Location: Roman Province of Syria, Near East (sic).
Date: March 9, 54 BC.

Objectives:
- Capture Tyre.
- Capture Samaria.
- Capture Jerusalem.
- Capture Petra.
- Publius Licinius Crassus must survive.
- Gaius Cassius Longinus must survive.

Unit Control Points: 324/500.
Troop Control Points: 15/50.
Starting units: 2x Auxiliary Archers (30), Auxiliary Infantry (30), Gaius Cassius Longinus (Centurion, level 0), Hawk Scout, 4x Legionaries (30), 3x Noblemen (12), Physician, Publius Licinius Crassus (Centurion, level 0), Spearmen (30).
Available units: Archer Cavalry, Auxiliary Archers, Auxiliary Infantry, Balearic Slingers, Equites, Hawk Scout, Legionaries, Physician, Spearmen, Wolf Scout.
Available construction: Ballista, Battering Ram, Catapult, Defensive Tower, repair.

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| | = Village/barracks (may include various defenses).
. . = Path (minor pathways not shown).
~ ~ = River, sea or lake.
] [ = Bridge or location for bridge.
                                                                          

1 = Start location.
2 = Samaria (Samarian). Population 200.
3 = Gerasa (Samarian). Population 200.
4 = Tyre (Phoenician). Population 200.
5 = Jerusalem (Judean). Population 200.
6 = Jazer (Judean). Population 200.
7 = Petra (Nabatean). Population 400.
8 = Oasis.

The mission briefing hints at the possibility of diplomacy. Diplomacy makes this mission straightforward. At the start of the mission, a Samarian messenger will approach and make an offer: If you attack Judea's garrison they will ally with you (thus completing the capture of Samaria). In the meantime the Samarians become neutral - they will not attack you unless provoked.

However, the Judeans are not immediately hostile. When you get close to Jerusalem, a messenger will make a second offer to you: If you capture Petra from the Nabatean Arabs, they will ally with you. So capturing Petra completes the capture of Jerusalem. The Samarians will declare war on Rome in response to Petra being captured, however this also triggers both the Judean and Samarian armies to fight one another. This makes capturing Samaria far easier.

The Phoenicians are hostile from the outset. Tyre, their village (4 on the map above), can be captured quite easily: Use the ridged area to the north-east of the village to ambush the majority of their army, before assaulting the village itself. Before securing the ridge, clear the nearby woodland of enemy units. Tyre can be used to build your army in preparation for attacking Petra. Watch out for roaming enemy units, notably Camel Archers and Camel Riders, which can appear 'from nowhere' right behind you lines while you are busy attacking someone else.

Petra is guarded by two groups of defenders, one at the Oasis (8 on the map above), one closer to Petra (7 on the map above). The ridge above Petra is inaccessible, so the battle must be fought in the open approaches. The Nabatean Arabs are very fond of camel based units. Camel Riders fall quickly against stationary spearmen. Chase down Camel Archers with cavalry. Lastly, watch out for the tower on the western side of the village.

Once Petra has been captured, the Judeans should attack Samaria. In my experience they succeed in destroying the garrison. Feel free to throw some extra troops into the battle to ensure this happens. Finally build your own garrison in Samaria to complete the mission.

Written by timski