Location: Near the City of Bibracte, Capital of the Aeduii Kingdom.
Date: May 21, 58 BC.

Objectives:
- Titus Labienus must survive.
- Publius Licinius Crassus must survive.
- Escort Labienus and Publius to Bibracte.

Unit Control Points: 281/500.
Troop Control Points: 14/50.
Starting units: 3x Auxiliary Archers (30), Auxiliary Infantry (30), Equites (12), Hawk Scout, 3x Legionaries (30), Physician, Publius Licinius Crassus (Centurion, level 0), Spearmen (30), Titus Labienus (Centurion, level 0), Wolf Scout.
Available units: Archer Cavalry, Auxiliary Archers, Auxiliary Infantry, Equites, Hawk Scout, Legionaries, Physician, Spearmen, Wolf Scout.
Available construction: Ballista, Battering Ram, Catapult, Defensive Tower, repair.

                            ..
                         .-'  '-.
                      .-'    .  .'-.
                   .-'     .  1  .  '-.
                .-'      ~        .    '-.
             .-'  . .     ~        .      '-.
          .-'      .  . . .         .        '-.
       .-'   _      .                 .        ~'-.
      '-.   |2| . .                  .         ~   '-.
         '-.     .       .         .         ~ ~ ~~ ~ '-.
            '-.    .  .         .   .             .      '-.
               '-.   .       .   .                  .     _ '-.
                  '-.  .  .   .                   .   .  |3|   '-.
                     '-. . .                  . .           .     '-.
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                           '-.   .  . .  .       . .     .              .'
                              '-.      5      .            .    .    .-'
                                 '-.        .             .   6   .-'
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                                       '-. ~~ ~~ ~ ] [      .-'
                                          '-.       . ~~ .-'
                                             '-.  4   .-'
                                                '-..-'
 _
| | = Village/barracks (may include various defenses).
. . = Path (minor pathways not shown).
~ ~ = River, sea or lake.
] [ = Bridge or location for bridge.
                                                                          

1 = Start location.
2 = Boxum. Population 400.
3 = Sidolacum. Population 700.
4 = Bibracte.
5 = Hidden bowmen.
6 = Ballista on ridge.

At the start of the mission, your forces will come under moderately heavy attack. Fortunately the start location is easily defended. Rapidly reposition your units so that the Auxiliary Archers are on the ridged area overlooking both main approaches, along with non-combat units such as the Physician and at least one scout. Set the archers to 'Aggressive' mode so they fire at the enemy as early as possible, and stationary mode so that their range is maximised. Split your melee troops into two groups, one to guard each approach. Place slightly more units on the eastern side. Assign a Centurion to each group. Try to keep your troops where archers can give covering fire.

Unless you are very skilled, you will need to capture at least one village to enable the creation of enough units to reach Bibracte. You have the option to capture up to two villages. Attacking Boxum (2 on the map above) is entirely optional, but it is quite lightly defended. Centurion writes: "After taking the town prepare some defence (put archers in stationary mode on high ground, have Legionaries in forests, and defend when the Barbarians attack)." From xtend13: "Set up a garrison and make troops until the population is gone. You should have enough honor points to build a strong cavalry. Create a mass of Legionaries and back them up with archers." When ready, advance towards Sidolacum (3 on the map above).

An alternative is to ignore Boxum, and use your starting force to capture Sidolacum. This is a moderately tough battle, but can be won. As you approach Sidolacum, use Legionaries in turtle formation to soak fire from enemy bowmen hiding on higher ground at point 5 on the map above. Other units can avoid this ambush by crossing the shallow water to the north of Sidolacum, however this entails splitting your forces and attacking from different angles, which may not be ideal. If you need additional troops, capture Sidolacum - its 700 population will allow you to more than rebuild your entire army if required.

The final approach to Bibracte (4 on the map above) is relatively well guarded. Various cunning tactics are possible, for example, to sneak troops up onto the ridge on the southern side of the road (marked 6 on the map above), destroy the enemy Ballista, and then fire on waiting enemy soldiers below; or to circle through woodland and engage the enemy from the north. However, one can recruit so many troops that almost any rational tactic will succeed by weight of numbers. Rush the two Centurions into Bibracte to complete the mission: There is no need to 'mop up' every last enemy.

Written by timski