Roman Campaign Progress/AAR v1.21

[Nad]

It's not a bug.

Ok thanks, I'm quite happy with this, it means fewer cities producing Roman polybian troops and more reliance on Greek allies from the south and Celts from the north. A good change IMO

[Nad]

The 18th Battle of Mediolanum

The large Aedui army led by the chieftain Acco has finally arrived at Mediolanum. It is a powerful force consisting mainly of spearmen and slingers. Caesar surveys his men, says a few words to hearten their spirit, and gives the order to form into battle ranks.

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The Gauls use the woods in front of the city as a screen, as so many of their predecessors have done before. The Roman skirmishers engage in ranged combat as the infantry form up behind them.

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After the skirmish Caesar orders the infantry to march at the double. He wants his first rank in position beyond the treeline, so that the legion can fight without being hampered by broken ground. But the Gauls do not co-operate; they charge forward as soon as they see the Roman line coming through the trees.

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As more and more battalions of barbarian spearmen pour forward, Caesar abandons his plan to hold two lines. Instead he orders his hoplite and Celtic spear reserves to plug the gaps in the line and form a solid front.

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The battle turns into a fullblown infantry melee. Stratagems and manouvering are soon of little use. Every man is fighting for his life, and victory will be achieved hand to hand.

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The barbarians throw most of their strength at the Roman right flank, where the Ligurian and Celtic allies are stationed.

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The fortune of the battle hangs in the balance. The Roman right flank is being pushed back by the weight and strength of the barbarian spearmen.

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But while the Ligurians and Celtic levy spearmen are pushed back, the Greek hoplites demonstrate their virtue. They push through the barbarians, creating a bottleneck from which the Gauls cannot escape.

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After a long, exhausting battle, the barbarians are finally put to flight.

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Roman casualties are severe but it is nonetheless a heroic victory for Iulius Caesar.

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[Nad]

241BC

Iulius Caesar leads the legion of Cisalpine Gaul into battle against the Arverni chieftain Orro.

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The Arverni army is ensconced in the woods and the terrain is uneven, with many small hillocks. But Caesar's scouts identify an opportunity. By marching north instead of moving to confront the Gauls, the Roman army can circle around and approach the Gauls from higher ground. Caesar quickly gives the order to march.

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With the advantage of higher ground the Roman skirmishers are able to weaken the enemy front rank.

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The Roman infantry march down the slope. The Gauls are beginning to realise they have been outmanouvered - the men in the Roman front line can see the fear in their eyes.

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Javelins are hurled and the horn announcing the charge is sounded.

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The barbarian chieftain becomes embroiled in an infantry battle.

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The tribune Cornelius Scipio leads the charge into the rear of the Gallic line.

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The impact is devastating. The barbarians, already demoralised, begin to flee.

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It is a simple task to roll up the line and secure victory for Rome.

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Developments from abroad

The Lusotannan have finally woken up. They have taken Arse, have Baikor and Emporion under siege with full stacks, and another full stack headed towards Vellika.

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The Getai are massing troops at Iuvovaeta. This usually means only thing.

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Makedonia is down to just one settlement, Chalkis. It is unlikely they can hold the Koinon Hellenon back for long. The Epeiros-Pontos alliance did not last long - they are now at war and Epeiros has taken Serdike.

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In Libya and Egypt, the Ptolemaioi, Seleucids and Carthage are in a threeway war (provoked by Kyrene flipping from Carthage to Seleucids). This is good news for Rome.

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[Nad]

240BC

Another year, another fight against the Gauls. Caesar crushes an Aedui warband near Mediolanum.

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The Carthaginians launch a surprise attack in Numidia. Kirtan has no walls and is garrisoned only by skirmishers, with Aurelius Cotta and Octavius engaged in pacifying the local tribes. The Carthaginian nobleman Naravas attempts to retake the town with his small army of skirmishers.

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Cotta takes charge of the defences. He posts the akontistai and leves in the centre of town to deal with the Carthaginian skirmishers.

