God Emperor! Concluding the first stab at it..

 Continuing on from last weeks post, I have played the rest of the reign of Gaius Maudlinus (see below), but first a word about the game itself.

Surplus Dairiprodus by Uderzo

Game mechanics

For the first go at the game (well technically the second, but my Caesar was assassinated in year 2 of the first attempt) I only used the Random Events to run the game - Gaius was not a very proactive kind of leader. The following table is changed slightly from Mark's original - I used a d12 and added an extra line.

Rome started off with 3 Legions - as Provinces are captured, an extra Legion could possibly be raised in Years of Peace & Prosperity to a max. of 1 per Province gained.

I added Glory Points (GPs) from the following table - I think I was over generous in this first go as GPs were also given in the Random Events...

At the end of the incumbents' reign the total GPs are used to determine how the leader will be viewed by History. Again, I made a few changes to Mark's original (possibly based on a misreading of the rules):

The next go at this will certainly involve more decisions being made by the would-be Emperor, plus Random Events, so more aggressive play.

Game

At the end of the first session, Rome controlled most of the Italian peninsula - how would Gaius fair going forward?

Well there it is. Gaius didn't do too badly given he wasn't allowed to make any decisions!

I enjoyed the randomness of my first go and can see the system as being a nice way to run a campaign where the Random Events add to strategic play, so thanks to Mark for the great ideas! 

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.