Life of a Roman: An AAR

[johnhughthom]

My name is not important, what is important is that I am a Roman, a citizen and my duty is to defend the Republic. My father was moderately wealthy, a farmer with land of his own, slaves and freemen working for him. He was also a hero of the Republic fighting against Pyrrhus at Heraclea, Asculum and Beneventum, giving his life at Beneventum. What was my families reward? A senator, a man who sat out the battles against the Greek tyrant, took our land, our slaves, everything. My mother took my sisters to Rome to live with relatives, while I worked for a neighbour. My father had helped this man set up his farm, loaned him slaves to work his fields when he was ill and what help did he give my family in it's hour of need? A job paying me half of what he paid his freemen, despite the fact I knew more about farming than him and his entire workforce put together. After 6 months of labouring to enrich somebody else I couldn't take it anymore and went to Rome to find my family and perhaps my fortune...

No, I'm not that naive or that much of a fool. I knew I was more likely to find starvation and isolation in Rome than my fortune, but I had no idea what else I could do. I had a tiny amount of money, enough to survive on for a few days while I found something to do. I am only fifteen, but tall and strong for my age and I can easily pass for eighteen, surely somebody would take me on as an apprentice.

Rome was a disappointment, I hadn't expected streets paved with gold and talking birds on street corners, but I had expected more than street after street of filthy tenements, waste poured out of upper storey windows and beggars and cut-throats lurking around every bend. If it wasn't so clear I could handle myself I doubt I would have made it alive through my first night. I did though, and found my family the next day. I wished I hadn't. My eldest sister was working as a whore, my mother didn't even try to hide it from me. Not only had my fathers death taken her husband and wealth, it seemingly took her self respect. I left, vowing never to visit again. As far as I was concerned I was now an orphaned only child. I would grieve for my father, but the rest of my family had never existed as far as I was concerned.

As I left the house a crowd of people rushed passed. I grabbed a straggler from the group and asked what was happening. The legions for the year were being recruited and all citizens had to register. I followed the group and saw a huge mass of men in a large open area with lines formed in front of tables. I joined the shortest line and waited my turn. Two men in front of me were discussing their hopes for the registration. "I have had a particularly good year, rent has doubled and I managed to buy another building. I am a cert for the Triarii." "Indeed," his colleague replied "I expect you will be fighting alongside me this year, killing Greeks and Tarentines and perhaps even those scum in Rhegion."

After most of the day had passed my turn came at last. The offices asked for my name and any deeds to property or slaves. I told him I had nothing but the clothes on my back and two sesterces in my pocket. He looked at me carefully and asked was I an escaped slave to which I angrily replied I wasn't and my father had fought Pyrrhus. He smiled and told me that was a very nice story, I couldn't join the army however as I was one of the capite censi, and too poor to be assigned a rank. "I can hit a rabbit at fifty paces with a sling, my father trained my with pilum and gladius. I have trained to join the legion, you can't turn me away just because i have no money!" "Yes I can," he replied "how can you buy a gladius, a pilum, any armour? Do you intend to throw your two sesterces at the Greeks?" "I have my sling in my pocket and the last time I checked the ammunition for it was free, I can fight."

He looked at me for a long moment then took a sheet of paper from under the one he had filled my name and details in. "You could join the irregular skirmishers, but I warn you it will not be easy. You will be the lowest of the low, beneath even the velites and the allies. You will be fodder, if sacrificing the whole lot of you will save one Hastati it will be done, you will probably be dead within the year. It is your choice though, you will be fed, you may get to sleep in a tent if you are lucky and you get to kill Greeks. You might even get paid something if the signifer is feeling particularly generous."

What did I have to lose? I signed up and was told to report for duty the next day. We are to march south within the week. My life as a citizen soldier is just beginning and I want to make my father proud and one day say my name without feeling shame for my loss of status.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!! U 1S B4CK!!

ok on a serious note nice start:2thumbsup:

[johnhughthom]

Thanks. I have tried to play a few campaigns without writing an AAR and I have found I just can't.
I still want to do a proper Pahlav AAR but I need a break from playing them so I decided to try a Romani campaign. I'm going to try to follow the life of a single man, hopefully follow his rise through the legion. I'm reading Goldsworthy's "The Complete Roman Army" and I want to try to get the day day life of a Roman soldier, right through the ranks, across in this AAR. The book seems to deal more with the Principate, but I'm sure most of that could be used for the Republican era.
Hopefully this will be slightly different from the other Romani AARs we have seen. It's using RTW.exe, H/M with an unmodded EB 1.2 for anybody who cares about such things.

[gamegeek2]

Yay, back!

[Maion Maroneios]

Nice one mate, hope to see some good Roman expansion here. Mainly for competitive reasons, hehe.

Nah, seriously dude, good luck with it:thumbsup:

Maion

[satalexton]

ROMAOI BARBAROI~~~!!!!111oneoneone111!!! =P

[Maion Maroneios]

ROMAOI BARBAROI~~~!!!!111oneoneone111!!! =P
:laugh4: Still have a grudge against those guys? Don't blame you mate:sweatdrop:

Maion

[johnhughthom]

I am two years older, though I feel I have aged ten. I am taller, stronger, fitter, healthier. I am still just as poor. I am a man though, and I am a Roman. Two years have seen me take part in two epic battles, first against the Greeks in Tarentum, then the rebels in Rhegium. The man who recruited me to the legion told me I wouldn't last a year, I have lived through two and quitting now would leave me no better off than if I had remained in Rome. I may as well stay, and if I'm honest, killing is it's own reward sometimes.

At least the recruiter was honest. I have been fed, muck not fit for dogs but I was still fed. I have slept under a tent, one that I stole from a house in Tarentum and had confiscated by a Principe halfway through my first night under it. I haven't been paid though, the recruiter didn't guarantee that so I can't hold it against him.

Anyway I guess anybody reading this cares little for my life, what you want is stories about killing Greeks, what I saw when we captured the rebels in Rhegium. Well, I have little to say about that. In Tarentum we threw our stones over a wall and didn't even see if we hit anybody. The real soldiers then took to the city and the killing began in earnest. I didn't see it, but I smelt it and I heard it. Two days after the battle I snuck into the city, we weren't allowed out of the camp, and saw the aftermath. Bodies piled up like bricks in a wall, men picking through the corpses for money, jewellery, whatever. The locals crept threw the city if they had essential work, if not they cowered at home.

Rhegium was little different, although this time we were allowed into the city afterwards. We stayed for a few hours then went back to camp. None of us had any money so what was the point of watching the other soldiers visit the alehouses and brothels?

What of the leaders of the Legions? The consuls, tribunes, centurions? How the hell would I know, I keep out of their way. My last meeting with a centurion ended with me cleaning horse crap off his boots with my tunic, I was lucky he was in a good mood or it could have been my tongue. Perhaps you are thinking that the men in charge aren't as bad as the recruiter made out? No the only reason we are still alive is we are beneath notice, we have been forgotten about as we are almost useless in a seige. I have yet to experience a field battle and who knows if I will live to write about it if I do...

[johnhughthom]

Bloody Gauls. What is the point in their existence? Are they a joke of the Gods? At least the Greeks have "culture" and the Carthaginians bring wealth wherever they go, all these barbarians bring is devastation and cruelty. I have spent most of the past three years sitting outside cities belonging to these creatures, it's cold, wet and miserable. By the Gods how I want to kill them all.

Right now I'm sitting outside the city of Segesta, a pathetic hovel. We need to take it however to show the Gauls in this region who's boss. Apparently these people aren't actually Gauls, they are dirty, smelly and have long hair so if they aren't Gauls they are the next worst next thing. The rumour around camp is we will go to battle in the autumn, thats six months away and we've already been here nine. We are already here longer than we were at Bononia, I guess these people actually have the intelligence to store food, perhaps they are a step above Gauls after all.

The march to Bononia was long and hard. We left Rhegium and travelled up through Campania, then Latium, finally through Etruria into Gaul. It was hard travelling through Latium, wanting to go home. I have no home though, so I had no choice. Some men did desert, and an unlucky few were captured. They were crucified and the entire legion was made to watch. We had to stand for an hour and listen to them beg for mercy before we were allowed to return to camp, a few stayed behind to taunt them before retiring for the night. We left the next morning and the deserters were very much alive, we marched for hours before their screams were too far in the distance to be heard. Life in the legion can be hard, but I doubt any man who saw or heard that will contemplate desertion any time soon.

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Bononia-1.jpg
When we reached Bononia a few of us looked at each other in surprise. It was a dump, and I feel I'm insulting the camp latrine to call it that. A few huts huddled together behind a pathetic palisade. The local leader had gathered his warband in there and we needed to eliminate him to pacify the region. Well, thats what the rumour around the camp was, we certainly weren't told why we did anything just what and when to do it.

We were set to work knocking down trees and bringing them back to build a wall around the settlement so nobody could get in or out. For three months, sixteen hours a day we did this before it was finished, then we waited. For six months we waited. Then they came out, tired, starving, pathetic, outnumbered. The fearsome Gauls came out to attack us.

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Cadarmy-1.jpg

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Bononia-2.jpg

We were better armed, better fed, better trained, better led and more numerous. Cnaevs Cornelius Blasio, who had been legate at Tarentum and Rhegium, led our army. He was not a consul, but led with pro-praetor authority. I was told he gave up the chance to go to Rome to run for Consul that year in order to lead the attack on Bononia.

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Blasio-1.jpg

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Cadwalador-1.jpg

The Gallic leader was a waste of his fathers spunk called Cadwalador, or some similar mouthful. He led his army out fearfully and didn't join the fight himself until near the end. He didn't last long when he did arrive, cut down by an equestrian.

As for me, my unit was in front of the regular skirmishers. We pelted the enemy until they got too close then legged it behind the lines.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Hail-1.jpg
The Gauls ran away when the heavy infantry moved forward so we returned to the front and pelted some more. Then the naked men arrived, we moved back again and the Samnites engaged the nudists. The Hastati managed top punch a whole right in the middle of the Gallic line and flanked the naked guys while the Principes marched straight on and attacked the Gallic skirmishers who had held back. The Gallic leader then arrived but was instantly flanked by Blasio and the tribune Cotta and cut down. This sent the whole Gallic army to flight and they were cut down. Most of the army didn't even bother going into the town as we could see there was nothing to loot and all the food had been eaten during the seige.

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Bononiawin-1.jpg

One of those executed for desertion had been our "signifer" although he didn't really hold that title we just called him that for want of a better word. He was simply a Roman citizen who was in charge of the irregulars and was supposed to sort out our pay. Of course nobody cared what he did with the money and if we complained we would be ignored, if we were unlucky we would be beaten. Since his death we had been left to our own devices and simply followed the army and did what we were told when we were told. During the battle I had taken charge, it hadn't been a concious decision it just kind of happened. I told the unit to move forward, they did. I told them to retreat, they did. We managed to kill quite a few Gauls and all of us came through the battle unscathed, which was something of a minor miracle.

My efforts had been noticed, and tribune Cotta came to our resting spot the next day. Wrinkling his nose at the stench from the nearby latrine he pointed at me and called me over. "What's your story?" he asked me. So I told him of my father and my loss of status and why I had joined the legion. "For some reason I actually believe you, but it doesn't matter if it's true or not you impressed me today. You are now in charge of this unit, speak to one of the legates clerks, they will tell you your responsibilities." Without another word he marched off leaving me standing alone, with my bare feet in a puddle of urine.

[desert]

I imagine that this AAR will turn out like Berkeley Boi's Spear and Shield; this guy will eventually rise through the ranks to become a major senator and/or consul. Maybe even dictator.

[johnhughthom]

I thought I may as well post my house rules for a Romani campaign:

A legion is raised for 16 years and no retraining allowed, at the end of the 16 years it is disbanded in different cities across the Republic to simulate land grants. If I'm in a war it can be extended to 20 years, 25 at an emergency but no more. I'm aware this is not really historically accurate but it's as close as you can get in RTW I feel.
My Camillan legion consist of one Leves, one Hastati, one Principes, one Triarii and one Rorarii. There is one accensii shared between two legions (as I believe they are too powerful for what they represent) and FMs are used for the cavalry wing.
An allied ala is raised for each legion. these generally consist of a unit of light skirmishers, light infantry, heavy infantry, pedites extraordinarii, archers and cavalry. I may add a unit of heavier skirmisher if available and sometime two cavalry units.
I start with 2 legions, then one more is added every 16 years depending on expansion. Light expansion may see none added, large gains may need 2 more.
One legion and one ala are used in the same stack. They can be separated, to attack a small enemy or to attack from different directions but generally travel together.
I don't recruit mercs, this allows the AI to recruit them giving a greater challenge. It also simulates the greater uniformity of the Roman army when you are fighting such diverse armies.
I don't accept adoptions. I don't know why, I just don't like it. Daughters allow you to diversify your family tree anyway.
When a region is conquered it starts at level 4 govt. When the client ruler dies it becomes level 3(whether natural death or otherwise). The approx 30 years later level 2. Another 30 years or so for those regions able to become level 1.
Absolutely no reloading, I reloaded a battle I lost once and it was my biggest mistake ever in EB. I totally lost all interest in a campaign which I had been playing for 6 months and was near the Marian reforms. I have never got close to them since.
FMs go to Rome (or another big city with a school) between 16 and 20, then with the army for 10 years, then back to Rome for a political career. Only Senators can govern cities, preferably at least former Praetors but former Quaestors can govern small towns. Certain cities, like Syracuse, Tarentum etc can only be governed by somebody with Consular authority. Obviously this doesn't apply to type four govts.

