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[Mithras]

Big decisive battles

I recall a Bi game where my single WE elite stack fought a truly brutal battle against the Goths 5 stacks of scum with a battle hardened regular stack to back them up, the battle was so epic that it could be divided into four stages...like any good siege. (this was all at night to it looked awsome)

Battle 1 defence of the walls: the walls are under full scale attack, realising I can't hold all the walls i resolve to hold 1 which leads most directly into the city center and delay the enemy at the others with units of foederti. The defended wall is a slaughterhouse the Goth pouring their slaves onto the walls with my Comitatenses butchering the poor wretches whilsts my archer poured fire into their ranks the Goths suffer grotesque loses on the walls with a minimal price paid in Roman blood. Unfortunatly the Goths have overun two of the other walls (the third managed to destroy their siege engines) and where now pouring into the south and west gates.

Goth win

Battle 2 the fighting regroup : having lost the walls I now attempt to pull my troups into the city streets where the Goths strengths: Numbers and speed, will be undone. However Goth horsemen are already pouring into all sections of the city and harrying my troops along the way. I suffer casualties through arrow fire and am forced to sacrifice a com unit to buy time for the others to move into a superior postion...although enough of this unit remains intact to fight later.

Strong Goth win

Battle 3 the cavalry counter attack: The Goth archers now make a fatal mistake, they bypass the foot troops and make for city centre. The emperor and two battle hardened units of Sarmatian Cavalry the Goth pour straight into them. Within moments the Goths have suffered massive losses and the bulk of the horse archers have been decimated: even if the Goth win today they'll be down to a handful of horsemen. This event knocks the Emperor and a the rest of the Cavalry up a few ranks.

Heroic Rome Win

Battle 4 The defence of the temple district. The main Goth have suffered heavy casualties due to the AI's inability to secure the walls notheless the main bulk of their army is still intact including their swordsmen. the Comms have now re-deployed in the path of the horde-around the awsome temple of Mithras. At the same time the 3 units of Auxilia Palatina are deployed to block the smaller, weaker force advancing through another path to the plaza. This is where the battle reaches its climax the floor is covered in Roman and Goth dead in front of the war gods shrine. The Romans superior fighting skill against the endless mass of the Goths cannon fodder and their Choosen swordsmen. The battle Reaches it's climax as the Romans reach routing point The Emperor arrives and his might battle roar hardens the resolve of the line. until the Auxilia Palatina having destroyed the smaller force reinforce the Roman line Gradually pushing the Goths back. The Goths numbers drained they commit their generals to the fighting-3 are lost and the last two rout when the Emperor personally slays the Gothic king.

Close Roman win

Battle 5 Endgame: What's left of the goth army is either withdrawing or routing with the Cavalry ruthlessly butchering any who stop. Somehow a handful of slave units turn and delay the Cavalry-sacrificing themselves to save their comrades. The surviving Romans begin to march towards the gates. mere moments behind the Goth securing them in the name of Rome. The 1st cohort (down to 30 men) watches from the city gates as the Goths run tail turned between their legs

The Goths where effectivly destroyed as a faction following the siege. their family members hunted down shortly afterwards-the visigoths never emerged. Had the Romans lost the Goths could have taken Italy at will.



That's why big big decisive battles rule-Drama, cool moments and satisfying results. If I'd lost then I'd have enjoyed the desperate fighting around italy as a massive hoard piled in whilst I desperatly churned out units and grabbed any mercs I could.