Marcus Claudius Marcellus: The Sword of Rome
Marcus Claudius Marcellus: The Sword of Rome Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
The article notes: "You can find all the counters you need in SPQR. However, new leader counters for the following commanders will be included as a C3i insert:"
- Marcellus
- C. Nero
- Britomartus
- Hippocrates
The insert box reads: "The Sword of Rome. These new leader counters will appear in an upcoming Insert in C3i." and adds: "(Nero available from War Elephant Module and C3i, Nr.3 Insert.)"
Note: the leader ratings (PC, OC and the like) for these counters are printed on the C3i counter insert, not in the article text. They are not transcribed here.
Scenario: The Battle of Clastidium, 222 BC
MAP - Use the Cannae Map from SPQR. The Roman Army uses the Northeast map edge as its retreat edge. The Celtic Army uses the Southwest map edge.
COUNTERS - You will need SPQR.
- New Leader counters are displayed in this issue.
Initial Deployment
Celtic Army of King Britomartus
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| King Britomartus [OC] | 1721 |
| *Ducarius (or Tychaeus) | 1729 |
| *Magalus (or Hamilcar) | 1713 |
| Celtic Infantry MI (1-17) | 1713-29 |
| Celtic Cavalry LN (1-4) | 1711-12, 1730-31 |
Celtic Command: The identities of Britomartus' subordinate commanders are unknown, so Ducarius (Insubres warrior who slew the Consul Flaminius at Trasimene, 217 BC) and Magalus (Boii Lord who met Hannibal in 218 BC in Gaul) are used to represent his Celtic chieftains.
Roman Army of Marcellus
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Consul M. C. Marcellus [OC] | 3419 |
| Tribune | 3415 |
| Praefects Equit (2) | 3419, 3425 |
| I Legion Roman Velites a,b (2) ** | 3419, 3421 |
| III Rom/AS-a,b,ex Cavalry RC (4) | 3414-17 |
| V Rom/AS-a,b,c Cavalry RC (4) | 3423-26 |
| VII AS-a,b,ex Cavalry RC (3) | 3413, 3427-28 |
** These Velites are taken from the elite I Legion because they were a picked force of 600 selected from the 7,200 velites of the double consular army.
Duel of the Commanders
Marcellus may challenge Britomartus to a duel before play begins. If Britomartus declines, his army's rout ratio drops to 25%. If he accepts, the duel is fought in hex 2520. The duel is resolved using portions of Rule (8.4), Personal Combat, from the Great Battles of Alexander:
(8.41) The leader with the higher Personal Combat Rating (PC) strikes first. If the rating are even the Active leader goes first (He Who Strikes First). If the first dieroll of He Who Strikes First is THE SAME OR LOWER than his PC, then the opposing leader rolls the die, and compares it to HIS PC. If this dieroll is:
1. SAME AS OR LOWER than his PC: No Effect, and this leader becomes He Who Strikes First.
2. HIGHER than his PC: This leader is killed or wounded. Make a second dieroll for this leader, again comparing the result to his PC rating. If the 2nd dieroll is
a. HIGHER than his PC, he is killed.
b. SAME AS OR LOWER than his PC, he is wounded.
(8.42) If the first dieroll of He Who Strikes First is HIGHER than his PC, then the opposing player gets to become He Who Strikes. Each player gets to roll only once for each leader, except that if He Who Strikes First inflicts a casualty, the opposing leader does NOT get a dieroll.
(8.43) Killed leaders are removed from play and are not replaced. If a leader is wounded, roll the die and compare to his PC. If HIGHER, he is also removed from play. (However the victory point penalty is more sever [sic] for a kill than a wound.) If the SAME AS OR LOWER than the PC, he remains in play but all his ratings are reduced by one -- to a minimum of '0'.
After the duel, surviving leaders may return to join any friendly unit. Play then begins as usual.
Line Eligibility
Celts: None
Rome: 1. All Cavalry
Victory
A player wins by forcing his opponent's army to withdraw. Celtic Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totalling 40 (*or 29) have been eliminated. Roman Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totaling 30 have been eliminated.
