ARAUSIO – 105 BC OMMAD OORS: epic anciets · Number of cards in Epic Deck GERMANIC TRIBES (supplement with brown and tan blocks where needed) Leaders 3 Light Infantry 4 units Auxilia

COMMAND & COLORS: epic ancients

Historical BackgroundFollowing the Punic Wars, Rome set out to consolidate the territories it had captured beyond the Alps. At the same time, a major migration by the Cimbri, Teutons, and Ambrones, under the Kings Boiorix and Teutobod, was moving south, reportedly with over 200,000 men (more likely the fighters numbered about 50,000). Two Roman armies were sent to stop this migration with nearly 80,000 legionnaires. However, bitter differences between the Consul Gnaeus Mallius Maximus and the Proconsul Quintus Servillius Caepio prevented the two Roman armies from cooperating, with devastating results. The Roman forces were camped by the Rhone River, near Arausio (modern Orange). However, the armies did not camp together. Caepio made his camp closer to the enemy (seeking to rob Maximus of the victory) and his dispositions are shown on the battlefield (Maximus and his army have made camp off map). The sight of two Roman armies made Boiorix cautious, and he entered into negotiations with Maximus. Caepio, motivated by hatred and envy of Maximus, foolishly launched a hasty attack on the barbar-ians. Caepio’s army was annihilated in this piecemeal assault. With a boost in confidence from this easy victory, the barbarians proceeded to advance, pin Maximus’ army against the river, and destroy it also. In terms of human lives lost, Arausio was among the most lethal battles in world history, and Rome’s worst defeat since Cannae. The terrible defeat had one beneficial result for Rome. It gave Gaius Marius the op-portunity to come to the fore and radically reform the organization and recruitment of Rome’s legions.The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilGermanic Tribes (Use green Barbarian blocks)• Leaders: Kings Boiorix and Teutobod• 9 Command Cards

Roman Army (Use gray Roman blocks)• Leader: Quintus Servillius Caepio• 6 Command Cards• Move First

Victory13 Banners

Special Rules• The Rhone River is impassable.• A Germanic Tribe unit that occupies an enemy camp hex at the

start of the Germanic player’s turn may remove the camp hex and gain a Victory Banner that cannot be lost. Remove the camp hex before playing a Command card.

Army Composition

ARAUSIO – 105 BC

Field Command CardsAll limited to one section only

• Order One Unit Left . . . . . . . . . 2• Order One Unit Center . . . . . . . 2• Order One Unit Right . . . . . . . . 2• Order Two Units Left . . . . . . . . 5• Order Two Units Center . . . . . . 7• Order Two Units Right . . . . . . . 5• Order Three Units Left . . . . . . . 4• Order Three Units Center . . . . . 6• Order Three Units Right . . . . . . 4• Order Four Units Left . . . . . . . . 2• Order Four Units Center . . . . . . 3• Order Four Units Right . . . . . . . 2• Clash of Shields . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Darken the Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Move-Fire-Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 3• Mounted Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . 4• Part Ranks and Pass Through . . 1• Retire and Reform . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Reaction Command Cards Played during your opponent’s turn

• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Special Field Command Cards(#) = number of Field Command Cards it counts as

• Outflanked (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Coordinated Attack (3) . . . . . . . . 2• Coordinated Advance (3) . . . . . . 2• Double Time (1 or 2). . . . . . . . . . 4• Line Command (1, 2 or 3) . . . . . . 6• Leadership Any Section (1 or 2) . . . 5• Inspired Left Leadership (1 or 2) . . . 1• Inspired Center Leadership (1 or 2) . 1• Inspired Right Leadership (1 or 2) . . 1

Army Command CardsOnly one Command card is played

• I Am Spartacus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Rally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Dual-Use Command Cards Declare as Army or Field

• Order Light Troops . . . . . . . . . . . 4• Order Medium Troops. . . . . . . . . 3• Order Heavy Troops . . . . . . . . . . 2• Order Mounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Counterattack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Number of cards in Epic Deck

GERMANIC TRIBES (supplement with brown and tan blocks where needed)

Leaders 3Light Infantry 4 unitsAuxilia 8 unitsWarrior 13 unitsLight Cavalry 6 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 units

