TREBIA
December 218 BC
6mm “Age of Hannibal” Scenario
“…Here he proposed to lay a stratagem GAME LENGTH
to surprise the enemy.” There is no turn limit. Play until one side is broken.
--Polybius, of Hannibal
TABLETOP
The scenario requires a 6’x4’ tabletop. The Trebia may
be forded at any point as rough ground. The tabletop
should be set up according to the map below, with
deployment areas noted for both sides.
DEPLOYMENT
Players may wish to deploy simultaneously with a
screen between them. If not, the Roman player sets up
first in the noted deployment area. Hannibal’s polyglot
army deploys second, with Mago’s ambush command
off-table to start the game.
BACKGROUND Starting Turn 2, the Carthaginian player may attempt to
In 218BC Hannibal carried the Second Punic War from spring Mago’s ambush with a d10 roll of 7+. Add +1 to
Spain, through Gaul, and famously across the Alps. He each subsequent turn attempt. When the roll is passed,
defeated a Roman army at Ticinus in northern Italy, the ambushing command deploys at the start of that
leading great numbers of Gallic and regional allies to Carthaginian turn, but may not charge into close
join his cause. This stunning move led the Roman combat on their first turn on the tabletop. Historically
senate to take quick action. the ambush came from the ravine on the Roman left,
but in this scenario it may be sprung from either end of
Rome reinforced Publius Cornelius Scipio with a second the ravine to help keep the Romans guessing.
army under the consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus and
their armies converged near the colony of Placentia at
SCENARIO NOTES
the junction of the River Po and Trebia. It was
A “base” of troops in this Age of Hannibal scenario
December 218 BC and Hannibal’s army of some 40,000
represents approximately 1,000 formed infantry, 500
men camped across the Trebia, waiting for battle.
skirmishers, or 750 cavalry. Players with fewer
Hannibal sent his light cavalry to harass the Romans,
miniatures can rescale to a higher ratio to refight the
provoking a response that continues to confuse
battle using what they have available. Using this
historians to this day. Scipio and Longus could not agree
calculation, the scenario has 40,000 Romans facing an
on the proper course of action and Roman customs led
army of 35,000 Carthaginians. The Carthaginian player is
to a confused command structure where neither
able to spring an ambush entering from off-table (and
commander could claim sole charge.
this is obviously best played if the GM running the game
hasn’t told the Roman players). This ambush force was
Historians believe that Longus, acting without Scipio,
said to be only a few hundred men historically, but in
crossed the freezing waters of the Trebia to pursue the
this scenario it is made somewhat larger to give the
Carthaginian skirmishers and give battle. He led an army
ambush a suitable amount of punch—enough to cause
roughly equal in size to Hannibal, but severely lacking in
some discomfort for the Romans!
cavalry. Hannibal waited on the opposite bank, his men
deployed on a wide plain with his brother Mago laying a
small ambush on the Roman left. Visit us at LittleWarsTV.com
ROMAN BRIEFING CARTHAGINIAN BRIEFING
Hannibal and his horde of barbarians must be stopped Fresh off our victory at Tinicus, morale in the ranks is
before invading deeper into Italy. His army has only soaring and confidence is high. Thousands of Celts have
recently crossed the Alps and must be weary and joined our ranks and more still will come if another
depleted. If we strike him now before he can rally fresh victory could be won. The Roman have been baited into
mercenaries and Celts, a glorious victory can be accepting battle on a shallow plain of our choosing. In
secured. Break this barbarian army for Rome…and for their haste to engage, they have failed to detect a small
your own political ambitions as consul. but potent ambush force laid on their flank. Destroy the
Roman army to win the day.
REINFORCEMENTS
None. REINFORCEMENTS
Mago’s Command per the Deployment special rules.
