Back to Ancients - Macedon v Carthage

July 30, 2026

Back to Ancients - Macedon v Carthage

Just a bit of whimsy. I haven't run an Ancients battle in quite some time (been obsessing over WW2 skirmish). Thought I would give it a whirl.

My current favorite for Ancients is War & Conquest. Because of where I live, I am doomed to solo gaming. Normally I stick to historical matchups (either Macedon v. Persia or Carthage v. Republican Rome). Today I was in the mood to experiment, so I ran Macedon v. Carthage. I also wanted to add some unpredictability to the game, so I added some command-and-control issues inspired by Nuts! (A WWII skirmish game).

At the beginning of each turn, both sides roll 1D6, the highest score will have the initiative. If a DR5 or DR6 is rolled, the side will not move. It may skirmish. Additionally, each commander will roll 2D6 to determine what moves he will make.

Basically, each side had three commanders, for simplicity’s sake, I gave them each a “Reputation” (a rules concept from Nuts!) of four. Each turn I rolled 2D6 for each commander and compared each dice individually to their Reputation. A ”pass” means you rolled equal or lower than the reputation. For example, if you roll 2xDR3, that means you pass two; if you roll a DR5 and a DR4 you passed one, etc.

Pass 2 = Units may act in any way it seems fit.

Pass 1 = Units will act cautiously, they may advance and/or shoot, but will not charge.

Pass 0 = Units will act irrationally. They may advance/charge/ retire. Usually whichever makes the least amount of sense.

The Carthaginians: Commanded by Handlebar Barca

Left wing:

· 3 units of 6 Numidian cavalry

· 1 unit of 10 Spanish medium cavalry

· 1 unit of 10 Spanish Skirmishers

· 1 unit of 8 Balearic slingers

Center:

· 2 units of African Spearmen (20 & 18)

· 1 Unit of 24 Spanish infantry

· 2 Units of Gauls (24 & 18)

· 1 unit of 12 Gallic skirmishers

Right:

· 2 units of 5 Gallic medium cavalry

· 1 unit of 10 Gallic heavy cavalry

· 1 unit of 10 Spanish heavy cavalry

Macedonians – General Mediocrates

Left Wing:

· 2 units of 6 light cavalry

· 1 unit of 7 Thessalian cavalry

· 2 units of 12 Thracian light infantry

· 1 unit of 18 Macedonian archers

Center

· 1 unit of 18 Hypaspists

· 3 units of 18 pike

· 2 units of Greek Hoplites (12 & 18) in reserve

Right flank:

· 1 unit of 15 Agrianian light infantry

· 1 unit of 8 lancers

· 1 unit of 10 Cavalry Companions

I didn’t bother to check points – just pulled them out of the box. Both armies basically had the same plan: refuse the left, pin the enemy center and attack on the right.

Turn 1: Macedonian initiative

Macedon does not move; Carthage moves forward in the center and on the right.

Turn 2: Carthage initiative

Carthage is content to skirmish on the left and the center. They cause a couple of casualties to the Agrianians and archers. The right advances cautiously.

The Macedonians are also cautious at this stage. The archers do cause a couple of casualties to the Gallic skirmishers.

Turn 3: Macedonian initiative

The Macedonians continue their cautious ways – they accomplish little this turn.

Carthage left: the various skirmishers do their thing, causing some casualties.

Carthage center: minor skirmishing between Gauls and Macedonian archers

Carthage right: The two units of Gallic medium cavalry charge the Greek and Thracian light cavalry. One Gallic unit survives and pursues into the supporting Thracian light infantry. The other three disperse and are removed.

Rules Note: All four units are quite small, so are very brittle in these rules. Cavalry units are removed from the game if they fall below four figures. In spite of this liability, I prefer small units of skirmishers – they are more maneuverable and since they have low morale, break easy anyway. Better to lose a small unit than a big one.

Turn 4: Macedonian initiative – they finally get aggressive.

On the right, the lancers try to charge one of the Numidian cavalry units, but they easily evade. The Companions overrun the Numidian foot skirmishers. The Agrianians move up and loose javelins and the slingers, but without effect.

The Macedonians all charge in the center. The Hypaspists and the two veteran pike units charge into contact, whereas the third cannot reach as it has to alter its alignment to line up with the Gauls.

The Hyspaspists are defeated rather handily by the larger unit of Libyan spearmen. Picking a rather awkward time to have a really bad die roll, they route and are overrun.

The Agema pike squadron under Coenus engages the 2^nd unit of Libyan spears. They fight to a bloody draw.

The veteran squadron under Craterus is getting the better of the Spanish infantry, but the latter hangs on and stays in the fight.

On the left, the archers continue to pick away at the Gallic skirmish screen, while the Thracian light infantry defeats the last unit of Gallic medium cavalry – which is dispersed.

Carthage phase

On the left, the Numidians do their thing and the lancers die the death of a 1000 needles.

In the center, the push of pike continues, with the Agema squadron still locked in with the Libyan spearmen and the Craterus’ veterans slug it out with the Spanish. Conversely, Melager’s phalanx is defeated and overrun by the Gallic charge.

On the right, the heavy cavalry squadrons of Gaul and Spain advance to charge range.

Turn 5 – Carthage initiative

On the left, the Numidians continue to pepper the Companions with javelins, while staying out of charge range.

In the center, the left hand unit of Libyan spearmen and the unit of Gauls in the right center have broken through the main phalanx and are now engaging the Greek Mercs in the rear. To make matters worse, the Spanish infantry in the center defeat and overrun Craterus’ veterans. Only Coenus and the Agema squadron are still in the fight.

On the right, the heavy Spanish cavalry run down the archers and crash into a unit of Thracian light infantry. Although the Thracians get the upper hand, both units stay in the fight. To their right, The Gallic heavy cavalry charge into the Thessalians. The latter are defeated, but escape the pursuing Gauls for now.

Handlebar has won a convincing victory.