Army Size and TQ Levels
| Army | Size | Numbers | Rout Ratio | Quality Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celts | 101 | 8,500 foot, 1,600 horse | 35% (*25%) | 1.08 |
| Romans | 41 | 800 foot, 3,300 horse | 40% | 1.83 |
*Celt Rout Ratio drops to 25% if Britomartus declines the duel.
Scenario: The Third Battle of Nola, 214 BC
MAP - Use the Beneventum Map from SPQR. The Roman Army uses the camp or West map edge as its retreat edge. The Carthaginian Army uses the East map edge.
COUNTERS - You will need SPQR.
- New Leader counters are displayed in this issue.
Initial Deployment
Roman Army of Marcellus
Deploys First: All leaders and units can be deployed anywhere West of the Night Alert Line.
Leaders: Consul M. Claudius Marcellus [OC]; Tribune (2); Praefects Soc (2); Praefect Equit (1)
Units:
- V Roman/AS Legion: Hastati (4); Principes (4); Triarii (5); Cohorts (9); Roman Cavalry RC (1)
- VII Roman/AS Legion: Velites (5); Hastati (4); Principes (4); Triarii (5); Cohorts (9); Roman Cavalry RC (1)
Nero's Detachment
Leaders: Tribune Gaius Claudius Nero; Praefect Equit (1)
Units:
- V Roman/AS Legion: Cohort Extra (1); Velites (5); Cavalry RC (a,b)
- VII AS Legion: Cohort Extra (1); Cavalry RC (a,ex)
- The Roman player selects one of the following options for deploying Nero's Detachment, and writes down his choice on a piece of paper:
- (1) North Edge - enter in hexes 3631-38
- (2) East Edge - enter in hexes 2244-3444
- (3) South Edge - enter in hexes 1735-37, and 1738-39
- (4) Remain in Camp
If 1, 2 or 3 is selected, the Roman player rolls the die at the start of each turn (beginning on Turn 2). If the result is 0-4, he may deploy Nero's Detachment at the preselected entry hexes; 5-9 is no effect. (Carthaginian units may not occupy entry hexes). If 4 is selected, the Roman player may exit Nero's Detachment from any gate on any turn he chooses.
- Nero may issue orders automatically, even when beyond the OC's range.
Carthaginian Army of Hannibal
Deploys Last: All leaders and units can be deployed anywhere East of the Day Alery [sic] Line.
Leaders: Hannibal [OC] w/Surus; Hasdrubal; Maharbal; Hamilcar
Units: African PH (1-6); Celtic MI (1-8); Iberian LI (1-8); Balearic SK (1-8); Numidian LC (1-4); Iberian LN (1-2); Celtic LN (1-4); Elephants (1-8)
Line Eligibility
Carthage:
- PH and MI
- MI, LI, SK and EL
- All cavalry
Rome: Same as Beneventum
Victory
A player wins by forcing his opponent's army to withdraw.
Carthaginian Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totalling 105 have been eliminated.
Roman Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totalling 120 have been eliminated.
Army Size and TQ Levels
| Army | Size | Numbers | Rout Ratio | Quality Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | 188 | 14,800 foot, 4000 horse, 40 elephants | 40% | 1.39 |
| Romans | 186 | 16,800 foot, 1,800 horse | 35% | 1.82 |
Scenario: The Battle of Acrillae, 213 BC
MAP - Use the Eastern Half of the Beneventum Map from SPQR. The Roman Army uses the Northeast map edge as its retreat edge. The Syracusan Army uses the Southwest map edge.
COUNTERS - You will need SPQR.
- New Leader counters are displayed in this issue.
