God Emperor! Rise of Rome...

 God Emperor! is my version of the clever Campaign system Augustus, devised by Mark Cardone (on the PW FB). I have set mine in the Roman Republic, where a new tyrant has scrambled his way to power and is attempting to create an empire for Rome, and a place in history for himself (hoping to end his reign as God Emperor). 

Map of potential territories to conquer 

So far (for speed) I've been resolving battles using Dominion of the Spear rules (available here).

The first battle (played yesterday lunchtime) was fought using blocks (thin printed card units using Junior General images glued onto MDF bases - an idea stolen from David Crook) while others have been played on the PC.

Block units (image is a bit poor due to bad light)

Battle fought on the PC

So far my would be Emperor has struggled but has just managed to grab his first territory; will he manage to keep it? Here's his progress to date (click on the image to make it more legible).

The final tally of Glory Points (GP) will determine how history judges the ruler.

Realty Check

 A busy weekend on the domestic front leaves little time for hobby input, so here's an update of what has happened.

Firstly, I finally got round to tiling the roof of the 10mm size cottage from Warbases that was discussed here. I was going for that Olde World, "distressed" style...

--000--

Secondly, two Map Moves (and some admin.) have been made in the on going Illyrian Invasion of Messaline.

Turn 6 saw the very reduced armies of Illyria move back over their border, and a newly mobilized Messaline Army 4 muster at their Capital.

 Turn 7 witnessed the appearance of a fresh Army for Illyria, and the gradual recovery of both sides. Meanwhile the two fleets get ever closer to the South of the peninsula...

Thanks for visiting, and now back to the business at hand...

Battle of the Coalfields

 The following post documents the second battle to take place in Turn 5 of the campaign (The Illyrian invasion of Messaline). Two Illyrian Armies were occupying the objective of the invasion; the area of Messaline containing the Scampa Coalfield. In the first battle, General Cesario had defeated the Illyrian Army 1 and pushed it back towards the border. Would Illyrian Army 2 be more successful?

Position at the end of Turn 4
Two Messaline Armies (white) attempt to drive back the invaders

The Battle of the Coalfields

Messaline Army 1 under the dashing General Antonio (4 Infantry, 1 Cavalry, 1 Artillery) arrived from the South and occupied the high ground. Facing them was Illyria's Army 2 commanded by the cautious General Sir Andrew Aguecheek (4 Infantry 2 Artillery), that had recently been deposited on the West coast by the Illyrian fleet. Sir Andrew's orders were to hold the coalfields at all cost...

Early artillery exchanges, coupled with advances made by the Messaline army, saw the rapid destruction of Illyria's guns.

General Aguecheek committed his reserve Infantry began his attack.

By the middle of the day, both sides were looking exhausted

however, The Illyrians believed that they had the numbers still to drive forward and win the day. General Aguecheek advanced..

 was driven back...

advanced again (one last push lads)...

fought tenaciously...

and finally ceded victory.

The gallant General Antonio had won the day and the remnants of Illyrian Army 2 withdrew.

The situation at the end of Turn 5 looks difficult for the Illyrian invaders: all three of their armies are now seriously battered (as are the defender's forces of course), and Messaline has also got ahead in mobilizing their fourth army that will muster at the Capital at the beginning of Turn 6. Illyria's next moves are yet to be decided, however elements within the War Cabinet are pushing for a full withdrawal to allow time for more forces to be marshalled. 

Situation at the end of Turn 5

 

The Battle of Sainte Marie du Bois

 Turn 5 saw further action taking place in the vicinity of Illyria's war objective, the Scampa coal field of West Messaline. 

 Both sides had two armies in the area to the West of the town of Scampa, and it was Messaline's Army 3 (once again fighting Illyrian Army 1) that is the subject of this post.

In the opening battle of the Campaign, the experienced General Belch had defeated the young Messalinian General Cessario, the latter having prudently withdrawn and reinforced. Once again the two met near the small town of Sainte Marie du Bois, and this time the younger man was on the offensive.

The Battle of Sainte Marie du Bois

The two sides exchanged Artillery fire while establishing their positions.

The Messaline force threw its weight of infantry on the right flank seeking to wrest the little town from the enemy's grip.

The Illyrian's, their artillery destroyed, launched their own attack, pushing back the Messaline command and forcing a change of tactic.

Messaline was now on the defensive as General Belch himself moved forward with the Illyrian foot looking for a speedy end to the battle.

