A dream for historical wargame fans who crave depth without spending days on a single match. Its strongest point is the seamless integration of politics and warfare.
- Amazing synergy between politics and combat
- Modern components and beautiful miniatures
- Two historical eras in one box
- Smoother rules than the previous edition
- High language dependency for text
- Learning curve for newcomers
About the game
What you do in a play session
The set offers two main experiences. First, there's the classic Hannibal, focusing on land struggle and strategic genius. Then, there's Hamilcar, a standalone companion game focusing on the First Punic War, introducing a naval system where the conflict becomes literally a fight between 'an elephant and a whale' — the land-based empire versus the world's naval power.
Gameplay is driven by Strategy Cards, which serve multiple purposes: moving generals, levying new troops, reinforcing existing armies, or triggering historical events that can shift the tide of the match. When armies clash on the battlefield, a second deck comes into play — Battle Cards — which, combined with custom dice, determine the winner of the engagement.
This new edition isn't just a fresh coat of paint. Mark Simonitch's design has been refined to make the game more fluid and faster to play without losing the original tactical depth. With new miniatures, updated art, and a double-sided board, the experience is more immersive than ever. For those who want more, the game is compatible with the 'Sun of Macedon' and 'Price of Failure' expansions, adding further layers of complexity and historical scenarios. It is the definitive experience for history buffs, pure strategy lovers, and anyone who wants to feel the weight of deciding the fate of the Mediterranean.
Expansions
Published additional content
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 1
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 2
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 4
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 3
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 5
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 7
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Harsh Rules - Learn to Play Hannibal & Hamilcar - Part 6
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Bare Bones Wargaming: The First Punic War!
Best player count
BGG community vote
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
Where to Buy
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Price history — last 6 months (lowest new offer)
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Is the game too complex for someone who doesn't play wargames?
Do I need a translation to play?
What is the difference between Hannibal and Hamilcar?
How long does a game take?
Is the game only for 2 players?
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