ROMAN ARMY (supplement with red blocks where needed)

Leaders 3Light Infantry 8 units Auxilia 4 unitsMedium Infantry 8 unitsHeavy Infantry 4 unitsLight Cavalry 2 unitsMedium Cavalry 2 units


Historical BackgroundAfter Cannae, Rome struggled to rebuild its armies, but needed time. In Spain, Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal commanded an army large enough to possibly let Carthage win the war – if it united with Hannibal’s vic-torious veterans. Standing in his way, however, were the legions of two capable (at last) consuls, the brothers Gnaeus and Publius Scipio. Both knew of the tactics used at Cannae, but felt the only way to counter encirclement was to quickly break the Carthaginian center. When the battle commenced, the Roman legions fiercely attacked the Carthagin-ian center, but, unlike Cannae, there was enough Roman cavalry to hold their flanks. Lacking cavalry superiority (and his brother’s tactical ge-nius), Hasdrubal was unable to surround the Romans before they broke through his center. His cavalry joined the retreat, leaving the splendid heavy infantry to its fate. Rome was granted the time it needed to live and fight another day. Eight years later, Hasdrubal finally was able to march to Italy, but lost both his army and his life at the Metaurus. The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilCarthaginian Army (Use brown Carthaginian blocks)• Leader: Hasdrubal• 7 Command Cards

Roman Army (Use gray Roman blocks)• Leader: Gnaeus & Publius Scipio• 10 Command Cards• Move First

Victory12 Banners

Special RulesNone

Army CompositionCARTHAGINIAN ARMY

Leaders 2Light Bow 1 unitLight Slinger 3 unitsAuxilia 5 unitsMedium Infantry 3 unitsHeavy Infantry 4 unitsLight Cavalry 7 unitsMedium Cavalry 3 unitsElephants 2 units

ROMAN ARMY

Leaders 2Light Infantry 4 unitsAuxilia 6 unitsMedium Infantry 8 unitsHeavy Infantry 3 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 units

Epic Dertosa - 215 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2









Historical BackgroundMuch of Hannibal’s “genius” for warfare lay in his ability to take the measure of his opponents’ abilities and intentions. His opponent in 217 BC was Roman Consul Gaius Flaminius, a vain and incompetent patri-cian. Armed with this knowledge, Hannibal set a trap for his opponent by ravaging the countryside to spur Flaminius to action. True to form, Flaminius rushed headlong into pursuit of Hannibal, marching his army through the narrow defile next to Lake Trasimenus where Hannibal’s army lay in ambush. Hannibal posted his veteran infantry as a blocking force, hiding his light infantry and cavalry in the hills. As the day of battle dawned, a heavy mist covered the area. Flaminius further aided Hannibal’s plans by neglecting to send out scouts. The Roman van-guard stumbled into the Carthaginian blocking force and the battle was joined. Almost immediately, the ambushing Carthaginians descended from the hills and fell on the Roman column before the soldiers had enough time to deploy. Flaminius died early in the fighting; more than half of his army died along with him, either in the desperate fighting or drowning trying to escape. It was noteworthy that the only portion of Flaminius’s army to escape intact was the vanguard – those soldiers fought their way through Hannibal’s best infantry to do it. It surely was not through lack of bravery that the Roman army met disaster at Lake Trasimenus.The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilCarthaginian Army (Use brown Carthaginian blocks)• Leader: Hannibal• 9 Command Cards• Move First

Roman Army (Use gray Roman blocks)• Leader: Flaminius• 5 Command Cards

Victory11 Banners

Special Rules• Lake Trasimenus is impassable.• The five steep hills hexes on the right side of the battlefield, as

noted, are impassable terrain.Play Aid Suggestion: Put several other terrain hexes below each of the five “steep hill” hexes. Making them “taller” will serve as a visual reminder that these hexes are impassable, while the other hill hexes are treated normally.

