A new AAR - Mos Maiorum, Iperium Romanum

[pseudocaesar]

MOS MAIORUM, IMPERIUM ROMANUM.

This is an AAR im doing, im a BETA tester at Roma Surrectum so this is the newest patch with all the goodies that you will get to play yourself very shortly.
Campaign on Hard/Medium, Roma Surrectum has an excellent stats editor in Angel, and the battles are really quite a challenge.
I will play with fog of war off so I can see how the world is developing, but im taking a different approach to this AAR, it will be Roman, but im pretending that it is already a monarchy and in empire stage, even though it is still republican armies etc, I do this as it is easier to reflect the faction leaders/heirs that way and makes for a cool storyline.

CHAPTER 1

Where shall I start? I feel this day it is necessary to tell our story. As it is, I am at a pivotal moment in my life, I stand here looking at the walls of my destiny. My grandfather’s last words to me were; “At the fall of the Puni, you will lay claim to the family, it is your right”. Long gone now, I can reflect on those words, I was a simple youth with dreams of Gods and glory, now I live my life on principles of the Roman Virtus, I will tell the story of how I got to this point, and how my family came to control the most powerful state in the Mare Nostrum Internum.

453 years after the founding of the Eternal city, she faced an unprecedented crisis. Gallic barbarians crossed the Alps in the spring and by summer had pillaged their way over the Rubicon and into Italy Proper. Already the senate had sent a force under Marcus Tullius Merenius, it was utterly destroyed. Destroyed to a man, never had the Republic had such a loss, yet still the barbarians came. My grandfather, Tiberius Maxentius, was a close friend to Tullius and was outraged at the Senate’s hesitation and dithering in sending a larger, crushing force to deal with the barbarians. All the time they were raping and pillaging Roman lands, with nothing being done.

Tiberius knew his position, he was a brilliant politician and commanded a large faction of the senate, yet he also held enormous sway with the Plebs, despite his young age. I believe he was 32 years of age when he won a vote of the senate decreeing him Dictator Imperium. He set out with all haste and force-marched non-stop for miles. Men were lost, horses lamed and human perseverance put to the test, yet he was walking at the head of the column himself, a testament to his determination. The men seen him as a god, he was in his prime, flowing hair, resplendent armour, like an Olympian statue.

After days of marching the scouts rode in to camp;
“Sir, sighting of enemy army”
“Size and distance?” Tiberius said in his usual shortness.
“Twice our number and then some, imposing cavalry force, little missile or light armoured troops, mainly spear infantry. Not half a days march west”
“That close! Why did it take so long to find them!”
“Sir, they found us, we came in behind their camp and could see their trail heading east”
“Good, let the men rest, give them a fine meal, assemble the artillery, and double the scouts. Tomorrow we fight for the Republic”.

[Jimexander the Mighty]

I will be looking forward to this

[pseudocaesar]

CHAPTER 2

“Was it Plutarch?”
“Sorry General?” said Lucullus, Tiberius’ Praefectus Castrorum.
“I can’t remember the words, something about rainy battles”
“Ah yes sir, Extraordinary rains pretty generally fall after great battles.”
“That’s the one I was thinking of, the rain is starting now, the clouds only get darker, I feel an extraordinary storm is brewing.” said Tiberius
“A very great battle is at hand then sir”
“Very great indeed, very great”
A short time passed with the two men sitting in Tiberius tent, the fire was on so they felt nothing of the discomforting weather. Maps were laid on the table, the land was studied and battle plans drawn, now all that was left was to fight.
Horns blared across the camp, Lucullus sprang to his feet and ran to check on the situation.
“Sir! Enemy army sighted. Full battle array, it’s the entire force”
“Sound the fallout” Lucullus commanded.
Lucullus returned to the tent and informed Tiberius of the development, thunder rolled across the sky and distant lightning could be seen.
“Bastards could have waited until the storm passed at least”
Lucullus laughed, in face of the situation, being outnumbered by a vast margin and being the only defence of Rome, the two men were confident, they commanded the veterans of Rome, the best soldiers in the world.
“Well Lucullus, lets go kick these dirty barbarians asses back across the Alps”
“Not a problem sir”