[I of the Storm]

Very nice :2thumbsup:

I'll be following this one, keep it up.

[theoldbelgian]

what will happen if disaster strikes and all the ascensi die in batle?

[johnhughthom]

Then he will have become a Rorarii just before that battle.:idea2:

[johnhughthom]

It has been an eventful five years, the Gauls are virtually pacified and Romes authority south of the Alps is unquestioned. The Ligurians in Segesta sallied forth to attack us after nearly two years of seige.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Segesta-1.jpg
They were led by a barbarian named Conan, he wasn't quite the pathetic specimen we faced at Bononia but he was nothing to be feared.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Conan-1.jpg
Blasio still led the armies, the consuls for the year seemingly had no interest in facing a horde of Gauls.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Blasio-2.jpg
We outnumbered them about four to three but there was a less distinct advantage in training, arms and morale this time. It would be an actual battle, not a slaughter.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Conanarmy-1.jpg
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Segesta-2-1.jpg
My unit fought as we had at Bononia, in front of the leves hurling our stones at the enemy until they got too close then withdrawing. This time Blasio used slightly different tactics in the battle, at Bononia there had been five long lines in the army. This time the lines had gaps within them, I was confused at first thinking this was suicide-surely the Gauls would fill these gaps and overwhelm us. It actually worked the other way, the gaps allowed the men behind to come forward and engage the enemy from either side. They were quickly routed and we took the city.
I wish I had taken screenshots, the triplex acies worked brilliantly in this battle
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Segestawin-1.jpg

We didn't stay long in Segesta, just long enough to install a local loyal to Rome in charge. We marched under the shadow of the Alps to another Gallic town, this time called Patavium.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Patavium-1.jpg
The enemy army here was smaller than those we had faced before, hopefully a sign of weakening Gallic resolve to defy us. It was also mainly levies, none of these men were to be feared.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Caratawcarmy-2.jpg
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Caratawc-1.jpg
Blasio led us still, his fame was growing and despite not yet being of consular rank he was probably the most influential man in Rome.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Blasio2-1.jpg
Tha result was inevitable and achieved with little tactical finesse. I was quite disappointed as I had hoped to see something like what had happened at Segesta, Blasio obviously thought such strategems were unnecessary here. We lost fewer men but that was due more to the level of opposition here than any failure on our part in Segesta.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Pataviumwin-1.jpg

My life has changed quite a lot over these past five years and conditions for my unit have greatly improved. When I called on the legates' clerk to discuss my units payments I was told I could either have the cash to distribute or some of it could go towards extra rations or supplies. I decided to use some of it for tents, we paid the same as the regular legionaries but got the tents they gave back when they got new one. We simply repaired them with rabbit skins and the like. I also arranged for slightly better rations. There was a small amount of money left over which I kept for myself. Why shouldn't I? The man previously responsible had done a lot less than I for my colleagues, so I had no reason to feel guilty. It wasn't a great deal of money, probably less than a single man in the Hastati got, but it was an income and built up.

We spent most of the past five years in the north as a deterence against any Gallic rebellion. When rebellion did come it came from a town in the south of Italy, a small Greek town had rebelled against Roman rule with the support of some Samnite nobles. Cotta marched south with one legion to face them. It was a battle even in numbers, training, arms and morale. It started as most battles did with my unit skirmishing and withdrawing before the heavier infantry clashed. This time, though, we were needed in hand to hand combat. A heavily armed Samnite noble was leading his unit against the Principes and a small detachment of Hastati. I was able to lead my men to their rear and we charged them. With our little knives we used for eating. If they hadn't been occupied on two other sides it would have been suicide, but we managed to shock them with our charge and killed quite a few. I killed the Samnite nobleman.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/killingsamnites-1.jpg
After the battle a Principe centurion came to me with a bundle wrapped in a cloak. "I saw what you did today. Here, the arms and armour of the man you killed. They are in good condition and will serve you well. You have earned them"

[I of the Storm]

Lovely!

[johnhughthom]

The past three years will go down as uneventful in the annals of roman history. The Gauls to the north have largely stayed pacified, a small rebellion was extinguished with diplomacy rather than warfare. A group of slaves were terrorising farms and villages in Umbria, they were destroyed rather easily - an even more one sided battle than any of our Gallic encounters. Travel from one end of Italy to the other has become much easier, a fully paved road from Tarentum right up to Arretium has made travel much safer too as the legions can get from one place to another in days, rather than weeks.

Little has changed in camp life though, drills, marches, parades still happen on a daily basis. And we still clean the latrine. Sometimes when others are still using it...

My life though has taken a turn for the better. The income from my "embezzlement" has allowed me to purchase a small home in Arpi. I have also married. I was leaving for camp one day in the armour I had won from the Samnite noble and happened to bump into another citizen. We got talking and he invited me to dinner, obviously thinking I was wealthy. There I met his daughter and a few weeks later we were married. He still thinks I'm one of the Hastati... She doesn't really understand the difference so keeping them fooled should be easy, she is living on my money so can't really complain. She is also pregnant so I will soon be a father.

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Nice AAR. This perspective is very rare so I really like it:beam:.

Keep up the good work:2thumbsup:.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Epic john TRULEY epic. I want M04R of this.

[johnhughthom]

Well it seems my life is back on track and I am a proper Roman. I am with the legions as a member of the Hastati, at thirty one I am the eldest but I am still one of the heavy infantry a true citizen soldier. I spent two years out of the legions living near Arpi. I had my house converted into flats and rented them out and used the last of my money from the irregulars to buy a farm. I hired a number of my former unit as labourers, telling them I had won the money to buy it in a game of dice! The rent money from my flats mean I was able to live a good life for two years, the freemen did all the work and I even managed to buy a few slaves. My child was born, it was a boy who I named after my father. I know he will grow up to do me proud.

A recruiter came by the farm to check on the status of all within. I told him I had spent fourteen years with the legions in the irregulars, unfortunately my service didn't count. There was no record of my serving as the unit was not an official part of the legion. I was registered as one of the capite censi for the previous sixteen years with no service. So I owed Rome sixteen years. Before I was forty six. Which unfortunately left me a year short, so I would have to serve continuously for the next sixteen years until I was forty seven. If there was a major war I could be forced to fight well into my fifties. To be honest I had been getting bored of my farmers life and was glad of the chance to get out of it. My wife would be comfortable while I was away and I would have something to come back to at the end of my service.

After Blasio's pacification of the Celts in the north Rome had only fought skirmishes with small bands of rebels and brigands, and the day I enrolled with the Hastati there was no prospect of war with a small power, never mind a major one. That all changed in less than a week, though. The camp was abuzz with news of Carthage' attack on Messana, just across the straits from Rhegium and Italy. Carthage had stayed in the west of Sicily for years, there was an agreement between Rome and Carthage that they would stay there. Their imperialistic ambitions were obvious now, first Messana, then Syracuse and they would dominate Sicily. In total contravention of all treaties between us. Rome could not allow such arrogance and we had to respond.

So now I sit on Sicilian soil, less than ten miles from the Carthaginian army, ready to help the Messanians. The Consul, Lucius Cornelius Scipio leads us. A second legion, led by former consul and the hero of Gaul, Cornelius Blasio is due to arrive within weeks.

Life as a Hastati is tough, but after being an irregular for fourteen years it seems like a life of luxury. I can't wait for the fighting to begin, I am properly armed, as are my colleagues. We have no need to run from anybody, we are the greatest fighting force in the world and Carthage will regret provoking us into action.

[johnhughthom]

I'm writing this in a Messana brothel with a whore under the table s... well I'm sure you can imagine what she is doing, so please forgive any spelling mistakes or bad grammar. Anyway as I have already said I am in Messana after taking part in two successful assaults on the city. Yes, two.

We arrived in Sicily expecting to attack the Carthaginian army, so imagine our surprise when we marched to the city to help the Carthaginians take the city. Seemingly the reason they were assaulting the city was raiding from Mamertines inside in Carthaginian territory. All they wanted to do was take out the leaders of the city who supported the raids, install a friendly government, then leave. Scipio seemed satisfied with this and agreed to help the seige. We didn't do very much really, just distracted the Mamertines and enabled the Carthaginians to take the city more easily due to this. Unfortunately their general died in the assault, we are not sure whether this contributed to later events.

As I'm sure you have guessed the Carthaginians did not install a friendly local government then leave, they installed a punic puppet ruler and garrison and tried to fob Scipio off with stories of how they needed a few years to root out supporters of the old regime.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Scipio-1.jpg
Scipio is a Senator of Rome, Consular and current Censor. Not a man to be fooled by feeble excuses. So what did he do? Send a delegation with a message asking the Carthaginians to honour their agreement? Call the governer in Lilibeum for a meeting? Like Mars' left testicle he did. We were marched out of camp straight up to Messana and a message was sent into the city for every Punic man within to leave in the next six hours or we would come in and kill them all. Needless to say nobody came out, so we set to building our seige equipment.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Messana-1.jpg
The equipment was ready in a few days and the assault began. The punic force in the city was small, I can only assume they were expecting reinforcements to help but Blasios' legion to the west meant none could get there. They were real soldiers though, properly trained, equipped, fed and led.

The fighting was brutal, cramped and long. Skill, strength and training could only go so far in such a battle. From street to street, barely enough room to swing your sword, men pushing you forward toward the enemy, the enemy pushing you back into your unit. No, luck was all could keep you alive in this hell. At one point two enemy spears glanced off the top of my helmet, I should have been killed but survived somehow.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/hairy-1.jpg
I only had space to swing my sword properly once, but I made the most of it. A huge swing took one of the enemies heads off.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/cutdown-1.jpg

Eventually we heard a loud cheer, one of the Bruttians had killed the garrison commander and the enemy began to run. None got too far.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Bruttian-1.jpg

Scipio was true to his word, every Punic man in the city was killed. The city was taken in the name of the Senate and People of Rome. I had participated in the taking of the first Roman city outside Italy.

What next? There are rumours amongst the men Scipio wants to fight the large punic army to the west then go to Africa and conquer Carthage itself, leaving Blasio to pacify Sicily. I have to admit I was disappointed not to be posted with my old commander but it seems I had won the roll of the dice with Scipio. Whatever happened the next few years would not be dull.

[PriestLizard]

Very nice! The perspective is great - I can't do things like that ~:( I like your house rules too, it seems challenging and realistic - although I don't understand why you don't accept adoptions (?) I'm not an expert of roman history but I think the roman nobles / senators etc. were not unfamiliar to adoptions?

Anyway, GL with your campaign! ~:)

[Obelics]

wow, i just read the first post and i like it very much! it has somethink "desperate"...

edit: enjoyed the second chapter as well. this night i will read it all, it's really interesting!

[johnhughthom]

Our glorious sailing to Africa and marching to the gates of Carthage never happened. Instead we seem to be stuck in a war of attrition, both sides watching the other ready to pounce on a single mistake. Unfortunately we made the only mistake so far. Cornelius Blasio had his legion camped deep in Carthaginian territory but wasn't happy with his position, so he left one of his tribunes with a detachment and moved the rest of the army to a position closer to Messana and more easily supplied. He believed he would be able to get back to the old camp to relieve the tribune if the Carthaginians attacked. He forgot about elephants. Little more than a decade after Pyrrhus brought them to Italy we had forgotten about them already. Only a few made it back from the camp and they told how the beasts were used as battering rams, knocking down a huge section of wall in less than an hour. The tribune was outnumbered twenty to one but fought on anyway. It didn't take long, most of our men were trampled under elephant feet and the survivors cut down by African savages.

They took our fort, obviously incapable of building their own, and now Blasio's legion sits in his and the Punic horde sit in the one they stormed. Neither army is willing to assault such a well constructed defence as taking it without huge casualties would be next to impossible. So stalemate in the north-west of Sicily, they hold the west, we hold the north-east, which leaves the south-east. Which means one thing, Syracuse. A huge city almost the rival of Rome and certainly as mighty as Athens, Carthage or any of those other "great" cities. They are no friend of Carthage, though they are no friend of Rome either. The ruler had been a general under Pyrrhus and Scipio decided that he could not be trusted, the city would have to be taken if we were to cleanse the island of Punic influence. After all they were Greek and who knows what treachery they would stoop to.