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Meanwhile Cotta and Octavius lead their companions, bodyguards and advisors outside the town to confront Naravas directly.

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As soon as the Carthaginian footmen approach the town square the akontistai hurl their javelins.

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Octavius and Naravas charge head on.

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But with Cotta immediately bringing his cavalry from the rear, it is an uneven fight.

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The Roman skirmishers continue to hold the Carthaginian foot.

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But as soon as Naravas is slain and the Roman cavalry attack the Carthaginian skirmishers, the battle is over.

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Barely weeks later another Carthaginian nobleman, Gisgo, attempts the same attack. But with his force even smaller, and with the Romans now seasoned in defending the town, this is an easy victory.

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As winter sets in the Arverni chieftain Tredain besieges Mediolanum. But with the Gallic army consisting mainly of levy spearmen, Caesar has little trouble in dispatching this threat.

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[Nad]

239BC

Arvina builds siege equipment to break through the walls of Siga and take the city.

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Editorial note: the capture of Siga proved problematic with regard to a repeated crash. What actually happened is I put the city under siege and the Carthaginians had a small army outside the city, consisting of a unit of archers and slingers. When I pressed 'end turn' the small Carthaginian army attacked, with Milkpilles' army as reinforcements. I fought the battle and won easily, crushing both armies to the extent that survivors were minimal and Milkpilles himself was killed. After returning to the campaign map, Siga was empty. But the processing of the turn end continued, moving from Carthage's turn to Pahlava's. During Pahlava's turn, I was then presented with the option to occupy / expel / enslave Siga. I pressed enslave and the game immediately crashed to desktop. This happened TWICE - I loaded the game from the last save and exactly the same sequence of events occurred, with the game again crashing as soon as I selected the enslave option. I think this is a bug I have seen before in previous versions of EB - I do not know what causes it, whether it is related to Alex.exe, EB itself, the script or traits or something else. Does anybody have a view on this or a solution? I don't think selecting to occupy or expel the town makes a difference, the game will still crash because for whatever reason it cannot proceed beyond the point of capturing the settlement. In the end, I had to use "move_character" to move the small army to Lixus instead, and then capture Siga on my own turn. Annoying to say the least.

Mediolanum is besieged by a large Aedui army led by a young tribal chief named Cacumattos. With his scouts reporting that another large Aedui army is also on the march towards the city, Caesar decides to sally immediately to defeat this foe before the second force arrives.

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Cacumattos' army is large and well balanced. He has numerous slingers and archers as well as a good mix of spearmen and swordsmen. Caesar understands the danger this opponent poses, and promptly orders his skirmishers to weaken the foe as best they can.

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Cacumattos, leading his Brihentin from the front, decides to chase the allied Celtic archers, oblivious to the fact he is running straight towards the Roman line.

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Caesar's mercenary Gallic cavalry intercept the hotheaded Aedui leader.

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The tribune Cornelius Scipio (this one the youngest, and some would say most inept, son of Rome's first man) leads the Roman cavalry from the right flank to surround Cacumattos. The foolish Gaul pays with his life, leaving his army leaderless.

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The barbarians' discipline, weak to begin with, disintegrates with the fall of their chieftain. Individual clans of warriors decide to fight for their own glory, abandoning all sense of order and cohesion. A contingent of mighty swordsmen demand single combat in their guttural tongue, and when they receive no response throw themselves at the nearest Romans they can see, the accensi, chasing them until they are cornered against the walls of the city.

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The timely return of the cavalry saves the weak Roman slingers and ends the barbarians' rage-induced passion.

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Undaunted, another clan of barbarian swordsmen then decide to chase the Roman cavalry, as if their anger will give them the celerity to catch horses!

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A combination of allied spearmen and cavalry countercharges puts paid to their madness. And then, not to be outdone, some of the barbarian slingers decide to chase after the Roman skirmishers. Rather than duel at a distance, these men are so filled with bloodlust that they abandon their slings and decide they want to fight hand-to-hand instead.

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The Roman cavalry bring a swift end to those plans.