Army Composition

CHARTHAGINIAN ARMY (supplement with green blocks where needed)

Leaders 3Light Slinger 4 unitsAuxilia 6 unitsWarrior 5 units Medium Infantry 3 unitsHeavy Infantry 4 unitsLight Cavalry 7 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 units



LAKE TRASIMENUS – 217 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2









Historical BackgroundThe Cisalpine Gauls (those living south of the Alps) had sacked Rome in 390 BC and fought intermittently with Rome for the next 150 years. After a series of defeats early in the 3rd century BC, the Gauls remained quiet for 50 years. But when the Romans began settling on captured Gallic lands in 232, this roused the barbarians to prepare another inva-sion. This time, the Cisalpine Gauls were joined by their kinsmen from across the Alps, the fierce Gaesatae under Kings Aneroestes and Con-colitanus. In 225 BC, a force of 70,000 Gauls descended on Etruria and overran the country, looting and pillaging. When they reached Clusium, a city only three days’ journey from Rome, a Roman army (led by a praetor whose name is lost to history) appeared on their heels, forcing them to turn back and confront it. The two armies camped for the night in close proximity. The Gauls kept their campfires burning but with-drew their infantry, leaving only their cavalry behind. The horsemen had orders to retire when the enemy approached, leading the Romans toward Faesulae, where their infantry would attack from ambush. At daybreak, the Romans, seeing the cavalry alone and thinking the Gauls had taken to flight, followed the cavalry with all speed. On their ap-proach, the Gauls sprang from ambush and attacked them. A stubborn conflict took place, but finally the numbers and courage of the Gauls prevailed. The surviving Romans retreated to a hill, while the Gauls set up a loose blockade. These fugitives would all have been lost but the consul Aemilius Paullus arrived with a relief army that night. The Gallic kings chose to retreat with their booty rather than fight another battle. They broke camp before daybreak and retreated along the sea-coast through Etruria.

The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilGallic Army (Use green Barbarian blocks)• Leaders: Kings Aneroestes and Concolitanus• 8 Command Cards• Move First

Roman Army (Use gray Roman blocks)• Leader: A Roman Praetor• 7 Command Cards

Victory10 Banners

Special Rules• When a Roman unit is occupying a Gallic camp hex at the start of

the Roman player’s turn, remove the camp hex. When three camp hexes are removed, the Roman player gains one Victory Banner.

• Barbarian Chariot rules are in effect.

Army Composition

GALLIC ARMY

Leaders 3Light Infantry 5 unitsAuxilia 6 unitsWarrior 9 units Light Cavalry 2 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 unitsBarbarian Chariot 2 units

ROMAN ARMY


CLUSIUM – 225 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2









Historical BackgroundThe Romans are on the verge of defeating Carthage and ending the First Punic War. Regulus and a veteran Roman army landed in Africa, and, though woefully short of cavalry, defeated several Carthaginian forces. Desperate, the Carthaginians turned to an otherwise unemployed Greek general named Xanthippus, who knew how to train and command an army, as well as how to put the Carthaginian advantages in mounted troops into use. The Carthaginian army marched into the Bagradas Val-ley and Regulus, confident of yet another victory, offered battle. It was to prove a costly mistake for him. The Carthaginian cavalry and ele-phants routed the Roman cavalry and then turned on the flanks and rear of the Roman army, now fully engaged with the Carthaginian infantry. The Roman army disintegrated. Those who survived told of the horror of being overrun by elephants and cavalry. This Carthaginian victory prolonged the war. It took several years before any Roman army would stand and fight against elephants. The larger lesson—proper employ-ment of a combined arms army over a largely infantry army resulting in victory—was lost on the Romans. They had to re-learn it at the Trebbia, Lake Trasimenus, and Cannae.The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilCarthaginian Army (Use brown Carthaginian blocks)• Leader: Xanthippus• 10 Command Cards• Move First

Roman Army (Use gray Roman blocks)• Leader: Regulus• 8 Command Cards

Victory7 Banners

Special RulesNone

Army CompositionCARTHAGINIAN ARMY (supplement with blue blocks

where needed)

Leaders 3Light Infantry 7 unitsWarrior 4 units Medium Infantry 2 unitsHeavy Infantry 5 unitsLight Cavalry 8 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 unitsElephants 5 units


Leaders 3Light Infantry 7 unitsAuxilia 5 unitsMedium Infantry 9 unitsHeavy Infantry 3 unitsLight Cavalry 2 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 units