That's were I am now, looking at the walls of Syracuse. We have seiged the city as best we can, but there is a difference between cutting off supplies to a hovel in Gaul and doing so to a genuine metropolis. There are a number of bodies strung up on the walls, spies Scipio sent into the city in an effort to take it by surprise. It seems if we want to take the city assault is the only way, there are a huge number of men in the city, Syracusan Hoplites are famed the world over, and an assault will make Messana look like a training session. It doesn't look like we are going to assault any time soon though, a few men in the camp claim Scipio has messengers and spies coming from the west on an almost hourly basis, as if his mind is not here but in Lilibeo. Could this seige be a ruse to take the Carthaginians by surprise? If they lose Lilibeo the army occuying our camp will be leaderless and unable to resupply. Whatever, look what my speculation last time came to, I will wait here and go where I'm told when I'm told. Sometimes life seems to have changed very little from my time with the irregulars.

[johnhughthom]

wow, i just read the first post and i like it very much! it has somethink "desperate"...

edit: enjoyed the second chapter as well. this night i will read it all, it's really interesting!

Nice to know a legend of AAR writing is reading :2thumbsup: :beam:

[johnhughthom]

A year older, a year wiser and still looking at the walls of Syracuse. A ruse to take the Carthaginians by surprise! Shows how much I know, guess I'd better cut out the baseless conjecture and stick to the facts. OK then, I get up at first light, parade about a bit, repair a bit of fence, parade about a bit, patrol a bit of fence, parade about a bit, eat if I'm lucky, patrol a bit of fence, play a game of dice, have a crap, go to bed, rinse and repeat. How's that for a recruitment peice for the legions?

A familiar face is with the legion, Cotta the tribune who promoted me to lead the irregulars is here. I don't think he remembers me though, why would he? He is in charge of the allied ala. Nothing much else has changed here in Sicily, from letters from my wife it seems nothing much has changed in Italy either. The third legion is stationed in Gaul and it seems their very presence is enough to keep the savages in check. Pity this war couldn't be like that one, kill a few barbarians, install puppet ruler, move on to the next target. Proper Roman warfare, not like this sitting about waiting for the enemy to make their move. Two years we have choked off these Greeks, how much longer can they last?

[johnhughthom]

Another year off the roll allotted to me by Jupiter and still I gaze upon the walls of Syracuse having never set foot within the city. Yet now the banner of the SPQR flies over the city and Scipio controls it from within. There was a coup a few months back and the Epirote commanding the city was overthrown, the gates were thrown open and Scipio marched in with a small contingent. The rest of the army were ordered to remain outside. I must admit I admired Scipios balls, had it been a trap he would have had no chance. Of course had it been a trap we would have assaulted the city, no matter how grievous our losses, and slaughtered every man, woman and child within, and the Syracusans knew that. Scipio is still arranging how the city will be governed when we leave, seemingly even more people call it home than Rome so it is a new problem for us. There are some in the camp who feel we must rule such a great city directly and only someone with pro-consular authority should be allowed to govern.

Still what do I care? The only reason I want to see the city is to sample their wine and women. Life for me has continued to improve, I am now signifer for our century. Our old one was invalided out after an infection meant his foot had to be amputated. I'm still amazed he managed to survive, still what use is a one footed legionary? A few days after he left , as we sat around our campfire, our centurion was talking to one of the tribunes. They were looking at us and shaking their heads, then nodding, obviously trying to agree on something. The tribune looked familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on why. Cotta, the commander of the allied ala, rode up and dismounted before embracing the tribune. Then I got why he had looked familiar, he was obviously Cotta's son. The three of them then continued the discussion with Cotta looking over us. He looked past me, then his eyes returned to me with a hazy recognition. He scratched his chin, then pointed at me and asked the centurion something. He nodded and pointed again, smiled slightly, embraced his son, got on his horse and rode off.

A few days later the centurion called me over and told me the good news, "Cotta says you are a good man for the job, just remember you are not with the irregulars now. Any "creative book keeping" will be dealt with harshly." So now I am better paid, I actually have a say how the century is run and I don't have to sleep with my contubernium any more, I have my own tent. The one bad point is as the standard bearer I have no chance of getting out of parades now, and I will be a target when we go into battle. The best part is I get out of all the manual labour, no more road building, ditch digging, fence fixing or scavenging for me. It also seems a man of some import has his eye on me, perhaps signifer should not be the limit of my ambition.

I had planned to make him a tesserarius first but I found little real info on what they actually did.

[Tyrfingr]

A tesserary (Latin: tesserārius, from tessera, a small tile or block of wood on which watchwords were written), was a soldier in the Roman army who was responsible for getting the watchwords from the commander and seeing that it was kept safe. They organized and had command over the nightly guard assigned to keep watch over the fort when in garrison or on campaign.[1][2] There was one tesserarius to each centuria Wilkes, 1972. They held a position similar to that of a non-commissioned officer in modern armies and acted as seconds to the optiones.

Tesserary pay was one and a half times (sesquiplicarii) that of the standard legionary pay.

[johnhughthom]

A letter:

Dearest husband,

Congratulations on your promotion. I was very proud to hear about it, as was father. He says I will be married to a centurion before long! Things are going well here on the farm, there is little banditry nowadays as the legion may be north in Gaul but everybody knows they could be here in a matter of days. Sicily is only a few days away too.
There are rumours here that your friend Blasio has been recalled from his command due to drunkeness. Is this true? Father heard he couldn't get through a parade without falling over or shouting at an imaginary senator! Perhaps the new commander will be more bold and actually attack the Carthaginians like you want.
The farm is doing well, the harvest was good and that new punic slave you sent from Messana really knows his stuff. We made ten percent more money last year and the rent money from our flats means we can afford to buy that plot of land to the north. Father knows the man who owns it and thinks we can get a good price, or we could buy some new tenements in town if you prefer, the town is really growing and there will always be tenants. Let me know what you want me to do, you are my husband after all.
Our boy is growing all the time and constantly asks questions about you, what you are doing, where you are, how many men you have killed. I wish you could make it home to see him sometime soon.
Please write soon and let me know how you are doing, I hope you get a chance to see Syracuse or at the very least to kill some Carthaginians

[johnhughthom]

A tesserary (Latin: tesserārius, from tessera, a small tile or block of wood on which watchwords were written), was a soldier in the Roman army who was responsible for getting the watchwords from the commander and seeing that it was kept safe. They organized and had command over the nightly guard assigned to keep watch over the fort when in garrison or on campaign.[1][2] There was one tesserarius to each centuria Wilkes, 1972. They held a position similar to that of a non-commissioned officer in modern armies and acted as seconds to the optiones.

Tesserary pay was one and a half times (sesquiplicarii) that of the standard legionary pay.

Thanks, I thought that must be it but couldn't find anything that definatively said they organized guard duty, everything just mentioned the block with the nights password.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

R u trying to outpost me????:furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3:
lol jk nice pace it may be faster than mine.

EDIT:gratz on pg 2

[johnhughthom]

Don't worry it will slow down soon, I have been off work the past few days and just been playing EB, chilling out. I'm going to try to get a few more posts up tonight, then it will probably settle down to an update every two or three days.

edit: It seems people really like Roman AARs, my view count has been shooting up a lot quicker than either of my Pahlav AARs.

[johnhughthom]

I've always hated boats, the trip across the Messana straits was like a nightmare. Now I'm sitting on a boat as I write this. No, not on the way to Africa. Sardinia, or is it Corsica? I can't remember which is which. Anyway they both give the Carthaginians a base to attack Italy so the Senate has decreed we must take them both.

Sicily is a Roman province. It is free of Punic influence. After years of sitting about waiting for something to happen the enemies capitulation was a huge disappointment. The second legion attacked the entrenched army in the north of the island while we moved to seige Lilibeo. In a great victory the second legion crushed the enemy with minimal losses, unfortunately one of those was the Consul who had replaced Blasio. They then demolished the fort they had originally built and reached Lilibeo before us, crushing a force sent from the city to stop them. The survivors fled back to the city to hide. This is where Scipios spies came to the fore, when we arrived they were able to throw open the gates to allow us in. There were approximately thirty punic defenders, sorry approximately thirty puny defenders. I can only assume they had expected the townsfolk to help them, it didn't happen.

Scipio shouted "Hastati, kill them all!" We don't need to be told twice. We charged unimpeded toward the town square where the enemy awaited us. We stopped for a second and threw our pila.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/fire-1.jpg
Then we charged, to be fair the Carthaginians did the same, outnumbered as they were.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/charge-1.jpg
I found myself at the front of the fight, in a one on one fight against the Punic commander.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/oneonone-1.jpg
There was a hairy moment when I nearly tripped over a Punic standard giving my opponent a chance to strike.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/standard-1.jpg
Luckily I was able to evade his attack and in time he was dead by my hand. Well by my sword.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/death-1.jpg

The mercy we had shown previously was not repeated here. These people were our enemies and no weakness could be shown. Thousands were sold as slaves, men women and children. I bought a few myself and had them sent home. The people were left in no doubt who the masters of Sicily were. We are, the Senate and people of Rome.

[johnhughthom]

By Juno, off one boat, kill some Carthaginians then they try to herd you straight onto another. Luckily the "Nuraghi" decided they didn't like their new overlords and got a little bit feisty. They sure are a hard bunch to pacify, running off into the hills in their silly little towers. Anyway I get to spend a bit of time here in... Sardinia, Corsica? By the Gods I'll remember some day. The main town is called Karali, it seems it was originally a Greek settlement before Punic imperialism came calling. It's surprisingly large and well developed, I must admit I was expecting another barbarian craphole, but it has good whores, good wine and plenty of traders. The main problem is we are right on the southern end of a large island so the locals have plenty of room to hide. Give them a few years and they'll realise things have changed, a few crucifixions would sort them out.

What of the fight for Karali? The garrison was mainly Punic nobles, well armed cavalry men, ill suited for street fighting. There was also a unit of well trained pikemen, almost unbeatable in close quarter combat where flanking was next to impossible. We realised the only way to win without massive casualties was to use one unit to pin the enemy down, entice them all in and run through the city streets to attack from the rear. Who would volunteer for such a suicidal mission? Well none other than Romes eternal enemy, our Samnite spearmen. I have been impressed with their ability, courage and stamina when fighting alongside them. I guess they are a proud people and their subjugation must weigh heavily upon them... What the hell am I saying? I do apologise, dear reader, what a truly unroman thing to say. Must be that Punic wine...

As I was saying though, they volunteered straight up to bear the brunt of the punic attack to give the rest of us time to traverse the streets to help them. The Hastati and Principes would make our way to the town centre and attack the enemy rear as would our Roman cavalry. The Triarii would make their way forward and relieve the Samnites when an opportunity arose, hopefully the shock of the charge to the rear would allow this to occur. The Samnites did their job magnificently, holding off Punic horse and foot despite repeated charges. They suffered appalling casualties but held firm throughout. I hope I get a chance to hold the direction of a battle in my hand like they did. And if I do I hope to be as brave and steadfast as they were.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Samnites-1.jpg
Don't worry, I'm not going to gush on about the bloody Samnites, I have another tale of my own bravery and valour to tell. The Hastati took a different route through the city from the Principes and we made it to the scene of battle first, charging in without throwing our Pila first as there was too much risk of hitting the Samnites. I found myself fighting on foot against heavily armed Punic nobles on foot. Of course I managed to slay one, a thrust from my sword killed his horse, the nobleman was dead before he even hit the ground, my sword embedded in his neck. There was a scary moment when I couldn't get it out (the sword I mean, I NEVER have that problem) but I took his and killed a pikeman who was advancing on me.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/cavalrykiller-1.jpg
At that moment the Principes and cavalry arrived and the Carthaginians were demoralised. The battle was swiftly won and the city was ours. The townsfolk begged for mercy, obviously the example of Lilibeo had not been in vain, and swore loyalty to Rome. Scipio showed the town mercy and there was no mass enslavement, though he made it clear any signs of "independent thought" would not be tolerated. The Nuraghi in the hills seemingly have little in common with the townsfolk and are little more than savages. Even wild dogs can be taught to obey though, and these dogs would be no different.


For anybody that's interested a current map:
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/map-1.jpg
The political situation is:
I'm allied with the Aedui and Lusotannan. I gave the Aedui 7500 for an alliance, Mediolanium and map info. They broke off their alliance with Carthage when I attacked, which was a pleasant surprise-I think I will bankroll their little civil war. I gave the Lusos 5000 for an alliance and map info, I think I will also give them some cash to fight the Carthies in Spain. I have over 300000 in the bank, the loss of trading with me seems to have virtually bankrupted Carthage, I am blockading most of their ports. I intend to offer peace after taking Corsica. I'm not quite sure which direction I'll go if it's accepted, any ideas would be gratefully received.
Updates will be at a more leisurely pace from now on as I'm back at work tomorrow. This by the far the quickest campaign I have ever played, 25 years in 3 days. That would normally take me at least a week, probably closer to two.

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Great AAR. I haven't seen one like this since "Spear and Shield" and I actually think this is better:beam:. GOOD JOB:2thumbsup:.

As for suggestions for the next war I say Epeiros. In 1.1 they would get VERY powerful very quickly and by the look of the map they are just as strong in 1.2. You'll invade Greece sooner or later and I think fighting a weak Epeiros is better than fighting a Green Death, especially considering the House Rules you use which make things more difficult. Plus having the extra mines in Epidamnos wouldn't hurt either.

