Near the City of Carilocus, Gaul Kingdom of the Aeduii.
Date: April 1, 58 BC [ok, where's the joke...?].

Objectives:
- Dubalix must be stopped.
- Caius Titus Rudus must survive.
- Cnaeus Gabinus Illyricus must survive.
+ Agrado of Talagatta must survive (new objective after reinforcements arrive).

Unit Control Points: 296/500.
Troop Control Points: 13/50.
Starting units: 2x Auxiliary Archers (30), Caius Titus Rudus (Centurion, level 0), Cnaeus Gabinus Illyricus (Physician), 2x Equites (12), 4x Legionaries (30), 2x Spearmen (30), Wolf Scout.
Available units: Auxiliary Archers, Auxiliary Infantry, Equites, Hawk Scout, Legionaries, Physician, Spearmen, Wolf Scout.
Available construction: Catapult, Defensive Tower, repair.

                               .-.
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                                             '-..-'
 _
| | = Village/barracks (may include various defenses).
* * = Fortification/wall.
 +  = Tower (free-standing from village).
. . = Path (minor pathways not shown).
~ ~ = River, sea or lake.
] [ = Bridge or location for bridge.
                                                                          

1 = Start location.
2 = Balia. Population 100.
3 = Lancre. Population 100.
4 = Carilocus. Population 200. Dubalix retreats to here.
5 = Aeduii bowmen.
6 = Aeduii infantry and bowmen.
7 = Destroyed bridge.
8 = Agrado of Talagatta with reinforcements.
9 = Tower on ridged area.

Again the mission introduces a new unit, Equite cavalry. These are fast, with a poor defense, and cannot enter woodland. They are best used to race towards an otherwise poorly defended unit, such as the bowmen found to the north of your start location (5 on the map above). If you take the most direct route, your Legionaries will not be able to follow, since they cannot cross the shallow water.

Once the bowmen have been killed, move your main force towards the next enemy group (6 on the map above). As you approach the enemy infantry and bowmen, cavalry will attack from the south-east. The cavalry are best repelled using stationary Spearmen. Let your Legionaries handle the main enemy force, only using Equites to pick off vulnerable bowmen. This will be easier if you give certain troops hold orders before the battle commences.

Dubalix retreats and destroys the bridge marked 7 on the map above. Place archers on the opposite bank of the river (in stationary position to gain range), and let them fire on the enemy Catapults.

Demote one unit to create an Auxiliary Infantry unit (I think Spearmen are the least useful here, so I would demote one unit of them) and repair the bridge. Wooden bridges can be repaired in this way. Stone bridges cannot be destroyed or repaired. Now cross the bridge and engage the enemy army on the other side. Try to lead with your Legionaries and Spearmen, position archers near the bridge where they can fire at most targets from safety, and use Equites to chase down vulnerable enemy units. If you wish to use some of your Auxiliary Infantry to construct a Catapult or two, do so before any unit crosses the river.

After the battle, Agrado of Talagatta arrives with reinforcements (at location 8 on the map above). This force contains Auxiliary Archers, Auxiliary Infantry, level 0 Centurion, Equites, and two units of Legionaries. Gather your forces together and scout ahead. Gaius Julius notes: "It's important to use scouts in this game; they're your eyes, and ears. You'll hear this over, and over." ...and this is one of many missions without time pressure, so a minute or two spent scouting ahead has no obvious disadvantage. Also learn to advance in a defensive style - notably 'turtle' your Legionaries to protect them from enemy arrows as they slowly advance. Be prepared to lock your Legionaries into melee combat (de-turtle them beforehand), then send your Equites through the line to deal with enemy bowmen and Catapults.

I suggest you capture Balia first (2 on the map above), and produce additional troops before advancing further. Equites require Honour Points, in addition to population. Honour Points are gained from battles - you should have more than enough by this stage of the mission. Lopodunus writes: "I built three towers at the first village and let the Gauls run into my Auxiliary Archers. That way they lost lots of men while I was beefing up my forces through recruiting." Just placing your troops on the ridge the village is built on, pointing east, with hold orders, and waiting for enemy patrols to walk past is remarkably effective too.

Lancre (3 on the map above) can be approach by pathway, but the route runs close to the tower (marked 9 on the map above). One option is to send troops through the woodland and attack the village from the south. This is the easiest attack route, but Equites and Spearmen will not pass through the wood. You may be able to skirt around the enemy tower, but the tower has an annoying habit of firing at your troops on nearby paths, so you may end up attacking it anyway. From Lopodunus: "I ran two legions up the hill (moving west first and then east towards the tower) and let them go ballistic on the tower." If your loses have been modest, you may not need to take a second settlement in order to produce enough troops.

Prepare for the final assault on Carilocus (4 on the map above) by taking the high ground just to the east of the approach road. Consider building some Catapults to deal with the two towers protecting the village. Once ready, draw the main enemy army out of the village into an ambush. Then attack the towers - turtled Legionaries as a decoy for Catapults and archers work well, but watch out for reserve enemy cavalry. Lastly kill Dubalix to complete the mission: There is no need to take all the villages or destroy every last enemy unit.

Written by timski