The Battle of The Trebbia.

Our first encounter with Pulse of Battle

I have been eagerly looking forward to the release of Pulse of Battle - (POB) for a long time.
They are available from: http://www.piquetwargames.com/
Just prior to its release I was given eight feet of river suitable for deploying on the edge of a
battlefield. I had also been given some Marlburian General Officers as a present, and my
wedding present from my wife, Maxine, who is also becoming a wargamer, a beautiful 15mm
Numidian army.
With the arrival on the doormat of my copy of POB and the beautiful card deck - I usually
make my own, and supply to others - I wanted to use my new toys together.
Peter Anderson aka Gonsalvo unwittingly provided the solution. Peters excellent review and
ORBATS can be found here: http://blundersonthedanube.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/reviewpulse-of-battle-1500-bc-500-ad.html
I already own a hard copy of Hannibal Ad Portas and have been disappointed in my efforts to
secure a PDF from Brent. (It would save so much typing and preparation of ORBATS). Peter
wrote an account of his first POB game - the Trebbia. Of course! The Romans have just
crossed the river to take the fight to the Carthaginians - so I could use my river. The three
Marlburian Officers could provide some of the Officers that I would need for the scenario, and
some of my wedding present Numidians would aid and assist Hannibal, and some of the Gauls
the Romans. Ah yes, I also have some fantastic mountain ranges which were a present from
Bob Cordery. They could dress the North end of the table. Sorted!
I mentioned this to Last Chance Hooper aka Phil, who was delighted to be able to play the
rules so soon after release.
To save time I used Peters ORBATS, and as has always been our practice when Pking, Phil
and I rolled for the unit abilities the first time that each unit came into contact with the enemy
by fire, morale etc. I have changed Peters ORBATS only in that I have arranged the Command
Groups together rather than running through the list as Peter had done. He made several
suggestions in his after action report and we followed each of them, as you can see from the
ORBATS where they appear appended at the end of each ORBAT. I have played and loved PK
since 2001, more of which in the summary.

Carthaginian ORBAT
ID
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Unit
African Javelinmen
Balearic Slingers A
Insubrian Gauls
Boii Gauls
Spanish Scutarii A
African Elephants A
Spanish Javelinmen
Balearic Slingers B
Libyan Spearmen A
Libyan Spearmen B

Type
Peltasts Jav
Psiloi Sling
Warband
Warband
Med Inf Pila
Elephants
Peltasts Jav
Psiloi Sling
Hv Inf long Sp
Hv Inf long Sp
1

Cmd
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2

DD
D4
D8
D4
D4
D6
D4
D4
D8
D8
D8

CD

10
8
10
10

UI
3
2
4
4
4
4
3
2
4
4

Pila
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Notes

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

Spanish Scutarii B
African Elephants B
Numidian Horse B
Spanish Cavalry
Gallic Cavalry
Numidian Horse A
Carthaginian Cavalry
Mago's African Javelins
Mago's Numidian Horse

Med Inf Pila

Elephants
Lt Cavalry Jav
Med Cavalry
Hvy Cavalry
Lt Cavalry Jav
Hvy Cavalry
Peltasts Jav
Lt Cavalry Jav

2
2
3
3
3
4
4
5
5

ID Commander Name Command Rating

D6
D4
D10
D6
D4
D10
D8
D6
D10
LD

10
10
8
12
10
10
10
8
10

4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Radius

20

Hannibal Barca

C-in-C

Exceptional 12

24

21

Maharbal

Skilled

12+1 24

22

Gisgo

Skilled

12

24

23

Mago

Skilled

12

24

24

Bomilcar

Skilled

10

20

25

Jabnit

Skilled

12+1 24

Glen's scenario calls for a "Hypothermia" card (We used the FoB "Thwack!" card) to be added
to the Roman Sequence Deck. When it appears, all Romans are Down 1 for Melee for the rest
of that turn.
The scenario also called for a "Weather Worsens" card to be added to the Roman deck as well.
We used the PoB "Special Event" card for this. On its first appearance, it starts to rain and all
Missile fire is Down 1. On the second appearance, it starts to sleet; both armies then add
another Thwack/ Hypothermia Card to their decks (making 2 for the Romans and one for the
Carthaginians total). On a 3rd appearance, it starts to snow; all Cavalry and Elephants are
Down 1 in Melee, and all Command Radii are reduced 4".
Add a PoB "Warbands Charge" optional card to both Sequence decks; this card effects only the
Gallic Warbands in this game.
Adapting Glenn's ideas to PoB. I think the Resolve Card should probably be added to both
decks for a lot of these battles, maybe after the first Re-shuffle.
Hannibal turns a MOVE card, and springs Mago's ambush - a unit each of mediocre Numidian
Javelinmen ("Peltasts) and one of the dreaded Numidian Light Cavalry appear to the flank and
rear of the Roman Left flank.
No ROUTS in POB.
Roman interpenetration VERY easy - Special rule.