Two men shared a glance, both Hastati, brothers, and both in the front rank.
“Quite a sight hey Manius, frightful hairy beasts isn’t they”
“Too right, look at ‘em all. Ridiculous I tell ya, I’ll be asking the Legate for a pay rise for this mess”
“Ha, he would sooner cut his arm off than give us money”
The brothers stopped the chat as their Centurion blew a whistle;
“Officers approaching!”
The cohorts snapped into order instantly as The General Tiberius Maximus and his Praefectus Castrorum Lucullus Cornelius approached on horseback.
“Now Lucullus, what was it I heard said? I would cut my arm off? Would I do that?”
The two Hastati shared glances of fear, they did not realise the general was in earshot.
“I don’t think you would sir, its only a few denarii after all”
“My sentiments exactly. Step forward soldiers, you two there”
The two men advanced a pace and stared dead ahead, hoping for a mere flogging and nothing severe.
“This will be a momentous battle gentlemen, a glorious day for Rome and her citizens. I hereby pledge, in front of my army, to pay the sum of 150 silver coins to each soldier who survives this battle. Oh and an additional 50 coins each to these two men here”.
After the general left Manius looked at his brother Arestes with an air of bewilderment,
“What the…”
“Hahaha” Arestes burst out laughing, but he was cut short as his Optio smacked him with his staff.
“Form up boys, enough time for love and laughter after we done slayin’ these beasts all right” said the Optio.
Manius whispered to Arestes, “Were famous now brother, the men love us”, they shared a grin, then began marching.

“The men will be appreciative”
“They deserve more Lucullus, but I can’t, the Senate would have my balls”
“Pack of old women more interested in their own pockets more than the good of the republic” Lucullus said, he knew his generals thoughts and spoke openly.
“When the time comes, will you fight with me friend, will you die for me, brother?”
Lucullus looked at his general, his friend, his brother in arms.
“I will fight for you, if need be I will travel to the fields for you”
The two men clasped hands,
“First though we best kill these beasts” Tiberius said.
“I had nearly forgotten about them”, the two men laughed together. It lightened the hearts of the soldiers who heard the laughter.

The soldiers roared as Tiberius finished his speech, he raised his sword in the air and the soldiers followed suit, the noise was deafening, the men were there to fight, to kill, and win.
They could all see the Gallic army moving, like an ocean of men, so many thousands of men, the stamping of feet felt like an earthquake. Yet still the Romans didn’t move, didn’t fret, stood like stone awaiting the wave to crash and break on their shields such as the ocean.

[Conradgeneral]

Just a friendly suggestion. Instead of making Rome a monarchy, why don't you make the Faction Leader and Heir Consuls of the Republic? When the Leader die and a new Consul is elected the second man with most Influence in your Family tree (in this case the senate house) becomes the new Heir (second Consul). That would be cool and Historically accurate.

[pseudocaesar]

yeh but in RTW the leadership structure sucks, consuls were only 1 year long with a 10 year waiting period between terms, in RTW your the faction leader until you die...same as a king/emperor

[dvk901]

yeh but in RTW the leadership structure sucks, consuls were only 1 year long with a 10 year waiting period between terms, in RTW your the faction leader until you die...same as a king/emperor

Very true, and I'm really looking forward to this!

[Drtad]

Your faction leader's name is Lucullus? Maybe you could have him duplicate the deeds of the real Lucullus...

[pseudocaesar]

Your faction leader's name is Lucullus? Maybe you could have him duplicate the deeds of the real Lucullus...

Nah my faction leader is Tiberius Maxentius, same as in game, Lucullus is his 2nd in command and closest friend. and my storyline is to have Tiberius sieze power, be declared emperor by the people.

[S.W.A.T]

Hey man, awesome AAR. And i'm doing the same thing as you, I ditched the republic and made it an empire. I'm a sucker for the empire.

[Spartan_Shame]

Good work pseudocaesar!!

[pseudocaesar]

il just lay out the plot here.

first little intro is from a guy(dunno his name yet hes not born in game lol) about to capture Carthage.
He reflected on words his grandfather (Tiberius Maximus) said to him, when he defeats the Puni (carthaginians) he will inherit the family.
So when he captures carthage i will make him faction heir, therefore the next emperor of rome.
So far im telling the story of Tiberius and his rise to power and how he became emperor in the first place, its set 300BC atm. and i have played a few custom battles set in that time(against Gaul invaders) and how he captures territory north of Rome and then how he is declared Emperor by the citizens.
I will then fast forward to the "Present" and capture carthage and all of its original territories and see where to go from there. ive played a few battles and im writing them up shortly. should be up tonight.