When the barbarian clans finally cease to rush out so recklessly, Caesar decides to march his infantry forward. No sooner do the Romans form a battleline than the Gallic infantry almost fall over each other in their eagerness to charge.

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Their appetite is soon sated by Roman steel.

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Panic turns a once mighty horde into a rabble of cowards.

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The hefty price of Cacumattos' folly.

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[Nad]

238BC

The Year of 3 battles and a funeral.

Caesar faces the Aedui in 3 large battles for Mediolanum [I imagine everybody has had their fill of screenshots from Caesar fighting the Gauls, so I'll just report the results unless something interesting happens].

First against Budic.

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Second against Cintugnatus.

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Third against the minor chief Moritasgos.

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But the year ends on a sad note. Rome's great general and first man dies in the dark of winter.

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[Nad]

237BC

After 3 battles against the Aedui in the previous year, Caesar now fights 2 battles against the Arverni. In the spring he defeats the minor chieftain Sennianos.

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And in the winter he defeats another warlord, Aneirin.

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In Africa, Arvina celebrates becoming the new first man by capturing the wealthy port city of Lixus.

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After a long march across the desert, Papirius Turdus leads his legion and allies to capture the trading outpost of Tuat. Finally Turdus can fulfill his wish for conquest rather than just defending the borders of the republic.

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236BC

After a year to recuperate, the Aedui have come back for more. Caesar sends two more warbands packing.

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[Nad]

Caesar fights his third battle of the year against the Aedui.

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Marcus Papirius Cursor is appointed imperator in Africa. Although a young man, he is politically astute and has had an exceptional career in Rome, advancing in the cursum honorum through tribune, quaestor and aedile all before the age of 30. He is also Arvina's son-in-law.

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His first appointment is to take the last Carthaginian holding in west Africa.

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235BC

Caesar engages in his usual business, first against the Aedui.

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Then the Arverni.

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But come winter Caesar faces the gravest danger yet. Two large Aedui armies and one large Arverni force all converge on the city.

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Elsewhere in the world

The Pahlava have made a remarkable recovery. From the brink of defeat against the Seleucids and Saka Rauka, the Pahlava have retaken their former cities and are now expanding into Seleucid territory.

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Pontos continues to dominate in Thrace. They are now steaming through the Getai.

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The Makedonians are still hanging onto Chalkis, although the settlement is under permanent siege and their future looks grim.

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[Nad]

Caesar sallies to face the first Aedui army - this is a strong force with many decent spearmen and swordsmen.

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The Roman skirmishers attempt to weaken the barbarians' resolve while the infantry get into position.

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The infantry lines clash and the Roman cavalry seek to take advantage of the barbarians' lack of horsemen by flanking their position.

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The cavalry charge into the rear of the Gallic line.

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Their strike is decisive. The battle is won and the corpses of the slain Gallic warriors litter the battlefield.

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234BC

The Arverni army, composed mainly of levy spearmen, is similarly thrashed.

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And the third barbarian army, this one led by the chieftain Moggortos, shares the same fate.

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233BC

Another two large Gallic armies are sent fleeing whence they came. First the Arverni.

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Then the Aedui.

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[Editorial note: I am now done with reporting Caesar's battles against the Gauls. There are so many of them and they are all the same. The Gauls do not seem to have made any noticeable progress in improving the quality of their forces, it's still just basic spearmen with some swordsmen and slingers/archers thrown in. I haven't seen any quality or professional infantry - where are the solduros, neitos, arjos, even gaesatae? I haven't even seen any southern Gallic swordsmen (the botroas - it's all been the northern bataroas) or brihentin either. Bogia: might be something you want to look into? Why are the Gauls not recruiting a larger mix of forces? Are their reforms not kicking in? Has anything been changed in this respect since v1.2? I will keep an eye out and report any change to their army composition, but until they start bringing better troops to the table or something else interesting happens, I will not report any further battles around Cisalpine Gaul. Just assume they are happening every turn and the Gauls are getting kicked back each time.]

[Nad]

231BC

Papirius Cursor leads a full legion with allies and mercenaries to take the eastern Carthaginian city of Lepcis.

