The Suevi are victorious in an attack on a Roman province, but the Alemanni are not so lucky. Much blood was shed on the western borders of the Empire this turn. Some Germanic archers prove critical, while others seem unable to make their point http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giffelt (they bow before the superior mettle of Rome?)
See the annotated photographs of the battles here.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
A successful expedition to north Britain!
In two battles, forces of the Imperial West landed on the Pictish Shore, defeating a local tribe, and then marched inland and defeated another force of natives.
The first battle was bloody, seeing much destruction. Several auxiliary alae and cohortes were damaged, but many Picts were slain, including the local chieftain, and sturdy captives taken who will prove hard-working slaves in mainland coloniae.
In the second engagement, Roman forces were attacked by surprise, when overwhelming numbers of the barbarians sprang a cunning ambush. But doughty fighting on the part of the Imperial legions garnered another crushing victory.
Full details can be found here.
The first battle was bloody, seeing much destruction. Several auxiliary alae and cohortes were damaged, but many Picts were slain, including the local chieftain, and sturdy captives taken who will prove hard-working slaves in mainland coloniae.
In the second engagement, Roman forces were attacked by surprise, when overwhelming numbers of the barbarians sprang a cunning ambush. But doughty fighting on the part of the Imperial legions garnered another crushing victory.
Full details can be found here.
Friday, March 16, 2012
More bad news for the Empire
In one battle, an Eastern Roman Empire army was defeated in a squeaker by forces of the Sassanaians. Three Persian cavalry were cut down by the doughty blades of the Roman foot (!) but on the other side of the battlefield, the Easterners managed to slaughter the Roman light troops just a little faster, slaying several units of auxilia and psiloi and (quite unexpectedly), killing off a detachment of light horse in a stand-up fight with skirmishers. (4-3 Sassanids)
In the second battle, Sarmatians overran another Imperial Army, this time of the West. Despite luring the enemy deep into hilly, wooded terrain in Moesia, the local legate was surrounded and cut down by enemy heavy horse before his foot troops could wreak devastation on the columns of closely packed riders (2G-0 Sartmatians).
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A Victory for Rome!
And Rome West puts some points on the big board!
A horde of Burgundi swarmed across the frontier, but have been bloodily repulsed by a mobile force led by the local dux limitis. After a third of their manpower were cut down, the barbarians sued for terms, provided hostages (or sausages) an d promised to leave the Empire, never to return.
The dux offered his officers 5 for 3 that they would see the same Burgundi again before the year was out and found no takers.
A horde of Burgundi swarmed across the frontier, but have been bloodily repulsed by a mobile force led by the local dux limitis. After a third of their manpower were cut down, the barbarians sued for terms, provided hostages (or sausages) an d promised to leave the Empire, never to return.
The dux offered his officers 5 for 3 that they would see the same Burgundi again before the year was out and found no takers.
Monday, March 5, 2012
another Ostrogothic defeat!
A series of reports from the latest attack of the Ostrogoths upon the Empire:
First: As for the fall of Rome, it teeters as we speak. The Ostrogoths report paralysis and despair among the Eastern Roman forces who are nearly completely encircled now by Goths, with their camp within range for sacking and all their Auxilia Palatina slain fighting in muddy ploughed fields against the deadly Gothic skirmishing bow. The battle is not over, but there are reports that the treasurer of Allanasius of Ferrence has already been seen riding away on the road back to Byzantium, whipping his heavily-laden horses and casting terrified glances backwards as he goes.
Then: A second rider has arrived from the Ostrogothic battle. The mighty Ostrogothic Knights finally got into battle, attacking the unprotected prostitutes and washer-women of the Eastern Roman camp.
The washer-women and whores of Byzantium proved that they are tougher than the Auxilia Palatina of Byzantium's army, slaughtering the Ostrogoth Knights (1-5 roll).
Now the battle is suddenly too close to call.
Finally: The Ostrogothic Psiloi were devastating to the Romans, slaughtering two Auxilia and putting the Romans on the brink of doom. But then the Ostrogothic Knights got into combat, losing every roll they made, dying in droves.
The Ostrogoths, thoroughly smashed, retreat from Illyrica and head towards Northern Italy and the West.
First: As for the fall of Rome, it teeters as we speak. The Ostrogoths report paralysis and despair among the Eastern Roman forces who are nearly completely encircled now by Goths, with their camp within range for sacking and all their Auxilia Palatina slain fighting in muddy ploughed fields against the deadly Gothic skirmishing bow. The battle is not over, but there are reports that the treasurer of Allanasius of Ferrence has already been seen riding away on the road back to Byzantium, whipping his heavily-laden horses and casting terrified glances backwards as he goes.
