The latter. I suppose if there was a theme it'd be Rome's early rise to power throughout the Italian Peninsula and Mediterranean, but my posts have pretty much disregarded chronology in favour of whichever story I am currently enthralled with :) 

Rome's legions march north through the Po Valley with the aim of supressing uprisings in Insubria. 

Having constructed a series of earthworks and defensive palings in anticipation of Rome's arrival, a defiant tribe of Insubres wait patiently for their enemy to begin the siege.

Celtic slingers harrass timid cohorts of hastati and principes from their strategic highground, hamstringing the legion's efforts to assault the hillfort. 

A lull in the barrage allows the Roman infantry to centralize around the hillfort's weak point: the gateway along the riverbank. The Insubres oblige with the bulk of their own infantry, and the two sides meet at the foot of the hilltop. 

This commitment leaves the Roman left flank exposed, a mistake the defending Gauls make sure to exploit. Insubres light cavalry and elite members of the tribe's warrior caste, stalking the nearby forests, sieze upon this tactical blunder and emerge from the treeline in a furious charge...

Roman equites survey the slow (but gradual) construction of the governor's new villa in Sicily. Scouts have reported sightings of Carthaginian quinqueremes sailing out of Zankle, deploying troops along the coast...

AAR05

Setting up for a re-imagined Cannae with friends. Happy Holidays, folks :) 

Hope the battle went well and the Romans won for a change.

Thanks David! It was great fun.

First battle was large scale and epic, with both Rome and Carthage enjoying massive swings in momentum before a stalemate was announced to end the game. This was an appropriate result I think :) 

Second scenario featured a less populated board and some killer engagements, particularly between the opposing sides' infantry.

Rome's frontline Hastati and veteran Triarii advanced methodically (Drilled), dispatching an initial Gallic contingent before overwhelming Carthage's Spanish Scutari on the outskirts of town. 

Ultimately it was a decisive Roman thrashing of Mago's divisions, with Varro flipping the script on Hannibal's famous romp at Cannae -- a pleasant surprise considering that most of the Roman infantry were Levied! 

Reports of a Lusitani tribe supplying Carthage with conscripts and oil provoke a brutal retaliation from Rome. 

The Legions are met with flimsy resistance, and the Iberians' frontlines are shattered and forced into a frenzied retreat.

Villagers and the local citizenry scramble to complete adequate defenses in advance of the looming attack. Meanwhile, outside the walls, Roman generals issue orders to the engineering corp to begin construction of ballistic siegeworks. 

Lovely looking set up.

Cheers mate :)

Really enjoying how much these figures bring a board and scenario to life. So many stories to tell.

Wonderful stuff, Baccus. 

Yes great shots as usual. Glad to see I'm not the only one using artillery and civilians in an Ancients environment.