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The Bruttian infantry are the first onto the walls. They engage the Carthaginian defenders while Cursor's Gallic mercenaries push towards the walls in another siege tower in an attempt to outflank the defenders.

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As soon as they are onto the walls the Gallic swordsmen go straight for the Libyan spearmen.

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The Carthaginians on the walls show great spirit - they are fighting for their city and their families and they will battle to the last to defend all that they love. The Bruttian and Gallic swordsmen are defeated; but the Iberian mercenaries - fierce, strong men - finally end the resistance on the walls.

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The Roman slingers are now able to use the walls to unleash a hail of death at the Carthaginian cavalry.

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The final Carthaginian defenders are surrounded by the Roman infantry.

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Papirius Cursor has taken a valuable prize and expanded Rome's border eastward.

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[Nad]

Sometimes you should be careful what you wish for

Two full Aedui armies besiege Mediolanum simultaneously

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You can see what a powerful commander Caesar has become, with 8 Command and 10 Influence (getting stats that good is very difficult with the adjustments I have made to traits and ancillaries). But sallying against two huge armies, on different sides of the battlefield, is a road to ruin. We may actually have to suffer this siege and fight a siege defence for a change (it will be the first one we have fought so it's a change at least).

Will Mediolanum finally fall?

Stay tuned for next time

[Nad]

230BC

The defence of Mediolanum

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Caesar's defenders are outnumbered nearly 4:1. This may be the toughest assignment the Roman hero has yet faced. However his troops are battle hardened and Caesar knows they will fight to the last rather than expect mercy from the barbarians.

The Gallic armies:

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The Aedui forces are led by the chieftains Nammeios and Celtillos and consist of large numbers of slingers, spearmen, swordsmen and noble cavalry.

The Gauls are encamped on both the north and south sides of Mediolanum and have spent 2 full seasons building siege equipment. Caesar determines that defending the walls will therefore be futile - there are too many opponents with too many points of attack. Instead, the commander decides to do battle in the centre of the city, on the main plaza. He stations his infantry to defend the entry points on all sides while the cavalry are retained as a reserve.

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The Romans wait patiently at their stations. All around they can hear the sounds of war, the horns, the towers, the shouts of the barbarians as they claim the walls and make their way through the town, slaughtering and looting as they go. Nerves are on edge and the soldiers wait in grim silence. Finally the first barbarian units approach the plaza. Now the Romans can vent their fury.

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As the unseasonal snows clear the battle is fully joined. The extraordinarii and Samnite allies attempt to hold their ground as more and more barbarian infantry join the fray.

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Unbeknownst to the Romans only one of the Gallic armies has thus far joined the battle. Celtillos' forces remain outside the south gate. Perhaps they expect they will not be needed? Perhaps barbarian honour dictates that the first aggressor takes the spoils? Perhaps these cowards just do not wish to risk injury? Whatever the reason, Caesar's prayers have been answered by the gods. He can defeat the invaders in turn rather than simultaneously.

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The infantry battle continues to rage. The hastati hold the Roman right.

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While the extraordinarii on the left are not just holding their ground, they are pushing back the barbarians.

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After a long struggle the first wave of barbarians flee, repelled by Roman defiance.

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Now Celtillos is spurred into action. His infantry scale the walls and take control of the south gate.

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And this force is more organised than Nammeios' rabble. Celtillos splits his army and attacks the plaza with large forces from two sides.

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Celtillos leads the attack himself. His noble cavalry try to break through the Samnite allies.

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On the other side the principes and Illyrians face up to huge numbers of barbarian infantry. But this also showcases Caesar's strategy - only a smaller number of Gallic warriors can engage at any time.

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Both sides have deployed all their infantry and the fighting is furious - who will break first?

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The barbarians.

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The carnage left behind, corpses of men and horses piled high on top of each other.

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This is Caesar's greatest victory to date.