Then: A second rider has arrived from the Ostrogothic battle. The mighty Ostrogothic Knights finally got into battle, attacking the unprotected prostitutes and washer-women of the Eastern Roman camp.
The washer-women and whores of Byzantium proved that they are tougher than the Auxilia Palatina of Byzantium's army, slaughtering the Ostrogoth Knights (1-5 roll).
Now the battle is suddenly too close to call.
Finally: The Ostrogothic Psiloi were devastating to the Romans, slaughtering two Auxilia and putting the Romans on the brink of doom. But then the Ostrogothic Knights got into combat, losing every roll they made, dying in droves.
The Ostrogoths, thoroughly smashed, retreat from Illyrica and head towards Northern Italy and the West.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
a grievous loss for Rome
The Visigoths, spilling into the Roman borderlands of the west, did better than their eastern brothers. Encountering a Roman army, they decoyed its mounted troops, then rushed and annihilated its foot troops (Visigoths 4-0 Western Romans). The legate in charge is probably looking for a very small farm, deep in the country, to retire to.
Roma triumphans!
A set of battle reports from our correspondent Antonius Aquilarius:
We played 5 games tonight in a little over 3.5 hours.
This is the order they happened in.
The Romans defended on their terrain of their choosing except in the last battle against the Beja.
2.2+ rules were used with 30" boards.
vs. Early Ostrogoths (Roman Victory 5-0) DK Proxy battle
The Roman forces were deployed with the mounted split on both wings. The Ostrogoths attacked with all the Kn in the center and the Psiloi on the wings. The Romans tried to deploy their mounted to the center, but got caught by the Ostrogoths before they were able to do so completely. That is were the Ostrogoth luck ran out. The right wing of the Ostrogoths was decimated due to their army having been on poor rations for a long time. It was actually a nail biter of a game, which is not reflected in the score. The Knights just could make any head-way even against the Blade that were holding the center.
vs. Armenians (Roman Loss 3-4)
Next the Armenians invaded the Eastern Provinces. In a game that saw the forces split into two distinctive engagements, the Armenians managed to crush the Roman left wing.
vs. Carpi (Roman Loss 3-4)
Hearing of the Roman defeat in the east the Carpi decided to pounce on the Romans in Dacia. The battle resulted in the Carpi warband crushing the Roman blade in the center before the Roman mounted had their way.
vs. Sassanid Persians (Roman Victory 4-1)
The Sassanids took their turn attacking through Palmyra into the fertile levant. The Roman cataphracts showed their strength by crushing the right wing of the Sassanids and enveloping the elephant. The Sassanid horde made a gallant attempt to hold the legionnaires.
vs. Beja (Roman Victory 2g-1)
Romans took the offensive in this game and ended up fighting with two dunes and an oasis. The Beja fought with Maxi-Camels. The Beja were seriously pip starved and it didn't help that their Bow shooting was darn near abysmal.
We played 5 games tonight in a little over 3.5 hours.
This is the order they happened in.
The Romans defended on their terrain of their choosing except in the last battle against the Beja.
2.2+ rules were used with 30" boards.
vs. Early Ostrogoths (Roman Victory 5-0) DK Proxy battle
The Roman forces were deployed with the mounted split on both wings. The Ostrogoths attacked with all the Kn in the center and the Psiloi on the wings. The Romans tried to deploy their mounted to the center, but got caught by the Ostrogoths before they were able to do so completely. That is were the Ostrogoth luck ran out. The right wing of the Ostrogoths was decimated due to their army having been on poor rations for a long time. It was actually a nail biter of a game, which is not reflected in the score. The Knights just could make any head-way even against the Blade that were holding the center.
vs. Armenians (Roman Loss 3-4)
Next the Armenians invaded the Eastern Provinces. In a game that saw the forces split into two distinctive engagements, the Armenians managed to crush the Roman left wing.
vs. Carpi (Roman Loss 3-4)
Hearing of the Roman defeat in the east the Carpi decided to pounce on the Romans in Dacia. The battle resulted in the Carpi warband crushing the Roman blade in the center before the Roman mounted had their way.
vs. Sassanid Persians (Roman Victory 4-1)
The Sassanids took their turn attacking through Palmyra into the fertile levant. The Roman cataphracts showed their strength by crushing the right wing of the Sassanids and enveloping the elephant. The Sassanid horde made a gallant attempt to hold the legionnaires.
vs. Beja (Roman Victory 2g-1)
Romans took the offensive in this game and ended up fighting with two dunes and an oasis. The Beja fought with Maxi-Camels. The Beja were seriously pip starved and it didn't help that their Bow shooting was darn near abysmal.
