Gallic War Campaign

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3 years 10 months ago #3399 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
Octodurus (newly created scenario)


Let me begin by saying it is never nice to be outgeneraled in a scenario you've just created.

Alas, this is what happened at Octodurus. A battle (hopefully) soon to be released as a new scenario, it was historically fought on an interesting battlefield: a mountain village divided by a stream, where the Romans and the local Gallic tribes had seemingly settled down for the winter. However, the Romans noticed one day the Gallic village across the stream was empty...and there was a large army marshaling in the hills and fields behind the village! Their works only partially completed, the Romans were stretched perhaps near the breaking point by ranged fire, until they sallied forth and scattered the Gauls in a 6 hour battle, located near the pivotal St. Bernard Pass.

Having no Julius Caesar did not slow down the Romans in this one, as they gained some breathing room early by charging across the river and eliminating an Aux, thus placing the Gauls firmly on the defensive. After some back and forth losses on the Roman left as the Gauls attempted to move en masse over the river, the Seduni MC and leader fell, a massive blow from which the Gauls never recovered.

Much like Bibracte, as the Gauls moved into position for a crucial Clash of Shields play, the Romans made them pay, and then when the time came to pierce the line, the Gallic ranks were unable to score the necessary hits. All that remained was a mop up effort after a final desperate Gallic play of the Spartacus card.

6-4 Roman win in its inaugural play. Logfile(s) and scenario file attached.
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3 years 10 months ago - 3 years 10 months ago #3402 by Hugo
Replied by Hugo on topic Gallic War Campaign
Sotium (and an intro from Hugo, Taliapharaoh's adversary)

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...16-sotium-56-bc.html

First, allow me a quick intro. It is an ongoing pleasure to play this campaign against Taliapharaoh. He is an excellent adversary, a true gentleman, and loved the game.

Also, he was way generous using the plural in this campaign's presentation, because it was him alone who took care of making the beautiful spreadsheet to organize the battles, designing the missing scenarios, and give proper thought to the whole project. Anyone interested in playing the Gallic Wars will greatly benefit from his work. For me, it is a different & interesting experience. I have the feeling that in some battles we took decisions based on what happened on previous encounters, and it's the best possible excuse to read some history books.

About Caesar dying: I agree there should be some rule to measure the consequences of his death (and to prevent a reckless (ab)use of him... as I did a few times). Finishing the campaign seems to harsh and not much fun. I would say: Rome loses a unit of their choice in the deployment of each future battle and Caesar is permanently replaced by an anonymous general. That would reflect the tactical and strategical absence of Caesar. And you can't imagine he's not dead, but badly wounded and unable to command on the field. Maybe after a couple of years or number of battles he can go back in the field. Just an idea.

Now, on to Sotium.

Crassus was the commanding officer for the Roman army that day. He felt pretty eager to prove his skills to Caesar, but also confident on victory, as the Gods had told him that his troops were ready to shine (my six starting cards were 2 Double times, Clash of Shields, First Strike, Inspired Center Leadership, and Four Units Right!!!).

For the first minutes of the battle the armies where just maneuvering and shooting from a safe distance. Crassus was bidding his time and softening the barbarians with his ballista and slingers. Momentum changed when a Gallic force came down on the left flank, making some damage. The Roman Double Time reply was devastating and everything seemed to be going according to plan. A Gaul Out Flanked tried to stop the advance, but a successful First Strike and Double Time prevented that, killed a Gaul leader and made sure things remain as Mars would have it…

But then chieftain Adiatuanos, commanding a MC and encouraged by an I'm Spartacus, destroyed two full-strength Roman MC. His men, inspired by the carnage, did the same to a Medium Infantry and put a Roman leader on the run. Crassus felt some cold sweat running down his back and started to learn that the gods of fortune are as cruel as whimsical.

Those few turns left both armies exhausted. The Gaul Cavalry chased and killed an Auxilia unit, but a Medium Roman was able to approach and to Clash of Shields against some barbarians on centre-left hill, finally breaking their brave enemy's morale.

The Gauls run to fight another day and Crassus came back to join the rest of Casar’s army, victorious and (hopefully) wiser.

