tyrant - tactical simulation of combat between Carthage and Syracuse (480–276 BC)

Oct 7, 2026

Tyrant is a tactical simulation of combat between the armies of Carthage and Syracuse, covering major battles from 480–276 BC. It can be played using Great Battles of Alexander Deluxe for maps, basic rules, and counters, or with Simple Great Battles of History Rules. The module frames the recurring wars between the Carthaginian and Syracusan spheres of influence in the Western Mediterranean, highlighting battlefield conditions, force composition, and the decisive engagements included across Sicily and beyond.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryComic

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

General Information

Tyrant Module Special Rules

Himera, 480 B.C.

Second Himera, 409 B.C.

Akragas, 406 B.C.

Gela, 405 B.C.

Cabala, 377 B.C.

Cronium, 376 B.C.

Crimissos River, 341 B.C.

Abolus River, 338 B.C.

Mount Ecnomus, 311 B.C.

White Tunis, 310 B.C.

Tunis, 307 B.C.

Lilybaeum, 276 B.C.

Epilogue

Credits

Sources

| Al exan d e r D e lux e M o du l e | | | --- | --- | |
tyrant
Battles of Carthage versus Syracuse,
480-276 B.C.

Module Design by DanielA. Fournie GBoH Series Editor of C3i Magazine | | | TAB LE O F C O N T E N T S | | | | | | INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 2
GENERAL INFORMATION ...................................... 3
TYRANT MODULE SPECIAL RULES..................... 3
HIMERA, 480 B.C...................................................... 4
SECOND HIMERA, 409 B.C..................................... 7
AKRAGAS, 406 B.C................................................... 9
GELA, 405 B.C............................................................ 12
CABALA, 377 B.C...................................................... 14
CRONIUM, 376 B.C................................................... 17 | CRIMISSOS RIVER, 341 B.C.................................... 19
ABOLUS RIVER, 338 B.C......................................... 23
MOUNT ECNOMUS, 311 B.C................................... 25
WHITE TUNIS, 310 B.C.............................................27
TUNIS, 307 B.C.......................................................... 29
LILYBAEUM, 276 B.C............................................... 32
Epilogue ....................................................................... 35
Credits .......................................................................... 35
Sources ......................................................................... 36 | GMT GAMES P.O. Box 1308, Hanford, CA 93232-1308 [www.GMTGames.com](www.GMTGames.com) Contains Simple GBoH Versions! Revised July, 20􀀱2 Introduction Tyrant is a tactical simulation of combat between the armies of Carthage and Syracuse, from 480–276 BC. To play Tyrant you will need the game Great Battles of Alexander Deluxe for maps, basic rules and some counters. Tyrant can also be played with the Simple Great Battles of History Rules. Long before Hannibal Barca led the armed forces of Carthage into a titanic struggle with Rome, Carthage had vied for centuries with the Greek city-state of Syracuse for supremacy in the Western Mediterranean. Traditionally, Carthage was founded in 814 (all dates BC) by Phoenician Tyre, while Syracuse, less than a century later in 733, by the Greek city-state of Corinth. This was part of a great westward colonizing movement of these two seafaring peoples. At first, there seemed to be plenty of room for both Phoenician and Greek colonists in the West. However, as colonies multiplied, two distinct spheres of influence developed. The Phoenicians were dominant in the south and West, in North Africa, southern Spain, Sardinia and Western Sicily. The Greeks held sway in the North and East, from Northern Spain and Gaul to Southern Italy and Eastern Sicily. This loose collection of independent Greek colonies became known collectively as Magna Graecia. From about 650–500, friction between the two peoples grew, Carthage gradually developed into an imperial power by uniting the Phoenician trading colonies under her leadership. But Magna Graecia never developed political unity comparable to the Carthaginian Empire. One Greek city did emerge to lead the struggle against Carthage, and this was Syracuse. Sicily became the primary battlefield between Syracuse and Carthage. The island was well endowed with natural resources, and sat astride the trade routes linking the Eastern and Western Mediterranean basins, as well as Africa to Italy. Tyrant includes twelve of the most decisive battles in the recurring wars that pitted Carthage against the Greeks of Syracuse. The armies of Syracuse were similar to the contemporary hoplite armies of the mainland Greek city-states, but with better cavalry and a strong mercenary corps of both Greek and Western barbarian units. Even more significantly, the Tyrants of Syracuse were far better generals than the typical city-state s

FAQs

What period and conflict does Tyrant cover?

Tyrant covers battles in the recurring wars between Carthage and Syracuse from 480–276 BC, with Sicily as the primary battlefield.

What do you need to play Tyrant?

To play Tyrant, you need Great Battles of Alexander Deluxe for maps, basic rules, and some counters, or you can use it with Simple Great Battles of History Rules.

How do Syracuse and Carthage forces differ in the module’s background?

Syracuse relies on hoplites plus strong cavalry and a mercenary corps, with tyrants as especially capable generals. Carthage uses North African tribal levies supported by barbarian and allied Greek units, and experiments with its own hoplite force, the Sacred Band of Foot.

Oct 7, 2026

Upload by The weather in my hometown