The Thunder of Carthage: War Elephants of the Punic Wars
Before the clash of steel ever began, there was the trembling of the earth and a sound that haunted the dreams of every Roman legionary: the trumpeting of the Carthaginian war elephants. Serving as the "tanks" of the ancient world, these towering behemoths were the ultimate psychological and physical weapon in Hannibal’s arsenal.
When these armored giants were unleashed, the chances of a standard infantry rank standing firm were vanishingly slim; the sheer mass of a charging elephant could shatter a triple-layered maniples in seconds, while the unfamiliar scent of the beasts often sent Roman cavalry horses into a blind, uncontrollable panic.
Guided by their skilled mahouts and often carrying platforms for javelin-armed skirmishers, these "living engines of war" were designed for one purpose: to create a bloody gap in the enemy line for the Carthaginian infantry to exploit.
Whether you are recreating the treacherous trek across the Alps or the desperate, dusty plains of Zama, these elephant units are the undisputed centerpieces of your army.
They bring a scale of terror and majesty to the tabletop that forces even the most disciplined Roman commander to rethink their strategy—because when the elephants charge, the earth itself belongs to Carthage.
Notes
Once downloaded, the sheets can be printed as often as you like, which means you can build up Large Herds of Elephants very cheaply.
You will need scissors, a craft knife, glue, appropriate paper and some stiffer card for bases, all of which are described in the how-to section.
The figures are laid out in A4 format, which will print onto US legal sized paper, or will fit US letter size printed at 93%.
You can, of course, print the figures in any scale you choose, making them uniquely flexible in this respect.
You will need to make a stiff Card Base for each stand. Dimensions of the stand is up to you and your preferred rule system.
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Enjoy