Wargaming history always has one story that sounds made up. However, this one has receipts and a nasty smell.
Romans reportedly used pigs as anti elephant chaos tools. So yes, your next game can include squealing war pigs.
Why Elephants and Pigs Got Linked
Ancient writers claimed elephants feared pig squeals. Others argued the smell was the real trigger. Either way, the Romans believed pigs helped against Carthaginians and their beloved war elephants. Therefore, pigs became an improvised weapon when you needed a panic button.
How the Tactic Worked
The method is as brutal as it is effective. First, pigs were coated in pitch, tar, or another sticky flammable mess. Then, they were set alight and driven toward enemy elephants. Consequently, the elephants could spook hard, especially with noise and flames nearby. If they panicked, they might bolt and trample their own lines. Meanwhile, commanders lost control as their centerpiece unit turned into a stampeding disaster.
It is grim, but it is also classic ancient warfare logic. Make one thing panic, and the whole formation starts wobbling.
What This Means for Your Tabletop
Now that chaos is getting a miniatures upgrade for Hail Caesar Epic Battles. These “porcine tools of warfare” are pitched as a fun, nasty little add on for Roman armies. Moreover, they are clearly aimed at players facing elephant heavy opponents. If your meta loves big beasts, this is basically a historical tech pick.
The best part is the support is not hand wavy. There is also a free rules PDF to download, so you can actually field them cleanly. And yes, your opponent will remember the game forever.
Summary
In summary, flaming pigs were historically tied to attempts at disrupting war elephants through fear or scent. Therefore, they functioned as a shock tactic meant to make elephants panic and wreck their own side. Now, Hail Caesar Epic Battles lets Roman players add that same chaos, plus a free rules PDF to make it playable. As the article makes clear, it is weird, it is dark, and it is perfect for games where elephants need a hard counter.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