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Editorial note: that battle was spoiled by the Gallic armies not attacking simultaneously and was therefore much easier than it should have been. Unfortunately Celtillos' infantry holding the ladders seemed to get stuck near the walls - they just stood there while getting shot to bits by the gatetowers. Sieges are so buggy and spoiled by the limits of the AI - that's why I normally try to sally immediately and fight a field battle rather than endure this kind of experience.

[Nad]

Papirius Cursor crosses the desert to take the minor Carthaginian outpost of Garama.

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229BC

Papirius Turdus fights some Numidian rebels with a small force of reserves.

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228BC

The Makedonians are the first faction eliminated as the Koinon Hellenon finally capture Chalkis.

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[Nad]

227BC

After a short siege, Papirius Cursor captures the strategically important settlement of Augila.

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The value of this town is that it enables Rome to fortify the border with Carthage. By maintaining a strong military presence in Augila with a force that can also guard the road to Lepcis, Rome can narrow the border with Carthage and bring peace to the rest of Africa.

225BC

The senate bestows a force of two legions and allies to Octavius as well as command of a large fleet of quinquiremes. His orders are to relieve Cursor in Augila. As he disembarks from the ships for the short desert march to the city, Octavius runs into a small Carthaginian force led by the Carthaginian faction leader, Germelqart. The battle takes place in the hottest part of the day, under the blazing sun. Despite several difficulties, including the weather, the terrain, Octavius' lack of command experience, and the greenness of the troops, the Roman force is far too strong for the small Carthaginian army to defeat.

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Elsewhere in the world

Rebellion is in the air and the political landscape changes by the season.

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Nabatea and Sinai have rebelled from Seleucid control and pledged allegiance to the Sabean kingdom. This has relieved some of the pressure on the Ptolemaioi. With upper Egypt firmly under control and Alexandreia recaptured, the Ptolemaioi are rebuilding their strength to strike back against Carthage and the Seleucids.

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The future of Hayasdan is not so bright. The Seleucids and Sauromatae have carved up the kingdom. The remaining nobles loyal to the Shahenshah are holed up in the capital, Armavir, surrounded by a Seleucid army that is determined to end the rebellion of the former satrapy.

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The most dramatic changes are in Greece and Asia Minor. Following a secret plot by the council of Halikarnassos to overthrow Seleucid control and join the Hellenic league, Sardis and Pergamon have also joined the cause. The Koinon Hellenon are at war with Pontos and the Seleucids and look to have the upper hand.

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More bad news for Pontos. The fiercely independent Celts in Singidunum have overthrown the tenuous Pontic rule with help from the Aedui. Pontos is therefore simultaneously at war with the Koinon Hellenon, Epeiros, Sauromatae, Getai and Aedui.

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Resurgence of Hellenic pride is evident even as far afield as Iberia. Emporion has rebelled to the Koinon Hellenon (for the fourth time). But with so many Lusotannan armies in the field, the days of resistance are surely numbered.

[Nad]

224BC

Cornelius Arvina dies of old age and Papirius Cursor is the new first man.

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The senate unanimously appoints Iulius Caesar as imperator of Rome's armies.

223BC

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The March of Time brings little benefit to Rome; however the eastern factions get upgraded general's bodyguards and some unit recruitment changes.

222BC

With Carthage vanquished in Africa, the senate has decided that Poeni influence should be removed from the western Mediterranean for good. Iulius Caesar lays siege to the merchant city of Gader.

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While Papirius Mugillanus is tasked with taking the port of Mastia.

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[Leon Katakalon]

Great Job Nad, I am following you!!! Do you want to create the Augustan Empire?

[Nad]

Thank you Leon! I don't know if I will recreate the full Augustan empire precisely but I will try to approximate it roughly at least, also depending on what the other factions do.

[Nad]

After building siege equipment, Caesar's forces make short work of the outnumbered Carthaginian defenders of Gader.

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The garrison of Mastia is even smaller.

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221BC

The Lusotannan tribe have long been allies of Carthage. Their response to Roman invasion of Lusitania is swift and aggressive.