BAGRADAS - 253 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2









EPIROTE ARMY (supplement with brown blocks where needed)

Leaders 3Light Infantry 4 unitsLight Bow 2 unitsWarrior 4 unitsMedium Infantry 5 unitsHeavy Infantry 7 units Light Cavalry 4 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 unitsElephants 2 units


Leaders 3Light Infantry 6 unitsAuxilia 4 unitsMedium Infantry 11 unitsHeavy Infantry 4 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 unitsWar Machine 2 units

Historical BackgroundAfter the battle of Asculum, Pyrrhus left Italy for a three-year cam-paign in Sicily. Although he defeated the Carthaginians in every battle, he could not drive them off the island. Pyrrhus decided to return to Italy. Years of attrition and a naval defeat on his way back to Italy had greatly weakened his army. However, upon his return, his reputation brought thousands of new recruits out to join him. With 20,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry and 20 elephants, Pyrrhus once again marched on Rome. Consul Manius Curius Dentatus gathered his army of about 20,000 foot and 2,000 horse and set up camp near Beneventum to await the Epirote army. Pyrrhus decided on a surprise night attack, but some of his detachments got lost. It was morning before he could organize his scattered forces near the Roman camp. Dentatus led his forces out and drove back Pyrrhus’ vanguard. As the Roman attack continued it was in turn driven back by Pyrrhus’ skillful use of his elephants. However, a second Roman assault stampeded the elephants into the Pyrrhus’ pha-lanx. Dentatus struck while the phalanx was disordered and broke it, winning the battle. Pyrrhus withdrew from the field with what was left of his army and returned to Epirus, never to return to Italy. Beneventum was the final pivotal battle in the Roman Republic’s bid for control of the entire Italian peninsula, and the first great victory of the legion over the phalanx.The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilEpirote Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader: Pyrrhus• 9 Command Cards• Move First

Roman Army (Use gray Roman blocks)• Leader: Consuls Decius and Sulpicius• 9 Command Cards

Victory15 Banners

Special Rules• An Epirote unit that occupies an enemy camp hex at the start of the

Epirote player’s turn may remove the camp hex and gain a Victory Banner that cannot be lost. Remove the camp hex before playing a Command card.

Army Composition

BENEVENTUM – 275 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2










• OrderOneUnitLeft . . . . . . . . . 2• OrderOneUnitCenter . . . . . . . 2• OrderOneUnitRight . . . . . . . . 2• OrderTwoUnitsLeft . . . . . . . . 5• OrderTwoUnitsCenter . . . . . . 7• OrderTwoUnitsRight . . . . . . . 5• OrderThreeUnitsLeft . . . . . . . 4• OrderThreeUnitsCenter . . . . . 6• OrderThreeUnitsRight . . . . . . 4• OrderFourUnitsLeft . . . . . . . . 2• OrderFourUnitsCenter . . . . . . 3• OrderFourUnitsRight . . . . . . . 2• ClashofShields . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• DarkentheSky . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Move-Fire-Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 3• MountedCharge . . . . . . . . . . . . 4• PartRanksandPassThrough . . 1• RetireandReform . . . . . . . . . . . 1


• FirstStrike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2


• Outflanked(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• CoordinatedAttack(3) . . . . . . . . 2• CoordinatedAdvance(3) . . . . . . 2• DoubleTime(1or2) . . . . . . . . . .4• LineCommand(1,2or3) . . . . . . 6• LeadershipAnySection(1or2) . . . 5• InspiredLeftLeadership(1or2) . . . 1• InspiredCenterLeadership(1or2) . 1• InspiredRightLeadership(1or2) . . 1


• IAmSpartacus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Rally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


• OrderLightTroops . . . . . . . . . . . 4• OrderMediumTroops . . . . . . . . .3• OrderHeavyTroops . . . . . . . . . . 2• OrderMounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Counterattack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3


