What would you do with this campaign??

[Tarkus]

I use a base army of:

1x Accensi
1x Velites
2x Hastati
2x Principes
1x Triarii
1x Equites

I call this a Legion even though it represents in fact 2 Legions (if you play with a 1:10 ratio, this is roughly 10,000 men). Two of it would make a full consular army with slots left for Extraordinarii and a second FM.

The problem is that you don't get any auxilia "of the line" in Africa. You can replace your skirmishers with Numidians (even though Velites are very strong) and use Numdian cavalry instead of Italian - what requires a lot of micromanagemt because of the right use of light mobile forces. So any serious fighting has to be done by troops you ship over from Italy.

So I take it that you recommend I put two full legions of native Romans near Lepki and hold the southeastern border? I like that idea...

The situation is much better in Greece. There you have Hoplites, Pletastai (use them as light flankers, not as skirmishers), cavalry and missle units - even though I would consider to bring over Numidians as skirmishers. When they attack, the Maks will certainly use the classical Hoplites as backbone of their army, not the Phalanx. In this case you'll be able to meet them on an equal footing without the need to leave a permanent Roman garrison there. Nevertheless Polybian Romans usualy do beat Hoplites 1vs1.

Very true indeed, Konny. I think I will put together a full army (stack) of Greek units, with allied Numidian skirmishers, and ship them via Athens to, maybe, Syria for some good old-fashioned Hellraising.

In Spain you have some very fine auxilia units, like the Iberian lights, Northern skirmishers and Asturian axemen. I would ship some Numidian archers and cavalry there to fill the last gaps in these ranks. I would leave one Legion (see above) there, just in case.

Leaves Gallia Cilsalpina: Romans, they will beat the Celts anytime and anywhere, only have to fear Gaesatae. I would spice up this army with some Sardinian archers: they create a bloodbath among Gaeroas, Lugoae and the like half-naked guys without the need of special protection against cavalry.

Sounds good. I have an urge to expand to Tolose and Burdigala in addition to Mediolanum, after which time I will hunker down on my western frontier and look eastward.

Tellos Athenaios:
Interesting idea re: Maks vs. Ptolemaioi. How would you propose that I actually do that? I would envision landing a large Roman force near the Mak-Ptolemaic border and stirring up the Yellow hive...but how would I get the two to actively engage?

I also like your idea of descending on Krete...great staging area for eastward raiding, etc...

Thanks again to everybody for your advice. I'll keep you posted on my progress...this is sounding like the beginnings of a bare-bones AAR!