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[Nad]

Perhaps the Lusotannan are unaware of how Caesar forged his reputation? Long years of fighting the Gallic tribes in Cisalpine Gaul have given Caesar all the experience he needs to deal with barbarian invaders. This force, consisting in large part of skirmishers, poses few problems for Rome's greatest general.

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The army besieging Mastia is another matter. Led by the chieftain Tirtano, this force contains cavalry, infantry and skirmishers and will test Mugillanus' mettle.

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The Lusotannan hold a commanding position on top of a hill overlooking the city. This makes deployment difficult for Mugillanus - his troops are at the mercy of the barbarian slingers as they leave the city to take their place in the line. Mugillanus therefore orders his slingers and Kretan archers to screen his forces as they deploy into battle formation.

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The Numidian cavalry use their speed to attack the Lusotannan flank with javelins. Although their missiles do little damage, the primary purpose of this attack is to divert attention while the Roman infantry form up.

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The Lusotannan chieftain spots an opportunity and rides his cavalry towards the vulnerable Kretan archers. The equites intercept just in time.

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The arrival of the Lusotannan infantry prevents the equites from prolonging the cavalry battle.

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The Roman javelinmen are next to engage. The peltasts and velites attempt to disorder the barbarian front line.

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Finally the infantry are ready. Mugillanus orders each acies to run up the hill to minimise the time they are vulnerable to the barbarians' missiles.

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As the lines close and engage, the Lusotannans have the advantage of fighting downhill and the Romans have the advantage of numbers. The pedites extraordinarii attempt to flank the barbarian line on the right.

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The barbarian response is like the awakening of angry insects. The extraordinarii are swarmed from all sides, as though their attempt to flank is an affront to the barbarians' honour.

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At the same time the equites engage the Lusotannan cavalry on the flank. Despite the slope being in favour of the Romans, the Lusotannan cavalry are fierce warriors and soon gain the upper hand.

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On the other flank, the Numidian cavalry attempt to relieve the pressure on the extraordinarii.

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The Lusotannan chieftain, embroiled in the infantry battle in the centre, pays the price for leading from the front.

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His death weakens his warriors' resolve and soon the entire barbarian army turns its tail.

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Despite significant losses, Mugillanus has not been found wanting.

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Caesar briefly returns to Africa to deal with a rebellion in Mauretania.

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[Nad]

220BC

Another Lusotannan army led by the chieftain Melmunos besieges Gader. Caesar sallies immediately to face the threat.

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The Kretan archers take advantage of the walls to loose their arrows into the mass of Lusotannan infantry.

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The Roman skirmishers hurl their javelins from closer range.

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The infantry lines meet with both sides concentrating their strength on their right flanks.

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The Numidian cavalry redress the imbalance on the Roman left flank by charging into the rear of the engaged Lusotannan infantry.

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It is the beginning of the end. Caesar orders the line to be rolled up and soon the barbarian infantry are fleeing for the hills.

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Caesar wins a heroic victory.

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Valerius Messalla, the successor to Caesar in command of the 16th legion, continues to defend Cisalpine Gaul. This battle is notable for the fact that it is the first time the Gauls have fielded Neitos (heavy swordsmen). I wonder if this is a consequence of the March of Time? There is still no sign of Solduros, Arjos, or Gaesatae.

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Caesar, with his force bolstered after hiring local mercenaries, faces another large battle in Turdetania as a field army led by the Lusotannan chieftain Skirtunos threatens Gader.

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The Lusotannan have the slight advantage of higher ground but otherwise Caesar is happy to fight on a grassy plain.

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One of the barbarian noblemen leads his cavalry companions in a chase against the Roman skirmishers. The Roman cavalry are initially not in a position to counterattack, but finally they catch the reckless chieftain and trap him against the Roman infantry line.

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The skirmishers on both sides continue to probe for weaknesses in the opponent line.

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The infantry lines close to within a few yards and both sides hurl their javelins.

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As the infantry clash in melee, the Roman cavalry are unopposed and can flank the enemy: the consequence of a nobleman's earlier foolishness.

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Caesar wins another heroic victory.

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