Monday, February 27, 2012
several battles underway
The Gothic hordes are attacking the borders!
Ostrogoths are attacking the Eastern Empire in two places, while Visigoths are attacking in the West.
The Eastern Empire is hard-pressed, as rumours abound that the villainous Carpi are also set to attack there. Apparently in anticipation of this, one army has set off into the hills of the Dacian Provincia to set a fire-break on the locals' ambitions.
And now the Sarmatians have jumped into the game, thinking to attack the limitanei of the East while they are busy fighting the Ostrogoths and Carpi.
Rumblings are heard among the western native races, but this may simply be their diet of turnips and berries...
Ostrogoths are attacking the Eastern Empire in two places, while Visigoths are attacking in the West.
The Eastern Empire is hard-pressed, as rumours abound that the villainous Carpi are also set to attack there. Apparently in anticipation of this, one army has set off into the hills of the Dacian Provincia to set a fire-break on the locals' ambitions.
And now the Sarmatians have jumped into the game, thinking to attack the limitanei of the East while they are busy fighting the Ostrogoths and Carpi.
Rumblings are heard among the western native races, but this may simply be their diet of turnips and berries...
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Armies and Battles
Players can use, for any battle, any of the armies appropriate to their team. In other words, Joe the Goth can play Vandals in one game and then Ostrogoths in another. Losses do not carry over from battle to battle. List options can be selected for one battle and then different options for that list selected for the next battle. Any number of battles can be ongoing at once--no army is limited to only fighting one battle at a time. In other words, Fred and Alan, both Eastern Romans, my both be fighting battles at the same time, one against a Persian and one against a Visisgoth (or even both against Visigothic armies.) Two players from opposing teams just pick armies, play a battle, and report the results.
All armies are Book II. The use of 2.2+ mods. is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged.
Army Lists to Use
Western Roman Empire (can engage in battle with western natives, Sarmatians, Goths, or other Romans): Later Imperial Roman--West (78a)
Eastern Roman Empire (can engage in battle with eastern natives, Sarmatians, Goths,
Western natives (can only engage in battle with the Western Roman Empire):Scots Irish (54a), Later Moorish (57), Pictish (68a), Early Franks (72abcd), Old Saxon (73)
Eastern natives (can only engage in battle with the Eastern Roman Empire): Armenian (28c), Dacian (52), Nobade/Blemye/Beja (55b), Sassanid Persian (69)
Sarmatians (can engage in battle with either Western or Eastern Roman Empire): Sarmatians (26), Alans (58), Limigantes (70b)
Goths (can engage in battle with either Western or Eastern Roman Empire): Early Visigoths (65b), Early Vandals (66), Early Ostrogoths (67b), Burgundi (70a)
Use the standard Aggression rules to determine who is attacker and defender and thus to decide terrain.
Infighting and Civil War
While there was doubtless infighting among the enemies of Rome, for the purposes of this campaign, non-Romans may only attack Romans.
Romans, however, can attack other Romans, West attacking East or East attacking West or armies within a region attacking other armies of the same region. If at the end of the campaign, there is only one emperor, victories against other Romans will determine which Roman player has clawed his way to the top of the heap (this is the only single-player point of victory; all other victory results are by team). HOWEVER, each Roman-on-Roman battle will count as a loss for the defeated Roman force but not as a victory for the other; thus each such battle will make the chances of overall non-Roman victory that much more likely.
All armies are Book II. The use of 2.2+ mods. is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged.
Army Lists to Use
Western Roman Empire (can engage in battle with western natives, Sarmatians, Goths, or other Romans): Later Imperial Roman--West (78a)
Eastern Roman Empire (can engage in battle with eastern natives, Sarmatians, Goths,
Western natives (can only engage in battle with the Western Roman Empire):Scots Irish (54a), Later Moorish (57), Pictish (68a), Early Franks (72abcd), Old Saxon (73)
Eastern natives (can only engage in battle with the Eastern Roman Empire): Armenian (28c), Dacian (52), Nobade/Blemye/Beja (55b), Sassanid Persian (69)
Sarmatians (can engage in battle with either Western or Eastern Roman Empire): Sarmatians (26), Alans (58), Limigantes (70b)
Goths (can engage in battle with either Western or Eastern Roman Empire): Early Visigoths (65b), Early Vandals (66), Early Ostrogoths (67b), Burgundi (70a)
Use the standard Aggression rules to determine who is attacker and defender and thus to decide terrain.