Final score: 6-4.
Attachment: Battlefield after a few turns and battle log.

File Attachment:

File Name: SotiumRevised.vlog
File Size:112 KB

File Attachment:

File Name: SotiumRevised.vlog
File Size:112 KB
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Last edit: 3 years 10 months ago by Hugo.

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3 years 10 months ago #3404 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
Caesar invades Britain!

Two solid Roman victories opened the invasion of Britain, and from this point forward we did agree to have a Caesar rule, which does seem to make sense: 1) If Caesar dies, that scenario is automatically a Gallic victory; 2) Moving forward, he is replaced by a standard leader; 3) the Gauls start each new scenario with a victory banner (a 1-0 lead). That should make for some interesting Roman decisions moving forward. Caesar is indeed "the man", but it would be tough to lose him!

Invasion of Britain

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...f-britain-55-bc.html

Roman units stormed ashore, and after a MFM card gained the Gauls some positioning, the Roman center struck. However, the Gallic counterattack looked to be decisive, eliminating a M and killing Caesar (pre-Caesar rule, sadly for the Gauls!). The Romans struck back, as the leaderless Legio X changed the whole game with an uphill elimination of a hilltop unit, and, in what has become an unfortunate pattern, elimination of the Gallic leader! A huge swing, because for the rest of the scenario, the Britons were leaderless, and seemingly one or two leader hits away from victory. The Briton cards allowed them to keep steady pressure on the Roman center, but too often Roman units just barely survived battle to inflict punishing damage the next turn. The Romans were able to overcome the loss of their leader, and had a response for every Briton attack. At the end, the Britons were one hit away from perhaps extricating weaker units from the center, but instead fell victim to a final assault.

7-5 Romans. Many momentum shifts, very fun scenario, Gauls outgeneraled by bereaving Roman subordinates after the death of Caesar. A possible Gallic win slips away....

========

RIver Stour

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...ver-stour-54-bc.html

I will henceforth christen this one "River Sour", because this one was tough. Gallic leadership is sour after this one. Gallic morale at an all-time low.

Cards were the issue, and led the Gallic high command to make some foolish decisions. After a failed initial attack on the Roman right (3 chariots scoring 2 hits on an LB), the lack of cards in the Briton hand led to an ill-advised advance on a lone MC, which ultimately resulted in the loss of the Britons only leader. Cards remained an issue, as something like 6 of the next 8 Briton plays were "choice" plays, activating a single unit. Yikes. Combined with the lackluster melee results from the chariots, this one was simply a mop-up operation after the death of the Briton leader, as waves of chariots and medium cavalry failed to do much damage against the hardy legions. To add insult to injury, the final Briton card drawn was mounted charge....I could hear the druids laughing at our futility all the way from Watiling Street.

6-2 Romans. Was not even that close. Back to the drawing board.
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3 years 10 months ago #3425 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
Foraging Party

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...ing-party-54-bc.html

A very interesting setup and scenario for sure, and interestingly balanced in my opinion.

One of the few that give the Britons the ability to seize the initiative, and with the amazing cards I had in my hand all game, that was my plan, to close with the Romans and use the weight of numbers to overwhelm them. My crafty adversary had ideas of his own, that very nearly made this an overwhelming Roman victory, as he filed his cavalry ominously over to the Roman right rear.

After an infantry exchange allowed the Britons to momentarily pierce the Roman right at the cost of a 2-1 banner deficit favoring the Romans, Trebonius unleashed his horsemen with a Mounted Charge that seemed destined to crush Briton dreams. My secret hope was that the BCH ability to ignore swords would at least make a cavalry move by the Romans a somewhat even exchange, and that I could move infantry in to counter if they lived. A big risk that paid off handsomely, though truth be told a failed 4d roll against an exposed BCH should have gone the way of the Romans, and would have completely turned the tide of the game. The Briton counterattack, executed with desperation as opposed to the tactically sound Roman charge, eliminated all four Roman units as an Aux stormed uphill against the Roman cavalry, starting a domino effect that achieved the necessary hits.