Historical BackgroundBy318BC theSuccessorshad formed twocompeting alliances: the“Royalists”whoclaimed tofight tomaintain theempire forAlexan-der’s infantsons,andarivalcoalitionthatsought toclaimtheirownindependentkingdoms .TheopposingSuccessorarmies inAsia—onecommanded byAntigonus, the other by Eumenes—met in battle atParaitacene in317BC .Antigonuswasbynow themostpowerfuloftheDiadochi, controllingmost ofAnatolia and the eastern satrapies .EumeneshadthebackingofAlexander’sheirsandalargewarchest,thoughthefactthathewasaGreekandnotaMacedonianwasama-jor handicap . Antigonus fielded 28,000 infantry and 11,000 horse .Eumenes’ forceof 35,000 foot and6,000horse included theveteranSilverShields,whohad foughtwithdistinction inallofAlexander’scampaigns . The battle opened withAntigonus’ light horse attackingEumenes’right .ThisattackwaswreckedbyEumenes’heavycavalry .Meanwhileinthecenter,theSilverShieldsdrovebackAntigonus’pha-lanx .Antigonus’ armywason the ropeswhenhepulledoff a strokethatevenedthescore .HechargedthroughagapandwassuccessfulinroutingEumenes’leftflank .Bothsidesatthispointwereexhaustedandreturnedtotheircamps .Antigonusclaimedvictory,butrealisticallythebattlewasadrawandafinalresolutionwouldnotbereacheduntilthearmiesmetatGabiene,ayearlater .Thestageisset .Thebattlelinesaredrawnandyouareincommand .Canyouchangehistory?

War CouncilEumenes Successor Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader:Eumenes• 9CommandCards

Antigonus Successor Army (Use tan Eastern Kingdom blocks)• Leader:Antigonus• 9CommandCards• MoveFirst

Victory15Banners(Winningsidemusthaveamarginofatleast2VictoryBanners to achieve a decisive victory: otherwise the battle is de-claredadraw .)

Special Rules• Thehillhexesareimpassable .• TheSilverShieldsisaspecialunit .PlaceaspecialunitblockinthesamehexastheSilverShieldsunittodistinguishitfromtheotherunits .TheSilverShieldswillscoreahitforeachleadersym-bolrolledinclosecombatandmayignoreoneflag .

Army Composition

PARAITACENE – 317 BC

EUMENES(supplement with gray blocks where needed)

Leaders 3LightInfantry 9unitsAuxilia 5unitsMediumInfantry 3unitsHeavyInfantry 7unitsLightCavalry 2unitsLightBowCavalry 2unitsMediumCavalry 2unitsHeavyCavalry 2unitsElephants 4units

ANTIGONUS(supplement with brown blocks where needed)

Leaders 3LightInfantry 6unitsAuxilia 4unitsMediumInfantry 4unitsHeavyInfantry 8unitsLightCavalry 4unitsLightBowCavalry 2unitsMediumCavalry 4unitsHeavyCavalry 2unitsElephants 2units



• OrderOneUnitLeft . . . . . . . . . 2• OrderOneUnitCenter . . . . . . . 2• OrderOneUnitRight . . . . . . . . 2• OrderTwoUnitsLeft . . . . . . . . 5• OrderTwoUnitsCenter . . . . . . 7• OrderTwoUnitsRight . . . . . . . 5• OrderThreeUnitsLeft . . . . . . . 4• OrderThreeUnitsCenter . . . . . 6• OrderThreeUnitsRight . . . . . . 4• OrderFourUnitsLeft . . . . . . . . 2• OrderFourUnitsCenter . . . . . . 3• OrderFourUnitsRight . . . . . . . 2• ClashofShields . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• DarkentheSky . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Move-Fire-Move . . . . . . . . . . . . 3• MountedCharge . . . . . . . . . . . . 4• PartRanksandPassThrough . . 1• RetireandReform . . . . . . . . . . . 1


• FirstStrike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2


• Outflanked(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• CoordinatedAttack(3) . . . . . . . . 2• CoordinatedAdvance(3) . . . . . . 2• DoubleTime(1or2) . . . . . . . . . .4• LineCommand(1,2or3) . . . . . . 6• LeadershipAnySection(1or2) . . . 5• InspiredLeftLeadership(1or2) . . . 1• InspiredCenterLeadership(1or2) . 1• InspiredRightLeadership(1or2) . . 1


• IAmSpartacus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Rally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


• OrderLightTroops . . . . . . . . . . . 4• OrderMediumTroops . . . . . . . . .3• OrderHeavyTroops . . . . . . . . . . 2• OrderMounted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2• Counterattack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3