[Obelics]

this is making me will to give a second try to my roman campaign i interrupted on 1.0/1.1, now i hope you dont will be affected by the "post italia capta syndrome", i mean when you have conquered all italia+sardinia,corsica and sicilia, that seems that you feel safe and secure, and you dont know where to go anymore... that took me too, i say try to find a fictional or a pseudo-historical casus belli, i dont know, for example try to destroy the carthaginian wealth in Hispania, or secure the illirian border from pirates etc.

keep it going, cheers!

[johnhughthom]

To be honest I don't really think a Roman campaign has properly started until I reach this stage. I am really just looking at this part of the AAR as a sort of prologue, everybody has seen it a dozen times. I'm slightly leaning toward Illyria next...

[Obelics]

in my roman one i chosed the other path, i went for the emporion, toulouse, hispania, etc. so that illirian path could be a nice variation. Also you could put a stop to the expansion of epirotes, they could start to conquer all Getia and have a foot in Germania too... stack after stack of spawned agema, so i think is a nice choice.

[johnhughthom]

A letter:

Dearest husband,

I hope this reaches you well in Corsica, father told me you can see the shore of Italy from there and on a clear day the smoke from Rome is visible on the horizon. Is it true? Or is he playing his usual tricks on me?

You were right by the way, buying those apartments in Arpi was the way to go. Our new neighbour can't get anything to grow on that parcel of land to our north. I have had to give him a labouring job on our land to help him get by. Arpi is growing by the day, I can't believe it's the same town father brought me to as a little girl. You can get almost anything there, there is absolutely no reason to travel to Rome nowadays. I still go though, nothing makes you feel like a Roman like actually visiting it, and it makes me proud that you are off fighting in it's name.

Last time I was in Rome there was a small riot which was quickly quelled by the Consuls lictors. The people had heard a Carthaginian embassy was in town and anybody who looked "foreign" was abused. As you can imagine a lot of people got hurt that day. Anyway I was told they had offered peace terms and were laughed out of the Senate, they wanted us to leave Sicily, give back Sardinia and pay them reparations! I can only imagine the Senators found it too amusing to get angry. Still, it shows their will to fight may be going. Hopefully you will be home soon, Corsica is much less important than Sicily or Sardinia, according to father, and you took those easily. I imagine it will be a very simple battle for you.

I will stop teasing you now and tell you what you want to hear. Our little boy is turning into a little man, all he ever does is play legionary and bash the slaves about. I dread to think what would happen if he got hold of a real sword! He keeps asking me to read him the story of when you killed the Punic horseman, then makes poor Herion mount his pony and proceeds to pound him. It's really quite sweet.

Mars be with you as you fight for Rome my husband

[gamegeek2]

Aw come on, can't the slaves have their victories? :laugh4:

[johnhughthom]

Truly Fortuna gives with one hand and takes with the other. Where to start? Corsica, I spent two weeks there before the port town of Alalia was taken. It is nothing more than a minor trading post and there is little else on the island, certainly not mining opportunities like on Sardinia. The assault was textbook, the battle an inevitability, there is little point dwelling on it. I killed a few skirmishers but they were ill trained, ill equipped and... well I was going to say ill-led but it would be more correct to say they weren't led at all, just a rabble without a head. We didn't tarry long on the island, we had been summoned back to Italian soil as Cotta had been granted a triumphus.

Yes you heard correctly, Cotta. Not Scipio, who had engineered the whole Punic campaign but a man who had never held office and was not actually a Senator. Well, he was a Senator as he was also elected Quaestor that year, but you know what I mean. Roman politics in all it's glory, a man takes a Roman army to places it's never been, defeats enemies it has never fought before and gets a slap in the face when he comes home. There was talk of mutiny in the camp before we left Corsica but that was swiftly quelled. Scipio gathered all the tribunes and centurions and gave them a speech they were to pass on to us.

"We did not leave Rome in the hopes of gaining glory in my name. We did not leave Rome in the hopes of impressing the Senate. We did not leave Rome because we were the Senate told us. We left Rome because somebody insulted Rome and we had to pay them back. And now we return to Rome, a triumphus for my friend Cotta. You will march through the streets of Rome behind him, the people will cheer, they will adore you, they will worship you. The Senate thinks I will be insulted, they think they will hide. NO! I WILL NOT! I will march behind Cotta amongst you, I will applaud him with you, because I am one of you, a citizen soldier, a Roman. I know what mutterings have gone on, I know your feelings and I am grateful. I am proud to have led you, to have fought with you and to have known you. Let us show the people of Rome that the First Legion is one, we are united, a triumphus for Cotta is a triumphus for us all. Let us go to Rome in peace."

Well, how could we do otherwise? We left the next day and a short trip later we were on the shores of Latium. We waited outside the city for three days while preparations were made, it was to be a lavish spectacle, Scipio gave Cotta everything he needed for the triumphus as if it were his own.

Then two days before the event came the news that the Punic War was over, a peace treaty had been agreed with Carthage. I was home, we were at peace and I was about to take part in the greatest event a Roman could wish for. With the war over there was also the prospect of going home and spending time with my son. Life was good. No, life was great, even the most contented days of my childhood had not been this joyous.

Then came the news, on the eve of the triumphus. A Gallic invasion. They had assaulted the city of Mediolanium, only the swiftness of the third legion had saved the city. An inconclusive skirmish had seen them withdraw and the third legion shadowed them as they retreated into the Alps.

We were told a small triumphus would take place in Rome without us and we were to march north to assist the third legion immediately. The second legion was recalled from Sicily and are sailing north as we speak.

The Punic War was over, the Second Gallic Campaign was just beginning.

This is the first time I have genuinely been annoyed at being betrayed in a Total War game. Normally I expect it, but when the Aedui sided with me rather than Carthage I hoped there may be a chance for a proper alliance. Ah well, I guess Caesar is coming to Gaul 200 years early...

[Obelics]

you could just defend mediolanum, and sent a punitive expedition on massilia (if it is already Aeduan or Arvernian), and toulouse, so to get the Provincia. Anyway this guy is really a bastard:laugh4: but i think it was a sort of mentality back in the time... nice sort of hyperrealistic style.

my favorite parts are still the first and the second chapters, that was really brillant writing.

[johnhughthom]

I've never really though of him as an overly bad guy, just a product of his times. I'm pretty pissed off at the Aedui and intend to wipe them out, whether I take the Arverni with them remains to be seen.

[I of the Storm]

Great story so far. I would have suggested going east and taking Illyria and maybe Epeiros, but now it's going to be Gaul. Do not underestimate them, though. Especially with your camillan lads.

[johnhughthom]

Thank you I of the Storm, you have just given me the way to finish my prologue.

[johnhughthom]

Damn Gauls, no respect for culture or history. No idea of their place in the world. How dare they think they can take a city like Massalia, an ally of Rome. So here I sit, in a camp overlooking a city. Again. How many seiges is this? I lost count at Patavium.

The third legion has had the first major success of the campaign, taking and razing the city of Viennos to the ground. Supposedly it was a major Gallic city and it's destruction should show them what they are dealing with. A messenger read us an overview of the battle and by all accounts it was a glorious victory.

The legion had been seiging the city, which had a large force inside, when a huge Gallic host came from behind them. As the legion formed to meet the new threat the men inside the settlement sallied forth. At this the consul in command split the army in two, the main group meeting the sallying army while a small detachment, led by the Triarii, held the river crossing against the main threat.

The Triarii held the river crossing heroically, as befits the finest soldiers Rome has to offer. The main group defeated the sallying army and were able to turn back to assist the Triarii. The injection of fresh troops was too much for the Gauls, for whom such tactics were a surprise, and they were swiftly routed. The undefended city was taken.

It is believed the army which had attacked Roman land came from this city, so no pity was shown to the residents. Every man of fighting age was butchered, the majority of the women and children sold into captivity. What had been a bustling settlement was now a ghost town, the Gauls had been shown what happens when you rile your betters.

I can't wait to get the chance to show them myself.

[Obelics]

those gauls have a fetish for massilia:whip:

[johnhughthom]

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Massalia-1.jpg
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/cotta-1.jpg

The assault on Massalia was led by Cotta, it was totally illegal but the troops had refused to move when the Consul given command of the first legion ordered the assault. The humiliated Consul left the army and returned to Rome in disgrace. Scipio had moved on from the seige with the second legion to guard against Gallic armies coming to aid the city.

A new and novel idea for Roman armies came to the fore in this battle, sappers. They undermine the strength of enemy fortifications in the hopes of collapsing the walls. I must admit I was somewhat sceptical when I heard what we were doing, the walls were solid there was no way we could make them fall.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/sapper-1.jpg
Samnites were chosen to dig the tunnels and attempt to collapse the walls. They laboured for weeks, collapses in the tunnels accounted for more than a few, we were lucky the Gallic army in the city had no knowledge of such things or they would have known what we were up to. I can only assume the Greeks within decided not to tell them what those big holes in front of the walls signified.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/falling-1.jpg
Eventually, in a perfectly co-ordinated move, the wall collapsed in two place, taking a number of Gauls with it. We poured in through both gaps, overwhelming the defenders and the commander was soon cut down by a Samnite sword.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/death-1.jpg
The gates were still held by Gauls so it was left to us to enter and eliminate them.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/gateway-1.jpg
They knew what had happened to the defenders outside and tried to surrender, I don't think I need to tell you how we replied. We hadn't been able to take part in the main battle and had some frustration to work out, if the enemy chose not to fight back that was hardly our fault.

The city was taken and the inhabitants welcomed us with open arms, a number of the local nobles had conspired with the Gauls and betrayed their fellows. They were crucified. One side effect of our crumbling of the walls was it left a number of Gauls stranded on the walls with no way down. They had been unable to take part in the battle and were stuck there.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/nowheretogo-1.jpg
Cotta ordered the army to take turns firing pila, arrow, javelin whatever at the exposed Gauls and the majority of them were killed in the hours after the battle. A few remained though and were left there to die, most tried to jump down but only fell to their deaths. The rest starved. Only after they had all expired was the order given to rebuild the walls.

[johnhughthom]

Extract from "The Roman Republic 272-240BC" by Prof. John Doggart.

The Gallic Disaster as it became known to the Romans was one of the most profound events in Roman history. In the winter of 241/240 BC no less than three legions were obliterated by Gallic armies. The legions were well trained veterans of the Punic War and the loss sent shockwaves across the Roman Republic, the convincing victories over Carthage had led the Romans to think they were invincible. The reason for the loss lies not with the arms, morale, training or even the leaders of the legions. No the reason for the losses was The Republic. Based on personal influence, virtus and disciplina a Roman needed to take every opportunity afforded to him. The two heroes of the Punic War, Lucius Cornelius Scipio and Caius Aurelius Cotta, were in Southern Gaul in command of the legions. The two Consuls for the year came to take "their" army and pacify Southern Gaul. Scipio and Cotta warned they should not underestimate the Gauls and needed to keep the legions together, even if that meant alternating command. Neither Consul was willing to risk letting the other gain renown over him, so they tossed dice, the winner taking two legions and one ala, the loser one legion and two ala. What happened to them is unknown to this day. One legion went north, a region still seething at the sacking of Viennos, the other west. Neither was seen again, no trace of them has been uncovered by any archaelogical dig. The event became almost mystical in the Roman mind, and an entire generation grew up with a pathalogical hatred of Gauls.

Letter found in France, courtesy of Museum of Marseille

Senate of Rome,

Thank you people of Rome for voting me as one of your Consuls this year. Unfortunately I have no army to take command of. No Roman will have an army to command this year. Rome may not live to see the end of this year. You will not have to worry about finding a command for your two previous Consuls as they are both dead, as is every man they commanded. Why? Because of you, because of me, because of how we Romans live. Rather than go home without accomplishing anything in their year our two "esteemed" colleagues decided to go off on a little expedition. Had they taken this expedition together things may have turned out differently, but no, they had to out do each other. As for their remains, I don't know. All I have is a dozen Roman standards all dumped outside the gates of Massilia in the night. As a message. They know we are undefended, they know Rome is undefended, so what do we do? Enlist more legions? Our veterans of the Punic War have been slain, why would greens do any different? Follow the example of the Carthaginians and rely on mercenaries? Look were that got them. And for all you poor Senators who have lost loved ones, think on this. Previous Consul Cornelius Blasio has lost a son and a son in law. Former Praetor Cornelius Scipio Asina has also lost a son and son in law. Former Consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio, hero of the Punic War has lost two sons and a son in law. And me Caius Aurelius Cotta, triumpher over Carthage? I must tell my wife we have lost two sons, I must tell my two daughters they are widows.
Thank you for the honour of leading Romes armies in this most glorious age. Long live the Republic.

Consul Caius Arelius Cotta



Letter found in Arpi, courtesy of Roman Museum of Ancient History

Dear citizen of the Republic

I regret to inform you that your loved one has perished while serving the Republic. He died doing his duty to Rome and I mourn his loss with you, even as I mourn my own losses. Unfortunately we cannot recover his remains for burial, a memorial is to be erected in Massalia with the names of all who fell. Remember your loved one was a hero of the Republic and died with honour.