Initial Deployment
Syracusan Army of Hippocrates
ADVANCE GUARD (Deploy within 2 hexes of 2841)
Leader: Athngras
Units: Peltast (Thracian) LI (1-3); Cretan LI (1); Cretan (TQ4) SK (1-2); Cretan (TQ5) SK (1); Epirote SK (1-3)
MAIN BODY (Deploy within 3 hexes of 2936)
Leader: Hippocrates [OC]
Units: Syracusan (Aetolian) HO (1-8); Syracusan (Aetolian) LI (1-4); Mercenary Hoplites HI (1-3);
REAR GUARD (Deploy within 1 hex of 3044)
Leader: Nicanor
Units: Syracusan (Guard) HC (1); Greek Mercenary LC (1)
Roman Army of Consul Marcellus
| Unit(s) | Hex(es) |
|---|---|
| Consul M. Marcellus [OC] | Anywhere |
| Tribune | With any Roman Infantry Unit |
| Praefect Soc | With any Roman AS Infantry unit |
| Praefect Equit | With any Roman Cavalry unit |
| X Roman Velites (3) | 3031, 3231, 3431 |
| X Hastati (4) | 3228, 3328 (2 per hex) |
| X Principes (4) | 3126, 3226 (2 per hex) |
| X AS Velites (2) | 3223, 3224 |
| X AS Cohorts (8) | 3127, 3128, 3326, 3327 (2 per hex) |
| X AS Cohort Extra (1) | 3230 |
| X AS-extra Cavalry RC (1) | 2928 |
Line Eligibility
Syracuse:
- HI
- LI and SK
Rome: Same as Beneventum
Victory
A player wins by forcing his opponent's army to withdraw.
Syracusan Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totaling 40 have been eliminated.
Roman Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totaling 50 have been eliminated.
Army Size and TQ Levels
| Army | Size | Numbers | Rout Ratio | Quality Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 107 | 10,100 foot, 600 horse | 30% | 1.16 |
| Romans | 74 | 7,100 foot, 300 horse | 35% | 1.88 |
Scenario: The Battle of Numistro, 210 BC
MAP - Use the Western half of the Cynoscephalae Map from SPQR. The Roman Army uses the North map edge as its retreat edge. The Carthaginian Army uses the South map edge.
COUNTERS - You will need SPQR.
- New Leader counters are displayed in this issue.
Initial Deployment
Roman Army of Marcellus
Deploys First: Deploy First; Anywhere North of hexrow 38xx.
Leaders: M. Claudius Marcellus [OC]; Tribunes (2); Praefects Soc (2); Praefect Equits (2)
Units:
- All units of the V Roman/AS Legion, less one AS Cavalry unit
- All units of the X Roman/AS Legion, less one AS Cavalry unit
Carthaginian Army of Hannibal
Deploy Second: Anywhere in Level 4,5 or 6 Terrain.
Leaders: Hannibal [OC] w/Surus; Hasdrubal; Maharbal; Hamilcar
Units:
Veterans - African PH (1-2); Celtic MI (1-6); Iberian LI (1-6); Balearic SK (1-7); Numidian LC (1-6); Iberian LN (1); Celtic LN (1-2); Elephants (1-6)
Conscripts - Bruttian MI (1-2); Lucanian MI (1-2); Samnite MI (1-2); Sabine MI (1-2); Italian MI (1-2) Mercenary HI (1-3); Cretan LI (1)
Line Eligibility
Carthage:
- PH, HI and MI
- LI, SK and EL
- Cavalry
Rome: Same as Cannae
Victory
A player wins by forcing his opponent's army to withdraw.
Carthaginian Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totalling 102 have been eliminated.
Roman Army: Withdraws when units with TQ points totalling 132 have been eliminated.
Army Size and TQ Levels
| Army | Size | Numbers | Rout Ratio | Quality Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage | 205 | 16,900 foot, 3600 horse, 30 elephants | 35% | 1.44 |
| Romans | 186 | 16,800 foot, 1,800 horse | 35% | 2.04 |
Notes on Transcription
The scenario set-up boxes are transcribed as printed; the historical narrative is omitted. Spellings and wording are kept as printed, and "[sic]" marks the two obvious slips ("Day Alery", "sever"). The Duel of the Commanders is printed only in the Clastidium box and applies to that battle alone.