Army CompositionHistorical BackgroundHavinggainedcontroloveralloftheknowncivilizedworld,Alexanderventured into India in 326BC .Hemet resistance fromPorus at theRiverHydaspes . Porus’ large corps of 200 elephants thwarted all ofAlexander’sattemptstocrosstheriver .LearningthatalargeforcewasmovingtoreinforcePorus,Alexanderdecisivelydividedhisarmyandsecretlycrossedup-riverwiththemajorityoftheMacedoniantroops,leavingalargedetachmentinplacetodeceivetheIndians .Uponreceiv-ingthestartlingnewsthatAlexanderhadcrossedtheHydaspes,Porushurriedlyturnedhisarmytomeethiminbattle .Porussenthischariotsforwardbutthesewerequicklydestroyed .Alexanderthensenthiscav-alrytoattackPorus’rightwingandgainedtheflankoftheIndianarmy,while his heavy infantry advanced to attack the elephants and bow-men .TheelephantschargedthephalanxanddidgreatexecutionamongtheeliteMacedonianinfantry .Onlythetimelyinterventionofthelighttroopspreventedagreaterloss .Porus,woundedsixtimes,wascapturedand theremainderofhisarmyrouted .Porusso impressedAlexanderwithhisbraverythathewasallowedtoretainhiskingdomasaMace-donianvassal .ThepoweroftheelephantswasnotlostupontheMace-doniangeneralswhofoughtatHydaspes .TheywouldgotogreatpainstoobtainelephantsoftheirownduringtheWarsoftheSuccessors .Thestageisset .Thebattlelinesaredrawnandyouareincommand .Canyouchangehistory?

War CouncilMacedonian Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader:Alexander• 9CommandCards• MoveFirst

Indian Army (Use tan Eastern Kingdom blocks)• Leader:Porus• 7CommandCards

Victory13Banners

Special Rules• TheRiverHydaspesisimpassable .• WhenAlexanderisattachedtoaunit,theunitwillbattlewith1additionaldiceinCloseCombat .

• ThethreeGreekCompanionCavalryunitsarespecialunits .Placea specialunitblock in thesamehexas theCompanionCavalryunitstodistinguishitfromtheotherunits .TheCompanionCav-alrywillignore1swordsymbolinCloseCombatandmayignore1flag .

HYDASPES – 326 BC

MACEDONIANARMY(supplement with gray blocks where needed)

Leaders 3

LightInfantry 5unitsLightBow 1unitAuxilia 2unitsMediumInfantry 2unitsHeavyInfantry 6unitsLightBowCavalry 4unitsMediumCavalry 5units

INDIANARMY(supplement with brown, green and purple blocks where needed)

Leaders 3LightBow 8unitsAuxilia 8unitsMediumCavalry 4unitsHeavyChariot 4unitsElephants 6units


Historical BackgroundRather than pursue Darius after the victory at Issus (333), Alexander turned south to neutralize the Persian fleet. In a two-year campaign he captured Tyre and Gaza and conquered Egypt. In 331, Alexander marched into Mesopotamia, intent on attacking Babylon. Darius had raised another army, strong in cavalry but lacking in good infantry. The two armies met on the plain of Gaugamela. Darius posted cavalry on the right and the left and occupied the center with his Greek mercenar-ies, guard cavalry, elephants, and chariots. Alexander placed the Thes-salian horse on the left, gave Craterus the phalanx in the center, and placed himself in person with the Companions on the right. The Per-sian line extended well beyond both flanks of the Macedonian forma-tion. To counter, Alexander moved diagonally as he advanced, refusing his left. Darius ordered his mounted troops forward. The Macedonian right managed to hold their attackers just long enough for Alexander to charge with his Companions and heavy infantry straight for Darius. As he had at Issus, Darius turned and fled the field but the battle was not yet over. The Macedonian left was still hard pressed by the Persian cavalry. Alexander wheeled about and charged with the Companions into the Persian cavalry, forcing them back. Soon the entire Persian army was in retreat. Gaugamela is one of the truly decisive battles of history and marked the beginning of Alexander’s great empire. This battle is also considered the classic example of penetration tactics.The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilMacedonian Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader: Alexander• 9 Command Cards• Move First

Persian Army (Use tan Eastern Kingdom blocks)• Leader: Darius III• 6 Command Cards

Victory12 Banners

Special Rules• When Alexander is attached to a unit, the unit will battle with 1

additional dice in Close Combat.• The Greek Companion Cavalry units are special units. Place a spe-

cial unit block in the same hex as the Companion Cavalry units to distinguish them from the other units. The Companion Cavalry will ignore 1 sword symbol in Close Combat and may ignore 1 flag.