Throwing caution to the wind, and with a rare victory within the grasp of the heretofore winless Britons, two other units came within a single block of a 6-3 victory, and watched horrified as the Roman leader played his trump card, the dreaded Clash of Shields. A quick elimination of a Warrior combined with an impotent battle-back had the barbarians fearing the worst, but apparently the numerous appeals to the druids of Britannia were heard, as a well-planned Roman assault inexplicably failed to achieve the necessary hits twice on 6d rolls, allowing the Britons to battle back for the victory.

All Britannia rejoices, despite the drubbings our kinfolk had received up until now!

6-4 Briton victory, with the failure of the Roman dice playing a massive role. A very fun scenario with many possibilities it would seem.
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3 years 10 months ago #3426 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
Siege of Aduatuca

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...-aduatuca-53-bc.html

A completely imbalanced scenario that turned out to be a lot of fun and incredibly exciting...though I suspect this was a complete anomaly.

After many turns of desultory skirmishing by the barbarians, which achieved a few hits and retreats which promised at most a moral victory, the Romans had finally had enough and moved into position to demolish their adversaries. The Romans beefed up their left side, and pressed home a double time which quickly eliminated two Gallic units. A countermove by the Gallic host brought the score to 2-1, but upon the play of an inspired leadership card involving Caesar, both sides readied for a quick end to the battle. Caesar led his heavy infantry into the fray, ruthlessly destroying an Aux and personally engaging Ambiorix and almost eliminating his elite MI. The tide turned when the Gauls were able to survive and bring a Warrior unit into the fray, almost destroying Caesar's HI and bringing the score to 4-2, then charging at the next possible opportunity to chase down an exposed HI to bring it to 4-3.

This fortunate full strength Warrior unit survived a combined Caesar-led assault from a MC and MI, but the failure to eliminate the MC left two 1 block Roman units as tantalizing missed opportunities at a stunning upset. A failed Gallic assault on weakened units left the score at 5-3, and the Romans skillfully used a MFM to reorganize and reform. This left Ambiorix one option: a final assault with his last Warrior unit, which amazingly came within a leader hit on Caesar of winning the battle! However, it was not to be, as the Romans finished off a weakened unit for the win!

6-5 Roman win, desperation and charging Warriors almost pull off an amazing improbable win. A very fun match!
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3 years 10 months ago #3431 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
Gergovia

The Druids used all their magic for the Gauls in this one, as an amazing hand of cards was complemented by some fortuitous throws of the virtual dice!

Roman cards came too late for Caesar in this one, but some solace was gained in the form of largely accurate ranged fire from the Romans which was able to score some hits early and throughout the game. Holding a solid hand of cards that would allow his warriors to counteract any Roman advance, Vercingetorix first placed units on all hillsides facing the Romans, and then decided to advance onto the board early in the action. Remarkably, three consecutive Spartacus cards swung the momentum first in favor of the Gauls, then Romans, then Gauls as Vercingetorix was able to do some damage, and acquire a 3-2 lead before being scattered by Caesar himself.

The remaining banners would be decided on the Roman right, as the Romans outmaneuvered the exposed Gallic left (with its terrain limitations) quickly eliminating a hilltop light unit and threatening to pierce the Gallic line. The real hero of the battle, Vercassivellaunus, bravely rode his cavalry first to plug the hole on the hilltop, and then in a move of desperation, charged downhill, coordinating with another Gallic cavalry unit to eliminate two Roman lights and both Roman cavalry units, utilizing some miraculous rolls and momentum advances. As the Romans regrouped to continue their assault on the Gallic left, Gallic cards allowed for a massive line command play to setup the final act, an assault on a weakened MI for the final banner.

Clearly, Caesar's cards had a damaging impact on Roman fortunes in this one. Terrain, dice, and cards favored the Gauls on this day.

Gallic victory, 8-3.