Consul Caius Aurelius Cotta

(The letter is written by hand and stamped with the signature of the Consul)

Next: Chapter one of A Roman Life: An AAR-A son without a father

[Olaf Blackeyes]

OUCH!!!!!:jawdrop::fainting::fainting:That must have been one hell of a battle. GL fighting off the Gauls after that.:yes:

[johnhughthom]

A Roman Life: An AAR Chapter one

A son without a father

They say grief effects people differently, the loss of her husband made my mother withdrawn and quiet for weeks. Some of my friends cried almost constantly at the loss of their father or brother. Me? I beat an old man to death with a blunt instrument. My old wooden practice sword actually. Ironic really, I used to pretend to kill him with it as a child. You are probably thinking I was overcome with grief and killed him in a rage. No, that's not true, I was in complete control, I knew exactly what I was doing. I didn't kill Herion out of grief, rage or frustration. No, I killed him because of what he represented, he was not a Roman. Herion was a Greek, not a Gaul, but he wasn't Roman. He had taught me since I was a child, he knew me a lot better than my father. He was a slave however and I loathed him for that. How could another man allow himself to become enslaved? A Roman never would, my father never would, I certainly never would. He begged for mercy as I beat him again and again, he got none. As he lay helpless the sword came apart in my hands, I stabbed the splinters into his eyes and beat him over the head with the remains of the hilt. Eventually he stopped breathing, so I stopped beating him. I'm not some crazy psychopath, I have no need to mutilate dead bodies.

Mother came into the room then and looked at Herion, then at me. Without a word she walked out and left me. She had seen the aftermath of her thirteen year old son murdering an old man, yet it had no effect. Indeed grief effects us all differently. How strange I feel nothing at the loss of a man who had guided me my entire life, I would not be able to write this now had it not been for Herion, yet the loss of a man who I wouldn't have recognised had he walked into the room could pain me so. There was a big difference though, my father was a Roman, a hero and Herion had been a slave, pathetic and willing to accept servitude to another. Why should I grieve such a creature?

[julius_caesar_the_first]

:jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:WOW, I did not see that coming. How did you get the AI to defeat you like that. I thought it was impossible for the AI to win a battle against a human player. What happened? Or is that lost to history forever an we will never find out?

Great plot twist:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:. Keep it up.

[Tristrem]

Well by following the years, you can see that is almost time for the reforms to happen. Plus why would the romans have reforms if the present legions were so successful. I think we will see the polybian legions pretty soon since the old ones are now lost to history... Not trying to spoil anything, it just my best guess.

[HunGeneral]

:jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:wow

No you really suprised me:laugh4:
Great twist:2thumbsup:

[Obelics]

...that fanatic of a boy... having grown up without a father, i guess no-one has never truly beaten him hard on the as... i would say one time more "oh the times! oh the etc. etc." poor Herion

[johnhughthom]

Extract from "The Roman Republic 240-198BC" by Prof. John Doggart.

The years immediately after the Gallic disaster were tumultuous for Rome, how she came through this period with her territory unchanged is almost as mysterious as what actually happened to her legions. Many Senators called for immediate retribution against the Gauls and attempt were made to call up more legions. The people revolted against this however and riots took place across virtually the entire Republic. The reason for the revolts does not appear to be unwillingness to fight the Gauls, rather an unwillingness to do so under the type of inexperienced general who had caused the Gallic Disaster. The two men who could have brought the citizens and allies around and raised the morale of the people, Scipio and Cotta, were in Messana and if they had left the city it is almost certain it would have gone over to the Gauls. It wasn't until 237 BC they were able to return to Rome, and the rebuilding of Rome's army, and her pride, was able to begin. Both men made changes to the make up of the legions and a new era of Roman warfare had begun.
As the legions were marching north, some preparing to board ships to sail to Massalia, news came from the north that Germanic armies had beseiged two of the forts guarding Alpine passes Scipio had installed in his time as governor. The Ligurians garrisoning them would not hold against such superior forces and the legions suddenly had a new target.

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter two

A citizen ally?

My entire life has had one vision, one dream, to march with the Roman legions, now the dream has come true. Unfortunately it's not quite as I had imagined. In my sleep I saw myself marching as a fresh faced young Hastati, gladius by my hip, pila in my hand, shield strapped to my back. I march to war with a bow, some arrows and a blunt spear. No, I'm not a Hastati, I'm not even a Velite. Accensii? No I'm below even those dregs of society. I march to war as an ally of Rome with my Nuraghi "brethren."
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/nuraghi-1-1.jpg

Soon after the death of my father the man who owned the land to our north moved in with us, mother told me we needed protection, a women and her thirteen year old son living alone were not safe. She must have thought I was a bloody idiot, she had seen what I was capable of and my killing of Herion was common knowledge, people knew what they could expect if they tried to rob this poor widow and her son. Of course I made a mistake in my last account, I said I murdered Herion, how could I murder somebody who belonged to me? Perhaps you thought my use of the word denoted some sorrow or guilt for the deed on my behalf, pah! Read on and tell me if you still think that.

Mother and her lover were clever, I'll give them that. I spied on them for months waiting to catch them, I knew what was going on but there was always the small chance I could have been wrong. Finally about six months later I walked into her room and they were in bed together, mother cried out to me claiming it was the first time, he had seduced her etc etc. Her lover laughed and told me to get out, he was busy. I looked at him and smiled and the laugh disappeared, finally he realised what was going to happen and that the story of Herion's fate was more than just a story. I slit mothers throat with a dagger I had bought in town, she gurgled words I couldn't catch then slid to the floor. Dead. I was an orphan. He stared at me. I stared at him. "You're bloody crazy" he mouthed, barely able to get the words out. I still hadn't said a word and wasn't about to start then. I'm a man of action not words. I won't bother you with the details but he didn't get the merciful death mother got, I mean she was my mother, as I told you before I'm not some kind of psychopath. Some time the next day he finally died, let's just say anybody who knew him wouldn't have recognised him.

So an orphan, a murderer, what's the word? Matricide? Who cares, she deserved it. If she couldn't honour my father's memory it was up to me. I had to get away, far away where nobody knew me. I went to the port at Naples and bribed the captain to take me wherever they were going, it took all of the silver I had taken from home. The voyage was a nightmare, I was sick constantly. The crew tried to get me to help man the ship, they got the message when I held one over the rails threatening to throw him in. When we reached our destination I was ordered off, if I hadn't gotten off they would have thrown me overboard.

I had no idea where I was when I got off, it looked like Italy but I couldn't be sure. Perhaps everywhere looked like Italy. After a few hours wandering I came across a young girl, well not too young, a few years younger than me. I tried to talk to her but she didn't understand. She gave me some of the berries she had collected and I tried to make her understand I was lost. Eventually she got the message and beckoned me to follow her. She brought me to a crude hut were she lived with her family. I lived here for three years, eventually learning to understand this primitive people. I bet you thought I was going to rape her or something, I'm not some sort of a psychopath as I keep telling you. And she was ugly.

After three years I heard a voice outside speaking in Latin. The local governor had ordered a levy of troops to send to Rome. The recruiter was demanding at least one of this family volunteered, so I stepped forward. I didn't let on I spoke Latin of course, as far as he knew I was one of the Nuraghi. The other Nuraghi would know of course so I pretend to be mute. It actually makes life easier as they don't make much effort to communicate with me so I get out of most of the hard jobs. Another horrible boat trip later and I was back on Roman soil. We are marching north, hopefully to kill Gauls, though I actually have no idea where we are going or who we are going to fight.

Oooh, 1000 views in a week! Romani AARs definately are more popular than Pahlav!

[desert]

What's the Roman word for Erinyes?

Anyway, seems like members of this family get orphaned a lot.

[miotas]

Oooh, 1000 views in a week! Romani AARs definately are more popular than Pahlav!


i think its more about how its written, following one character instead of the faction as a whole
great work by the way keep it up:yes:

[NickTheGreek]

This AAR is great, it's really inspired me to take up the mantle of the SPQR once again :smash:

[I of the Storm]

That's a very ambivalent character you made up there. But an excellent reading nevertheless, sir.

[johnhughthom]

Made up? He's real I tells you, real!!:laugh4:

I'm going to try to get an update up tonight, should really be doing my Christmas shopping...

If anybody is interested in the save a link is in the EB 1.2 Savegames thread. It's 240 BC just after the "Gallic Disaster" with Polybian barracks being built in the five starting cities. Greek allies can be recruited in the south a few Gallic allies in the north. The only units you have are seven FMs, five Ligurians in forts, a load of client rulers and three fleets. For all the snobs like me the Plebeian line has died out.

[Aemilius Paulus]

You mean you have no Plebeians? Really? Wow! I am quite pleased!

Also, how about turning anti-initialising on? Can your computer take it? Or maybe editing the screenshots if you have time and don't mind. Its just that your screenshots focus on a relatively small object, and the jagged lines are painfully noticeable.

Anyway, keep up the great work; I love your AAR, the perspective, and the fact that it is Romani!!! Its also nice that you now have three pages, whereas 90% of AARs are abandoned after the first page, and 5% more are done by the second page!

[johnhughthom]

Yeah I know the screenshots aren't great but I like to focus on my character rather than the battle as a whole. I only have anti-aliasing off as having it on makes my shots come out black. To be honest there is a lot of work goes into an AAR (how MAA has kept his going for so long I'll never know :bow:) and I really hate the whole screenshots bit, as it takes ages. If I was to put even more effort into it I would probably lose interest.
I do have one plebeian left, Caius Aerelius Cotta, but his line all perished in the disaster so no more plebeians when he's gone. Which should leave me room for some nice RPing later...

edit:I'm having one of those frustrations with RTW mechanics I'm sure we all go through. I'm going to take a break for a while and come back to this in a few weeks.

[Obelics]

the screenshots for me were very nice, this particulary was great:

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/cavalrykiller-1.jpg


very plastic positions et all, hope you will continue it as you will feel (from my side i have just started the 1.2 campaign, and i have only conquered reghion and taras and bononia, but im enjoying it thanks to this aar too)

[Roka]

i definately think you have stolen my idea for an AAR :laugh4:

oh well, good luck with the AAR, consider me hooked :2thumbsup:

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 3

Illyria

Gauls and Germans threaten our northern borders so where do we go? We go east, to Illyria. The Senate has had many reports recently of the wealth in the region from mines and wanted a piece for Rome. So that is what drives Rome. Profit. Our thousands of dead in Gaul are not as important as making money. Showing the Germans what happens if you attack Rome is not as important as Senators buying another bronze statue. How did Rome deal with her German and Gallic foes? With diplomacy, playing tribes off against each other rather than force. What must the other powers in the world think of Rome? We came out of the Punic War as the dominant force in the western Mediterranean, after the Gallic Disaster she is seen as hesitant and fearful, unable to deal decisively with barbarians.

How do I know all this you ask? The Nuraghi are hardly likely to have inside information on the goings on in the Senate. The Legate in charge of the allied ala had selected us to guard the Principia each night when we camped. They assumed we had no knowledge of Latin and we were allowed inside during the officers meetings. Cotta was present at a number of these meetings and I was able to gain a measure of the opinions of the higher ranking officers of the Legions. Most were unhappy at not being able to take on the Gauls or Germans but the opportunity for massive profit in Illyria was a slight compensation. Cotta gave me a curious glance one time as he left, perhaps I had made it obvious I could understand what they were saying so I was more careful to appear bored from then on.

Our first target in Illyria was the city of Segestica, we seiged the city for a few weeks before assaulting. The tribal leader was supposedly one of the most important men in the region, though his army was poorly trained if numerous.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Faros-1.jpg
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/enemy-1.jpg

Cotta who led our legions needs no introduction. He led two legions and one allied ala, the other ala was a few miles forward of our position to guard against relief armies coming to aid the city.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Cotta-1.jpg
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Cotta-2.jpg

Letters from my father often mentioned the triplex acies formation the Legions used, and even though this was not a field battle Cotta lined his army up in this fashion.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/army-1.jpg

Rams battered down the gates, while our archers peppered the defenders to stop them from harrasing the men pushing the rams. We fired over the walls with little idea if we were actually hitting anyone.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/blind-1.jpg
My unit was the first ordered through the gates and it was a race to be the first man into the city, as we were only allies we had no chance of a reward other than bragging rights. Of course I was first, a true Roman would hardly be beaten by a barbarian.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/first-1.jpg

Inside the city the fighting was brutal and cramped. We stood side by side with Samnite spearmen wearing down the enemy before the legionaries came in and slaughtered the exhausted Illyrians.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/winners-1.jpg

[Chaotix]

Wow, great AAR! This is the first time I have noticed it, but it is truly excellent. Keep up the good work! :2thumbsup:

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 4

Chieftan

I haven't told you much about my "colleagues" the Nuraghi. There's not much to tell, they are ignorant barbarians and it makes my blood boil to think I am thought of as one of them. There is one slightly interesting thing about the tribe I am with, they practice a primitive form of democracy. basically once the chieftan dies a new one is voted in with every man in the tribe having an equal say. The chieftan then has the power of life and death over every member of the tribe. I guess it's ok to have somebody condemn you to death so long as you voted for them...

