Gallic War Campaign

(BS04 Alesia IV)

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

After some worrisome first raids and skirmish, it was Clear to Caesar that the Gauls threat was as serious as he had encountered yet. But his mind was very much in the present.

He examined the formidable defence prepared by his disciplined legions: a 14 hex long line of scalable wall, protected by a long line of entrenchment with three gaps, manned by 4 light, 1 auxilia, 2 balista, 2 medium and 1 heavy unit, the last one under his personal command.

Thought his position was good and his men brave, the Gauls had deployed 6 light, 7 auxilia and 8 medium units under the command of three leaders. This battle would be a race. If Anthony and Trebonius’ reinforcements didn’t arrive on time, the barbarians would reach close combat positions, climb and breach the walls, and all would be lost.

After some initial movements, the Gauls used a “Line Command” to move all their 21 units. An impressive display of discipline and determination. The tide of iron was closer.

The Romans could little but fire bolts and bid their time, which came when an “Inspired right leadership” and a “Counter attack” helped bring in consecutive turns the much needed reinforcements: 2 medium, 1 medium cavalry, 2 auxiliar and 1 heavy cavalry units. The infantry rushed to the walls, while the infantry stayed back to offer additional support. The arrival of their comrades convinced the Romans that the odds were now in their favor.

And not a second too early, because the Gauls were already hitting the Roman left flank. That attempt ended painfully for the barbarians, with the death of a unit of warriors and an auxilia unit with a single block left.

On the center, another attack ordered by the chief Commius hurt the Romans, greatly reducing the strength of several units and forcing a war machine to evade and therefore abandon the battlefield.

The battle was now in a crucial moment, for most of the adversary lines were in contact.

But it was a day meant to bring glory to Caesar

A “Order medium troops” allowed 3 medium units in the left flank to abandon the walls protection and surprise the Gauls with a decisive attack. In the right flank, a single medium unit challenged the barbarian warriors under Commius leadership. The outcome: four barbarian units dead, including leader the Gaul chief.

Shocked by what just happened, a “Clash of Shields” arrived one turn late for the Gauls. Although 6 units of barbarians benefited from the extra impetus, the lack of a leader made their brave effort ineffective, and the Romans were able to hold the line, with the exception of 1 auxilia that orderly retreated with just 1 block of strength left.

Noticing the opportunity to break the Gauls morale, Caesar finally ordered his heavy unit and a fellow medium to jump the wall to the other side and to finish a weakened group of warriors before they could escape. The Fortune insisted on his preference for Caesar, and his soldiers acclaimed him on victory, for they have survived with no loss of men.

A much needed boost of morale before the last, decisive encounter to have before the final outcome of the Battle of Alesia was decided.

BS Alesia V

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


Looking for vengeance after a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Caesar at the Roman battlements in Alesia IV, Gallic spirits were still high as the barbarian high command looked upon the battlefield and noticed some exposed Roman infantry manning incomplete siegeworks. Surely the day would be ours, and our disastrous defeat would be a distant memory.

Enter Huglius Caesar.

A performance for the ages. This one will be studied in the war college textbooks as the "Birth of the Roman Cavalry", a lesson on how to ambush and rout an enemy with overwhelming power and speed. The Gauls were fairly confident they could move quickly to engage the Roman infantry, but alas, they never really got close. The cavalry reinforcements poured in, and without a cavalry screen of their own, the Gauls were outclassed and overmatched. To add insult to injury, after gaining a 6-0 lead by devastating the powerful Gallic right, Caesar and his legions rode confidently into camp to rally the beleaguered auxilia to gain the last two banners. Only once was there even a glimmer of hope for a moral victory for the Gauls, as two warrior units surrounded Caesar and threatened to eliminate him from the field, but he was able to not only evade, but then take matters into his own hands and secure the final banner.

8-3 Romans. Tough to even watch the replay as the Gallic commander. Impressive performance by Hugo.

Alesia ML 01

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


After reviewing this set of Alesia scenarios, myself and Hugo decided to play only this one, due to the conventional L/C/R map setup. In short, this one quickly has become one of my all-time favorite scenarios, one that could seemingly take any number of twists and turns each time you play it.