Fascinating scenario that seemingly has many different possible outcomes, strongly recommended. I will definitely play this one again. A united Gallia lives to fight another day!
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3 years 9 months ago #3456 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
Lutetia (normal rules)

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...4-lutetia-52-bc.html


After a momentous victory at Gergovia, barbarian spirits were as high as they had ever been.....until Lutetia! A quick skirmish on the Roman right led to a quick 1-1 result, and Tribunes was seemingly exposed with a HI unit. However, this brave Roman unit fought out 3 full strength warrior attacks, and 16 leaderless dice were unable to do much more than push him back to the Roman lines with a single hit! It was all downhill from there for the Gauls on this day.

Tribunus was the hero of the day, as he broke several Gallic charges, and Hugo was able to counteract each move I made with my valiant, yet largely punchless, warrior charges. A few times I felt I was close to breaking through, but couldn't get anything going. This one seemed more even than the eventual 8-3 Roman victory as they mopped up the stragglers, but it is a typical Gallic War battle...the Warrior charges can exploit weaknesses in the Roman lines, but typically a lack of leaders in the Gauls means the rolls have to be there. The Roman diversity in H/M/L units can be critical at times for sure as well.

8-3 Roman victory.

One that should have been closer than it was, a fun scenario to play. Gallic momentum halted on the eve of the Siege of Alesia!
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3 years 9 months ago #3457 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
(BS01) Alesia I

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...-alesia-i-52-bc.html


Triumph of the Gallic cavalry! The all-cavalry force of the Gauls were able to catch the Romans with unfinished works, cards that couldn't match the Gallic ability to probe and move freely, and then eliminate the Roman leader with a double-helmet roll.

Using the light cavalry to probe the Roman formations, the Gauls were able to mass their units against some isolated Roman units on the Roman left. Hunkering down in the fieldworks, the Romans didn't have enough units to prevent the Gauls from gaining the unprotected flank of the entrenchments and gaining some key hits.

The Roman leader fell gallantly defending the works, and even though this one on paper seemed to favor the Romans, this one was all Gauls on this day. A very fun, very fast scenario that is a great intro into Brent Steeves' Alesia scenarios. Well-designed and enjoyable.

Gauls win, 5-1. Alesia has a early chance to survive the epic siege of Caesar.
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3 years 9 months ago #3458 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
(BS02) Alesia II

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...alesia-ii-52-bc.html

If Alesia I looked like it favored the Romans on paper, Alesia II looks like it should be an overwhelming Gallic victory. This would bear out in this battle, as this served as the high-water mark for the Gauls in this war, and seemed to signal that Caesar would fail in his efforts to subdue the barbarians.

After some initial maneuvering, the Gallic light cavalry had their finest day and opened the door for the Gallic cavalry escape from Alesia. After a mostly failed MC move on the Roman center, the LC units on the Gallic left were able to achieve hits on an Aux which allowed a serious threat to all three sections of the Roman lines, which they simply did not have the units to defend all places at once. A rare time when the Gauls could effectively throw their weight of numbers to overrun the Romans.

A bit more back and forth caused some casualties, but the fortuitous cards allowed the Gauls to eliminate 3 units outright, and then leave the Roman board edge for the strategic Gallic victory.

6-2 Gallic victory. High tide for the Gauls, the Gallic light cavalry's finest day.
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3 years 9 months ago #3459 by taliapharaoh
Replied by taliapharaoh on topic Gallic War Campaign
(BS03) Alesia III

www.commandsandcolors.net/ancients/maps/...lesia-iii-52-bc.html


The turning point of the Siege of Alesia. Hugo Caesar retakes control of the siege lines dramatically by obliterating the Gallic force against him.

Turning the tables on the Gauls, the Romans concentrated their forces while deftly moving away from a Gallic advance. In what should have been a bannerless defeat for the Gauls, Hugo overwhelmed the Gallic left and was only some extremely unfortunate rolls away from a smashing 6-0 victory. The Gallic cavalry was able to escape complete destruction, and even claw its way back to a 3-2 deficit in banners, but the writing (not that the Gauls know what that is) was on the wall.

The Roman cavalry quickly regained the initiative, and pinned units in place to systematically eliminate them. The stain of the previous defeats was washed away, as the Roman army gained a much needed morale boost from this signature victory.

6-3 Roman victory. Caesar's grip on Alesia tightens after a quick and bloody Roman win on the plain.
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