Obviously the chieftan died recently otherwise why would I be telling you this? And no, I didn't kill him. He died after an arrow wound received in the battle for Segestica became infected. As a boy I had often practiced my oratory skills with Herion, it was a dream of mine, of every Roman, to enter the Senate and run for office. I had spent many hours practicing speeches to win people over to vote for me. Of course none of these savages understands Latin so I would have to use their foul utterances, what is the old saying? There are three important things in oratory, delivery, delivery and delivery. So as a great orator the language I used was immaterial. There was one slight problem though, they thought I was mute. I simply told them one of their Gods had visited me and given me the power of speech, telling me I would become chieftan. The idiots saw it as some sort of miracle, my stuttering efforts at their tongue was seen as difficulty to speak after a lifetime being unable to. So they voted for me, no rousing speeches needed, no bribes, threats or cajoling. Sometimes mans strange need to believe in a higher power can be useful.

I remembered from letters from my father that allies were entitled to free grain, we had never received any in my time with the Legion, we had foraged for our own food. So I went to see the Legates clerks to see why we hadn't received any. It seems our esteemed former chieftan had ripped off his own people, all our grain allowance had been given back to the legionaries in return for a small monthly stipend. Which was now mine. It was a pitiful amount, but it was the first money I had had in almost eight years. I decided to ask for half our grain allowance and to recieve half the money each month. The grain would not go around the whole unit, but I would be seen as a hero for getting it anyway and I would still be making money. Everyone would be happy.

We are heading back to Italian soil now. The Germans have been making constant attacks on our Alpine forts, they haven't broken through yet but the Senate has decided to be proactive in our defense. In other words it has started to cost too much to deal with them "diplomatically." We now hold most of Illyria, last year the legate in charge of the other allied ala marched south, without orders, to attack the town of Dalminion. Cotta was enraged when he heard and took off south, with only his bodyguard, to take charge of the assault. He got there the day of the assault and took command, resulting in a resounding success. Roman heroes truly don't like others stealing the limelight.

I sit in camp now looking at the Alps to the north west. I cannot wait until they are to my south and I am in German lands, killing Germans.

[johnhughthom]

Extract from "The Roman Republic 272-240BC" by Prof. John Doggart.

The year 230 saw the start of the Germanic Expedition. A three legion force, under the command of Caius Aurelius Cotta, went across the alps into german lands. There is much debate amongst scholars as to the original aims of the expedition, some say it was simply to have been a show of strength, crush the enemy then return home leaving only the memory of the results of Roman anger. Others feel most Romans wanted to conquer permanently, believing this was the only way to permanently pacify the region. It is most likely profit was the deciding factor, however, and the area was seen as having little to gain.

It had been ten years since the Gallic Disaster and it was only now the Legions had the confidence to attempt such a campaign. Cotta had conquered Illyria with little difficulty and a Roman army had annhilated a germanic horde only the previous year, Romes greatest victory for a generation. The Scipio/Cottan reforms had led to a more adaptable force and Cotta knew it's strengths and weaknesses intimately. He knew Scipio had been the true hero of the Punic War and wanted a legacy for himself. The story of how he had raced after his impetuous legate in the Illyrian campaign shows his desire for glory and honour. He was almost sixty and this was his last opportunity to gain fame.

Gaul and Germany had been wracked with plague for almost five years previous to the Expedition and this may have been part of the reasoning for the timing as the Legions would have been unwilling to attack plague ridden cities. Some of our sources suggest the Romans were behind the spreading of the plague across Gallic and Germanic cities but this seems highly unlikely. The previous tactics of playing tribes off against each other was becoming too expensive and some were taking the bribes and sharing it with the tribe they had been paid to attack. Gaul was embroiled in a bloody civil war and the policy of delicately maintaining the status quo through diplomacy was proving highly succesful, Roman revenge would be served cold it seemed. The focus was Germany.

So it was with this background the largest Roman army ever assembled (the four legions who disappeared in the Gallic Disaster had been divided into two armies) crossed the Alps to take the fight to the enemy.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

*Grabs axes ,spears and a shield. Preapares to fight the Roman invaders*

Great Chapter BTW

[johnhughthom]

*Grabs axes ,spears and a shield. Preapares to fight the Roman invaders*

Great Chapter BTW

We are not invaders, it is merely an aggresive form of defence.:eyebrows:

[johnhughthom]

I am curious to hear how others make up their Polybian Legion (or a Scipio/Cottan Legion in my case :laugh4:). I have been using one Velites, one Hastati and one Principes with an Accensii and a Triarii shared between two legion, I use FMs for my cavalry. This however leaves a dilemma when dividing Legions and I end up with the "junior" Legion having only three units. I was thinking of going one Accensii, two Velites, two Hastati, two Principes and one Triarii but feel that would make the game far too easy, and I like to be able to get two Legions and at least one ala in one stack. I guess I could have fewer Legions, but four already seems a small number for my empire.
How does everyone else make up their Polybians?

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 5

Back into the fold

Well it has been a very interesting year for me, I have regained my status as a Roman citizen (I never really lost it but you know what I mean), I march with the Hastati and I am wealthier than my father ever was. I also learned some truths about the "great Roman" I thought my father was, but haven't killed any Germans yet. I suppose it is churlish to complain, but it feels like a lifetime ago since I killed somebody up close and personal. You aren't truly alive until you experience the warmth of a man's blood spurt against your face, to feel his last breath on your skin as you pull you spear out of his guts and tell him how you are going to sell his children as slaves and use his wife as your... ahem, sorry I got a bit carried away there.

Where to begin? The Germanic Expedition goes well, unfortunately Cotta has not been winning the victories thus far. He sent the Third Legion ahead to scout the region and try to locate the main German force, locate but not engage unless unavoidable. So what did the Consul in command of the Legion do? March east, conquer the tribes in the area and install a Gallic tribe loyal to Rome in charge. Cotta was enraged, this was supposed to be his moment of glory and somebody else was overshadowing him. He was in command of the expedition but couldn't reprimand the Consul in any way as he was legally the same rank as Cotta. To make matters worse the Consul gained two more crushing victories over Germanic foes on his way back to report, the stories of each victory becoming more and more heroic. There was already a clamour in Rome to award him a triumphus for his achievements, you would have thought Cotta, the triumpher over Carthage, would not have begrudged his colleague this honour but no, the news enraged him further.

It was in this mood he recognised me. Well remembered who I reminded him of. I was standing guard in the legates tent when he came to discuss the expedition with him. After the meeting he left the tent, stopped outside and looked me full in the face. In rapid Latin he ordered me to tell him my name and place of birth. Taken utterly by surprise I answered and he laughed. "You're no ****ing Sardinian, who the hell are you and why do you look familiar?" I told him my story, who my father was, why I was with the Nuraghi, everything. He gave me a strange look, "Does this man you killed have any family?" "No" I replied. "And you're mother was your only family?" "Yes" I replied. "So why in the name of Minerva's nipples did you run away? Who on earth was going to try to prosecute you?" It slowly dawned on me that there was actually nobody who would care that I had killed my mother and her lover. The farm and flats in Arpi had probably been taken over by somebody else and any attempt to reclaim them would lead to the owner prosecuting me, but otherwise I had nothing to worry about. I had been a complete idiot to imagine there would have been a huge manhunt for me.

"It's strange how fate works, you seem to have been destined to follow the same path as your father." I must have shown my confusion because he laughed again and said "I bet your father never told you about his time with the irregulars, how he was too poor to even equip himself as a Hastati. Ha, you needn't feel shame at your fall from grace, only if you fail to regain your lost status." I asked him if he would confirm I was a citizen to the legates clerks and he told me he would. It was like something from a dream, the most famous Roman alive bringing me back into the fold. The last thing he said to me was "I have my eye on you now, don't disappoint me."

Now all there is to explain is how I became rich. The Nuraghi had agreed to fight for a eight years which was now up, they were free to go home. Well actually they were free to go where their chieftan told them. And I was their chieftan. So I took them to Mediolanium and sold them all as slaves. All six hundred of them. Six hundred young men in the prime of life attracted a huge sum and the slave traders fell over themselves to buy them. I immediately used the money to buy some property in the city, some farmland outside and slaves to work it (no not the Nuraghi, I couldn't bear to hear that accursed language every time I came home). I also bought myself a full panoply of arms and armour before returning to the Legion camped just south of the Alps. We are to travel north within the day, Cotta has lost patience and wants to regain the limelight, it seems I will be killing Germans soon

[desert]

I have some in-character questions for you:

So the Nuraghi just let themselves be sold off as slaves?
With the profit from 600 slaves, couldn't you afford the armor of a full triarius? I'd imagine that you could even buy a mansion in Roma with that kind of money!

[gamegeek2]

2000th viewer!

And nice move, Sardinian dude.

[V.T. Marvin]

I am curious to hear how others make up their Polybian Legion (or a Scipio/Cottan Legion in my case :laugh4:). (...) How does everyone else make up their Polybians?

Hello, great AAR! Good luck and stamina with it!:2thumbsup:

As to your question: my polybian legion is: 1 velites, 1 accensi, 2 hastati, 2 principes, 1 triarii, 1 general (usually just commands, rarely fights), 1 junior family member as cavalry. This the roman core, which coud be divided in half between the two family members, as "senior" having the velites and triarii (usually the passive part), and "junior" having accensi and no triarii commanded by the youngster to relieve him of his "green" trait.
The allied part has usually 3-5 units of regional troops, for example 2 geamilae liguriae + 1 liguriae epos, or 2 celtic spearmen + 2 celtic archers, or 2 iberi caetrati + 2 milites illergetum + 1 balearic slingers (or gaesamica - iberian javelinners).
Overall I think it is rather ballanced, has the proper "roman" feel and is not too overpowered nor unreasonably weak.

[johnhughthom]

I have some in-character questions for you:

So the Nuraghi just let themselves be sold off as slaves?
With the profit from 600 slaves, couldn't you afford the armor of a full triarius? I'd imagine that you could even buy a mansion in Roma with that kind of money!

Like I said earlier in the AAR the tribes chieftan has life or death power over everyone else. The tribesmen weren't told they were being sold as slaves, they were told "those wagons will transport you to the docks where you will set sail for home." Then the gates were locked. :laugh4:
He is probably too young to be one of the Triarii (early twenties) and he hasn't spent all his money yet...

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 6

Life as a Hastatus

Ye Gods, what a few years it has been. I almost wish I had my simple life with the Nuraghi back. The Germanic Expedition was a success, well it achieved it's objectives anyway. Our northern border is controlled by Gallic tribes loyal to Rome, it cost many Roman lives but we should not have to worry about hordes of Germans coming over the Alps for the next few years. The campaign petered out after we took Aventicos as Cotta was killed in the assault for that city, a German arrow took him in the throat and the campaign was left without an obvious leader as the Consul second in command had left for Rome hoping to secure a Triumphus. So basically we installed a Gallic tribe in the region and returned south. Unfortunately another Gallic tribe wanted to take over from the Germans we conquered and took us by surprise as we travelled south, this would never had happened had Cotta still been alive, the Legate hadn't even bothered to post scouts ahead of us.

They outnumbered us by a large margin, we had taken a battering assaulting Aventicos and a lot of our heavy infantry had been killed. We lost almost half our Hastati alone which was why the army had been unwilling to fight on without somebody like Cotta to lead us. The battle lasted all day and it seemed we would manage to hold on before the Gallic cavalry joined the battle, they had cleverly held on until we were almost exhausted. They brushed our cavalry aside as if they weren't there and charged straight into the fray. We never stood a chance, seconds after they charged the entirity of two Legions turned and ran. We made it back to camp battered and bruised, virtually the entire chain of command had been obliterated. I was the only one of my Conturbenium to survive, indeed virtually the whole of the Hastati and Principes had been annihillated. There was only one thing to do, head south and hope they didn't follow. I was too drained to even worry about my holdings in Mediolanium being taken if the Gauls followed, I just wanted to live.

Luckily the Consul had heard he would have to wait for his triumphus and was on his way back, for a horrible moment we thought his army was more Gauls attacking us in a pincer movement. He joined us with his Legion, we were supposed to be two Legions yet they outnumbered us two to one which shows how decimated we had been, and we marched north to regain our lost honour. The Gauls had the cheek to take the camp we had fled and entrench themselves within, I suppose they knew we would be back. We surrounded the camp and began to starve them out, they had no hope of reinforcements as the area was loyal to Rome. After six months they came out to attack us, they threw their spearmen against our lines repeatedly but could make no breakthrough. Eventually they brought their heavy cavalry into the battle, there was a difference this time however. The Consul had not commited the Triarii to battle even though there were a number of times we were in serious trouble of being broken. The instant he saw the cavalry ready themselves to join the battle the Triarii were ordered forward, the formed the frontline with their spear thrust forward. The rest of the heavy infantry moved to the flanks, the cavalry didn't move we hadn't forgotten how they had fared last time. The Triarii held against repeated Gallic charges while we dealt with the rest of the enemy spears, eventually we were able to charge the flanks of the cavalry and the battle was over. We didn't even bother taking the captives to the slave markets, they were all beheaded.

