Description[]
Soldiers for Rome is the first scenario of the Roman Campaign in Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest. Help Gaius Marius defeat the Teutons and the Cimbri.
Briefing[]
From the Chronicles of the Republic, by Flavius Posthumous
Gauis Marius, newly elected consul, has recently defeated the Jugerthians and has been summoned back to Rome from his conquests in Numidea to defend the republic from barbarian migrations.
The senate is worried that two prominent Germanic tribes on its borders, the Teutons and the Cimbri, will soon cross the Alps and take control of all Northern Italy. These barbarians are making their way through the mountains, burning and pillaging as they go... They must be stopped before they grow bold enough to sack Rome herself! The new reforms that Marius has demanded upon his ascension to consul, namely the new idea of "conscription," have given Rome the manpower she needs to fight the coming battles, .. but just barely. What Rome's army needs now is for the man himself to train these raw troops into a cohesive well-oiled machine that is a Roman Legion.
Rome's new army will not only consist of its landed citizens, as it did in the past, but also slave and landless freemen classes. Many in the senate doubt the loyalty and morale of such troops, but Marius assures them that they will perform their duties as true Romans especially with the promise of money and land awaiting them at the end of their terms.
Objectives[]
° Gaius Marius must survive.
° Build an army by visiting four Roman villages and conscripting some of their citizens.
° Build a defensive fortification to aid in your battle with the Germanic Tribes.
° Several Freeman have presented themselves for conscription. Use Marius's conscription to convert them into Pilum units.
° Travel to Mutania. Bring Marius to the city gates and then enter to conscript more troops. Do not forget to un-garrison the troops you have stored in the 3 Fortresses. Also be on the look out for more Teuton or Cimbri attacks.
° Set up a defensive perimeter where Quintus indicated by the red flag.
° Have citizens construct palisades to help bolster the defenses against the barbarian raids.
° Use Marius' power of conscription to recruit new troops in the towns of Bononia, Patavium, and Piase.
° Bring Marius to Pavatium and Piase to secure more troops and aid them in their struggle against the horde.
° Take your forces out to the west to hunt for the Teuton warlord, Thideric.
° This old Roman Fort should make an ideal forward base for producing new troops, when you are ready to do so.
History[]
While Marius and Sulla wrapped things up in Africa, several Germanic tribes began to threaten Rome's borders. There were more than 300,000 of these large, blonde-headed men, and they fought in intimidating lines in which they were chained together for greater cohesion. There were four main tribes: the Cimbri, Teuton, Ambrones, and Swiss Tigurini.
As they marched across Transalpine Gaul defeating every poorly lead army sent out to conquest them, they soon became a major threat to Rome, which lacked an army to protect the city with Marius in Africa. The road was open. The Senate immediately summoned Marius, who returned quickly. He gained his second consulship to defend Rome. Fortunately, the Cimbri and others turned west to Spain to plunder and pillage there. With plenty of time to prepare for their return, Marius proposed and implemented numerous monumental charges in Roman military policy. His first and probably most significant change was to begin recruiting from the capite censi, or headcount in the cities, instead of relying on the volunteers from the plebian farming population. As a result, loyalty was now towards Marius, the General, instead of the republic and the city of Rome, a significant change that eventually led to the fall of the republic. He vigorously trained these men. They soon became, "Marius' Mules," for the way they had to carry all their equipment and work so hard.
He also improved arms, altering the structure of a spear so that it would break on impact. By replacing the metal bolting with wood, the spear broke when it hit an object or person, eliminating any sort of re-use by the enemy. He also revised the strategy of the Roman military. Instead of the traditional form of attack in one huge legion would make an attack followed by another large group while later, he organized the legions into ten cohorts of six-hundred men each. This allowed for stronger cohesiveness and penetration into the enemy lines, and proved incredibly effective, especially against the lined attack by the Germanic tribes. Finally, he no longer selected legion commanders based on birth and family pedigree, but by ability. Those who were most able to lead a legion earned a job, instead of the man most respected in society.
These military reforms absorbed most of Marius' second consulship while the Cimbri plundered Spain. However, when they changed direction and again threatened Roman territory, Marius immediately marched out to meet them. But, they held off and refused to attack. Meanwhile, Marius' second consulship came to an end. The Senate, though, granted him a third consulship in 103 B.C. and a fourth in 102 B.C. while he waited for the Germans to invade. The Cimbri then made their descent in to Italy, and Marius gained his fifth consulship in 101 B.C. to deal with them. With the pro-consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus, Marius annihilated the Cimbri and others at Vercellae.
Hints[]
° You have very little Food at the beginning of this scenario, and no way (presently) to get more. Hold onto it until it is needed.
° Make good use of combined arms -- place your foot soldiers on the front lines, ranged with infantry behind them and use your cavalry (if available) to flank the enemy.
° Be very careful to guard your hero, for if he should fall in battle, then there will be no way to halt the onslaught of the Horde and you will lose the mission.
° The Cimbri and Teutons are tribes whose warriors are skilled and ruthless. DO NOT underestimate them. Fight from well-defended positions and make sure all of your units are rested and healed before your next encounter.
° Construct palisades to help stem the tide of the barbarian invaders.
Walkthrough[]
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