Roman Campaign Progress/AAR v1.21

[Nad]

The legions in Iberia advance on two fronts. Caesar's forces storm the city of Sucum-Murgi.

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And Papirius Mugillanus' new recruits take Baikor.

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219BC

Atilius Serranus leads a force of local militia to quash a rebellion in Numidia.

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Caesar counterattacks a Lusitanian force led by the chieftain Tauros.

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After the victory the imperator wastes little time marching into the heartlands of Lusitania. The bold action draws the remaining barbarian forces in the area towards him, and another victory ensures the gates of Oxtraca are wide open for the victorious Romans.

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The Aedui have stepped up their game in Cisalpine Gaul, sending more impressive troops against Mediolanum.

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Treachery in Venetia

Barbarians remind us of their vile cunning, no more worthy of trust than a poisonous snake. As more Gallic raiding parties invade Cisalpine Gaul, the Getai tribe take the opportunity to launch a surprise and unprovoked attack on Patavium.

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The timing could not be worse. It is the heart of winter and the 16th legion must already defeat 3 Gallic armies to clear Cisalpine Gaul. Rome is not prepared to defend its northeastern border, nor can the heroic 16th legion defend singlehandedly on two fronts. Can Rome mobilise in time to face this new threat? We live in troubled times.

[Nad]

Valerius Messalla leads the 16th legion into action against the barbarian invaders in Cisalpine Gaul. The first Aedui army is led by the chieftain Convictolitavis.

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The second Aedui army is a smaller band of spearmen.

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And the Arverni are repelled from Liguria.

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218BC

A state of emergency is declared in the north. The Celtic tribes allied to Rome are instructed to muster whatever forces they have, callow youths and old men included. Rome sends a contingent of hastati who have barely finished their training. Funds are allocated to hire mercenaries. Valerius Messalla leaves the 16th legion with only his cavalry in tow and rides with all haste to take command of the hastily assembled forces.

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The Getai army, under the command of the warrior-chief Dikomes, is a formidable and experienced force containing many swordsmen and spearmen.

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Valerius Messalla orders his Celtic slingers to provide covering fire while his troops get into position and the militiamen of Patavium, under the command of Sergius Esquillinus, join the fray.

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The infantry lines close at the very edge of the woodland.

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Above the deafening din of warcries and exhortations, the horns to charge are sounded. The hastati hurl their pila and prepare to engage.

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The Getai warrior-chief seeks to strike an early blow by charging his cavalry straight into the Roman hastati.

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As the infantry lines engage, Valerius Messalla orders his Roman, Gallic and Ligurian cavalry to flank the enemy on both sides in order to capitalise on the paucity of cavalry within the Getai ranks.

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The inexperience of the hastati betrays Roman courage: they are the first to break, devastated by the blows laid down by the Getai chieftain's cavalry.

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Within a short space of time the Roman right flank collapses as the battleline is pushed back into the woods.

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The situation is dire and the fortune of the battle is on a knife-edge. Valerius Messalla rallies his comrades and rides to confront the Getai warrior-chief himself.

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Valerius Messalla's bravery shames the fleeing infantry. Stirred by the sight of the commander riding alone, some of the routers recover their nerve and form a second battle line.

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The tribunes hurriedly reorganise the formation. Valerius Messalla retreats behind the infantry line and to the barbarians' amazement, who had thought the battle over, a solid line of infantry once again stands in their path.

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However organisation alone will not win the battle. The Roman right flank again collapses as the onslaught of the barbarian charge breaks the Illyrian levies.

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But with the Getai chieftain engaged in battle against the Roman cavalry, Valerius Messalla sees an opportunity for the decisive blow to be struck. He manouvers his cavalry around the Getai line and charges into their rear.

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The Roman cavalry are also victorious against the Getai chieftain, and now ride to surround the first line of the Getai infantry.

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The second line is broken in similar fashion.

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The final Getai troops are surrounded and slaughtered mercilessly.

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After a long and brutal battle which could have gone either way, Valerius Messalla finally emerges victorious.

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[Nad]

Papirius Mugillanus defends Mastia against a Lusitanian incursion. He has 3 legions and allies under his command and this battle proves little trouble for a general rapidly gaining experience in the brutal warfare of Iberia.