While all this was happening our old foe the Carthagians attacked our fort protecting Massalia. They were beaten by a loyal Gallic tribe and returned to Hispania, the talk in camp is that we will sail to Hispania within the year. Supposedly the Carthaginians have managed to subdue the whole country and the land is overflowing with silver and gold, so of course those great men in the Senate will want it. Of course they will say we are going to defend Roman honour, to show what happens when you annoy your betters etc etc. It seems my life really is destined to mimic my fathers, I should thank the Gods my own experience of defeat didn't end my life.

[gamegeek2]

:smash::smash::smash::smash::smash:

[johnhughthom]

I wouldn't advise anyone to follow my raise a Legion for sixteen years then disband houserule, I just spent an hour raising five legions and allies and it has given me a headache getting it all together. I may try to stagger when I raise them from now on.
I have decided to increase the size of my Legions, each one will be 1 Accensii, 2 Velites, 2 Hastati, 2 Principes and 1 Triarii with 6 units of allies. I will keep two legions in Italy at all times unless there is an emergency.
I'm not too sure where to go now. The barbarians to the north are fighting a three way war which is pretty even, if someone gets on top I'll intervene, until then I'll just defend their random attacks. The Carthies hold almost all of Spain and a load in Africa, I wonder if I can somehow start a Carthie/Ptoly war as they are both behemoths. There is a rather nifty Parthian Empire and hopefully they can take a chunk of Ptolemaic holdings. Makedonia just broke our alliance with one of those completely pointless port blockades so I may just attack them twenty or so years early.
I know the last couple of chapters have been pretty poor, I keep forgetting I'm writing an AAR and don't take screenshots...:embarassed:

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Its ok dude. U dont gotta post screens in EVERY chapter. Just post a current map every so often and write like CRAZY, and ull have a good AAR.

Keep it up.:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:

[julius_caesar_the_first]

I almost didn't notice you weren't using screenshots:laugh4:. The story easily compensated:smiley:. Keep up the good work:2thumbsup:.

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 7

The Iberian Conflict

I hate boats almost as much as I hate Carthaginains, Gauls, Germans, Greeks and any other funny foreigner you can think of. If the Gods wanted us to take to the seas they would have given us fins. I have almost gotten over the cramped two week trip to Bochorria, now I have another trip to look forward to. This time to Iberia, the fabled land overflowing with silver and gold that the Carthagians have been raping for the last fifty years. Another Legion is already there, beseiging the Punic capital of the country. When we get there the fighting better be a hell of a lot better than the battle for Bochorria, less than a thousand Punic citizens donned their armour to challenge us in the city and were slaughtered. Most of the populace were happy to be liberated so the city has been left pretty much as we found it. A puppet regime loyal to Rome will be established then we leave for Iberia proper.

I march as a Princeps, as a Roman citizen I have to devote sixteen years of my life to the army and my time with the Nuraghi doesn't count. I spent six years as a Hastatus so ten years as a Princeps it is, actually I could afford the panoply of a Triarius but I'm too young-another six years service before I'm eligible. If I live that long that is, gives me something to look forward to I guess.

I was able to spend two years at home in Mediolanium, I actually live in a small mansion in the city and leave the farming to my slaves. I made the acquaintance of another citizen in one of the local whorehouses, he was a fomer Quaestor who had stayed in the city after his term there had come up. He had no desire for further political offices and his farms there made him rich. He only returned to Rome a few times each year to show his face in the Senate. After we had double teamed an exotic Persian whore he mentioned to me that he had an unmarried daughter, would I like to meet her? So things went from there and now I am married to the daughter of a Senator. She is flat as a German's shield with a nose like a bent arrow, but I didn't marry her for her looks, that's what slaves and whores are for. She doesn't have a clue how to run a household or a farm, but again that's what slaves are for. As long as she can bear me healthy Roman sons thats all that matters. I already have one son and she was pregnant again when I left, she would be due to have the baby any day now. I have sent letters back to her, but by the time she replies I will not be here. I may not know if I have a son or a daughter until my ten years are up.

I should be in Iberia by the end of the year, surely the stories on putting a pan in a river and bringing up nuggets of gold can't be true? Every man in the Legion from the lowliest Accensii to the richest Equite dreams of coming home from Iberia loaded with riches. To be honest I am already rich enough for my liking, I could actually join the Equites if I wanted. A true Roman doesn't fight from horseback though. Of course a succesful time in Iberia could leave me rich enough to join the Senate...

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Nice chapter show those Carthie morons whose boss. (although im still pissed that u beat the ***** outta my Germans:furious3:)

[gamegeek2]

The single of "Principes" is "Princeps," not "Principe." But good reading.

[johnhughthom]

The single of "Principes" is "Princeps," not "Principe." But good reading.

Perhaps in the Polybian Legions it was, but in my Scipio/Cottan Legions it's Principe. :laugh4:

Only kidding, thanks for the info. I'll edit that now. ~:thumb:

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 8

Peace?

Iberian Conflict my ass. Three simple victories over rag-tag Carthaginian armies and suddenly the war is over. Where is all the loot we were supposed to gain? We have taken one mining operation which takes a year to give what we get from Illyria in a month and two "cities" which remind me of some of those barbarian hovels over the Alps which weren't worth the bother of keeping. Of course the Senate doesn't trust the Carthaginians so we can't even go back home to fight in the war against the descendants of that over-rated bum bandit Alexandros!

Well at least I managed to "see the elephant." Quite literally, in the battle for Arse (named after Alexandros favourite pastime perchance?) they sent one elephant against us. It didn't even reach the battle lines and was brought down by a volley of Velite javelins. The rest of the army was bits and pieces of other units, obviously the Carthaginians haven't gained as much from Iberia as we thought. Legio III took the Carthaginian capital to our south and we hold most of the eastern coastline though the rest of the peninsula is in Punic hands. A sole tribe holds out in the northeast, perhaps we will use them to fight a proxy war, sounds like just the thing for our brave, bold Senate.

It seems the fates have conspired against me, I thought I had lucked out joining Legio IV and being sent to Iberia. I had thanked the Gods for not sending me back to Illyria with Legio II but I guess they are the guys who will see the action.

Why did we agree peace with Carthage you ask? A truly unroman thing to do you say. You know the answer to that don't you? Yes, money. A delegation from Egypt supposedly offered huge bribes and free grain for every citizen in Rome for an alliance. Of course since they are allied to Carthage we would have to cease hostilities. We will probably never know who got bribed or even if the money came from Egypt or Carthage, all we know is we are now at peace and the three greatest powers in the world are friends.

I wonder do those in charge in Carthage and Alexandreia really understand the Roman mind? If they did they would realise their money won't buy them peace. Romans have never accepted a rival. Someone equal in power to us. And we never will. Carthage and the Ptolemies will be destroyed, maybe not in my lifetime, but they will be destroyed.

[I of the Storm]

I wonder do those in charge in Carthage and Alexandreia really understand the Roman mind? If they did they would realise their money won't buy them peace. Romans have never accepted a rival. Someone equal in power to us. And we never will. Carthage and the Ptolemies will be destroyed, maybe not in my lifetime, but they will be destroyed.


Woohoooo! Priceless!!!

Great update. Do go on, please!

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Great update:2thumbsup::yes:

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 9

Crete

There can be few men who are better travelled than a Roman Legionary. Gaul, Germany, Iberia and lots of stupid little islands. Like Crete. What we're actually doing here is anybodies guess. Well we conquered it obviously, but why? All the island is known for is it's archers who hire themselves out to the highest bidder or live the life of a pirate. Perhaps the Senate wanted to utilise them in our armies, they may actually have a use, more so than those Gallic idiots we use now.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Kretan-1.jpg
The capital, Kydonia, is a nice little Hellenic town and it's actually quite a comfortable place to stay. The Triarii are allowed to live within the city and report to the army outside every morning. Yes, I am a Triarius now, have been for two years and bloody boring it is too. We don't actually do very much, we don't build the camp, we don't patrol or do guard duty, we don't even fight unless the battle is in the balance. I enjoyed my time as a Hastatus and a Princeps much more, the time flew as I was always busy. Now all I do is play dice and bang whores. Not a bad life, but dull at times. And these Greek whores are expensive, why just yesterday one tried to charge me one thousand sesterces just to do her up the .... Sorry, you don't want to hear the sordid details of my leisure time.

Anyway, I haven't killed a man in over three years. A long time when you get used to it happening regularly. There wasn't a hope of me getting a kill at Kydonia, the battle was won by the Hastati, Principes and the allies, we just sat outside the city gates listening to the rest of the Legion having all the fun. Every so often an arm or a head was thrown over the walls, some Hastatus thinking it was funny to tease us by showing how much they were enjoying themselves. These archers we heard so much about had no impact on the battle, I mean if they are that good surely they should have sat on the rooftops rainig hell down upon us.

I didn't set foot in the city until the civic leaders had surrendered unconditionally. Thank the God's my time is up, I don't think I could stand having to sit back like that again. There are rumours we may need to stay here a few years as there are tales of an Athenian army on the island. Athens are not our friends,but neither are they our enemies. The situation in Greece is complicated and alliances change constantly, our war with the Makedons should mean the Athenians would be sympathetic to our aims, but they are Greeks. So loyalty, honour and respect mean nothing to them.

I wouldn't mind spending a few years here, it has potential. I'm contemplating buying some land or property in the city, spreading my holdings across Romes territory seems like a good idea. My dream of making enough money in the Iberian conflict to buy my way into the Senate was quashed by the Makedones in Egypt, but perhaps I can make it myself. After all a true Roman makes his money through farming and property, what better way to buy my way to the Senate.

Speaking of the Egyptians, it seems they are at war with our mutual Punic friends now. Perhaps the Iberian Conflict was only a prelude to a real Second Punic War. I'm not quite forty, still a young man-fitter, stronger and healthier than any fresh faced Hastatus. Maybe my time in Iberia has not ended.

[HunGeneral]

Good update:book:

The Senate seems to be showing signs of intellect - they might finally use creatans:laugh4:

[gamegeek2]

is intelligent life evolving? :smash:

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Chapter 10

Retirement

I'm finally back home in Mediolanium, my service to the Republic has been completed. I won't serve again, a broken leg sustained in stormy seas coming back from Crete didn't heal properly and now I have a limp when I walk. My final few months in Crete were uneventful, a minor war with Athens over Rhodes was ended in our favour. We are the undoubted masters of the western Mediterranean and now we have a foothold in the east.

The war with Makedonia goes well, a large enemy force was comprehensively defeated early last year, though the Senate seems unwilling to try to take any more territory in the region at present. The Gauls and the Germans are fighting each other as usual and the presence of Legio V nearby keeps them from contemplating an attack. Iberia seems to be the most likely area of conflict and war with Carthage seems an inevitability, it's a matter of when, not if. My old colleagues in Legio IV are on their way there now, one Legion is enough for peacekeeping, sending a second can only mean war is on the cards.

I am not as bored as I had imagined with civilian life, I have plenty to occupy myself with. The farm, the rented property in the city and in Crete, I have also bought my old home near Arpi and a small place in Rome. Those six hundred Nuraghi have really made my life comfortable. So a business man, farmer and family man is my life now. I have a son and a daughter with another child on the way, my son is thirteen and a talented horseman. Not very Roman I know, but he enjoys it. I have bought my way into the ranks of the equites, my son wants to be part of the cavalry when he does his service. I thought I had been excited about joining the Legions as a child but my boy is something else, all he ever talks about is killing Gauls, Germans, Carthaginians, Greeks anybody who isn't Roman. I'm almost as excited about his service as he is, I have no doubt he will make me proud.


Coming soon: Life of a Roman: An AAR Part Two

[gamegeek2]

:2thumbsup:

[johnhughthom]

I'm trying to get a character to use for the next bit of the AAR through marriage, I want a plebeian aged 16-18 and I keep getting patricians in their 50s. :furious3: :wall:
I just noticed I have 12 females of marriage age including 5 in their 30s. Is there an an age where they can't be married off anymore? I know it happens in Medieval, never noticed it in RTW though.

[desert]

I remember that someone once posted a screenshot of the message he got regarding the death of a female FM. It was a very special message though; he had never married her off...

[johnhughthom]

There must be a link between the age of your daughters and the age of suitors, I haven't had one under 50 in 6 game years-one was 64. :dizzy2:
Obviously it's ok for women to marry much older men, but young men aren't allowed to marry older women. :no:

[I of the Storm]

I suppose that your faction is already quite rich. It seems to me that the more money you have, the more useless suitors become.
Apart from that, it can happen that unmarried females retire. I've had messages about it in the later stages of a game (not EB though). I don't know at wich age this will happen. Probably 40+

[julius_caesar_the_first]

1. A female FM can be married to the age of 50.
2. The older the female, the older the suitor. Also the game will constantly try to get you to marry one female FM before going to the next. The only solution is marry the older ones to clear the way for the others.

Great AAR :2thumbsup: and I hope this helps:smiley:.

[johnhughthom]

The only solution is marry the older ones to clear the way for the others.