[pseudocaesar]

CHAPTER 3

The battle was progressing, the rain was getting stronger, and the clouds darker, Tiberius was struggling to make out the details from afar.
“The gods have cursed this day I swear,” shouted Tiberius, “Where are my runners, I have no idea what is happening!”
A man plastered in dirt and blood, soaked to the bone from the torrential rain, came to a skidding halt in front of Tiberius.
“Sir! The right flank is under serious jeopardy. Several hundred, possibly more, Milnah swordsmen stormed the Triarii from the forest.”
“Lucullus!”
“Yes, Sir!” replied Lucullus, having heard the scouts report he knew what to do.
He rode off to the right, along the way peeling two cohorts of reserve Principes off the main line.


“Swing around, support the right, its overrun! Cohorts IV and V support the flank! Cohorts IV and V!” shouted Lucullus.
Having seen the flank now secure he wheeled around and headed for the centre.
“Sir, right flank is secure, fighting is intense but were slaughtering these bastards” reported Lucullus.


“Good to hear,” he thanked his second and continued issuing orders and watching the battle progress.
Two hours had passed yet there were still thousands of barbarians coming, relentlessly pushing forward looking for blood.

*

Enemnogenus was on his horse watching his men, his tribe, his family, being slaughtered by the Romans one at a time.
“There’s nothing to be done brother. We are lost, so few of them…I do not understand”
“Sire…it is not over yet, we had them at the left.”
“We didn’t, don’t you see. We sent a whole tribes worth of our best, yet they did not break, more just came and helped.”
A blonde haired man came running toward Enemnogenus, “My king,” he stopped and tried to catch his breath.
“What!” Roared Enemnogenus, “Tell me, it better be good news or your head is on my spear!”
“There is a break in the line sire, when the reserves peeled off to support the right the whole centre opened up. We have a clear path to those wooden monsters they fire arrows from!”


“That’s more like it!” he said savagely, “Cavalry of the Burmin tribe! My noblemen! Follow me, fight for me!”
The men around him roared and took off on their horses at full canter. The battle raged on around them as they roared into the breach, their eyes set only ahead, on the machines. Enemnogenus failed to see the breach closing and did not see the trap forming, he kept charging and it was only the spear of a Roman that alerted him to their presence. It was too late; he was flown from his horse, dead before he left the saddle with a spear in his chest. The noblemen seen there king fall and frantically charged the Triarii trying to reclaim his shattered body. They were faltering, the charge long halted, and were being ripped to pieces in hand to hand combat. No match for the awesome power of Romes best.


One of the noblemen seen a flash out of the corner of his eye, he turned around just in time to be speared through by the Roman cavalry, a thought came to him as he lay there dying, “We gave them a run, my did we give them a run”.
With their King dead along with the entire body of noblemen the nearest men started routing and fleeing the field, knowing their entire tribes livelihood was destroyed at the hands of these Roman demons. These men were out of the infernos; even Teutatis would be amazed at their strength and power.

*

“General! The line is breaking!”
“Breaking! Romans don’t break!”
“The centre is open, the reserves sent to the flank left it thin. Its like two separate battles now sir, I don’t think the barbarians have realised yet as their cavalry has done nothing yet.” Reported the runner.
“Pull a unit of Triarii from the left, fall into the centre and tell them to hold”.
A short time passed when a second man came sprinting up to Tiberius and Lucullus, “Sir’s, the entire enemy cavalry force is making for the centre!”
“Time to earn our pay gentleman. For Jupiter, for Rome!” Tiberius roared and kicked his Spanish gelding into full sprint, his guards and Equites charging with him.