Roman ORBAT
ID
1

Unit
Velites, Legion I

Type
Peltasts Jav.

Cmd
1

DD
D4

CD

UI
3

Pila
N/A

Hastati, Legion I

Med. Inf Pila

D6

Principes Legion I

Heavy Inf Pila

D6

10

Triarii, Legions I & II

Hv Inf long Sp

D8

5
6
7

Velites Legion II
Hastati, Legion II
Principes Legion II

Peltasts Jav
Med Inf Pila
Hvy Inf Pila

2
2
2

D4
D6
D6

10
10
8

3
4
4

N/A

Velites Legion III

Peltasts Jav

D6

N/A

9
10
11

Hastati Legion III

Principes Legion III
Velites, Legion IV

Med Inf Pila

Hvy Inf Pila
Peltasts Jav

3
3
4

D6
D6
D4

12
10
8

4
4
3

N/A

12
13
14

Med Inf Pila

Hvy Inf
Hv Inf long Sp

4
4
4

D6
D6
D8

4
4
4

15
16
17

Hastati, Legion IV
Principes Legion IV
Triarii, Legions III &
IV
Cenomani Gauls
Roman Cavalry
Allied Cavalry, Leg.

Warband
Hvy Cavalry
Med Cavalry

4
C-in-C
5

D4
D4
D6

10
4
12+1 3
10
3

N/A
N/A
N/A

18

Allied Cavalry, Leg.

Med Cavalry

D6

10

N/A

ID

Commander Name

Command Rating

LD Radius

19

Sempronius Longus

C-in-C

Poor

16

20

Gaius Atilius

Poor

12

24

21

Lucius Manlius

Poor

16

22

Publius Cornelius Scipio 3

Average 10

20

23

Titus Hostilius

Poor

10

20

24

Sextus Rutilius

Poor

16

Some names are fictitious, and P.C. Scipio was not present in fact, as he was recovering from
his wounds suffered in an earlier action.
Glen's scenario calls for a "Hypothermia" card (We used the FoB "Thwack!" card) to be added
to the Roman Sequence Deck. When it appears, all Romans are Down 1 for Melee for the rest
of that turn.

Notes

The scenario also called for a "Weather Worsens" card to be added to the Roman deck as well.
We used the PoB "Special Event" card for this. On its first appearance, it starts to rain and all
Missile fire is Down 1. On the second appearance, it starts to sleet; both armies then add
another Thwack/ Hypothermia Card to their decks (making 2 for the Romans and one for the
Carthaginians total). On a 3rd appearance, it starts to snow; all Cavalry and Elephants are
Down 1 in Melee, and all Command Radii are reduced 4".
Add a PoB "Warbands Charge" optional card to both Sequence decks; this card effects only the
Gallic Warbands in this game.
Adapting Glenn's ideas to PoB. I think the Resolve Card should probably be added to both
decks for a lot of these battles, maybe after the first Re-shuffle.
Hannibal turns a MOVE card, and springs Mago's ambush - a unit each of mediocre Numidian
Javelinmen ("Peltasts) and one of the dreaded Numidian Light Cavalry appear to the flank and
rear of the Roman Left flank.
No ROUTS in POB.
Roman interpenetration VERY easy - Special rule.
Looking South - from the Alps. Note PK clocks and also Peter Pig countdown markers and both real time
and game time clocks at end of table.

Looking North - towards the Alps

Our initial dispositions were based on my interpretations of the period, and reinforced by
Professor Adrian Goldsworthys excellent The Punic Wars. Cavalry on the flank, with
infantry in the centre, and the war-winning terror weapons - the Heffalumps - in the front of the
Carthaginian lines. The Roman Commands were deployed from left to right with Command 1
on the Roman Right flank. The Carthaginians deployed from their right to left with the
Carthaginian Command 1 on their right flank. Magos two cavalry units were on the window
ledge with their Commander awaiting an opportune Move card to summon them to the party.
The Initial view for the Romans
We use the large D6 to note whether a die roll is odd or even. The yew boxes (one for each
side) contain the morale chips, which screen the numbers from the opponent. The blue screen
serves two purposes: one being to prevent the toys making unwarranted trips to the floor, and
they also provide a great backdrop for low level shots, as per my photos in Henry Hydes
magazine).