MAP
ROMAN CONSULAR ARMY
COMMANDER MOVE CF RF Traits COST
Sempronius General 6” / 6” +1 +1 Reckless 100
Tribune Lieutenant 6” / 6” +1 +1 100
UNIT NAME TYPE MOVE CF RF Support Charge Terrain COST
Roman Velites Skirmishers 5” / 4” +1 6+ 20 (x8)
Thrown Missiles, Free facing
Roman Hastati Hand Wpns 4” / 3” +3 6+ Yes 45 (x6)
Pila, Roman Drill
Roman Princepes Hand Wpns 4” / 3” +3 5+ Yes 50 (x6)
Pila, Roman Drill, (Veteran Morale)
Roman Triarii Spears 4” / 3” +4 5+ Yes -1 CF 50 (x4)
Roman Drill, +1 v. Mounted, (Elite)
Roman Equites Med. Horse 6” / 3” +3 6+ -2 CF 45 (x2)
(Veteran Morale)
Alae Peltasts Skirmishers 5” / 4” +1 6+ 20 (x4)
Thrown Missles, Free Facing
Alae Archers Skirmishers 5” / 4” +1 6+ 20 (x2)
Ranged Missiles, Free Facing
Alae Light Inf. Light Inf. 4” / 3” +3 6+ Yes 20 (x6)
Alae Spears Spears 4” / 3” +3 6+ Yes -1 CF 30 (x12)
+1 v. Mounted
Latin Cavalry Med. Horse 6” / 3” +3 7+ -2 CF 40 (x5)
Gallic Infantry Hand Wpns 4” / 3” +3 6+ Yes 25 (x6)
Impetuous, Unreliable
Gallic Horse Hvy. Horse 6” / 3” +4 6+ +2 CF -2 CF 55 (x2)
Impetuous, Wild Charge
2,280
CARTHAGINIAN ARMY
COMMANDER MOVE CF RF Traits COST
Hannibal General 6” / 6” +2 +2/+3 Semi-Divine, Noble Origins 100
Hanno Lieutenant 6” / 6” +1 +1 100
UNIT NAME TYPE MOVE CF RF Support Charge Terrain COST
Balearic Slingers Skirmishers 5” / 4” +2 5+ 30 (x6)
Ranged Missiles, Free facing, Elite (+1 Missile fire)
Numidian Javelin Skirmishers 5” / 4” +1 5+ 25 (x4)
Thrown Missiles, Free facing, (Veteran Morale)
Ligurian Infantry Skirmishers 5” / 4” +1 6+ 20 (x6)
Thrown Missiles, Free facing
Celt Infantry Hand Wpns 4” / 3” +3 6+ Yes 35 (x10)
Impetuous, Wild Charge
Spanish Scutarri Spears 4” / 3” +3 6+ Yes -1 CF 30 (x8)
+1 v. Mounted
African Veterans Spears 4” / 3” +3 5+ Yes -1 CF 45 (x6)
Phalanx Drill, +1 v. Mounted, (Veteran Morale)
Numidian Horse Light Horse 8” / 4” +3 6+ -2 CF 45 (x9)
Thrown Missiles, Free Facing, (Veteran Combat)
Celt Horse Med. Horse 6” / 3” +3 7+ +1 CF -2 CF 45 (x6)
Impetuous, Wild Charge
Punic Horse Hvy. Horse 6” / 3” +4 5+ +1 CF -2 CF 55 (x4)
(Veteran Morale)
African Elephants Elephants 4”/3” +5 7+ +3 CF -2 CF 65 (x2)
Fearsome, Panic, +2 v. Mounted
2,620
MAGO’s AMBUSH
COMMANDER MOVE CF RF Traits COST
Mago Lieutenant 6” / 6” +1 +1 100
UNIT NAME TYPE MOVE CF RF Support Charge Terrain COST
Libyan Infantry Light Inf. 5” / 4” +3 6+ Yes 30 (x2)
Thrown Missiles, (Veteran Combat)
Numidian Horse Light Horse 8” / 4” +3 6+ 45 (x1)
Thrown Missiles, Free Facing, (Veteran Combat)
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