointed the dictator Fabius Maximus (‘the proof or Roman dominance in land combat! Shield of Rome’). Carthage lost its naval superiority in 260 BC. Despite the early Hannibal defeated the Roman generals in Italy one by one, but he victory in the naval battle near the Lipari Islands, the Roman corvus wasn’t able to be everywhere. In Spain, the Scipio family was a pain turned out to be a key to destruction of the Carthaginian fleet near in the neck of Hasdrubal, Hannibal’s brother. In Sicily, Marcellus (‘the Mylae. Sardinia and Corsica were now open for the Romans to invade. Sword of Rome’) managed to capture Syracuse defended with the help So was Africa, where in 265 BC Marcus Atillius Regulus landed of famous Archimedes. In 210 BC the tides of war begun to change. with an expeditionary army. Carthage asked for peace, but the terms A sudden strike allowed Scipio to capture New Carthage and finally dictated by Rome were so harsh that instead Greek mercenaries led force Hasdrubal to leave Spain. He embarked on a yet another bold by Xanthippus were hired. In 264 BC, he helped reorganise the entire march to Italy. In 207 BC Rome was endangered again – by Hasdrub- Carthaginian Army and won the Battle of Tunis, crushing the Roman al from the north and Hannibal from the south. This time however, the army and taking Regulus a prisoner. Roman consuls combined their forces against Hasdrubal, defeating Carthage now safe employed Hamilcar Barca to regain her posi- him near the Metaurus River. Hasdrubal was killed and so were the tions in Sicily. However, with further naval battles lost, Carthage asked Carthaginian hopes for winning the war. Hannibal was undefeated in Rome for terms, and as a result lost all Sicily to victorious Rome. field, however he lost the cities of Capua and Tarentum. The last stage of the war took place in Africa. Scipio Africanus The Carthaginians rebuilt their strength in Spain. Having no naval raised an army of survivors from Cannae, who had no better chance to superiority, Hamilcar Barca made a desert march through all Numidia regain their honor than to defeat the enemy in its homeland. At Zama, and Mauretania. Operating from New Carthage, he managed to gain Hannibal lost a battle for the very first time in his life. But this costed new territories for Carthage. But when Hannibal (son of Hamilcar) Carthage the war. Rome was victorious again! 2 Dear Player, We want you to enjoy this from the very beginning. Thus, you don’t need to study the Rulebook and Scenario Book to begin playing. Unless you know the previous editions of Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage, you should read this Playbook and complete the tutorials. The first three tutorials are solitaire, all others require two players. Then, we recommend to start with the Campaigns. Finally, you will be familiar with all the important rules and theatres of operations and be able to fight an epic struggle of the Punic Wars Scenarios. Game Objective This game allows you to assume the roles of the leaders of the most epic EXAMPLE: Gallia conflict in the ancient world. Its outcome has shaped our very civilization Cisalpina is controlled itself. The game offers an abundance of possibilities – both political and by Carthage. Etruria, military – to tip the scales in your favor. Latium and Samnium The Provinces crucial to achieve victory have been emphasized – their are controlled by Rome. borders are marked with colors. Regions such as Africa, Iberia, and Italia Liguria is neutral. have been emphasized in particular. Provinces of less importance (that don’t The winner is usu- influence victory) have a neutral color. ally declared after a full game (the number of Turns depends on the scenario). The players check to see which one of them has gained control over the majority of Provinces surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Having said that, the players have multiple possibilities to end the game earlier. For example, a successful Siege of the enemy’s capital results in a Sudden Death Victory. Carthage also wins if, at the end of the Victory Check Phase, it controls all Italian Provinces (excluding Latium – which would mean a conquest of the Eternal City). Depending on the scenario, the game setup includes circular Political Example of Control markers (hereinafter PCs), square Walled Cities, and oval Tribe mark- a total control of ers (gray ones are neutral, blue ones favor Carthage). Overall, the color blue Carthage over all stands for Carthage and red for Rome. Italian provinces. 3 Both political and military means are to be used during the game. An adept use of military power results in winning he Land Battles and The political dominance manifests itself in the number of Provinces con- conquering enemy Walled Cities. The political consequences of Land and trolled at the end of each turn. Naval Battles (they are described in detail further below) are definitely un- pleasant for the losing side. The losing player must remove from the board not only the retreating Combat Units and defeated Generals, but also the appropriate number of PCs. Example of the Political Control track with the dominance of one side. Of course, there could be a situation in which a player forced to remove To reflect the loss of PC would become out of markers! This would mean his immediate defeat. political influence, the That player must sue for peace. player who controls less provinces must re- In summary, a player may win the Punic Wars: move PCs equal to the difference between the l At the end of the game if: number of provinces – a player controls more key provinces than his opponent; in the he controls and that of case of a tie, the rules of the scenario being played are decisive. his opponent. l During the game if: Example of a re- – a player conquers his opponent’s capital; moval of 3 Carthag- – the Carthaginian player gains control over all provinces Italian re- inian PCs. The choice gion (excluding Roman Latium); is made by the player – a player is not able to remove sufficient number of PCs, and is who loses the markers. thereby forced to sue for peace. Turn Sequence A full turn is played according to the consecutive phases. the entire Strategy Deck along with the discard pile (excluding cards that have Playing Strategy Cards is crucial to the game, as their number increases been permanently removed from play) before any cards are dealt. as the game progresses. Each scenario indicates which player goes first. 3. Strategy Phase In each turn players must use (play or discard) all of their Strategy Cards. Players play Strategy Cards alternatively, deciding whether they use the Event or the Operation Points. The details of the Reinforcement and Strategy Card phases may depend Some cards played as Events must be discarded after use. on the particular scenario. This phase ends when both players exhaust their Strategy Card hands. A card may be discarded without using its Event. 1. Reinforcement Phase Note that one player may use all of his Strategy Cards before his oppo- l Players may recruit new Combat Units (hereinafter CUs). nent (as Reaction Cards, i.e. #60 Strategy Card: Storms at Sea or during l Carthage may return previously displaced Generals to the game. battle, i.e. #6 Strategy Card: Maharbal’s Cavalry). In this case, the other player l Rome appoints Proconsul and randomly draws new Consuls. plays his remaining cards in succession. 2. Strategy Card Phase 4. Winter Attrition Phase Players are dealt a number of Strategy Cards depending on the current Players check for casualties of their CUs that occupy spaces with enemy turn. If there are not enough Strategy Cards in the Strategy Deck, reshuffle PCs or Hostile Tribes.

Load more