Infighting and Civil War
While there was doubtless infighting among the enemies of Rome, for the purposes of this campaign, non-Romans may only attack Romans.
Romans, however, can attack other Romans, West attacking East or East attacking West or armies within a region attacking other armies of the same region. If at the end of the campaign, there is only one emperor, victories against other Romans will determine which Roman player has clawed his way to the top of the heap (this is the only single-player point of victory; all other victory results are by team). HOWEVER, each Roman-on-Roman battle will count as a loss for the defeated Roman force but not as a victory for the other; thus each such battle will make the chances of overall non-Roman victory that much more likely.
The Campaign
The Decline of the Tetrarchy is set just after the retirement of the two original tetrarchs. It will be a new style of campaign game, both cooperative and competitive as befits the nature of the Roman Empire during this complex period.
The empire is represented by two "teams", East and West. The empire's foes are represented by four teams: western natives, eastern natives, Sarmatians, and Goths. Players joining the campaign will sign into one of these six teams.
To represent the constant warfare of the period, players from the Empire Foe teams will arrange games with players from the Empire teams, play them, and report the results without stopping for diplomacy, moves, or tiresome delays like sieges. Instead of fighting over specific territories, as in a traditional DBA campaign, each team accumulates points that represent the success of their faction against their enemies.
At the end of the campaign, the team with the highest total will be declared winners. If both Roman teams have higher scores than their enemies, the empire has withstood the barbarian onslaught. If one diocese of the empire has a lower score than its foes, it has fallen victim to partial or total invasion and the other diocese's augustus is declared sole emperor. If both dioceses have lower scores than all of their foes, Rome has succumbed, and the long dark age of Europe begins.
The empire is represented by two "teams", East and West. The empire's foes are represented by four teams: western natives, eastern natives, Sarmatians, and Goths. Players joining the campaign will sign into one of these six teams.
To represent the constant warfare of the period, players from the Empire Foe teams will arrange games with players from the Empire teams, play them, and report the results without stopping for diplomacy, moves, or tiresome delays like sieges. Instead of fighting over specific territories, as in a traditional DBA campaign, each team accumulates points that represent the success of their faction against their enemies.
At the end of the campaign, the team with the highest total will be declared winners. If both Roman teams have higher scores than their enemies, the empire has withstood the barbarian onslaught. If one diocese of the empire has a lower score than its foes, it has fallen victim to partial or total invasion and the other diocese's augustus is declared sole emperor. If both dioceses have lower scores than all of their foes, Rome has succumbed, and the long dark age of Europe begins.
The Tetrarchy and Its Decline
In 293 CE, the Roman Emperor ("Augustus") Diocletian, recognizing that rule and administration of the sprawling principate was effectively beyond the powers of one executive, instituted the innovation later known as the Tetrarchy, or rule of four executives. He had raised Maximian first to caesar and then to augustus, or co-emperor, in 285 and 286. But seven years later, he expanded this ruling council to four men, by giving the title of caesar to the generals Galerius and Constatinus Chlorus. Each augustus ruled half the empire, and each caesar assisted an augustus by ruling part of his portion. This innovative system allowed each ruler to lead military forces in his section, while notionally avoiding the danger of a successful general challenging the power of a single emperor. The tetrarchy created political stability that permitted full-scale military action in several different portions of the empire at once, leading to new Roman successes against old enemies (like Persia) and new ones (the encroaching barbarians).
But the plan only lasted for one generation of leaders. In 305, Diocletian and Maximian stepped down and Galerius and Constatinus Chlorus became augusti. When the latter died a year later in York (after a successful campaign against the Picts), the tetrarchy was riven by conflict over his replacement. Politics and ambition took over, with popular generals declaring themselves augusti or caesars, retired tetrarchs returning to rulership, and bloody civil war all over. In 324, the augustus Constantine the Great defeated all his rivals and returned the empire to exclusive rule by a single augustus/emperor.
But the plan only lasted for one generation of leaders. In 305, Diocletian and Maximian stepped down and Galerius and Constatinus Chlorus became augusti. When the latter died a year later in York (after a successful campaign against the Picts), the tetrarchy was riven by conflict over his replacement. Politics and ambition took over, with popular generals declaring themselves augusti or caesars, retired tetrarchs returning to rulership, and bloody civil war all over. In 324, the augustus Constantine the Great defeated all his rivals and returned the empire to exclusive rule by a single augustus/emperor.
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