I'm probably going to have to do this, cheers guys.

edit: Just got a 68 year old marry one of my daughters, anybody had an older suitor?
another edit: Not sure when I'll be able to update this, still got a few old dears to marry off.

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Part Two

Prologue

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Marcvs-1.jpg

I'm writing this in a small inn in Veii, I'm only a few miles from Rome and will probably be there tomorrow. It's just me, my sister and my spear carrier and a few locals. What's my sister doing with me? Well she never married and has always acted as my nanny, mother could never be bothered and father didn't trust the slaves. Of course I'm sixteen now and have no need of a nanny but I couldn't leave her behind, she's more than thirty and father couldn't find anybody to marry her apart from local Gauls. If you know my father you would know that wasn't going to happen. Father expects great things from me militarily so hired a spear carrier just before I left, apart from the obvious carrying my equipment he is also a fine warrior and we train together daily.

The plan is that I will spend four years in Rome, living with associates of my grandfather (the governor of Cisalpine Gaul). I will be expected to learn business skills, oratory skills, legal skills, leadership skills and of course martial skills. My first year will be spent in the home of one of Romes finest prosecutors, I will be helping gather evidence and clerking hopefully learning from the great man.

While in Rome I plan to look for my brother. He would be almost thirty now and disappeared when he was seventeen while doing something similar to what I am embarking on. The man he was staying with claims he must have been robbed and murdered and dumped in the Tiber but personally I'm not too sure. He was never one for learning and I know he just wanted to fight, I wouldn't be surprised if he ran off and joined the army under a false name.

Father recently took an interest in family history and discovered a direct line to a former Consul, we are Cornelii of course there's going to be a Consul somewhere back in the mists of time. He thinks it's great, of course now I have to live up to that and restore the family name. Bloody hell, he couldn't even make Senator and wants me to be Consul! Sometimes I wonder if it was his head or leg he hurt coming back from Crete.

Four years in Rome before I join the Legions. I am quite excited about the travel aspect, not necessarily the fighting and killing. I'm not the same man as my father or brother, the stories of father's, my grandfather's and even my great-grandfather's fighting for Rome never filled me with the pride it did them. Indeed sometimes I wonder why we never try to live alongside these foreigners, even when there is peace it's as if we are waiting for an excuse to attack. Of course I never voiced any of these opinions, to my father and brother the life of a non-Roman had as much value as a that of a sheep.

Well, got to go, sister says it's time for bed.

This guy is actually the son of an Arverni FM I bribed over to my side not realising he would join my family tree, I'm just going to RP him as the son of my former protaganist and actually the grandson of his father(who is the governor of Cisalpine Gaul and I pretend has a Gallic nick-name after fighting them). Map at 196 BC.
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/196-1.jpg

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Just got a 68 year old marry one of my daughters, anybody had an older suitor?

I think I did once in RTW, but I can't remember for sure. I did get a FM to reach the age of 91 without reloading a save game once in BI though.

I'm glad to see another update and I can barely wait for the next one:beam:.

[johnhughthom]

Chapter 1

In the big city

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/Marcus-1.jpg

I've lived in Rome for a year and I'm still in awe of the majesty of the place. Yes there's crap on every street corner, yes it smells worse than the stables on the farm in the summer, it's true that I am too frightened to leave the house at night but it's Rome. It's the centre of the world, the idea of Rome, what it represents is more important than the reality. I'll bet those other great cities, Carthage, Athens, Pergamon, Alexandreia and the like are just the same, made of wood and smelling of faeces.

My year with the prosecutor was an amazing experience, I spent all day every day looking through books, accounts, ledgers and other fascinating documents. More than one case was won due to my noticing a well hidden falsification or ommission, he told me I would have made a great lawyer if it weren't for the fact I have a worse personality than a particularly dour Spartan. I almost laughed at that one, humour never was my strong point. He did offer me a job, well paid with a cut of profits. I don't need a job though, even at the age of seventeen I am self sufficient. Father gave me enough money to last four years when I left home, rather than leave it in the safekeeping of one of my grandfather's associates I decided to invest in property and I live off the rent. I pack four families in flats intended for one and make four times the money, I have already bought another two buildings I intend to convert into tenements. I also employ a number of men to help me run my affairs as my studies take up a lot of my time. A few philosophers live in one of my apartments (by themselves, I wouldn't make them live with ordinary people) and I enjoy discussing philosophy with them in my rare free time.

I am now living with a current Quaestor who is responsible for the games in Rome. I am to learn how to raise funds, how to spend those funds efficiently and how to keep the masses happy through blood, death and spectacle. I'm not really that interested in the games to be honest but facts and figures, ledgers and accounts will keep me happy for a year. So long as I'm not expected to go around begging for money to fund the games, I'll probably just give some of my own money and say I raised that.

I've had no luck finding any information on my brother, the man he was living with, a money lender, told me exactly what he had told my father. His story was exactly as it had been years before so I think he believes it. Which is exactly as my brother would have wanted it. Still, I haven't given up, I know I will find out one way or another before I leave Rome.


Looks like this guy is going to be very different from his father and grandfather as I'm going to roleplay his traits and retinue. The last two protagonists were probably too similar though, so that may work well.

[gamegeek2]

Wow, that is some weird sister. Good thing he's not a Ptollie...:egypt:

[johnhughthom]

Wow, that is some weird sister. Good thing he's not a Ptollie...:egypt:

Well, he is "Welcoming To Foreigners" so perhaps he may want to try some of their strange habits out.

[johnhughthom]

Chapter 2

Embezzlement

https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/marcus-2.jpg


Rome sure votes some idiots into power. The Quaestor I worked under for the past year wouldn't have noticed had I walked into his home and walked out with one of his Persian busts under my arm. Which gives me an idea... Anyway, I doubt he will be entrusted with another office, he gave pretty mediocre games. They weren't awful by any means, he just showed little flair for spectacle and no innovation whatsoever. That he was able to put on even mediocre games considering I stole half of the money he raised shows I am maybe being a little harsh on him. You could even say I did Rome a favour, we hardly want someone who is blind to such theft under his own nose in a more important position.

I put all the money into more property, believe it or not the man I am living with now, a former Praetor who fought with my grandfather in Sicily, rents his home off me. He doesn't know this of course as I use agents, but he is paying me rent then letting me live there for a year rent free.

It's quite interesting here, I mainly help with his accounts and run his farms, I am certain by the end of the year I will have doubled his income. Unless I steal some of course, he isn't as stupid as the last guy though and it may be too risky. Dinner is great fun, there is always intelligent discourse, philosophy, politics, science, thankfully religion is rarely discussed as sometimes I find it difficult to feign an interest in such nonsense. There is always news from Hispania and Epiros which is much more reliable than you hear in the street. Apparently there is a big divide in the Senate, some believe we need another Legion in Epeiros, most Senators though feel one in Illyria and two in Epeiros should be more than sufficient-pointing to the fact two Legions are winning the war in Hispania.

Little else has changed, I still feel at home here, to be honest I am not looking forward to my military service at all. Not showing real enthusiasm would disappoint my father though, I have no doubt he would actually disinherit me if I tried to dodge it. No point worrying about it, it's two years away. Still no trace of my brother, I will have to give up soon, I see little else I can do.


https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/Life%20of%20a%20Roman/carthage.jpg
It's a pity there's no land bridge across the pillars of Hercules, taking Spain would be a challenge if those armies could get across.

[johnhughthom]

I'm giving up this AAR as I'm getting seriously ****ed off at the number of forest battles(especially when the campaign map shows otherwise), the same reason I took a break before. It's something I've always hated but been able to tolerate, this campaign seems to be worse than any other and I'm not enjoying it at all. I may come back to it in the future but I seriously doubt it.

[desert]

It's called "artificially induced deforestation". :idea2:

Anyway, you could always just make things up as you go.

[gamegeek2]

plz don't give up. Use auto_win to save you from fighting battles you'll obviously win. With infantry battles, it gives fairly accurate results for a human victory.

[julius_caesar_the_first]

I agree. Please don't give up. It's such an interesting AAR:beam:.

[I of the Storm]

plz don't give up. Use auto_win to save you from fighting battles you'll obviously win. With infantry battles, it gives fairly accurate results for a human victory.

He's right. Look at the army compositions and decide whether you'd be able to win easily or not. If yes, then auto_win. I choose to do that often in order to save time and avoid repetitive battles - leaving more time to savour the really epic ones.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

NUUUUU!!!!!!!!! PLZ DONT QUIT THIS!!!!! ILL GIVE U 1000 balloons if u dont!!!!!!1~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:

[johnhughthom]

Well I took a week off EB and was ready to start this up again and guess what? The save won't load. :wall::wall: I've uninstalled and reinstalled three times now.
I'm not sure what to do now. Start a new Romani campaign and play up to this date then use a different Cornelius Scipio, roleplayed as the older brother, or start a new Pahlav AAR. Or not bother, I've already started three AARs in three months....

[gamegeek2]

that sux. have a :balloon2:

[julius_caesar_the_first]

~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:~:mecry:

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Please let EBII be more stable then EBI Master Foot PLEASE!!!!

[HunGeneral]

Now thats sad news...:cry:

Why does the "devil of technik" always strike such good AAR's:wall:

[johnhughthom]

Life of a Roman: An AAR Part Three

The Real History of Rome

We are in the columned garden area of a large villa in Rome. A middle aged man sits by a statue of the legendary Lucius Cornelius Scipio as a Punic freedman enters the garden.

Sir, the boy has been killed. Don't worry the body will never be found.
I hope not, his grandfather could make life awkward for me you know.
Yes sir, I know. He sniggers. Trust me even if they find the body they will not be able to identify him.
OK, you have never let me down before, I will trust you on this. Did you find anything interesting in his room?
Ehm...
If I find out you have taken any money I will make sure you face a fate even worse than the boy's.
Of course, thats not why I hesitated sir. He had a journal, a diary he had been keeping, it seems you are not the only influential man in Rome he has stolen from. He also has a journal kept by his father, and another manuscript which seems to be his grandfather's. It is an interesting story, your father is mentioned many times.
In what fashion?
Only in the most complimentary of course.
Give them here Hanno. I will read them. And Hanno...
Yes sir?
Don't forget what I said about the money.
Of course sir, I will fetch it for you right away.


Later we come across Scipio in his office reading the documents with a broad grin on his face.

Ha ha, this guy is full of crap! What kind of an idiot would actually believe these rags to riches tales! Killing a Samnite nobleman with a little dagger, selling six hundred of your peers as slaves to make your fortune! And the way he tells the history of Rome, like anybody would believe it really happened like that. The Gallic Disaster is all he actually got right! I was still a young man when it happened, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I took part in many of the events he describes, but they certainly didn't happen like he tells it. Tell me Hanno, you like to read about the life of that Phoenician who explored in his little boat don't you?
Yes, sir. I have read it many times, it makes me proud of my heritage.
What was he called again?
Hanno sir.
Of course. Hanno. How many different names do you people actually have? It must get very confusing, I bet if you shout "Hanno!" in a market in Carthage a thousand people turn their heads.
Most probably sir.
Well then there is a market for such as this then. Hmm, perhaps I should tell my story, how as a young man after The Gallic Disaster I helped turn Roman fortunes around. Yes, yes. I may even become more famous than my father, Consul may still be possible. And think of the women...
You always do sir.
That's settled then, I hope you have a strong wrist Hanno. I'm certainly not going to be writing this myself.

Scipio starts to narrate
https://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp139/johnhughthom/scipio-1.jpg
Our tale begins with me, a vigorous young man of 21...

[Vasiliyi]

Im glad your continuing this. I love this aar.

[johnhughthom]

I had planned an update by now but I'm trying to run this alongside my Interactive Romani AAR and there seems to be little interest in that lately. I'm not sure whether to just scrap the interactive AAR and simply play out this now.

[johnhughthom]

The first few years of my military service were uneventful, the Legions never strayed from Italian soil, too fearful of Gallic attacks, the fragile morale of the new recruits would not have stood long to a barbarian charge. Slowly my father and Cotta drilled the Legions into a well disciplined group of men, they were conditioned to a certain set of instructions which they would follow when the centurion blew his whistle. Courage was not needed when men could be trained to act without thinking. I worked closely with Cotta as a tribune and spent many hours with him, learning what I could from his experience.
In my third year with the Legions we heard of a Gallic attack in the north, a tribe had burst past one of our Ligurian forts guarding the passes and were bound for Mediolanium. The Consul in charge dithered for days until Cotta came and took the Legion without asking. It was highly illegal, but who in Rome would challenge him? We marched north in less than a week, the Gallic tribe melted away back into the mountains when they heard who was leading the army. Obviously the Carthaginians had told their Gallic allies who to fear in our ranks. Oh, we were "friendly" with the Punic traders now, but we knew they still pulled Gallic strings.
We set to rebuilding the fort the Gauls had destroyed and a new batch of Ligurians came to defend it. I was spectical of how trustworthy these men were, but Cotta trusted them implicitly so I decided they must be honourable men.
Rome was abuzz with rumour of gold in Hispania, Cotta and father thought we should pacify Illyria, but this would be one battle they couldn't win. It seemed my destiny lay far to the west, in a land barely glimpsed by Roman eyes.