The Romans rolled the higher die to decide the first Initiative and decided to bring the war to
the rascally Carthaginians. Their left flank throw resulted in the option of three move segments,
which the Romans took. They were eager to close being aware that the Carthaginians liked to
utilise stratagems and trickery in a fight. The Carthaginians welcomed such a bold move and
much banter ensued as they sought to encourage the Romans ever forward, thereby exposing
their left flank to Mago.
The Romans advanced their second Command but they rolled a 1 so nothing there. The right
flank advanced one segment.

Romans rolling forward.

The Carthaginians refused their right flank. (They threw a 1). The beauty of the rules is that
you make the narrative to match the results. The rest of the line advanced at a measured pace to
meet the enemy and await the arrival of Magos force. (They all rolled for one movement
segment).
The lines advanced and the Heffalumps prevailed.

The Roman lines wavered and fell back. Mago fell on the right Roman left flank like a wolf
from the fold. The Roman left flank was refused. The Numidian cavalry on the Carthaginian
left broke through and killed the Roman CinC. The Roman lines continued to fall back, but
they ran out of Morale chips, and as things fell apart we called it a very satisfactory day.
Melee can have up to three rounds in a turn (on the same card), which assists in reaching a
conclusion.
Magos cavalry hitting the Roman cavalry in the flank meant that they could melee
immediately upon contact without requiring a melee card. When the Move card was revealed
we just placed Magos cavalry force on the edge of the table. They did not move until we
turned another appropriate card.

Much of the left flank of the Carthaginians was a stand-off with their Roman
counterparts (Much rolling of 1 when moves were decided!) - while awaiting the
moment to unleash the Numidian cavalry to kill the Roman CinC.

Roman interpenetration is covered by a special rule - i.e. they can just do it. This simple
expedient cuts out lots of extraneous rule writing and worked really well in our game

The trap is sprung.

First photo from the Carthaginian and the second from the Roman perspectives.
I saw the excellent Litko markers denoting thrown javelins and arrows fired but they have yet
to arrive from across the pond, so we used clear plastic stands instead as we felt that cotton
wool would be inappropriate. Although later I think that the Romans would have been grateful
for a smokescreen to mask their withdrawal.

10

11

Carthaginian Heffalup continues to rumble forward. The Roman loss of UI markers can
be seen.

12

Last Chance diplomatically ignoring Magos forces on his left and pointing out the
struggle in the centre instaed.

13

The Libyan Spearmen giving a good account of themselves (Aided by Phils die rolling ;-) )

14

The final breakthrough of the Carthaginians

15

The end - the Roman view

Summary
The rules provide a flowing and simple solution to recreating battles from the ancient period.
They achieve that. They felt right.
When we spoke about games that we have seen at a local club using DBwhatever and the other
system that requires vast expenditure to secure army list books, POB are stratospherically
superior. The reason being that our game felt right and reached a satisfactory conclusion in a
reasonable amount of time, whereas the rules previously alluded to fail to do the same. We
have often left the club and the ancient players are still going and their troops have hardly
changed from their initial dispositions.
We liked the way that the Romans gradually fell back giving up ground, and the ability of the
light cavalry to slip through a gap in the Roman lines to attack their CinC.
The rules are not written for tournament play - hallelujah. Rather they are written clearly for
friends who want a good game with clean mechanisms in a reasonable time frame.

Lessons learnt and Conclusion.

As experienced PKers playing new set of rules we- well me really - made one major
oversight. We applied the same criteria to both sides so no harm done to the overall result, but
I was taking a Morale Chip from the Romans for losing a melee round and another for each
lost UI. (Measure Of Unit integrity). This is wrong. It ought to have been just one Morale chip
16

per UI lost. It would have been the same for both sides so didnt effect the game, apart from
making the Romans run out of Morale chips somewhat quicker than they otherwise would have
done.
We also disordered the Roman infantry as the previous line suffered a disordered result and
fell back through their supports. This is not how POB is written. Brent said that it could be a
house rule. We will play the next game as written on that point and compare.
The death of the Roman CinC had major implications. We rolled a D6 while we waited for
am card top appoint another Leader. This was incorrect. We ought to have offered the
Carthaginians the choice of acting first or second as the Romans had no CinC. As they lost the
D6 rolls it had no adverse bearing on the game. Brent promptly supplied the answer and we
found the rule.
Although no pike blocks were present I really like the sound of how the rules deal with them. I
am now basing my pike phalanxes up in anticipation. It also makes me very keen to ply the
Italian Wars and Wars of the Roses variants - much awaited and anticipated to be PDFs. If you
are interested let Brent know NOW!
Now reading the rules again after the game to see what we missed. We didnt really, and look
forward to another game soon. I have a large collection of ancient armies and there is much to
commend these rules.
Buy them and you will play them - not add them to the other dust gatherers on the shelves
with all the other rules for this period.

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