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Spurius Octavius quells another rebellion in Africa.

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After defeating the barbarians near Mastia, Papirius Mugillanus advances to capture Saguntum.

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217BC

Papirius Mugillanus is on the march again and faces a large battle in Celtiberia.

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The Lusitanian force comprises light and medium units, with many archers, javelinmen and spearmen. Mugillanus instructs the tribunes to keep the legions in formation at all times. Through his experience he understands that Rome's strength lies in the discipline of the infantry, whereas the barbarians excel in cunning and skirmishes. To this end, Mugillanus deploys in the clearest part of the battlefield and the legions are in close formation as the barbarian vanguard advances.

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One of the many barbarian chieftains on the field leads his cavalry from the front, charging straight into the Roman front rank.

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The barbarians threaten to overload on their right flank, the Roman left. Mugillanus resists the urge to weaken the centre by reassigning the infantry. Instead, the allied Tarentine peltastai are ordered to support on the left.

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The peltastai station themselves in a long line, 4 ranks deep, and the immediate threat to the Roman left flank is expunged.

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With the flanks secure the battle is determined in the centre. The barbarian spirit is fearsome but their infantry is no match for Rome's legions. Once the first wave has been repelled and the lesser skirmishers join the fray, Mugillanus finally gives the order to attack.

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Mugillanus' victory is decisive.

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[Nad]

Sergius Esquilinus has Iuvavum under siege when the Getai chieftain Burebista, raiding to the west, returns to battle for the city.

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The Romans have a slight advantage in numbers but Esquilinus' troops are green while the barbarian warriors have fought in many battles.

Having received word of Burebista's advance from his scouts, Esquilinus is able to position his troops in an advantageous position, on high ground away from the cover of trees.

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The Roman skirmishers take advantage of the high ground to weaken the infantry advance.

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Burebista leads from the front, charging his cavalry into the centre of the Roman line and into the waiting swords of the extraordinarii.

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After Burebista's raiding party is repelled, the Roman line wheels to the right to face the bulk of the barbarian force, the defenders of Iuvavum.

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The infantry meet in hand to hand combat all the way across the line.

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The superiority and discipline of the Roman infantry is brought to bear as the barbarians are put to flight.

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Esquilinus had told his troops they would dine in Iuvavum that nightfall; the commander delivers on his promise.

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216BC

Rome's northern border has been extended.

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The Getai heartlands lie to the east of Iuvavum and the city will have to be fortified to repel invasions. The Sweboz tribe control the territory to the north and west, but they have not yet shown open hostility to Rome and an uneasy peace persists. Meanwhile the Epeirotes have finally captured Segestica and are already threatening Patavium. The senate orders new legions to be raised to defend against the multiple threats in the north.

In western Iberia, Caesar has marched his troops north to capture the Lusitanian town of Tyde.

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Emboldened by Rome's distraction in so many foreign adventures, rebels march on Roma itself to demand concessions from the senate. Papirius Cursor acts swiftly to strike down this revolt, and the rebellion leaders are crucified on the steps of the forum.

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Caius Octavius, in charge of the garrison of Augila, battles Carthaginian forces attempting to blockade the road to Lepcis.

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215BC

Papirius Mugillanus intercepts a small Lusitanian force threatening Saguntum.

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[Pherion]

Is this on-going? If so, I'm loving it. Good stuff!

[Nad]

It is ongoing though I have had little time to play recently due to busy workload. Hopefully that will change soon

[BHL 20]

Hi Nad. How do you feel about the difficulty if you don't mind me asking, would you say VH/M was ideal for this campaign?

[Nad]

VH/M is the generally accepted ideal difficulty for EB (for any faction really). I am tempted to move onto hard battle difficulty as well because AI tactics are still quite basic and easy to overcome (in this campaign I haven't lost a battle despite fighting at bad odds regularly).

VH campaign is great...the AIs have the full range of options available to them (their diplomats try to bribe, assassins go after family members, their generals hire mercenaries etc. At lower difficulty they can't do all these things. They also get some extra cash which they desperately need to stay competitive and develop their cities. So yes, I highly recommend VH campaign