S&T 360 : Eagles of Rome II: Scipio

Rome against Carthage and the Hellenistic Kingdoms

Strategy & Tactics #360 features Eagles of Rome II: Scipio, a grand tactical wargame designed by Joseph Miranda covering major battles of the Middle Roman Republic, during the period when Rome emerged as the dominant military power of the Mediterranean world.

This second volume in the Eagles of Rome series focuses primarily on the conflicts of the Punic and Macedonian Wars, covering approximately 246 to 100 BC. Roman legions face the armies of Carthage and the powerful military formations descended from the Hellenistic tradition.

A grand tactical system for Ancient warfare

Eagles of Rome is a grand tactical system covering battles of the Roman Era, from the Republic through the Empire and into the early Byzantine period.

In Scipio, players command armies with very different military doctrines and organizations, including Roman legions, Macedonian phalangites, Carthaginian cavalry and irregular forces.

The system emphasizes:

• the distinction between missile and melee combat
• special tactics available to different armies;
• the importance of command;
• morale as a critical factor in battle;
• the diverse organization and battlefield roles of Ancient armies.

The game is played through a series of historical scenarios, each representing a specific battle. The rules are divided into three major sections: standard rules common to the series, rules for specific battles, and optional rules that players may use to add further depth to the simulation.

An operational scale for major Ancient battles

The game's scale varies according to the scenario:

• 1 hex: approximately 100 to 200 yards across;
• 1 game turn: approximately 15 to 45 minutes;
• Units: three to ten Roman maniples, one to two Hellenistic taxeis, or irregular formations representing approximately 1,000 to 3,000 men;
• Leaders: major commanders, war chiefs, or the staffs of legions and other higher formations.

This scale allows players to recreate the large-scale maneuvering of Ancient armies while retaining a strong focus on formations, morale and tactical employment.

The magazine

The main feature of this issue explores the Era of Scipio and the emergence of the Roman legion as the dominant military system in the Mediterranean world during the third, second and first centuries BC.

The magazine examines how Rome's armies overcame both the forces of Alexander's successor states and the military power of the Carthaginian Empire.

Additional historical articles include:

• The Battle of Big Hole Basin – The fighting of 9–10 August 1877 between elements of the US Army's 7th Infantry Regiment, volunteers and the Nez Perce in Montana.
• The Kaiser's Raiders: 1914–18 – German commerce raiding operations during the First World War and their impact on Allied naval strategy.
• Firebase Ripcord – The story of the isolated American fire support base in South Vietnam, which became an important element of Operation Texas Star in 1970.

Game Contents

• 1 copy of Strategy & Tactics #360 magazine;
• 1 22 x 34-inch game map;
• 1 sheet of 176 die-cut 5/8-inch counters;
• game rules and scenarios.

Specifications

• Publisher: Decision Games / Strategy & Tactics Press
• Series: Strategy & Tactics
• Issue: #360
• Included Game: Eagles of Rome II: Scipio
• Designer: Joseph Miranda
• Period: Ancient
• Conflicts: Punic and Macedonian Wars
• Historical Coverage: approximately 246–100 BC
• Scale: Grand Tactical
• Map: One 22 x 34-inch map
• Counters: 176 die-cut 5/8-inch counters
• Language: English

Why you'll love it: Eagles of Rome II: Scipio takes players to the great battles that established Roman dominance over the Mediterranean. A grand tactical system featuring Roman legions, Macedonian phalanxes and Carthaginian armies, combined with a particularly rich issue of Strategy & Tactics devoted to military history.