This was our final battle in the Gallic campaign, but historically it took place early in the siege of Alesia, so my advice to anyone who plays this campaign the way we have played it would be to play this one BEFORE Brent's amazing set of Alesia battles, to make a nice set of 6 that fit well together.

The fordable rivers play a large role in this battle, and to a degree assist and limit both sides. On this day, the rivers helped the Gauls concentrate their forces in various places to keep the initiative against their more centrally located Roman foes. One wing of the Gallic army began the battle deep on the Roman side of the map, albeit protected by hills and forests...but unfortunately located very near Huglius Caesar, who wasted no time obliterating a Gallic archer who couldn't retreat fast enough.

Gallic cards allowed Vercingetorix to respond quickly in all three sections during most of the game, and as the Romans advanced on the Gallic wings, the Gallic light units were able to evade and then move back up to stall the Roman advance. As Caesar was bogged down on the Roman left scattering the various light units on the hills and in the woods, the Gauls regained the initiative on the Roman right, establishing a line of battle in the woods and hills that would help blunt the upcoming Roman advance.

After Caesar blunted a Gallic charge on the Roman left and gained a 2-1 lead and then a cavalry charge in the center, the pivotal actions of the battle took place as a result of Gallic desperation and a Spartacus card play. Initiative was regained in the center and Gallic left, and the dice favored the Gauls for the remainder of the battle. Due to lack of cards, the Roman cavalry retreated to the river, hotly pursued by the Gallic cavalry, who were largely responsible for the ensuing victory. Smashing into the Roman rear, and aided by amazing rolls and a mounted charge, the Gallic medium cavalry also pierced the center along the river, eliminating some one-block Roman units and pulling within a banner of victory. From there, protected by the rivers, the Gauls were able to isolated the final unit for the win.

8-3 Gallic victory. A bittersweet victory for the Gauls, coming after the fall of their once-mighty culture.

A great scenario, highly recommended! (Revised scenario file included for those who want to give it a try)

Gallic Campaign - After Action Review

As a history teacher, I have always wanted to play a major campaign sequentially, and this one did not disappoint. Historically, Caesar's Gallic Campaign transformed the trajectory of the empire, and catapulted Caesar himself into the upper echelons of the great military commanders of all time. My opponent Hugo certainly would've made Caesar proud, as the final tally of both banners and victories illustrates, with the Romans winning 12-7 and 100-86. (I even found a battle never-before designed, created it with an overwhelming Gallic superiority in numbers, and he beat me in that one too!)

In particular, the effect of leadership in these scenarios was a major factor, with the Romans often having at least one more, if not two more, leaders on the battlefield than the Gauls. I believe this correctly reflects the history and the evolution of the Roman military, and coupled with my opponent's stunning ability to (mercilessly) eliminate Gallic leaders from the battle, it was a major advantage for the Romans during this campaign. Of course, the Gallic player has to counter the Roman advantage in combined arms, command cards, and leadership with their advantage in warrior units (a crucial wildcard in most scenarios) and ranged ability to keep the Romans off-balance until the opportunity presents itself to seize the initiative. Suffice it to say, sometimes this worked in favor of the Gauls, and sometimes it was easily parried by my skillful opponent and led directly to a crushing defeat!

As the Gallic player, you have to be ready to make the most of those chances, and use whatever mobility and terrain advantages you can muster. The Romans are able to typically be more patient, use their flexibility to whittle down the Gallic warriors in particular, and then bring in Caesar and his noted ability to vaporize units without possibility of a battle-back at the crucial moment to break the back of the Gallic army. (This was something my opponent was particularly good at, when he wasn't busy killing off the Gallic high command...)

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable campaign, would definitely recommend it to anyone willing to give it a try. I enjoyed learning about Octodurus, a battle I had never heard about before, and reconfiguring Axona to make it fit the conventional setup. Brent's Alesia scenarios are definitely worth checking out in their own right, and the Gallic Campaign definitely has enough written material available to allow the players to immerse themselves in the history as they are conducting the campaign. And finally, congratulations to Hugo for a campaign well-fought.