“Triarii! Prepare for the charge! Shields locked!” screamed the Centurion of the 1st cohort.
“Sir there is too much room to cover, the barbarians can ride around us” shouted an optio.
“They cannot see us around the mass of men, when they come abreast of the breach we will fall upon them without them even knowing” replied the Centurion, “Our cavalry is on its way, we need only hold the first charge before the barbarians are surrounded”.
The soldiers of the Triarii planted their spears and locked their shields, awaiting the impact that will snap bones and kill men if not properly repelled. The barbarians rounded the mass of men and seen the Triarii waiting, the impetus of the charge was too great for them too stop even if they had wanted to. The Triarii absorbed the full force of the charge, losing no men at all, the spear wall was impenetrable, dozens of horses and men fell in the first seconds, the barbarians flew into a frenzy and converged on a single point in the line.
“The king! We killed the King!” shouted a soldier of the Triarii.
“Expand the line! Fold around and surround!” shouted the Centurion.
The rear ranks of the Triarii cheered as they seen the Roman cavalry smash the rear of the barbarians; it was over in minutes, the Gallic cavalry contingent gone.

“Centurion, support the left, the centre is free” ordered Tiberius, he watched the Triarii march to the left and relieve the Hastati holding the flank.
“Incredible sir, they will write poems about this battle” mused Lucullus.
“Well we have to finish the bastard first” he shouted, “Cavalry, fall in!”
With the centre free and the victory assured on the left flank, he saw the opportunity to good to miss.
“Sir, the left flank is victorious, the barbarians are in full rout” shouted a runner.
Tiberius whooped and kicked his horse into a sprint, all his concentration was on the right, where the barbarians were cut off, and unaware of there kings death and the loss of the whole battle. The Triarii and Principes were fighting gloriously, gaining ground, stepping over the dead bodies of the men they had slain. They knew the battle was nearing an end, they could feel it, and it was though you could touch it. The drive of the barbarians was lost, they were still fighting, but without vigour. A rout was near, the Romans could tell, all that was needed was a decisive blow.
“Lucullus, take the rear left with the Equites” shouted Tiberius.
“Yes sir!
The Romans hit the rear of the barbarians so hard they plunged five ranks deep before they slowed, the Roman infantry charged, the barbarians knew what had happened and broke, fleeing into the forest.

Dawn broke as the Romans were stacking the piles of dead to be burnt, having been stripped of all equipment and ornaments to help cover the costs of war.
“A truly great battle” said Lucullus.
“Judging by the rain at least!” joked Tiberius. Rain continued to downpour, doing its best to sour the mood in the Roman camp.
“The men love you, half of them will already have lost their money in bets before you even give it to them”
“Ah Lucullus, what's life without its little pleasures hey? Their soldiers, its what they do”.
“True sir, but what now? You have thousands of men who will follow you anywhere, the people love you, and the Senate has proved its uselessness many times now.”
“Lets not speak of such things in this situation, even the fools in the Senate have smarts to have spies on this campaign.”
“Yes sir, I shall report on the men” replied Lucullus.
“Very good. Oh Lucullus,”
“Yes sir?”
“You are a good roman, and a good friend”
“Thankyou sir”.

[Conradgeneral]

Alright, I understand but you could, instead of having a "leader" in your faction have different Positions (Consuls, Praetors...) named to your characters (doesn't patch 10 have the Legate system featured in Preview 2?).
Ah, and sorry for being an A**, but Plutarch was born in 46 AD and died in 127 AD, so the roman character could not have quoted him in 300 BC...

[pseudocaesar]

Alright, I understand but you could, instead of having a "leader" in your faction have different Positions (Consuls, Praetors...) named to your characters (doesn't patch 10 have the Legate system featured in Preview 2?).
Ah, and sorry for being an A**, but Plutarch was born in 46 AD and died in 127 AD, so the roman character could not have quoted him in 300 BC...

Haha i totally forgot lmao, i have his books and everything lol

[Tankbuster]

Definitely the best AAR I have read so far...
Truly great work

And I can't WAIT for the patch after seeing this

[Conradgeneral]

Oh my, where are my manners I forgot a word of praise! Very nice work mate, keep us Posted! Very good read!

[century x]

Yea man it was awesome. Great Read.

Cheers

[pseudocaesar]

yeh well hopefully il be at war with Carthage soon, thats the main focus of my AAR, this whole gaul thing is an intro, when RTR forums are back up il post it all up in one fell swoop

[Angel]

hmm is this from the latest stuff? I mean my stats and other stuff?

[pseudocaesar]

sure is, hotfix 4 and all. whys that?