Army Composition

MACEDONIAN ARMY

Leaders 3Light Infantry 4 unitsLight Bow 2 unitsAuxilia 4 unitsMedium Infantry 4 unitsHeavy Infantry 6 unitsLight Cavalry 2 unitsLight Bow Cavalry 2 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 units

PERSIAN ARMY

Leaders 3Light Infantry 4 unitsLight Bow 4 unitsAuxilia 6 unitsMedium Infantry 4 unitsLight Cavalry 4 unitsLight Bow Cavalry 4 unitsMedium Cavalry 4 unitsHeavy Cavalry 2 unitsHeavy Chariot 2 unitsElephants 3 units

GAUGAMELA – 331 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2









Historical BackgroundThe Carthaginians learned from earlier defeats in Sicily that they had to field reliable, trained heavy infantry of their own. They formed the Sa-cred Band, a force of about 2500 excellently trained Carthaginians, as good or better than anything the Greeks or Syracusans could field. The Sacred Band formed part of a large army under Hasdrubal, advancing eastward to subjugate Sicily. Opposing him with a much smaller army was the able tactician Timoleon. Ever aggressive, Timoleon anxiously awaited an opportunity to strike the Carthaginians a hard blow on his terms. He got that chance when, on a foggy morning, Hasdrubal care-lessly ordered his army to cross the Crimissos River without bothering to send out scouts (who would have reported that Timoleon’s army was arrayed on the bluffs just beyond the river). Waiting until about half of the Carthaginian army had crossed, Timoleon unleashed his excellent heavy infantry phalanx against the surprised Carthaginians. Most who survived fled, but the Sacred Band stood their ground and were anni-hilated by superior numbers, (aided by a sudden rainstorm that slowed Carthaginian reinforcements crossing the river). Seeing the disaster unfolding across the river, the remainder of Hasdrubal’s army broke and fled. The loss of so many citizen soldiers had a horrific effect on Carthage. The Sacred Band was reformed, but only once was it ever dispatched from Africa again, and then only for a very short campaign. Carthage would try to make do with mercenary troops as much as pos-sible on Sicily, which had large repercussions at the end of the First Punic War. The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilCarthaginian Army (Use brown Carthaginian blocks)• Leader: Hasdrubal• 7 Command Cards

Syracusan Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader: Timoleon• 9 Command Cards• Move First

Victory9 Banners

Special Rules• The Crimissos River is only fordable at the river bends.• The Carthaginian Sacred Band units are special units. Place a spe-

cial unit block in the same hex as the Sacred Band unit to dis-tinguish them from the other units. The Sacred Band will score hits for each leader hit rolled in combat. When attacked, they may ignore 1 sword symbol in Close Combat and may ignore 1 flag.

Army Composition

CARTHAGINIAN ARMY

Leaders 2Light Infantry 4 unitsLight Slinger 3 unitsAuxilia 4 unitsWarrior 3 unitsMedium Infantry 3 unitsHeavy Infantry 4 unitsMedium Cavalry 2 unitsHeavy Chariots 2 units

GREEK ARMY

Leaders 2Light Infantry 2 unitsLight Bow 2 unitsLight Slinger 1 unitAuxilia 4 unitsHeavy Infantry 6 unitsMedium Cavalry 2 units