But it was not to be. The day wore on and both sides were being sorely reduced.

The Illyrians still held the town, despite the bombardment from Messaline artillery, but General Belch, his resolve like his army, badly weakened, called an end to the fight, and began a strategic withdrawal towards his own border.

A first victory for the young Cessario, though at great cost to both sides.

Two battles for Bellevue

 Having witnessed an Illyrian victory in the last post, attention now is turned to their Army (3) that has crossed the border into North East Messaline.

"The General sat, and the lines on the Map,
moved from side to side"

 On Campaign Turn 2, Illyrian Army 3 sought to occupy the village of Bellevue as a potential staging post on their way to Doclea. Messaline Army 2 marched to thwart this move. 

The First Battle for Bellevue

General Valentine led Illyrian Army 3, compring 4 Line Infantry units and 2 cavalry. He was opposed by a Messaline force of 3 Line Infantry, 1 Light Infantry and 2 cavalry under General Fabian.

Illyria quickly took control of the village however the Messaline force fought back with no lack of aggression.

Soon enough it was the defenders' turn to hold Bellevue. Illyrian cavalry finally sprung into action (as those of Messaline withdrew from their attack on the hill)...

but to no avail. 

Seeing casualties mounting, and knowing that the main objective of the invasion was further South, General Valentine resolved to withdraw and reinforce, leaving General Fabian in control of the village.

 On Campaign Turn 3, Illyrian Army 2, which had been transported by their fleet, landed to the West of the Scampa Coal Deposit, the invader's main objective.

The landing was unopposed. Messaline Army 1 was now marching North, as news filtered through, but had been late in starting.

 During Turn 3, General Valentine's subordinates had rounded up the dispersed, rearmed the walking wounded and brought up the reserve. Army 3 was ready for another go at Bellevue. Of course General Fabian had been doing the same...

The Second Battle of Bellevue

Messaline Infantry were well dug in amid the ruins of Bellevue, with cavalry support on their left and the reserve coming up to join them.

The Illyrian cavalry was joined by General Valentine himself in a bid to quickly remove their opponents and allow a flank attack.

In the meantime half the Line Infantry were engaged in a bloody assault on the village, whilst the remainder occupied the hill, looking to take advantage of the elevation.

Heavy casualties were witnessed on both sides, but the defenders held the line.

With both sides now exhausted and largely depleted, General Valentine was once more forced to retire. Neither Army would be a usable fighting force for some time. The North East sector had ground to a halt.

In terms of Campaign mechanics, Turn 4 saw both sides roll for their mobilization of a fourth Army - Messaline's will appear at Turn 6, Illyria's at Turn 7.

With troop movements in the South West bringing four armies into the Scampa locale, Turn 5 looks likely to involve two, possibly decisive, battles.

End of Turn 4 situation

Opening Gambit

 

The opening moves of the Illyrian invasion of Messaline have been made (and incidentally, no-one has yet tried to pretend that it was the latter's fault that they were invaded).

Following is the Campaign map before the invasion showing the positions of each side's armies (1-3) and fleets. Sadly for Messaline, their fleet has started (die roll dictated) on the Eastern side of the peninsula at Doclea, many moves away from the enemy.

Illyria won the initiative throw for Map move 1, and their Armies 1 and 3 pushed into Messaline. Messaline responded by moving their Armies 2 and 3, the latter coming into contact with the invader  just North of the town of Scampa.

The Battle of Scampa (PW 3x3)

Armies have been pre-generated (see Campaign Rules below) and the two forces that met in the first battle were identical in composition, both being made up of 4 Line Infantry units and 1 each of Cavalry and Artillery. General Belch, an old campaigner, led the Illyrians, while the Messaline force was under the command of the less experienced General Cesario.

Apologies for the poor picture quality! I hope to play the next game in daylight...

The map shows the battlefield to be used for each large square, so the Illyrians (Blue), arriving from the North found a dense forest on their right flank.

The Illyrian artillery, expertly directed by General Belch, took its toll early in the battle.

Later in the day the Messaline Army began to push back against the aggressor.

By midday it seemed that the battle could go either way...

but a sudden collapse in Messaline morale led to General Cesario's defeat and ultimate withdrawal from the battlefield.

 At the end of the first battle (and Map move) the position is as follows:

Following are the Campaign rules (as they currently stand, right click, copy and paste to read easily). Next time, Move 2... (unsurprisingly).