Crimissos river – 341 BC




• First Strike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2









Historical BackgroundThe Persian emperor Xerxes I led a massive invasion of Greece to avenge the defeat of his father’s forces at Marathon. After annihilating the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, Xerxes burned Athens, then Mace-don, Thessaly, and Boeotia submitted. However, Following the loss of the Persian fleet at Salamis, Xerxes withdrew to Asia and left Mardo-nius with most of the Persian land forces to continue the subjugation of Greece. Amid much bickering, an allied Greek army was formed under the Spartan Pausanias, and moved to oppose the Persians. The Greeks were always careful to stay in terrain that negated the Persian cavalry, so the Persian cavalry turned to raiding...poisoning the Greek’s water supply and destroying a large Greek baggage train. Short of water and food, Pausanias ordered a night withdrawal, but only the allies in the center did so. The Spartan right and Athenian left stood until first light. Seeing this confusion, Mardonius ordered a general advance, although Artabazus, in command of the reserve, suspected a trick and held back. Mardonis attacked the entire Greek line, with an onslaught that was particularly fierce on the Athenian wing. On the right, the Spartans held back until Pausanias obtained just the right “omens” from a sacrifice and then ordered them to charge. It was a desperate infantry battle but the better tactics and weapons of the Greeks finally turned the tide, killing Mardonius along the way. Artabazus managed an orderly retreat back to Asia Minor (he was rewarded with a hereditary satrapy), but the victory at Plataea meant the Persian threat to Greece was effectively ended. The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command.

Can you change history?

War CouncilGreek Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader: Pausanias• 8 Command Cards

Persian Army (Use tan Eastern Kingdom blocks)• Leader: Mardonius• 8 Command Cards• Move First

Victory10 Banners

Special RulesNone

Army Composition

GREEK ARMY (supplement with gray blocks where needed)

Leaders 3Light Infantry 4 unitsLight Bow 2 unitsAuxilia 6 unitsMedium Infantry 4 unitsHeavy Infantry 7 units

PERSIAN ARMY (supplement with brown blocks where needed)

Leaders 3Light Bow 5 unitsAuxilia 9 unitsMedium Infantry 7 unitsLight Cavalry 2 unitsMedium Cavalry 6 units

PLATAEA – 479 BC




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Historical BackgroundKing Darius I of Persia sent an expedition against Athens in reprisal for the burning of Sardes in 498 BC during the failed Ionian Revolt. The Persian fleet under the joint command of Datis and Artaphernes land-ed near Marathon bay, which offered a perfect battleground for their troops. The Athenians marched out to face the enemy in the field, with 1000 allied soldiers from Plataea supplementing the Athenian force of 9000. The Persians outnumbered the Greeks, but to counter the dispar-ity, Callimachus extended the Greek line to match the enemy, thinning the center while keeping both wings at full strength. The Persian army, with its best troops in the center, was taken by surprise when the Athe-nians attacked. Historians suggest that the some of the Persian cavalry was in the process of embarking back onto the ships when the attack started (it appears that the Greeks had waited for days before actually lining up for battle). In the battle the Persian center got the best of the weak Greek center and broke through, but this success was more than countered by the defeat of their two wings. The victorious Athe-nians then swung inwards and the Persian force was routed back to their ships. Concerned that the defeated Persians might still sail around to threaten Athens, Callimachus marched the Greek army back to Athens in “record time,” (which is the true “Marathon race.”) When the Persian ships reached Athens, they found an army waiting for them on Phaleron beach. Greece was safe, for now.The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

War CouncilGreek Army (Use blue Greek blocks)• Leader: Callimachus• 8 Command Cards• Move First

Persian Army (Use tan Eastern Kingdom blocks)• Leader: Datis• 7 Command Cards

Victory10 Banners

Special Rules• Stream is fordable.• The sea and hill hexes are impassable.

Army Composition

GREEK ARMY

Leaders 2Light Infantry 4 unitsAuxilia 4 unitsMedium Infantry 4 unitsHeavy Infantry 6 units

PERSIAN ARMY

Leaders 2Light Infantry 4 unitsLight Bow 4 unitsLight Slinger 2 unitsAuxilia 6 unitsMedium Infantry 5 unitsHeavy Infantry 1 unitMedium Cavalry 4 units

MARATHON – 490 BC




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Documents

ARAUSIO – 105 BC OMMAD OORS: epic anciets · Number of cards in Epic Deck GERMANIC TRIBES (supplement with brown and tan blocks where needed) Leaders 3 Light Infantry 4 units Auxilia